Dynamic Rower for sale - has anyone tried it?

[slwiser]

Two items jump out at me for being possible after market additions for someone to develop.

1. Sweat panel over the fan.

2. Weight bar loop on a little heavier handle holder so anyone desiring to add mass can change the feel of their own dynamic rower. This would have some impact on the inerta at the catch and return.

[JRBJR]

I too was wondering if C2 will provide a cover for the Dynamic Erg flywheel. I always keep my static erg's flywheel covered with the standard cover when it's not in use to minimize dust buildup inside. I envisioned something like a plastic hairnet cover with an elasticized inner band.

[Carl Watts]

Well went to the World Champs final on Saturday expecting to see the new C2 Dynamic Erg at the stands and was a little disapointed to see just a Model D and Model E.

The feedback I get is the new Erg is really aimed at OTW rowers with good existing technique. If you don't row well is sounds like you have trouble with or look a bit out of kilter on the Dynamic.

[James Befry]

Well went to the World Champs final on Saturday expecting to see the new C2 Dynamic Erg at the stands and was a little disapointed to see just a Model D and Model E.

I thought for sure it would be there given that C2 strategically blocked both Rowperfect and Oartec from exhibiting at the Worlds in NZ.

I guess they decided they aren't ready yet judging by all the negative feedback.

[Tinus]

2. Weight bar loop on a little heavier handle holder so anyone desiring to add mass can change the feel of their own dynamic rower. This would have some impact on the inerta at the catch and return.

3. Adding a gear to the flywheel. (If they haven done already. I know they only did it with the B.)

[Bob S.]

3. Adding a gear to the flywheel. (If they haven done already. I know they only did it with the B.)

The drag factor on the B was to high, even with the damper fully closed, on account of the open cage. With the more fully enclosed cage of the later models, the use of the damper alone provides a wide drag factor range, so no additional gear setting is needed.

Bob S.

[Tinus]

3. Adding a gear to the flywheel. (If they haven done already. I know they only did it with the B.)

The drag factor on the B was to high, even with the damper fully closed, on account of the open cage. With the more fully enclosed cage of the later models, the use of the damper alone provides a wide drag factor range, so no additional gear setting is needed.

Bob S.

The change of damper setting is not a change of gear but a change of drag. For a true rowing machine a real gear adjustment would be beneficial. I like the heavy gear because it allows me to row at low drag (just tie a towel around the open cage) with high resistance which feels much the same like a eight which has relatively low drag as well.

Also, the larger sprung of the B is the same size as the sprung on the C. The reduction of drag (lighter) would be no reason to eliminate the smaller (heavier) gear. It does not allow the same range of resistance. The B is much heavier.

[slwiser]

Has anyone received the DIR yet?

What is the expected delivery time if you order now?

[Bob S.]

Has anyone received the DIR yet?

What is the expected delivery time if you order now?

You can probably find out by calling C2.

Bob S.

[JRBJR]

We know from C2's blog that the Dynamic Ergs started shipping in late November and they are manufacturing them at a rate of at least five a day to fill existing orders. So obviously a number of customers have already received and are using the new erg.

I count myself among those who would really like to hear some feedback from these early owners. How easy is it to unpack and install? How does the erg feel when compared with a static erg by itself or on slides? Is, as C2 claims, the new erg's action similar to that of a static erg on slides? Can they establish a smooth movement on the new erg (as opposed to the somewhat jerky movements often displayed in pre-final production erg videos)? Are they happy they took the plunge?

[slwiser]

I am not sure that any have shipped yet...

[JRBJR]

C2 confirms that they have in fact been shipping the dynamic erg to both US and non-domestic customers for several weeks, and that the feedback so far has been very positive. Just waiting to see it on this forum.

These early customer have included university rowing teams. Think I might check the Stanford teams' facility to find out if they've received one and if it is available for a "test drive" by non-students.

[johnlvs2run]

I thought for sure it would be there given that C2 strategically blocked both Rowperfect and Oartec from exhibiting at the Worlds in NZ.

All the proprietary talk, and blocking competitors is quite offputting and a huge negative against any C2 machine.

I wouldn't consider a C2 dynamic erg. Just looking at how awkward many of Europe's top scullers looked on one of the Youtube videos is enough to put me off it.

Yes, and they're all rowing at a very slow rate.

I've yet to see anyone rowing on one at a regular race rate and pace, i.e. 36 to 43 spm.

I enjoyed rowing with the modelsBCD on slides, but the motion of the new dynamic erg looks ridiculous.

Does it even have a name? Model F?

[Slidewinder]

C2 strategically blocked both Rowperfect and Oartec from exhibiting...etc

I suggest that the introduction of the C2 dynamic erg prototype before it was ready for production was similarly motivated. The strategy would be to encourage the C2 faithful to wait - don't purchase either the Oartec or the Rowperfect - the C2 machine will soon be available. The C2 dynamic erg prototype development and testing could have been done in a less public way, but that wouldn't have had the desired effect of hurting competitors' sales during that period.

[JRBJR]

Perhaps you're correct and part of the reason C2 appeared to rush the release of their dyanamic erg in December 2010 was to prevent existing C2 erg customers from migrating to the RowPerfect or Oartec Slider alternatives. I'm sure Christmas season sales were another consideration.

However, there have been some interesting posts on the Rowing Illustrated forum that suggest that any C2 rush to finish and productize their dynamic erg was unnecessary, particularly with regard to the new Australian and Belgian models of the RowPerfect. It appears that the Australian model will be manufactured in small numbers and produced for Australian customers only for the foreseeable future (some speculate this restriction was imposed by Cas, the late Belgian designer of the Rowperfect RP3, who didn't want the Australian model that used his innovations to compete with his market). And since Cas's recent passing, there is speculation that production and distribution of the RP3 has been scaled back significantly. There is also the issue of the comparatively high price for the RP3 as compared to the C2 dynamic erg.

Of course, C2 still has to contend with the Oartec Slider, which has gotten good user reviews and is very competitively priced. But I don't know how many they're prepared to manufacture. And, as others have noted, the potential global and US market for dynamic ergs is extremely small compared to the market for static ergs. Most erg buyers simply aren't even aware of or concerned with issues of better OTW simulation or possible back injury/strain considerations.