Could you explain his basis for this statement?
In a C2 the flywheel is spinning when we take the catch. This means we have to accelerate ourselves and the handle to chain speed before the chain can come under tension. This appears as a slack catch, but of course it is work anyway, against our own inertia if not against the flywheel.
Using Newton's laws of motion we can make a guess at how long it takes: chain speed V at catch say 1m/s, handle acceleration A say 2m/s², so S = 0.25m from V²=2AS. As V and A are not known, it is little more than a guess. By taking a very slow catch with low leg force, it can be clearly seen.
We can control this "problem" if it is one and if we want to, by taking the catch with back and legs (i.e not just legs), by taking a full length stroke and even over-reaching a little, by being very quick, by using the Dynamic or slides and by increasing the drag factor if it is below 100. Medium-low drag (100-130) and a fast catch are usually enough to give us a short catch without too much thump when the chain tightens. High drag is NOT a solution; a long stroke is.
On the Water-rower, there is a paddle which spins the water in the tank, and the water is is still moving at the catch, as can be seen from their video. I'm not sure whether the paddle stops completely or not. The video seems to show a little handle slack at the catch anyway.
Both machines get us fit if we use them enough.
Other issues could be differences in the electronics, dust collecting on the fan or in the water, how to adjust drag, price, noise, return springs and so on; it could take some time to decide which to prefer. For C2 users probably the most important factor is the consistency of readings, both across machines and day to day, thanks to digital control of flywheel speeds and times. I've no idea how this works with water.
08-1940, 183cm, 83kg.
2024: stroke 5.5W-min@20-21. ½k 190W, 1k 145W, 2k 120W. Using Wods 4-5days/week. Fading fast.
