Row erg in the gym

[Ombrax]

Do you every try to proselytize in the gym?

Although I have a Model C at home, the last few years all my rowing has been at the gym at work, since they have much more equipment. I very rarely interact with other folks who use the rower, but based on what I see in the memory it's pretty clear that the vast majority of users are painfully slow.

By some strange coincidence, yesterday I spoke briefly to two different guys about the rower. After my shower, as I was leaving, I stopped by the erg to check the memory so I could write down my avg pace for that night's workout. There happened to be a guy on a leg press machine right by the erg, so to be friendly I told him "This will just take me a sec." He replied "That machine's too tough for me." Wanting to stay positive, I said "Yes, it's a good workout." Then, by coincidence, a third guy happened to walk by just as I replied. He said "It's a low-back killer!" So I told him "Not if you do it right."

I had to be on my way, so I got what I needed from PM memory, and left without taking either conversation any further. Later on I started to wonder if I should have tried to do more to "sell" the rower or help them (although I like the fact that not many people use it, so I never have to wait to get on...). How do you folks handle this sort of situation? Mind your own business (as 99.99999% of folks in the gym do) or try to help?

[Carl Watts]

No I definitely resist the temptation to try and help and would bite my tongue.

People are weird in that unless your some Olympic rower who is instantly recognisable they just don't listen.

Let them flail about just do your own thing. Unless your rowing beside someone else and they show genuine interest on how they can improve then shut up.

Maybe it's just me though nobody takes me seriously.

The rower is probably the one bit of gear in the entire gym that requires a great deal of technique and knowledge to setup. I have witnessed gym instructors who have no idea.

[JaapvanE]

Let them flail about just do your own thing. Unless your rowing beside someone else and they show genuine interest on how they can improve then shut up.

Same here. Although you recognize good form directly. In my gym, there was one guy who has a nice slow controlled stroke, but the erg just sounded right. Curious as I was, I looked at the PM3 (...) and the guy rowed a solid 2:00 pace. Turns out he was a former OTW rower from one of the better rowing clubs in the Netherlands. He had trained with several of the Holland eight golden medalist. I learned an awfull lot from him.

I only intervene when people are destined to get hurt. When people explode at the catch without a strong back or with bend arms, I intervene as I can't live with myself if people get injured and I didn't say anything to prevent it. I'll give the a "small tip to improve effectiveness and reduce injury". But if they don't listen, it will be their problem.

Instructors are incompetent when it comes to rowing. They just dump people on a machine and assume people instinctively do the right thing. Rowing isn't as instinctive as most people think. But they are as irresponsive to suggestions for improvement as their employer is to the maintenance schedule for these machines.

The rower is probably the one bit of gear in the entire gym that requires a great deal of technique and knowledge to setup. I have witnessed gym instructors who have no idea.

Actually, I have to disagree with you here. Gym instructors are clueless, I agree. But most lack the understanding of physiology to correct any bad form. As a former athlete, I was used to train under the strong supervision of a physiotherapist in an Olympic training center. Their life's mission is to prevent injury and improve athletes. How different is life outside, when you know how it's done right.

For example: a squat is typically done wrong, and it destroys your back if you don't get it right. A biceps curl should be done slowly in both directions, without using your back, or you are destined for injury. The list goes on, and 5 minutes in the gym and you see dozens of instances, and an "instructor" just chatting about. People aren't corrected, making them injuries waiting to happen.

[Dangerscouse]

I've never tried to correct anyone as they don't want to know. They are generally just getting on there for five minutes and then stopping when it starts to get hard.

I agree with Carl that unless someone asks me for advice, then I'll leave them to it.

[Sakly]

I've never tried to correct anyone as they don't want to know. They are generally just getting on there for five minutes and then stopping when it starts to get hard.

I agree with Carl that unless someone asks me for advice, then I'll leave them to it.

In the meantime I do exactly the same. If you want to give advice - noone is interested in it and they start to argue why they are doing this way and it is right to do it this way.

[Erik A]

ditto for me. when i was at the gym and used the Erg (which was next to another) when the other would get used i would have to bite my tongue. i have had a couple of conversations regarding the erg but only because in one case the guy actually knew what he was doing and was an OTW guy and we were both eyeing each others monitor which ended up as a chat. the other was an older guy and he was continually bothering me with suggestions etc even though he had no clue about what he was doing. that went south pretty quick which is another reason why i dont bother. the average session from what i could see started with slapping the damper to 10 and doing 5 mins or less. the odd session would be there in the memory that was longer than 10 mins but not many and it was obvious where my sessions were simply due to the length. now im at home with my erg the only person who i assist is my wife when she gets on. (which has been twice in two months )

[sailortodd]

When I rowed regularly at the gym at work, I didn't offer advice to anybody flailing about painfully with the damper at 10 and a pace of 3:00/500 and SR of 34, but I'd chuckle to myself. More importantly, because the ergs there were a limited resource, I didn't want to try to encourage anyone else to try to row more, as I would have ended up in a situation where there were more ergers than ergs.

[Sakly]

When I rowed regularly at the gym at work, I didn't offer advice to anybody flailing about painfully with the damper at 10 and a pace of 3:00/500 and SR of 34, but I'd chuckle to myself. More importantly, because the ergs there were a limited resource, I didn't want to try to encourage anyone else to try to row more, as I would have ended up in a situation where there were more ergers than ergs.

Good strategy then

[jamesg]

Do you every try to proselytize in the gym?

No one wants to know, and there's no point in answering questions that haven't been asked. That's why this forum is useful; the questions do come up.

[btlifter]

Do you every try to proselytize in the gym?

No one wants to know, and there's no point in answering questions that haven't been asked. That's why this forum is useful; the questions do come up.

Agreed.

One exception - I had thought - might be competitive CrossFitters (or other competitive athletes). Yet, I have casually mentioned to several friends of mine who are competitive CFers and/or CF coaches that I'd be happy to provide a couple suggestions.... to date, none has asked for those suggestions

[Tsnor]

Do you every try to proselytize in the gym?

No one wants to know, and there's no point in answering questions that haven't been asked. That's why this forum is useful; the questions do come up.

Agreed.

One exception - I had thought - might be competitive CrossFitters (or other competitive athletes). Yet, I have casually mentioned to several friends of mine who are competitive CFers and/or CF coaches that I'd be happy to provide a couple suggestions.... to date, none has asked for those suggestions

Have you rowed next to them rowing? Seeing you pop off 200W higher load with less effort might get some interest in good form. Maybe offer a short race <evil grin>

[btlifter]

No one wants to know, and there's no point in answering questions that haven't been asked. That's why this forum is useful; the questions do come up.

Agreed.

One exception - I had thought - might be competitive CrossFitters (or other competitive athletes). Yet, I have casually mentioned to several friends of mine who are competitive CFers and/or CF coaches that I'd be happy to provide a couple suggestions.... to date, none has asked for those suggestions

Have you rowed next to them rowing? Seeing you pop off 200W higher load with less effort might get some interest in good form. Maybe offer a short race <evil grin>

Haha, well, most of the ones I know measure their "power" in calories/hour, not watts ***

But no - I train in my garage. No CFers here (and I know better than to give my wife unsolicited advice )

[Sakly]

But no - I train in my garage. No CFers here (and I know better than to give my wife unsolicited advice )

Haha, I know about that part

[Dangerscouse]

But no - I train in my garage. No CFers here (and I know better than to give my wife unsolicited advice )

Hahahaha

[MartinSH4321]

Agreed.

One exception - I had thought - might be competitive CrossFitters (or other competitive athletes). Yet, I have casually mentioned to several friends of mine who are competitive CFers and/or CF coaches that I'd be happy to provide a couple suggestions.... to date, none has asked for those suggestions

Have you rowed next to them rowing? Seeing you pop off 200W higher load with less effort might get some interest in good form. Maybe offer a short race <evil grin>

Haha, well, most of the ones I know measure their "power" in calories/hour, not watts ***

But no - I train in my garage. No CFers here (and I know better than to give my wife unsolicited advice )