Packed Gym!

[old] jus gray · Post by **[old] jus gray** » December 1st, 2004, 4:27 am

Went to the gym yesterday evening and the place was packed out over 40 people all the runners, bikes and steppers were full and the weights part to, I glanced over to the rowers and guess what not anyone on the 5 machines ? Do people not realise the benefits of rowing? Or are we missing something? Cheers.

[old] Carl Henrik · Post by **[old] Carl Henrik** » December 1st, 2004, 4:46 am

I've had the same impression from the gym world. I think rowing is too "strange" for people to try out, and then there is the worry about: doing something noone else does, looking funny, doing it wrong, possibly hurting oneself, sitting at a lower level while everybody is standing or sitting at a higher around, making noise At one gym however I guess the manager had decided that more people, or at least men, should row. So He had put mirrors in front of the ergs and the womens stairmachines (come on, only women use them) behind the rowers and facing the other way. That way, anyone who decided to row had a great view of the ladies behinds. Needless to say, the ergs were very popular...amongst men. And the stair machines were actually quite popular with the ladies.

[old] DIESEL · Post by **[old] DIESEL** » December 1st, 2004, 5:01 am

Most people get on the rowers, and not having a clue that there is an actual technique to it, flail away for awhile with splits in the low 3's high 2:50's (usually with the drag on 10) before they decide it's too "easy" and go back to the other "cardio" machines. When they do see someone who does know how to row, some may be curious and ask you for some technique pointers. Then they realize how hard it is and never touch the machine again. This is why when I erg in a commercial gym I always wear headphones... it's my not so subtle "leave me alone" sign...no use stopping a row for some dabbler who 9 times out of 10 will never touch the erg again. Catch me before I start or after the piece... The one I get a lot lately, is what I call the male ego check. You'll be doing a longish piece and some guy will see you working up a good sweat.... He'll figure, damn that dude is working hard.. let me try what he's doing.... so of course he'll hop on the erg next to yours and fiddles with the PM until he's hitting the same readout you are.. he'll take a few clumsy strokes trying to match what you are doing. He'll struggle for a while at like 30spm and Drag 10 to get under 2:00 to match what you are stroking at 20-22 - you notice this, and sadistic bastard you are, you decide to have some fun with him.. and start accelerating up to 26spm to see what happens... sure enough this guy is having a major coronary trying to keep up with his sloppy technique.. This will go on for 3-4 minutes until he has to stop utterly spent.... he gets off the erg quietly and leaves.... Or have you ever gotten this one - when I see some little 120 lb. woman struggling to get the flywheel spinning at Drag 10, and I suggest to her the wonders of low drag rowing - they tell me this is how "my trainer told me to do it" all the while stroking with PALMS TURNED UP. I never really understood the logic of that one. It's like doing Bench Presses with a reverse grip just because someone told you so. It's wrong and you could screw up your joints.. but hey, "my trainer told me to do it like this!! " Face it, most people DO NOT like to work hard. This goes for most people in the gym. I have the feeling a majority of people who go to the gym a) have no idea what they are doing and hence get little to no results, and quit in frustration or go dutifully, but not because they like it, but more because they feel they have to (or else they'll get fat or whatnot) - sadly this is the case with a lot of people I see given the passionless half-assed way they exercise. And then of course there are the nutjobs like myself. I enjoy the searing anaerobic pain. I REALLY LIKE THAT ROWING IS SO DAMN HARD. And the fact that it is so technical and difficult explains why ergs at most commercial gyms collect serious dust. Maybe Nietzsche was right about that not killing you making you stronger.

[old] jus gray · Post by **[old] jus gray** » December 1st, 2004, 9:40 am

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (DIESEL @ Dec 1 2004, 04:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> Most people get on the rowers, and not having a clue that there is an actual technique to it, flail away for awhile with splits in the low 3's high 2:50's (usually with the drag on 10) before they decide it's too "easy" and go back to the other "cardio" machines. When they do see someone who does know how to row, some may be curious and ask you for some technique pointers. Then they realize how hard it is and never touch the machine again. This is why when I erg in a commercial gym I always wear headphones... it's my not so subtle "leave me alone" sign...no use stopping a row for some dabbler who 9 times out of 10 will never touch the erg again. Catch me before I start or after the piece... The one I get a lot lately, is what I call the male ego check. You'll be doing a longish piece and some guy will see you working up a good sweat.... He'll figure, damn that dude is working hard.. let me try what he's doing.... so of course he'll hop on the erg next to yours and fiddles with the PM until he's hitting the same readout you are.. he'll take a few clumsy strokes trying to match what you are doing. He'll struggle for a while at like 30spm and Drag 10 to get under 2:00 to match what you are stroking at 20-22 - you notice this, and sadistic bastard you are, you decide to have some fun with him.. and start accelerating up to 26spm to see what happens... sure enough this guy is having a major coronary trying to keep up with his sloppy technique.. This will go on for 3-4 minutes until he has to stop utterly spent.... he gets off the erg quietly and leaves.... Or have you ever gotten this one - when I see some little 120 lb. woman struggling to get the flywheel spinning at Drag 10, and I suggest to her the wonders of low drag rowing - they tell me this is how "my trainer told me to do it" all the while stroking with PALMS TURNED UP. I never really understood the logic of that one. It's like doing Bench Presses with a reverse grip just because someone told you so. It's wrong and you could screw up your joints.. but hey, "my trainer told me to do it like this!! " Face it, most people DO NOT like to work hard. This goes for most people in the gym. I have the feeling a majority of people who go to the gym a) have no idea what they are doing and hence get little to no results, and quit in frustration or go dutifully, but not because they like it, but more because they feel they have to (or else they'll get fat or whatnot) - sadly this is the case with a lot of people I see given the passionless half-assed way they exercise. And then of course there are the nutjobs like myself. I enjoy the searing anaerobic pain. I REALLY LIKE THAT ROWING IS SO DAMN HARD. And the fact that it is so technical and difficult explains why ergs at most commercial gyms collect serious dust. Maybe Nietzsche was right about that not killing you making you stronger.  </td></tr></table> Awesome reply there mate ! The other day I was going for my pb at 5000m when a guy gets on next to me and starts giving me some weird looks because I`m in enjoyable pain, when he starts rowing I nearly pissed myself laughing at the technique this guy had, the bar on return was dropping to his feet then he would drag it back up, looked a right twat, then about 2 minutes later he got of quietly and ran to the safety of the bikes...lol Hence because this guy got on and ruined my concentration I failed my pb but had a good laugh inside all the same. At least even in a packed gym I`m gaureented my rower to be their waiting for me

[old] afolpe · Post by **[old] afolpe** » December 1st, 2004, 9:51 am

i split my time between rowing at home and at the gym at the university where i work (i'm at a university hospital- it's a fabulous perk to have a huge gym right next door). the rowers get used a fair amount by the crew team- fabulous motivation to try to keep up with a bunch of college students (actually, they are fast in short pieces but fade badly at the longer distances- maybe one's endurance improves as you age, up to a point?). almost all my pb's have come working out at the same time as the crew team- i get all competitive. most of the non-crew team people who use it are just hopeless- i've tried to give them some pointers, but they don't seem to have a clue at all. a few people make these elaborate circles with their hands from the finish back to the catch, or pull from their ankles up to their heads. i have no idea how they find this comfortable. what's weird is that there is this huge C2 poster right there showing them how to do it properly, plus it's right on the machine as well. there's also a good sized contingent of guys with beach muscles who get on for about 2 minutes, and then figure out that it's not quite as easy as it looks. i always have my ipod on, so they leave me alone. andrew

[old] Byron Drachman · Post by **[old] Byron Drachman** » December 1st, 2004, 10:00 am

Diesel wrote: "Face it, most people DO NOT like to work hard. This goes for most people in the gym. " While we’re complaining about the usual group of slackers at the gym, did you ever notice how many people cheat on the Stairmaster? A typical cheater can put the hands down low on the rails, lock the elbows, thereby hanging on the rails, and just wiggle the feet up and down, doing just about no work. People can do this for a very long time and not even break into a sweat. Often there would be a waiting list to use the Stairmasters, while the C2's were always available. Byron

[old] gaffano · Post by **[old] gaffano** » December 1st, 2004, 10:01 am

Shhhhhhhhhhh..........not so loud.........I am happy they are afraid of them. I am always guaranteed immediate workout.

[old] Daren C · Post by **[old] Daren C** » December 1st, 2004, 10:15 am

Aye, Byron, that too. If I ever use a stepper, I keep my hands down by my side (or maybe swing my arms a little). Holding on to the handle anywhere makes it easier, I think.

[old] Canoeist · Post by **[old] Canoeist** » December 1st, 2004, 12:00 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (DIESEL @ Dec 1 2004, 09:01 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> most people DO NOT like to work hard. This goes for most people in the gym.  </td></tr></table> Isn't this why the British have "leisure centers" instead of "gyms"? Paul Flack

[old] Coach Gus · Post by **[old] Coach Gus** » December 1st, 2004, 12:19 pm

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE (Carl Henrik @ Dec 1 2004, 12:46 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'> stairmachines (come on, only women use them)  </td></tr></table> Isn't this the machine Ranger trains on for hours?

[old] ccwenk · Post by **[old] ccwenk** » December 1st, 2004, 12:38 pm

I have started using a company gym that has 6 ergometers, Model C's with PM1. Surprisingly enough, there seem to be quite a few regular users, though I have only seen 3 who seem to know what they are doing. The rest are generally on for 10 minutes or less and have pretty awful technique. Knees break before the finish, hands at the body while sliding then over the raised knees, elbows bent during the leg drive...etc. I have seen the trainers take people over to the machines during an orientation and show them how to use it. All the trainers have pretty decent technique, but they always seem to leave the damper at 10, and never make any suggestions to the "students" about improving technique. Do any of you ever offer tips to people without being asked? There is one guy in particular who is on the machine every day for 10-15minutes, pulling 2:25+ at 29spm. He is clearly a fit guy, since I have seen him on the treadmill running at sub 7min miles for 30min or more. I just want to point out to him that he could be a lot more efficient if he made some changes to his technique. I would also like to tell the trainers that they should be having people start out using lower damper settings. Yesterday was the first time that I have seen the palms up method. Very freakish.

[old] Byron Drachman · Post by **[old] Byron Drachman** » December 1st, 2004, 5:01 pm

<table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'>QUOTE </td></tr><tr><td class='quote'>I just want to point out to him that he could be a lot more efficient if he made some changes to his technique.  </td></tr></table> I try not to give unsolicited advice but there are times when I can't resist. What I would do is make small talk a few times so we were sort of friendly, and then sometime say something like "Say, would you like me to pass along a couple of rowing tips I picked up from some experts?" Byron

[old] Tom_Pinckney · Post by **[old] Tom_Pinckney** » December 3rd, 2004, 12:44 pm

What I'm reading here is exactly what I see in my gym. I find it quite funny when someone (not familiar with the machine) tries to prove his manhood when they get on and try to "beat you." Interesting that the best two pieces of equipment in my gym are the Nordic Trac & the Concept2 Rower. Few people use either one of them. There are no pieces of equipment that will get your heart rate up and keep it there better (I checked them with a heart-rate monitor). Obviously, it does take some co-ordination to use either machine (but not much). Most people want a "quick fix" and are not willing to take the time to learn OR do something properly. Thus - they get on the other machines. Funny...to me it is better to get a full body workout (the rower & ski machines give it to you) than to mess around with the machines that give you less than an optimam (sp?) workout!

[old] covingtb · Post by **[old] covingtb** » December 3rd, 2004, 3:16 pm

I am noticing the same thing... funny. I just started to holiday challenge and want to row 10k a day, which has been fine for the past 5 days... I have run marathons in the past and usually do my aerobic workouts for at least 45 minutes. The other day this guy looked at me as if I had 4 heads and smirked like I was doing something wrong and it wasn't the stroke it was working out for that long (which in terms of this board is nothing). The gym has its fair share of extremely interesting human beings. But, hey rowing can be painful but seeing cute women in the gym while rowing is always nice. Although, my girlfriend wouldn't be happy.... she would just want me to enjoy the pain.

[old] covingtb · Post by **[old] covingtb** » December 3rd, 2004, 3:31 pm

By the way, the funniest thing I ever saw was a guy on the erg in sweat pants and a jacket rowing underhand and on his recovery his knees would bend out to the side almost parallel to the ground, I don't actually know how he did it but needless to say he was finished in under 2 minutes.

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