Do I need a new Erg?

[Denis52]

Hi

Appreciate the collective wisdom of the forum on the question of whether I need a new Erg.

I currently have an ancient Type C bought refurbed from a gym and has had one maintenance in the ten years I've owned it-oiled and the bungee cord replaced as no other maintenance was required. No other problems with the Erg and seems to work fine in the nightly working week workouts for weight control and stress management. However my eldest aged 18 returned from University over the Easter holidays where he rows competitively for his University claiming that my Type C lacks resistance compared to his machines at University (Type D).He claims that he can't put down the same amount of power on my machine in comparison with those at University i.e. even at the highest damper setting it lacks comparative resistance such that the workouts aren't as tough and also across the damper setting range.

Does the forum know if Ergs 'wear out' and loose resistance even if well maintained or is it that my son is 18 such that any Erg 'lacks resistance'? If the wisdom is that they do 'wear out' and loose resistance, is there a tipping point where buying a new(er) machine becomes a necessity?

Welcome any comments.

Thanks

Denis

[Bob S.]

Check the drag factor. The damper setting doesn't mean much if the cage is clogged with dust.

Bob S.

[Dickie]

Bob is correct, the main cause of a loss of resistance is a dirty cage, take the side off and clean it out. The only other cause of a loss of resistance that I am aware of is lack of air flow caused by erg positioning (next to a wall) or altitude.

I have had my model C for 13 years and I regularly train on a Model E at the gym I frequent. My model C has over 10,000,000 meters and the model E has not reached 3,000,000 yet. I do not see any difference using either machine when I have set the drag appropriately (not necessarily the damper setting). I have set many personal bests in the 50-59 category this year on both machines and been very close on like rows on each machine.

I have also been on Model C's in the past with over 25,000,000 meters and did not notice any difference, once drag was adjusted.

Fred Dickie

[c2jonw]

No, you don't need a new erg. The Model D&E were designed to have virtually the same resistance range as the C, so it's very likely that the flywheel cage and fan are clogged with lint- a very common occurence. C2JonW

[Denis52]

Hi

Thanks for the comments-I'll be vacuuming the cage at the weekend!

best

Denis