Concept2 Forum

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a C2 purchase. I'm thinking of a D with PM3.

I found a C to work with and have done a 500m, 2k, and 5k. My butt really hurt for about the middle third of the 5k so I'm thinking of adding a seat pad.

Any comments on the need or lack thereof for the seat pad ?

Any other accessories, short of slides, I should consider?

Winter is coming and my treadmill is dead. Time for something new.

While I'm at it, my treadmill is dead because the electronics were poorly protected from my flying sweat. The cost to replace the boards is silly. It seems the C2 is layed out such that the sweat spray will be away from both the electonics and the fan/moving parts. Is that right?

If I buy a C2, are any of the parts likely to corrode out from under me? I will use it.

thanks,
Doug

44, 180, 500m don't remember, 2k 8:50, 5k 21:44

what the hell, 3 times on the erg and everything is a PB !

gliderguy wrote: My butt really hurt for about the middle third of the 5k so I'm thinking of adding a seat pad.
Any comments on the need or lack thereof for the seat pad ?
Doug

44, 180, 500m don't remember, 2k 8:50, 5k 21:44

what the hell, 3 times on the erg and everything is a PB !

My old club, the Long Beach Rowing Association, has seat pads permanently installed on all of its model Cs and Ds. When I got a new model D about 20 months ago, I didn’t particularly like the seat. It wasn’t as comfortable as the seat on my old model B. I soon ordered a pad and have used it ever since. I much prefer it to the unpadded seat.

By the way, did you realize that your 5k was much faster than your 2k? A time of 8:50 for the 2k is a pace of 2:12.5. The 5k time of 21:44 would be a 2:10.1 pace.

Bob S.

gliderguy wrote: Any comments on the need or lack thereof for the seat pad ?

Any other accessories, short of slides, I should consider?

It seems the C2 is layed out such that the sweat spray will be away from both the electonics and the fan/moving parts. Is that right?

If I buy a C2, are any of the parts likely to corrode out from under me?

1)The seat pad is good. Helps keep you from sliding around too.
2)Consider getting a model that include the PM4 - I think those come with the heart monitor chest strap included (which I use every workout). I am considering getting the grip pads, but have no experience with them.
3)Sweat SPRAY? Unless you are in the habit of forcefully spitting I don't think there is an issue here.
4)The C2's are built like tanks. Just make sure to keep up on the maintenance (wipe off the rail after every workout, oil the chain every 50k, etc.)

I bought a pad for my C2 (now you remind me!), but as yet have not put it on. I do a reasonable amout of 10k, 60 min.,, half-marathons. Like you, when I started, anything over 3-4k was a literal pain in the butt...but after 4 1/2 months (approx. 750,000m) I don't seem to get that problem any more.

I do however now row in a pair of rowing shorts with padded bottom. On the advice of "tinpusher" here I got them from "JL" sports and they are very comfortable. I'd class them as a necessary accessory.

You might also want to try a C-Breeze...it's a C-shaped nylon "wind-tunnel attachment" that fits around the fly-wheel casing and throws all that cool air you are generating back towards you. It works, it keeps you cool, it helps lessen the amount of sweat available for throwing around, it's very inexpensive...and it comes in pretty colours!

http://www.ps-sport.net/

Good luck...and welcome,
Brent

Here's another vote for the CBreeze.

After adding it you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

Thanks to all for the input. I went ahead and placed the order for the Model D/PM3 and seat pad.

The CBreeze looks like something I'll add a little later.

I look forward to having a machine at home. Now to get my dead treadmill out of the house before the C2 gets here !

Doug

Bob S:
I'm so new that I have no idea how to pace myself. After the 2k I knew I could do a little better so I picked up the pace for the 5k. I went back and did another 5k today, 21:07 this time.

It seems odd to me that the time is 21:07 but my stroke rate was 27. Is that an indication that my technique is poor? the machiine I'm using is poorly maintained? I have know idea how times and spm should relate? or some of all of that?

gliderguy wrote: It seems odd to me that the time is 21:07 but my stroke rate was 27. Is that an indication that my technique is poor? the machiine I'm using is poorly maintained? I have know idea how times and spm should relate? or some of all of that?

I don't know why you should consider that a rate of 27 spm for a 5k would imply poor technique or poor equipment maintenance. It is probably near the median for anyone doing a 5k time trial. Choice of rate does depend to some extent on the distance of a piece, i.e. higher rates for shorter pieces and vice versa. It is also dependent on the physiology of the rower. Those with longer limbs usually feel more comfortable with lower rates because they can take longer strokes. Heavier rowers usually do better at lower rates, since there is less effort wasted accelerating their own mass back and forth. Obviously the choice of rate is a very personal thing and it usually takes some experimenting for each rower to find a rate that fits the best for a particular type of workout.

A more important issue is proper technique and it helps a lot to get it from a knowledgeable person who can check out you technique, either in person or from a video. Another important feature is proper warm up and cool down before and after an intense piece. Once you have an idea what kind of pace you can handle, it is a good idea to try to do any sort of trial with either even or negative splitting.

Bob S.

badocter wrote:oil the chain every 50k

Actually they recommend every 50 hours.

You had me worried as 50k would be every few days.

John Rupp wrote:

badocter wrote:oil the chain every 50k

Actually they recommend every 50 hours.

You had me worried as 50k would be every few days.

Oops. I have been oiling every 50k. I knew it was 50 of something. Needless to say, my chain is very clean.