Newbie Question - Preferred Display Mode

Rowbody · Post by **Rowbody** » June 6th, 2006, 1:56 pm

Hi All -
New guy to the forum and new guy to the erg. Gotta say I am enjoying both very much!

Anywho, two questions popped into my mind while erging this a.m.:
First, what display mode do you prefer on your monitor: All Units? Pace Boat? Force Curve?
Second, what numbers do you care most about during your workout? I tend to fixate on both the "instant" and average 500/m, trying to keep that number consistent. Is that a good approach?

johnlvs2run · Post by **johnlvs2run** » June 6th, 2006, 2:40 pm

I have the pm2+ monitor and use the "just row" function most of the time. When doing for distance I keep it on the time and distance display, as I can see the meters adding up this way. The pace doesn't matter as long as it's easy enough but I usually do around 2:24 pace for distance.

When doing fast/slow intervals, I keep the monitor on average pace, so the times will show up for each split.

For short repetitions, i.e. with breaks in between, I use the average pace function. I use projected time for repetitions of 500m or longer, and I use projected time or projected distance for all time trials.

DavidA · Post by **DavidA** » June 6th, 2006, 3:27 pm

I also usually 'just row' and like to use the mean pace.
When I do a timed row I will sometimes use the projected distance.
When I do a distance row I will usually use projected time.

David

RowtheRockies · Post by **RowtheRockies** » June 6th, 2006, 3:32 pm

Rowbody,

Welcome to the forum. I have a PM3 monitor and just use the standard interface that shows SPM, Total Meters rowed, Avg. 500M Split, # of meters rowed in split, HR and Projected distance for 30 M. I have never used the pace boat before and occasionally will look at the force curve. I recently started following a protocal that JJPisano uses where your training intensity is based on Watts so I am thinking about switching to changing the units to Watts

Rich

eyespliced · Post by **eyespliced** » June 6th, 2006, 7:17 pm

I focus mostly on the average split's and the stroke rate... i can't stand using watts or the other stuff (the PM3 is cool, but I don't have it so my display only shows meters, split, SR and average split) for pieces, i only really focus on how many meters i have left and the splits (i.e. a 2k erg test)

Sean Seamus · Post by **Sean Seamus** » June 7th, 2006, 3:05 pm

I worship the Force Curve
and usually pace / 500 plus avg
Often I tape off the HR and review that afterwards

When warming / cooling I pay attention to HR, and sometimes switch to calories, or else I tend to "push" to lower the pace time - no matter what, something inside me always wants to go a touch faster !
Calories to me are just numbers and I don't much respond to them, whereas Pace evokes " more ! "

~ Sean

Kinley · Post by **Kinley** » June 7th, 2006, 6:46 pm

Sean Seamus wrote:Calories to me are just numbers and I don't much respond to them, whereas Pace evokes " more ! "

~ Sean

I agree, and therefore use calories for recovery rows, when I don't want to fall into the trap of pushing myself.

jjpisano · Post by **jjpisano** » June 7th, 2006, 7:54 pm

Rowbody:

Start using watts and you'll never go to anything else. Watts is what is primarily measured by the ergometer and everything else is calculated from the watts you are generating.

Also watts changes linearly with intensity. Everything else changes in a non-linear manner with intensity.

I use a PM2 monitor and I generally count down time and watch stroke rate while also watching watts. A handful of us communicate with the rest of the rowing world by talking about pace/500m but we are trying to convert the the rest of the world to think in terms of watts primarily and then secondarily in every other possible means of measurement.

The w in my signature (Jim SWCSPI Pisano) stands for watts because I advocate watching watts.

Good luck in your efforts and welcome aboard.