Cannot reach PM5 when seated

[Mavrik]

Howdy y’all,
Received C2 yesterday AM, Monday, then first row in 20 +/- years in the afternoon - 5x1,000. Then another 6k this am.
When I’m on the C2 I cannot reach the monitor when feet are strapped in. I don’t remember this being a problem before. Is this common, do I have exceptionally short arms?
The monitor swing arm can only rotate toward the rower so much until it hits the built in stop at the base of the swing arm.
I have to unstrap feet, creep forward to reach monitor to press a button

Steve

[Carl Watts]

There are two possible options.

1. Your arms have got shorter.
2. Your flexibility has decreased.

Its not that easy but I can hit buttons while rowing at sub 20spm.

Usually you just setup and row then strap in so you don't need to press any buttons during the row itself. I had a 30min session that started throwing errors on the PM5 and had to reach out about 10 times to hit the "Continue" and the error kept coming back. It really stuffs up your row.

[Ombrax]

Just row strapless.

Problem solved.

[gouldilocks]

Just row strapless.

Problem solved.

Exactly - you beat me to it there

Paul G

[mict450]

Yep, common...arms get shorter & body gets less flexible the older you are. That's why the mod D has the longer handle....use the end to press the buttons.

[Ernits]

During said 20 years, have you developed a more rotund mid-section perhaps?

[Mavrik]

Thanx, y’all.

Yes, I’m a "bit" more rotund: early 80s I was on the water in a lightweight shell as the heaviest in our group; now I’m definitely a heavyweight, wanting to row ltwt. That said, I’m not a bona fide member of the ‘big belly’ club - I can still place palms flat on ground while standing straight. iow, belly is not in the way. Although, I am open to the idea I could be deceiving myself - only time, and meters, will tell.
Upper body flexibility could also be an issue.

And, before I strapped in I rowed a bit strapless, just to see if some memory from decades ago remained. It did.

steve