What Attracts People To The Rowing Machine

[badass916sp]

I'm an outrigger canoe paddler and I'm using the rowing marathon training program to help me build endurance for my longer events on the water.

Anyway, a rather funny or irritating story:

Whenever I start using the erg, somebody else usually shows up and does so as well.

So I'm well into my piece, have a nice rythmn, am watching my HR zone etc.

Then this woman comes over and starts rowing in such a way that my rhythm is totally off. She flails her arms around and lets the chain retract so fast that it makes a ZOOP sound. She uses an underhanded grip and her arms are waving up and down with each stroke-- it's very ineffecient.

The two ergs are so close together. My gym isn't big and there's not a lot of space.

Then she tries to copy my stroke rating, which happens to be at about 29-30spm. At this point it takes all my concentration to focus on my rowing and ignore her. It's like I am in a canoe and someone is totally out of time.

So I starting counting my strokes in my head and that helps and also I even closed my eyes. Finally she disappears and I'm back on track.

Then the next time I show up a few days later she is back there again. This time I brought my hat and I pull it down way over my eyes.

We all started somewhere, but this kind of rowing really makes me cringe. Just wanted to share.

alexxx

[jamesg]

Try rowing full length strokes at rating 20 for an hour, see if she copies that. You'll probably both get fitter too.

Ladies can be very good if they want to and know how:
http://www.britishrowing.org/rowing-stroke

[Montanaandy]

I can relate to your experiences in the gym with other "rowers". Most of the gyms that I have visited while traveling just have one C2 although sometimes there are 2. That would drive me nuts if someone got on an adjacent machine and did what they did.

The C2's are in many instances placed somewhere as an afterthought because what normally happens is what you described - someone gets on the machine and tries to row like crazy on a 8-10 damper setting, either exhausts themselves or injures themselves, and never returns to the C2. After a while (after people have had their chance to try the C2 but realize that there is more to it than just jumping on the machine and flailing away) the machine often is tucked away in a corner of the gym (I often find them abutted against the mirrors along a wall). The machines are often poorly maintained - I get a black look when I ask for some chain oil or some windex and paper towels to clean the rail. Montanaandy

[sander]

If it's the same lady every time she might not be attracted to the rowing machine but to you. Have you considered it?

[lapresle]

Use it as an opportunity to develop focus and ignore distractions.