Concept2 Forum

Hi All

Very new to rowing! * had machine 3 days...

I can hit 1.36 but am rowing at 38spm! would it be better to row at a slower rate ? high rates seen fine to me and doing 25 spm seems slow?

I can keep the high rate going for 30 minutes @ say 1.50 and 36spm

Any help would be great

5.11 and 78kg's

Cheers

There isn't anything wrong in principle with 38spm.

BUT...

If you're new to rowing your technique is probably not quite right and the faster you stroke the harder it gets to have the technique right, or even to tell if you're doing it right. So for that reason slow down for now at least.

The second thing is that if 25 feels slow you're probably not putting enough drive in through the legs. If you can sort out your technique you should be able to get down to 18-20spm and not find it too slow.

Welcome to rowing!

Cheers, Paul

GBOXICC wrote:Hi All

Very new to rowing! * had machine 3 days...

I can hit 1.36 but am rowing at 38spm! would it be better to row at a slower rate ? high rates seen fine to me and doing 25 spm seems slow?

I can keep the high rate going for 30 minutes @ say 1.50 and 36spm

Wow, that is excellent!

The top lightweight rower in the world for this year rows at 42 spm for a 2k.

You're well on your way to continued great results and I look forward to more of your postings.

1:50 for 30 minutes is quite impressive especially considering you have just begun rowing. That would predict a very respectable 2K. I agree that you should get your technique sorted out. at 1:50 (263 Watts) your SPI (stroke power Index) 263/36 is 7.3 which is very light. I am not a big guy at 6'1" and 172lbs and row at 8.5 which I think is a lighter stroke than most people seem to row. You have to realize that the recovery does take some energy which is wasted so the faster your rate the more waste.

As John mentioned, there are some really fast lightweight rowers that race at up t 42SPM but they are also pulling at a SPI of 10.5+

What are your stats (Height, weight, age) and athletic background to be able to pull such a fast time just beginning?

Rich

He gave his height/weight--that's the 5.11 and 78k.