Other erg users in the gym with rubbish technique

[bonefixer]

What do you do? I've sometimes tried to offer advice, and demonstrated a better technique, but it's rarely heeded. I can't bear to see guys whack the damper up to 10 before pulling the chain at about 40spm hardly moving the handle because they return with their legs before finishing their arm pull before hooking the handle over their already fully flexed knees, getting about 2:20 pace. And the worst thing is they think they're working harder than me because my damper's only on 5 and I'm pulling at 24!

The only good thing about these folk is that they're rarely on for more than 5 minutes so I rarely have difficulty finding a seat. There is one though that pulls about 3:05 pace for 40 minutes at >30 spm. Pointless!

[Carl Watts]

Best just to shut your mouth and do your own thing !

Like you said they don't listen anyway. Perhaps if the gym has PM4's then pair up wirelessly, row together and kick their ass, then they may listen.

Even the personal trainers don't know what they are doing either, have said it before but the Erg is the least understood bit of equipment in the gym. Had I not moved on and got my own Erg and got some advice from a friend who rowed competitively OTW and joined this forum then I would also be none the wiser.

Most people in the gym just use the erg as a warm up exercise, I did. When I did do cardio it was just 15min on each of the rower, bike and elliptical stepper and I was only interested in sweating ! The main focus was weights.

[Balkan boy]

After many years of going to the gym, I've learned that offering advice about anything is useless, and sometimes counterproductive. There's also a chance you'll be labeled as the gym know-it-all who instructs everyone about everything.

People usually use the C2 for no more then 5-7 minutes, so I can bare seeing a completely wrong approach. I sometimes offer a polite hint when someone is abusing the machine, or is in risk of injury because of the horrible 'technique'. I care more about the machine, though. It's the only Model C in city, and I need it.

I've tried talking to the gym instructors about basic principals, and how to educate their clients. They are all interested at first, but not enough to get involved. I also had the wrong approach when I started to use the erg. Damper 10, 35spm and all that. It's when I searched for tips on the internet that I found how wrong I was and how doing it right is much more fun and beneficial. I believe that a certain level of self-involvment is required to see this machine as more then 'cardio'.

[hjs]

There is one gym etiquette, only when asked or when you get in danger you say something. For the rest look the other way.

[markinnb]

say nothing.

[bisqeet]

nowt wrong wi' it

[Bob S.]

Unsolicited advice is rarely welcomed and usually resented.

[Bob S.]

nowt wrong wi' it

What's the diff? He was getting a good exercise workout even if there is not much of his work going into spinning the wheel. I have a strong feeling that the actual case was that he was just deliberately providing a silly show for the video.

[jackarabit]

Not caring!

[Rowan McSheen]

Let's not get smug about how great our technique is and how crap theirs is.

We don't know the history of the guy who rows without using his legs, or the guy who walks on the treadmill, or the guy who's lifting pathetically small weights. They could well have medical or other reasons.

And tapping some guy in the gym on the shoulder and saying "'scuse me mate but you're doing that all wrong y'know" is an invitation to be briskly told to Foxtrot Oscar and possibly more.

Live and let live.

[kk20]

The only exercise machine I have at home is my C2. I have used different rowing methods to suit a workout rather than a "row". Such as locking core at 45 degrees, legs only straight pulls, arms only pulls with low back muscle use. Sure, i'll never have and excellent technique and wont win prizes but I only bought my C2 as an exercise machine. I like rowing and hate weight lifting/cross training (I row watching films with the subtitles on!). Suits me but would probably make you real rowers blow a gasket

I have looked at youtube and do use the PM3 "graph" to refine my pull (sorry I don't know the correct terms) Soon as I figure out how to upload from my PM3 (no log card but it has a USB) i'll put my results up so I don't look like a total idiot (I did q HM in 1:38 - not sparkling but I still did one without injury or major issues!). Only had it for a few months so still learning.

[robhen]

I used to erg at home until I renovated my and the wife said no more erg, my erg room became my bedroom.

So I have had to erg at my nearest gym. I am astounded at the absolutely shocking technique. The worst person started a catch with the handle near his toes and he had three kinks in his arm draw, leg drive was finished before he started drawing.

I am tempted to saying something but after reading this thread I will not.

[sekitori]

I agree that giving unsolicited advice to anyone is a bad idea. If someone thought that my technique looked fairly good and asked me for some assistance, I would say the following:

"I'm far from being an expert. I would like to help you but I'm totally unqualified to give you proper advice. Learning correct technique requires instruction from a person who is patient and has experience training people how to row. Do not ask any of the instructors in the gym for help because while they may know a lot of things about the use of exercise equipment, their knowledge of rowing is probably limited. I instead would find an expert to help with your technique. A good place to start is Concept 2. I will give you their phone number and e-mail address. Contact them and tell them you want a qualified instructor in the area where you live. I'm sure they can come up with some good ideas as to where to find one".

"Another thought would be using the Internet to find rowing instruction in your area. But I would also check with C2 to learn if they have any info about a local instructor you're thinking of hiring".

[Edward4492]

I've totally given up. Keeping in mind that I'm a personal trainer at the gym I row at, that I've held three Learn to Row seminars there, that I've conducted three, four week rowing classes there, that they see me doing 15k's where I'm on the machine for an hour, that I'm C2 certfied and on their website, and that I wear a tee shirt with my training business name and logo ERG-go! Training for High Performance Indoor Rowing (website under construction). Not that I'm the best, my technique could probably be tweaked by some of the guys that post here.

But damn, all I ever offer is " you might want to lower that arrow-thingy from #10 to #4 and give it a try". And the normal response "It's too easy on #4".

So anymore all I do is set all the dampers on #4 when I walk in and again on my way out (when there's nobody actually on the machines of course, although I've been tempted).

You know who does listen? The cross fitters. These guys and gals have been drilled on the necessity of proper technique. I've done two clinics at crossfit boxes and they soak it up. As a group they are very coach-able.

[Galeere]

But damn, all I ever offer is " you might want to lower that arrow-thingy from #10 to #4 and give it a try". And the normal response "It's too easy on #4".

Maybe it would be best to install a C-Breeze which lowers the drag quite considerably. Or stop cleaning the machines .