Concept2 Forum

Hi guys. New to the world of indoor rowing and C2 ownership. I'm a cyclist but this year I can't be bothered riding in poor weather so have bought a C2 model D with PM4 to keep me active through the winter.

I've read a few threads on how to upload rides to sites like Strava, Garmin connect etc, but just need a couple of questions answered that I couldn't find answers to doing a search. Being a PM4 I have to use a cable connection to either phone, laptop or PC. I have the phone cable coming (USB-B to USB -C) but found an old printer cable to use with a laptop. I set up an account with Concept 2 logbook and paired it with Strava and Garmin connect, however I've done a couple of rows since and the info I enter in to the logbook doesn't transfer across. When I use the concept 2 utilities site to upload the activity to the logbook, it comes up with an error saying insert log card or usb stick. I don't have a log card and can't see anywhere to put a usb stick apart from the slot already being used by the laptop. So I manually entered the activities in to the logbook. Do manually entered activities not sync up with Strava?

So related to that, once I get a cable to connect my phone, by running the Ergdata app, does that automatically save the activity to the phone and then upload it to the logbook and therefore Strava? Do I need to run the app while rowing, or can i just plug it in after the activity to upload the row? If I want to watch youtube videos, can I have the app running in the background and still track my row?

Also not a big deal on this one, but I joined the C2 group on Strava, but my rowing activities since aren't showing up on the group, however once again, they are manually entered activities. Is that the reason they aren't showing up or is there something else I need to do? Not that bothered about that one though as I didn't really buy the rower to see how I go on any leaderboard. Thats what cycling is for

I understand you are connecting PM4 and ErgData with cable? If so, you can log in to your Logbook account on ErgData and sync after workout which pushes the workouts to Logbook. If you have connected Logbook to Strava and Garmin, it will push the workouts there as well after syncing.

Ernits wrote: ↑

June 6th, 2021, 8:25 am

I understand you are connecting PM4 and ErgData with cable? If so, you can log in to your Logbook account on ErgData and sync after workout which pushes the workouts to Logbook. If you have connected Logbook to Strava and Garmin, it will push the workouts there as well after syncing.

Yet to get the cables but yes, that's the way I'm hoping it will work.

I was curious as to why the manual entries to the logbook haven't automatically synced with strava though. do manual entries not sync?

As far as I know, they don't.

Stroke-by-stroke data is needed when sharing data to Garmin Connect; we recommend using ErgData to submit your complete workout data to the Concept2 Online Logbook. (Manually entered results will not share with Garmin Connect.) Workouts shared via the Concept2 Online Logbook are not included in Garmin’s Training Status.

https://www.concept2.com/news/connectin ... ces-to-pm5

Obviously the same applies with Strava.

My phone holder and cables arrived today so I'll have a play when I get home from work tonight.

Strava finally recognised the C2 logbook. Took a couple of cycles of revoking it and reconnecting but eventually got there. Once that happened the activities synced fine.

I've done a few activities now using ergdata on my phone plugged in to the PM4. All works great although I was doing an interval workout tonight and every time it got to the recovery period the app asked if I was finished. Bit annoying. Not sure if there is a setting I missed.

So having set that up and established that it works, the only downside is you can't have the app running in the background while you watch YouTube etc. I don't actually use the live data on the app so I've bought a log card so I can upload the activities using C2 utilities. Then I can use my phone to watch online work outs.

I’m glad to hear you got connected. I’m on a PM5, so I wasn’t sure what I knew would be much help.

I also do mainly interval workouts. Generally, the rest periods of the rows I do are “active rest” where you don’t actually stop rowing, you just lower the intensity, stroke rate, or both… but you keep moving the whole time. As long as you’re moving, the “are you finished” thing shouldn’t pop up (or at least it doesn’t on mine).

There are also interval rows with undefined rest periods where you can actively spin in the rest periods, then stop briefly to click a button for the next interval and it will start on the next drive.

It’s a great machine. I was introduced to rowing as a fitness test in law enforcement (all without a proper rowing stroke then) and bought my own Model D after retiring. Once I learned how to use it, and I’m still learning, I’ve had much more appreciation for how it works and what I can do with it. Good luck on yours!

Prydey wrote: ↑

June 8th, 2021, 10:39 am

... All works great although I was doing an interval workout tonight and every time it got to the recovery period the app asked if I was finished. Bit annoying. Not sure if there is a setting I missed. "

I switched from bluetooth to using a cable with PM5. I have seen the same "are you done" message on ergdata on the rest interval, even though I row continuously during the cool down. Agree its very annoying. I don't remember seeing this in over 1M meters when using bluetooth. Pm5 new in Nov, on current firware.

For the "just row" workouts, the "are you done" message goes away if you start rowing again. For the message appearing on rest intervals I never figured out how to get rid of the message without hitting it on the touchscreen. Rowing, stopping, starting again did not remove it.

When the new erdata comes out that fixes the "data corruption" problem I may switch back to bluetooth.

For me the message disappears on all workouts equally when I start rowing again. Running Android 10.

Ernits wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2021, 8:38 am

For me the message disappears on all workouts equally when I start rowing again. Running Android 10.

I'm not sure it's connected to the rowing. Like TSnor, I didn't stop rowing. It's probably to do with how the app reads the PM4 program.

My log card arrived today so I'll switch to using that and uploading using c2 utilities.

Ernits wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2021, 8:38 am

For me the message disappears on all workouts equally when I start rowing again. Running Android 10.

You connected to Ergdata with a USB cable or Bluetooth ?

For me, message only appeared with USB cable. No message with bluetooth.

Preydey is on a PM4, so is using a cable

Tsnor wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2021, 10:21 am

Ernits wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2021, 8:38 am

For me the message disappears on all workouts equally when I start rowing again. Running Android 10.

You connected to Ergdata with a USB cable or Bluetooth ?

For me, message only appeared with USB cable. No message with bluetooth.

Preydey is on a PM4, so is using a cable

I connect with bluetooth. When I stop rowing for ~10 seconds, the prompt appears. When I start again, it goes away without the need to touch any buttons

Same here, and no problem. There are three options, one too many for binary logic, so it wants a decision. The only problem for ergdata and PM is: what do we do and when, if that sweaty heap on floor gives us no answer?

Prydey wrote: ↑

June 10th, 2021, 9:04 am

My log card arrived today so I'll switch to using that and uploading using c2 utilities.

So, I think I'll stick with ergdata.

I like data.

Uploaded a row from the log card and discovered it doesn't give the graph showing power output, heart rate etc, which means none of that is available in strava either.

So unless I upgrade to a pm5 at some point in the future, it seems ergdata suits me best in the meantime.

Even with PM5, you still need to use ErgData to get the graphs in the logbook. If you use a USB drive (replacing the log card), it will not save the data for the graphs.