Why Is Rowing The Best Sport?

[[old] Xeno]

Let's compile a list why rowing is the best exercise. <br /><br />Here is mine: Low impact workout.

[[old] dadams]

Hits just about every major muscle group.

[[old] Bayko]

Adding the qualifiers of Erging (rather than a boat), and making the commitment of buying your own for your home:<br /><br />Getting to do one of the best cardio workouts without having to fight darkness, coldness, slippery footing, or the time-consumption of driving somewhere to exercise. No excuses--walk into another room of the house and exercise!<br /><br />Rick

[[old] easyoars]

While rowing is definitely an exercise for all parts of the body, could you please explain "low impact"? I feel pooped rowing a certain distance, when compared with running the same distance.

[[old] DIESEL]

<!--QuoteBegin-easyoars+Feb 18 2005, 10:57 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(easyoars @ Feb 18 2005, 10:57 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->While rowing is definitely an exercise for all parts of the body, could you please explain "low impact"? I feel pooped rowing a certain distance, when compared with running the same distance. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />your joints don't take a beating on the erg. Only your muscles, your lungs and your ticker! <br /><br />The impact from running eventually starts to wear down your joints especially in the lower body. That's not a problem in rowing. <br /><br />

[[old] Cran]

You get to wear lycra

[[old] michaelb]

Although there has been conflicting info here and elsewhere, I continue to believe that rowing is the only aerobic sport that also builds strength and muscle mass. Not a lot, but I haven't lost much muscle in 7 years, and subjectively believe that I am stronger in my back and core muscles (and my traps are bigger for sure).<br /><br />I think the deep leg bend increases joint flexibility and strength in the knee, and can help reduce injury or trauma caused by more explosive movements like jumping. While I don't know if rowing increased my jumping, I know it increased my endurance for jumping repeatedly when I was blocking and hitting in volleyball. So I think rowing is the best cross training for any sport that depends on strong and/or explosive motion of the legs or body core. Now that it is winter and I am skiing, rowing is great training for the deep leg bends of telemark skiing.<br /><br />To be fair, though, we should also create a list as to why rowing strapped into a machine and staring into a tiny computer screen that relentlessly monitors your every stroke for any sign of weakness, is the worst possible form of exercise too.

[[old] DIESEL]

I can definitely vouch for what michael b is saying. It'll give you crazy biceps, back and hamstring strength and give you massive thighs. You can look at mine, if I ever get around to posting a pic or someone like Xeno's - big tree trunks for sure. <br /><br />and yes it retains muscle mass big time. Rowing is inherently anabolic - it's so demanding as to stimulate test production - which keeps you muscular. This of course, assumes you are eating enough - but I think rowing produces enough hunger pangs where that isn't really a problem. <br /><br />D

[[old] Janice]

The fact that do you not only get a cardio workout, but it seriously tones your muscles as well.<br /><br />Oh..<br /><br />Tall guys with really nice legs in lycra <br /><br />

[[old] RacerX]

Assuming we are talking best sport for fitness, then it comes down to rowing or swimming for me. Both are low/no impact enough to prevent injury. Both are intense cardio workouts. Both work major muscle group. Both can be done outside. In my view rowing hits my legs much harder and is therefore more balanced with the upper body work. <br /><br />Otherwise:<br /><br />1. Best sport that I'll never do - Formula 1. Speed, umbrella girls, unbelievable amounts on money. In fact this also gets my vote for "sport most unlike rowing" now that i think about it. <br /><br />and<br /><br />2. Best fitness non-sport - Vinyasa Flow Yoga (If I could only do one thing this would be it).<br /><br />Now, where is my umbrella girl....<br /><br />Aaron

[[old] akit110]

Given that most regular people are hard pressed to do the recommended balance of separate strength, cardio and flexibility workouts consistently throughout their lives, rowing gives them as close to one-stop shopping as you're going to get in terms of an exercise modality. Plus it gives it to them in rough proportion to their respective contribution to overall health and longevity (i.e. cardio>strength>flexibility).

[[old] Steve_R]

<!--QuoteBegin-Bayko+Feb 18 2005, 10:22 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Bayko @ Feb 18 2005, 10:22 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Adding the qualifiers of Erging (rather than a boat), and making the commitment of buying your own for your home: <br /> </td></tr></table><br />When I was looking for my home workout machine everything pointed me to the erg:<br />- It is always 75 degF in my house<br />- full body workout and muscle toning<br />- low impact<br />- just step into the other room to exercise<br />- great CV conditioning<br />- I will never out perform the erg<br /><br />What I didn't expect:<br />- the feeling of burning muscles and lungs after a 2k is a good thing <br />- I could enjoy a 60min workout<br />- I would complete a HM<br />- I now want to get on the water<br /><br />Steve

[[old] cityeast]

<!--QuoteBegin-DIESEL+Feb 18 2005, 12:18 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(DIESEL @ Feb 18 2005, 12:18 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I can definitely vouch for what michael b is saying.  It'll give you crazy biceps, back and hamstring strength and give you massive thighs.  You can look at mine, if I ever get around to posting a pic or someone like Xeno's - big tree trunks for sure.  <br /><br />D <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Well, bigger "stumps" is what I really don't need, mine have grown big enough from hill-climb cycling. Thats why I am tending to stick to 10K/60min routines, which not only seem to be my niche rows but also help with my weight loss goals. <br /><br />But keeping with the topic: <br /><br />1. C2 rowing has virtually no "consumables" - ie with running you need new shoes every X km, cycling you need new tyres, chains, etc. The C2 just needs oil and TLC, and even that in small doses. About the only thing you might chew through is shorts! <br /><br />2. Because most people use a C2, fitness/performance is directly comparable, as opposed to lets say cycling where a big $$$ bike can give a big advantage. <br /><br />

[[old] Mark Keating]

Indoor rowing is the best sport because it is the only one that can be performed in a crowded, dimly lit garage, squeezed amongst 15 years of garage sale items at -20C and still be enjoyable enough to make me want to do it again.<br /><br />Mark

[[old] neilb]

<!--QuoteBegin-Mark Keating+Feb 19 2005, 09:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Mark Keating @ Feb 19 2005, 09:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Indoor rowing is the best sport because it is the only one that can be performed in a crowded garage, <br />Mark <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Mark,<br /><br />Is this the first recorded time that someone doing indoor rowing training has attracted a capacity crowd?