Concept 2 Model D or Fluid Rower E316

[Bob S.]

I don't think Indo-Row has a great impact on Jack or Xeno as they are in 3 different geographical areas. I thought at one time Jack's facilities were part of Long Beach Rowing's center.

Well they are all in SoCal. Josh has gone nationwide, but I believe that he started in Santa Monica. I remember that at one of the Beach Sprints regattas, held at LBRA, Josh was there with a large contingent of his clients. That was some time ago and Rowbics was also well represented. It is Long Beach based, only a few miles from the club. And, of course, Xeno's Iron Oarsman was only a short distance away in Costa Mesa. I don't know if Xeno still has a brick and mortar facility any more; he is no longer at the 17th st. address in CM. Jack was with Rowbics for quite a while, but now has Powerhouse Fitness. I remember seeing him teaching a Rowbics class at the LBRA facility, and I believe that he has used it sometimes for the new Powerhouse Fitness venture, but a recent photo of PF appears to me to be in a different facility.

BTW, did you see the bunching of the GVs singles at the Charles. Under 23 raw time including bridge/bouy hits for those 78 year old youngsters! Awesome rowing.

Impressive times, certainly. It speaks well for rowing being a life long sport.

Bob S.

[SwissChief]

Used a Fluid Rower at Virgin Active in Solihull, not really sure which model it was though, will take a look when I go tomorrow. I have used Concept 2 rowers since joining the gym but I have to say the Fluid Rower is surprisingly good. Wouldn't say that it is a lot better but it is definitely more comfortable to use

[D Dog]

Used a Fluid Rower at Virgin Active in Solihull, not really sure which model it was though, will take a look when I go tomorrow. I have used Concept 2 rowers since joining the gym but I have to say the Fluid Rower is surprisingly good. Wouldn't say that it is a lot better but it is definitely more comfortable to use

At least someone agree's

[Atorrante]

Used a Fluid Rower at Virgin Active in Solihull, not really sure which model it was though, will take a look when I go tomorrow. I have used Concept 2 rowers since joining the gym but I have to say the Fluid Rower is surprisingly good. Wouldn't say that it is a lot better but it is definitely more comfortable to use

At least someone agree's

If FR is more comfortable to use, then there is clearly an advantage for the Concept2. To be comfortable, I lay in mi bed with my favorite drink, after gruelling meters on the Concept2.

[D Dog]

Used a Fluid Rower at Virgin Active in Solihull, not really sure which model it was though, will take a look when I go tomorrow. I have used Concept 2 rowers since joining the gym but I have to say the Fluid Rower is surprisingly good. Wouldn't say that it is a lot better but it is definitely more comfortable to use

At least someone agree's

If FR is more comfortable to use, then there is clearly an advantage for the Concept2. To be comfortable, I lay in mi bed with my favorite drink, after gruelling meters on the Concept2.

Okay, so comfortability is a bad thing now

Next Time I go running i'll wear shoe's that are too small, I might even wear the wife's underwear ...

[gregsmith01748]

Wife's underwear! TMI Alert !!!!!

More seriously, comfort on the erg has a lot more to do with smoothness of motion and noise level and doesn't have much relationship to how hard of a workout you get.

I've used a motley collection of rowing machines on 3 continents, and a machine that is not well maintained is very uncomfortable to use. Little pits on the rail, grains of dirt embedded on the seat rollers, a chain that clatters, a clutch that doesn't engage crisply at the catch, drag factor too low from being clogged, monitors that flop limply downward to be unreadable, machines setup on an uneven floor. The list goes on and on. Rowing on a crappy erg is like running with a stone your shoe...very distracting.

I find it is much easier to get out of my comfort zone from a training perspective if I am on a machine that is as smooth as silk. I can forget about the machine entirely and focus on my workout.

[RBFC]

The popularity of the Concept 2 rowers is certainly linked to the widespread availability of support, parts, and information. The C2 forums & logbook sites offer great tracking of your performance, and valid comparison to what others are doing across the world. The ability to virtually rebuild a C2 rower from readily-available parts is a plus. The number of folks using the C2 provides a large database for answers to common (and rare) training questions.

Clicking on the FluidRower's links for "warranty", etc. in the link from the original post returned a "File Not Found" error. If the company selling the rower is not providing the information that prospective customers would want, that should signal a problem. Having never tried a FluidRower, I have zero authority to determine if it is a "good" machine.

As always, one is free to choose.

Lee

[D Dog]

The popularity of the Concept 2 rowers is certainly linked to the widespread availability of support, parts, and information. The C2 forums & logbook sites offer great tracking of your performance, and valid comparison to what others are doing across the world. The ability to virtually rebuild a C2 rower from readily-available parts is a plus. The number of folks using the C2 provides a large database for answers to common (and rare) training questions.

Clicking on the FluidRower's links for "warranty", etc. in the link from the original post returned a "File Not Found" error. If the company selling the rower is not providing the information that prospective customers would want, that should signal a problem. Having never tried a FluidRower, I have zero authority to determine if it is a "good" machine.

As always, one is free to choose.

Lee

Yeh I'd have to agree with this to be fair. Concept 2 is definitely a much more well known brand with a significantly larger customer base. As far as the products go however, Fluid Rower still gets my vote

[AidenSmith]

The big advantage as far as I can see of the Waterrower and the Fluid Rower are that they are very quiet, which is handy in many home environments. They're also space efficient. The Fuild Rower's got variable resistance, which is an advantage as far as I'm concerned over the Waterrower. The Fluid Rower is very much an unknown quantity with regard to the warranty. I've an E316, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that should something to awry then they'll see me right. I have little doubt that the Waterrower customer service would be anything other than excellent.
In the gym I'd always use a C2. Its got one or two small flaws as an erg, but its the machine I grew up with and it may be familiarity than motivates the previous comment and affinity for it.

[Dreadnought]

Our club had Concept 2 Model C's for a long time. On of the club memebers asked for an upgrade, thinking maybe Model D or E. Instead the club purchased one of those water rowers and got rid of our Model C's without asking anyone. I kept an open mind and tried the water rower. The resistance felt totally different, and it wasn't smooth at all. Right away I couldn't see myself continuing to flail away at it without generating any significant output. Several club members complained, and one of the Model C's was brought back, but the water rower remains there, and hardly anyone uses it.

[runningsteve251]

I have been nothing but impressed with C2, I bought a used model c 17 years ago, still use it and find the online rankings a great motivator. I have needed a couple of minor parts due to breakages sustained during moving house and the C2 customer support have been absolutely fantastic. I would definatley buy another C2 when the time comes to part with my trusty model C.

[rowbike]

I have not used a water rower but was interested in then briefly when purchasing a rower. The reasons I went with the concept 2 were that 1) I had used them in the gym and was familiar with them, and quite impressed, and 2) part of what I was impressed with was the simplicity and durability of the c2, along with the availability of reasonable priced replacement parts and support.

Most of the c2's I had used at the gym had a few million meters on them, rusted chains, bent legs and dust from probably the day they were first put on the floor, yet still worked very well. Most home fitness equipment is disposable after a few years because its design is complicated, something breaks and it is too expensive or difficult to repair. Not a c2.

Maybe there is a slight trade off for some on the air vs. water resistance, but the entire c2 package was too compelling to consider anything else.

I realize you mentioned Fluidrower specifically, but on the Waterower web site they list three or four options for fixing a leaky tank, which should start to raise some questions about investing in that type of rower...

[Rockin Roland]

I would definatley buy another C2 when the time comes to part with my trusty model C.

Now that's what you call brand loyalty.

I was like that once. I just kept on buying C2 product without giving a thought to or trying other brands. Reliability, customer service and reluctance to change kept me on a C2.
However, then I started thinking about doing things better and realized that the humble C2 erg no longer served my needs. I did some research and tested numerous other ergs before deciding on another brand that was more technologically advanced than C2. I have never looked back since.

[Carl Watts]

the humble C2 erg no longer served my needs.

And thats what it really boils down to at the end of the day.

For me the Concept 2 has a massive community and if I was not able to use RowPro the product is a dead duck.