Dynamic Rower for sale - has anyone tried it?

[Ultramega OK]

This thread is a total disappointment. I came expecting useful information. Instead, I read multiple posts from the trolls (read Rockin Roland et. al) whose vitriole can be explained by self interest or ignorance and a scattered few posts from folks like Jon and Xeno who are actually trying to highlight the differences between these machines.

I think C2 is to be commended on one hand for being so committed to free speech, but some effective moderation, like no bashing C2 machines because this is, after all C2's forum, would be appreciated by those of us who are both happy with our C2 products and tired of seeing all this blatant troll marketing.

Thanks.

Seriously? Why would you consider the thread a disappointment? I would not consider Roland a troll. He has his own opinion and he has contributed information to the thread. I agree that C2 has been very generous in allowing open discussion on their forum. That said I expect that from a company that has a rich history of making an outstanding product and backing it up with some of the best customer service I have ever seen.

[carlb]

There is NO DOUBT that a dynamic rowing machine will make you aware of hamstrings and hinging at the hip joint. IF YOU DON'T FEEL the difference, that means you don't get the forward body angle at the hip joint and you VERY LIKELY draw the foot board back by lifting the knees and not contracting the hamstrings.

Does anyone have any tips or pointers on how to do that? .... Like during recovery focus on "getting hands over knees" or "pulling the heals towards the seat" or "rolling feet back onto toes". Any positional queues?

[xenotheolympian]

Hello CarlB

The forum has a lot of people who can give you pointers.
My business is coaching. Rowers send me their 4 minute footage and I do a slow motion study of their stroke and explain what type of exercises are done to improve posture and rowing technique.
I found that many people I first watch have technical PROBLEMS that can lead to chronic fatigue of certain areas of the body. The SOLUTION is a video study which is extremely effective and steers the rowers clear from pitfalls that can have long lasting setbacks.

Have a read on my website www.xenorowingcoach.com

Sincerely,

Xeno

[slwiser]

Ordered Dynamic C2 PM4 today. Looking forward to new workout and better glut and hamstring work.

[carlb]

Ordered Dynamic C2 PM4 today.

Re assembly:
-The instrux look like a lot but it goes together very well. Just read 'em
-Leave the seat tied down with the plastic wrap until you have the front leg on and bolted in, which is about the last step. Then cut the seat lose and screw in the bungee. IMO that aligns the bungee bolt holes so easier to get bolt in.
-When mounting the front leg careful to not get the seat rope pinched between front leg and bottom rail.
-On top of the front leg goes a plastic cap that keeps the seat rope aligned with the top pulley. I found it hard to get in...worked best for me to align it correctly then put one palm on each side and just press down with my body weight. Pounding in didn't work well.
-Until the front leg is on I stuck a box under the bottom rail so it was about level, I thought it made it easier

When you have the rowing technique right (especially the proper recovery of arms out, hips and body forward, then legs in) you oscillate twice on the seat bungee and it has a nice feeling timing. The BioRow article in one of my prior posts covers this.

Good luck, enjoy.

[slwiser]

Thanks for the insights; it is the small things that really help like the pushing with your weight instead of pounding, etc.

[slwiser]

Which video demonstrates best the "hinging at the hip joint" thanks.

[carlb]

Which video demonstrates best the "hinging at the hip joint" thanks.

I like the technique section on the UK site.
http://concept2.co.uk/training/technique

There is a Faults & Corrections video that is very helpful. These are the still shots of Knees up early, so hands are not leading the recovery and its hard to tilt the hips
http://concept2.co.uk/training/faults_corrections#tip7

On YouTube there are some great new videos with C2's Greg Hammond. Here's one and it hits on recovery. Seems like the rower could be leaning forward a bit more in recovery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-GmeKNg ... re=related

At top is link to 53 vids by solidbodyfit

[slwiser]

Ordered Monday got it today. I hope I have all the cords in the right places. This was a much different assembly than the Model E, especially since my son did the first one when I was at work and I did this one. The Model E was in working condition when I came into the room. Since my wife thinks I have two left hands and a backward brain when it comes to putting things together with a screw driver, I guess I did OK.

[slwiser]

I have had my Dynamic about two weeks now. It really is good for my back. My leg muscles and gluts can be felt more sore; i.e., building more than even on the slides. To apply pressure on the stretcher requires good technique and this is something else I was wanting to be forced into since being lazy is easier on the static although less so on the slides. Being lazy is of course bad for the back.

It has not been much of a problem moving from the slides to the Dynamic for me. Much less of an issue than going from the static to the slides that I had back last fall. The Dynamic sounds a little different from the older machines. I guess this comes from the extra pulley mechanisms that are being worked. I did not notice this until my wife noted it. It is slightly louder. I got on the site and listened to others rowing on the machine and I can clearly hear the difference, just was not listening for it apparently.

I watched Carlos Dinares video on the Concept Dynamic and his stating that it does not provide for fitness and that you can't do work. This just isn't so. He clearly is pushing his machine hard and apparently is really afraid of this new Dynamic machine with the claims he makes. This is probably a great encouragement for those understanding the dynamics of what Carlos is doing in disrespecting the new Concept Dynamic machine with such wild and unsupported statements.

For myself I am very happy I moved to the Dynamic. I don't see any drawbacks for what I am doing.

[JRBJR]

Thanks for the more than cursory evaluation of the C2 Dynamic erg, slwiser. I've been sitting on the sidelines for months, reading internet posts and watching videos, mulling over whether or not to ditch my Model C and slides for the Dynamic or one of the new Rowperfect models. Still haven't located a Dynamic nearby that I can try out for myself.

I assume from your favorable comments that you are able to achieve a satisfactorily smooth momentum using the rolling weighted footrest on the Dynamic. Previous reports have indicated problems with this part of the machine.

I got a kick out of that fact that all the negative things Carlos has said about the C2 Dynamic are based on his videotaped 10-second ride. You'd think he would have given it at least a minute or two if he were going to base his ongoing RP3 pitches on such a brief experience. Especially when the RP3 costs about $2000 USD more than the Dynamic.

[slwiser]

I assume from your favorable comments that you are able to achieve a satisfactorily smooth momentum using the rolling weighted footrest on the Dynamic. Previous reports have indicated problems with this part of the machine.

Sorry, I am not sure I can make a statement concerning the "smooth momentum" issue. It is smooth to me and it does feel a little different from the other C2s which I have used. I have very little context other than the other C2 machines I have used for comparison. The Dynamic certainly requires leg acceleration on the stretcher over using the back to pull the chain to get the action right.

[jameshs]

I posted this short review on the C2UK forum - and it was suggested that it might go well here ....


So I hummed and hawd, red reviews and ordered one!

I have been finding rythm in the boat and certainly the reports that I had read implied that the rythm and movement on the dynamic were closer to the boat than a C2.

Delivery & customer handling did not cover C2 in glory (how hard can it be to deliver 2 boxes) but those memories should fade

Building the beast is straightforward - strange because there are all the same bits, but just in an odd configuration. Took about an hour, but I love building things!

It is certainly a different looking bit of kit (not in a good way) .... but again that is not the point

Hopping on is a different experience - the seat is high off the floor (I think more like an E) and the handle is held in the foot plate, which moves!

I use a seat cushion so put that on, set up the drag factor to 130 (I have never used a brad new anything before - so that was exciting!) and decided to do a 2K warm up ready for a 5K slow row.

The experience is COMPLETELY different to a static erg. Not having to shift the body weight up and down the slide is really a very different experience and one that will take awhile to get used to.

In the warm up exercise the thing that took getting used to was the fact that hands away and body rock are slightly harder to perform and will take a bit of getting used to - while sliding around! (different to the C2 on slides as the machine inertia was large compared to this machine). By the time I was at 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 etc I found it very hard to control my rate - it is impossibly easy to rate 30+ without meaning to, and I had to really concentrate to get the rate down.

By the end of 2K warm up I felt happier on the machine, and launched into a 5K R20 session.

I never managed to get as low as the R20 as the machine is just so different and I just could not settle to reduce the rate. The rate does not come at no cost as I watched my HR raise in line with where I would naturally sit. By the end of the 5K I was getting more able to control rate/pace and concentrating really hard on technique.

A 3K warm down saw equal difficulty controlling the rate as I am just so used to hauling my body up and down and a long turnaround - which just does not exist on the dynamic - rating 40 is extremely easy to achieve!

The feel during the row is much more like being in a single - throughout the stroke I felt MUCH LESS STABLE and therefore my front core had to work much harder at stabilizing throughout the stroke. When I use the core perform seat on the static I can feel the muscles in my lower back working harder - on the dynamic I felt the whole of my front and side core engaged in controlling the whole stroke - to a point where those muscles were giving me the 'burn' (not uncomfortably) and requiring a lot more thought in whole body use rather than just legs.

I found the whole experience mush more like OTW than I had expected.

Second session repeated the first but I split the 5K with bursts of 100m every 1K - I am no superman, but easily managed to maintain 45SPM and 1:35 splits with a reasonably good rythm and the same kind of rythm that I would be looking for in a boat.

It still felt strange that I am not moving up and down, but it is MUCH more like the boat coming under you.

So I need to understand more about where to change the power application during the drive (you can't just beast it like on the fixed) and how to control the rate ..... staying at 20 spm is quite difficult with the rate creeping up all the time.

The machine is more clunky, does not sit up nicely (in fact they do not recommend upright storage) but lots about it is familiar.

The fan is well placed to give your back a bit of a blow, while being far enough away to avoid any dripping (I sweat lots and there was NO sweat on the fan - only the rail). Good to be able to reach the damper lever and the monitor!

After 2 sessions I am happy that I think this more accurately simulates the OTW experience and will help my OTW - but I do not think it would help OTE as is is so different, but I will perhaps do a comparison in 3 months or so when I have only been using the dynamic and then do a session on the fixed.

Have not pimped the machine yet - used the HR interface (from my polar) which worked the same as my old PM3, and will see if the core perform can attach!

James

[pittsjock]

Thank you. Great informative review - that is what this threaded needed!

[jeremyg]

James, thanks for the detailed review on the C2. like some others on the thread I have been reading various blogs to get a better view on the pro's and cons of the various dynamic rowers and am torn between the c2 and the oartec slider.
I am not a rower, but am switching sports having played a lot of rugby in my past and am looking to get into a new sport that will enable me to maintain my fitness and build muscle strength and endurance, whilst reducing wear and tear on my lower back.
I live in Toronto and have been unable to test either the C2 or the oartec, so would appreciate any inputs on both machines
Jeremy