Concept2 Forum

Did anyone see Biggest Loser last night. The challenge was rowing on C2 machines (looked like Ds). I missed the start the challenge but it appears the contestants had to only row hard enough to keep a giant light stick behind them green. Some forms were okay (none text book) most were using the typical gym "calorie counter" technique. But these are BIG people, plus 300lb size, even the women.

I wonder how many watts of power that took. And not sure how long, how far, or how fast they were rowing. Anyone know?

i saw it also and downloaded the software so I can try it at home,


from what i can see it took 92 watts of power to keep it green which I'm sure most of us on this board could do forever. That being said kudos for the BL people to do as well as they did.

I thought the forms were way off - even my wife whose been erging all of a month was commenting how they were all upper body no legs etc.

i've watched this show for some time - they've never had rowers in the gym before I hope they are now added and used regularly as wel all know ain't no better piece of cardio equipment out there

TabbRows wrote:Did anyone see Biggest Loser last night?

Concept2 announced it on Twitter http://twitter.com/Concept2_Rowing/statuses/1219583902 before the show.

I saw the last five minutes of that show (I'm in California this week) but clearly missed the bit with the folks on the C2 ergos.

When I heard last week that C2 was going to be featured on The Biggest Loser, I was delighted about the good marketing exposure for one of my favorite companies and hopeful that the show would turn more people on to rowing. But what a disappointment the BL challenge was!

As others have commented, the contestants' form was terrible: it seemed that they had received little or no instruction beforehand. I wonder what they had the resistance set at. And rowing without music is a drag.

The worst part, to my mind, was the way the erg came across as a torture device rather than as a great alternative to the usual workout machines.

I would be interested in hearing from C2 personnel:

1. What was the back story on this? Was the portrayal of C2 ergs in the show in line with what you had expected?

2. Has there been any positive impact in terms of hits on the website, customer inquiries, etc.?

Thanks for the back story, Greg!

I've been wondering what the contestants could see on the monitor. Did they get to see a display on the monitor, or was their only feedback from the lights?

Schenley

Greg, I really appreciate your thorough (and speedy) reply. Given your description of the background, what we saw on the Biggest Loser challenge now makes a whole lot more sense.

I'm glad to hear that C2 did not pay for the airtime and agree that word of mouth is the best way to go. BTW, I looked through The Biggest Loser online forums/blogs for references to C2 last night, but their website is horribly organized and difficult to search and the only rowing-related items I saw were quite old. I will take your suggestion and write to the producers directly.

Cheers.

Just found this (not terribly articulate) comment from one of the contestants:

For the full interview, go to http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/105495/ ... erview.php

THE DEADBOLT: How hard was the rowing challenge?

SHANON: Well, what they did was: We had to keep it above a certain point, like we had to keep it above ninety. And then they raised it, so you had to keep it above a hundred. It’s not miles per hour, but I’m not sure how exactly it works, the watts, or whatever it is. So if you dropped under there - and it was all hooked up to a computer system and the lights would turn - when you got to a certain point range, you know, the yellow, the green, and the red. But yeah, you definitely had to get into your groove. And they had some rowing instructors out there because some of us, like me, I’ve never rowed before. We didn’t have any rowing machines in the gym. So I was just like, "okay." But Dane, he was in the groove, man. He found the groove. Cathy was really in the groove there for awhile, too. But there was definitely a science to it.

Science, indeed!

GREGH wrote:Hi everybody, My name is Greg and I was one of the two Concept2 employees that went out to Hollywood to help with The Biggest Loser Challenge. Here is a bit of the back story. We were contacted on a Tuesday and had to be out in California that Friday with 13 model E rowers ready to set up and run the link between the PM4’s and the Lighting columns. The producers that we worked with were great but it was clear that we had to play by their rules or they would not be able to use us. First off they did not want any technique taught to the contestants. They liked the idea that none of them had ever used an Indoor Rower. They thought this would make it more fair for everyone. We did after a lot of begging get literally 5 minutes to at least show them that the legs were the primary movers of the stroke. It was a lot fun to be a part of but I do believe that if they had been more open to our suggestions that we could have made a better challenge. It was also made clear to us that they would not “showcase” the name of Concept2 or promote us as a company because that is what many of the other companies you see pay BIG bucks for. As you can imagine Concept2 is not really into paying for promotion. We believe we make a great product and we put more stock in the word of mouth from our customers that love the workout they get from the erg. I looked at the Neilson ratings for the show and they had between 8 and 9 million viewers and so far we have received a total of 2 requests for information about our indoor rowers. It is not what I expected but it was fun and we would probably do it again. If any of you are fans of the show it would be great if you could email the Biggest Loser and say that you would like to see more indoor rowing. As always anyone with questions about the show can give me a call. I do have to say one thing and that is that all the contestants were GREAT people and worth cheering for. They are all making a big change in their lives and many of them wanted to know where they could get a Concept2 for when they go home. Take Care - Greg

Best regards,
Greg Hammond
Concept2 CTS
Motor/Action Sports Training
Firefighter and Police sales
phone: 877-887-8014 ext 3074
e-mail: gregh@concept2.com
web: www.concept2.com

Thank you so much for this post.I watched the Biggest Loser that night just to see the rowing segment.This was a great challenge and I do believe that this will add to the word of mouth process that you rely on.I always recommend these ergs to my friends and anyone who talks to me about my rowing addiction.

Pat

I'm glad I found this thread to read what other's had to say about the show.I actually started a thread last night and someone gave me the heads up to this one. I was in the hospital during the original run so I actually didn't get to see the episode until yesterday in a rerun. I knew it would be a bone of contention here. I do agree that it unfortunately did make it look, as I stated in my thread - painful, which is not very attractive to someone perhaps looking to take up rowing.
Were not talking happy, happy while you're doing it, but it shouldn't look like you're about to die, or at least you think you may. One would think that with all the "sports and fitness" people, as well as medical personnel there, that someone would have the wherewith all to know to allow for some basic training beforehand. The only person who could have any advantage would be the guy from the black team, and that's just an overall advantage, because overall he'd just more likely be able to hold some time - form not withstanding, and he did win, so in reality, a decent lesson would not have changed up the odds, but it would have at least given them a better experience, and the viewing public a better perception of the erg as a good exercise device, and not some draconian torture machine.

I was glad to see the concept2's on the biggest loser. there was also a small clip from the last version of the biggest loser that 2 of the contestants were using them. It was negative to a certain degree seeing how the contestants commented on it and that did make me sad. All we can do as ergers is go out there and promote them the best we can "Word of Mouth". I get tired of seeing the contestants on the treadmill all the time and I wish they would change the show up a bit. I personally tell everybody at my gym to at least give it a try and then I try to teach them a little technique and point them to the forums. It is a double edged sword though because now I sometimes have to wait to get on the erg at the gym, c'est la vie......at least I know that the people I turned on to the rower will improve their overall fitness

It was very exciting to think C2 was going mainstream with BL appearance, and then wham, a Big Fat Letdown. As I read Greg's post, I couldn't believe how the producers set up the contest. Congrats to Greg for getting all the E's out there, set up, running, not to mention getting those folks to halfway figure out how to use them.

A friend had been using my D for months, and we were involved in some of the challenges, and are gearing up for March Madness. She was considering buying her own, and when she saw that it was going to appear on BL, she jumped on the phone to avoid the "rush". (So there's 3, Greg.) She was knocked out by the speedy delivery, easy set-up, and friendly folks who just talked her through an issue she was having with the log card. She thinks C2 should be RUNNING THE COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I enjoy reading all these posts about the BL and the Concept2 connection.

For all of you who seem new to the forum and possibly new to rowing and want to join a great team challenge..there will be March Madness during the month of March.That is an individual challenge but sure keeps us motivated to row each day and stay focused with our goals.

Then there will be the World Rowing Challenge( WRC2009) starting March 15th.This is a TEAM challenge and loads of fun.Please check this out at the Concept2 web site.
I am the Team Captain for TEAM TIMBUK2.We rowed last year and did very well.We are an open team for all rowers..young and old..new and not so new...in shape and outta shape
It is a way to stay motivated , have fun and row with a virtual team and to make new friends here.


Join us..with no pressures to row a given number of meters..just row what you can.

We would be happy to have you on the team!!!


Pat
TIMBUK2

Sorry for this -- I'm new...

I want to do the March Madness. I'm slow but I"m a stayer! I'm curious though -- do I do my 5000m as a program workout or can I just get on and row and those meters will count?

Thanks!