Drag conversions

[Bigtree]

First time poster here. I've used the concept rowers on and off over the years, at various gyms, and recently just started (yesterday) up again. In looking to see where I rank from my first workout yesterday. I don't see anywhere on the world ranking settings (initial page) where you put in the drag factor. Or is it adjusted within the monitor given whatever the drag factor is set at and then gives you an output time with that drag setting factored in?
My workout piece was 5000M with a drag setting of 10 and a time of 22:40. I'm 49 y.o. I also have been an outrigger paddler for about 10 years now. So i'm looking at this as a crosstraining tool when I can't get on the water.
Thanks in advance for your replies and/or suggestions going forward!
~L

[c2jonw]

The short answer is that the monitor compensates for the drag factor being used. More information here:
http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/t ... etting-101

Welcome to the forum! C2JonW

[Bigtree]

Thanks for the reply! Would it make sense that by lowering the drag would put less work on the upper body? Meaning that the fatigue factor of the upper body would lessen hence the ability to go longer distances? If so, is there a happy medium on the drag setting that gives good resistance showing for a workout without giving up too much by having too low of resistance? or does it all just boil down to a personal preference?

[Bob S.]

First time poster here. I've used the concept rowers on and off over the years, at various gyms, and recently just started (yesterday) up again. In looking to see where I rank from my first workout yesterday. I don't see anywhere on the world ranking settings (initial page) where you put in the drag factor. Or is it adjusted within the monitor given whatever the drag factor is set at and then gives you an output time with that drag setting factored in?
My workout piece was 5000M with a drag setting of 10 and a time of 22:40. I'm 49 y.o. I also have been an outrigger paddler for about 10 years now. So i'm looking at this as a crosstraining tool when I can't get on the water.
Thanks in advance for your replies and/or suggestions going forward!
~L

Re drag setting: There is no such thing. You can set the damper, but you have to find the drag factor by checking the monitor. Most folks use a drag factor in the 100-150 range, which ordinarily would require a damper setting of 2-6. The drag factor is indeed dependent on the damper setting, but it also varies somewhat with the air pressure and the temperature. However it is much more dependent on the cleanliness of the wheel cage. This is often a big issue at fitness centers where the machines are not properly maintained. Even with the damper all the way open (setting of 10) a really dirty cage could result in a drag factor of 100 or less - a damper setting of 0-1.

Bob S.

[jamesg]

is there a happy medium on the drag setting

Could be, yet to find it. What drag does is let us set the speed of the flywheel: high drag, wheel won't move, so no work done; zero drag, wheel too fast to catch up with, so no work done.

Ideal is somewhere in the middle as you say, with a flywheel speed at the catch that lets us pull a full length stroke in quick time. Then we let the boat run and have a rest, before the next stroke which is likely to be hard work. That's the point, there's more work in long strokes, so they make the boat go fast and could even get us fit if we pull enough of them.

Adjusting is easy: set the damper lever to zero, pull a few long hard strokes at rate about 20: if the flywheel is going too fast to catch up with, cautiously increase the setting.

Resistance is a different thing: the erg offers a dynamic inertial load, the opposite of static weights. The harder we pull, the more resistance the flywheel offers. Sheer Newtonian cussedness. There's no point in increasing drag, we can pull as hard as we like to accelerate the flywheel. Just use drag to slow it down so it's not going too fast next stroke.

[Citroen]

Thanks for the reply! Would it make sense that by lowering the drag would put less work on the upper body? Meaning that the fatigue factor of the upper body would lessen hence the ability to go longer distances? If so, is there a happy medium on the drag setting that gives good resistance showing for a workout without giving up too much by having too low of resistance? or does it all just boil down to a personal preference?

The happy medium gives you the following
1. A stroke where you can catch the flywheel
2. More focus on legs
3. A workout where it doesn't feel like you've been hauling a Roman galleon across the Mediterranean.

You really need to find drag factor.
Main menu --> More Options --> Display Drag Factor
then row until a number appears.

http://therowingcompany.com/training/guide/damper_lever gives some starting levels for drag factor based on age, weight and gender.
For 99.9% of your rowing it will be your personal preference. (There are some odd occasions when someone will give a prescribed drag factor to use.)