Any Concept 2 owners use RowPro?

[Xetuoceyr]

So I broke down from my Ebay search and decided to just order a PM3 new from C2. After looking around, the RowPro software looks kind of interesting.

Just wondering if anyone is using it and if it is any good. It's $100, but that's reasonable if it's worth it and improves the (replay?) value of the equipment.

If anyone is using it I have a few more questions, but figured I'd cast this out and see first.

If you own a C2 and don't like RowPro, let me know about that as well.

[MPx]

I used RowPro 3 with my Model C PM3 for a few years. It was great being able to have so many stored workouts available and (another) readily accessible log. I also liked having the graphic output up on a big TV in front of me...although I still found I mostly concentrated on the PM screen. I never used one of its acclaimed plusses (to row with others online - not for me) and it was a bit flakey. Mostly the graphics failing for some reason, but all OK again after a reboot. Also sporadic failures on some sessions - typically high volume hard interval sessions where some of the intervals wouldn't show up in the results. Very annoying but they were always there on the PM3 and easy to copy to the RowPro log, but it meant the overall session stats weren't available without the use of the calculator!

I was obviously aware of the various upgrade/releases of RowPro 4 and 5, but never upgraded. After exchanges with early adopters I thought I'd be losing as much as gaining by moving on. EG Interval set up issues in the later version custom studio (worked perfectly on 3) and still not solid in the sense of occasional crashes of various sorts.

When I got my Model D/PM5 at the end of last year I decided to switch to Ergdata on my phone (which I still cast to the TV despite rarely looking at it!). After numerous set up issues, its been working well for a couple of months. The only thing I miss about RowPro is the huge set of stored custom workouts that I used to have. Such a facility comes into its own with things like the current CTC which takes ages to program on the PM5 especially if you want to mess about with the rest sequence.

I'm sure Carl will be along shortly with some positive reasons to go for it...whatever floats your boat!

[Carl Watts]

Yes well I like it and if you do a search of this forum there are plenty of users and posts about it.

I have been a user of it for 10 years now and use it for every single row but only Online rowing. Despite my love affair with it I'm afraid its not for everyone, in fact it would appear its only for a very small minority of like minded people who like to row together.

The misconception is that every row is a race but it takes a certain type of person to be able to row to their own plan and pace and just ignore those that are faster than you and not cry if you come in last. Its perhaps unfortunate in this competitive day and age that you see a slower rower for a few weeks online and then they are gone.If you cannot differentiate between "Losing" and " Training", then Online rowing is not for you.

Personally I would have thought that it would have taken off, but in my opinion its structured all wrong in that it should have been a much simplier package with better graphics, options for rivers or courses to row at round the world and have online rowing ONLY.

You can still get a free trial and its USD$75 if you wait for a month special like now. Very cheap software in my opinion but that depends on your perspective, I used to sell software for $10,000 a licence but if your used to getting free Apps or paying $3.......

The only other issue I have found is that you need to be a bit tech savvy with hardware. You would think that you could just buy a new PC, plug it in and it will work, but not always.

There are a few dedicated groups rowing at set times so have a look in the "results" of Oarbits to see if you can slot in with anyone else online.

https://www.digitalrowing.com/oarbits/livefeed.htm

[Slothful1]

I bought v2 just after getting my Model D in 2004, and upgraded the software through the years. I enjoyed a few online sessions but always struggled to get the timing right to be ready for fixed start times, and preferred to be more flexible in my training. On the other hand I occasionally benefited by being forced to join a session when I wasn't feeling in the mood (and would have bailed if I was on my own). I also used the training plans in the early days, and felt that they were well-designed and provided useful structure.

The biggest plus I found, especially in the early days, was chasing my PBs and SBs by rowing against my actual past rows. I liked the challenge of trying to keep ahead of an old record.

I didn't row regularly between 2011 and 2017, and when I returned I started using ErgData more regularly for capturing stroke data and uploading to the Logbook. The only time I dust off RowPro these days is when I'm going after a SB or chasing my 40+ records (still well off my old PBs).

Overall worth the $100 to me, even though I use it for a very niche purpose.

Dave

[Rowan McSheen]

I use RowPro for every session. As said above, the store of custom rows is good to have. That and the pace boat are my most-used features. I don't row online.

Version 4.3, running on an old laptop that is used more or less just for this purpose. If it were to break down I'd probably replace it with a similar second-hand one to stick with this version.

Since I paid about £75 for it more years ago than I care to count, I reckon I've had my money's worth and then some.

[RayOfSunshine]

I bought it so I could row with others, but I still haven't done that yet since I was doing the BPP. Since finishing, I've been doing a lot of longer SS.

[mitchel674]

I bought it so I could row with others, but I still haven't done that yet since I was doing the BPP. Since finishing, I've been doing a lot of longer SS.

I use it fairly often even for long steady state rows. The challenge here, as Carl indicated, is that most online rows tend to turn into competitions. If I join a 10km row and go at my steady state pace of 2:17, the speedsters are done several minutes before me. No fun there and I feel awkward about making everyone wait for me to have the session conclude. I now will only join sessions that are timed. These are usually 30 or 60 minutes which works nicely for all involved. No waiting at the end for me!

It is fun to row with others from all over the world. Give it a try.

[RayOfSunshine]

I bought it so I could row with others, but I still haven't done that yet since I was doing the BPP. Since finishing, I've been doing a lot of longer SS.

I use it fairly often even for long steady state rows. The challenge here, as Carl indicated, is that most online rows tend to turn into competitions. If I join a 10km row and go at my steady state pace of 2:17, the speedsters are done several minutes before me. No fun there and I feel awkward about making everyone wait for me to have the session conclude. I now will only join sessions that are timed. These are usually 30 or 60 minutes which works nicely for all involved. No waiting at the end for me!

It is fun to row with others from all over the world. Give it a try.

I'll definitely give it a try! Thanks for sharing.

[Carl Watts]

Get the free trial version and give it a go. You will find out straight away if your the personality type that enjoys using it to row with others.

[pes949]

I use RowPro for rowing with others. It keeps things interesting and fun. It is motivating to row with others and encourages you to try a little harder. For me I could care less if I come in last or behind.
Now they have an option for a permanent license instead of monthly. The only time you need to pay is for upgrading the version which is not always required anyway.
The software works ok. Its not perfect and could be improved but nothing that prevents it from providing what users like.
I find the RowPro community a friendly multinational group. They are all enjoyable people with a common interest.
As other shave said timed sessions have everyone finishing at the same time and I prefer those. However my favorite workout is 10K and I will join or set them up. For timed I prefer 60 Minutes.

Join us by looking for weekday60Minute or Weekday10K sessions. One of the regulars also schedules 10K on weekends.

[David Pomerantz]

I use RowPro for the training plans. I have found that what RowPro advertises is completely true: specifically that your mindset changes from “what am I going to do today?” to “what am I scheduled to do today?”. If I row on my own, I push hard (probably too hard) and then likely burn out or take too many rest days. I find the variety of RowPro workouts in the plans keeps me committed and consistent. I’m 56 and have been using RowPro for about 18 months basically every day, and have seen no burnout at all. It keeps me interested and wanting to go back the next day. My times have not improved, but I’ve seen improvements in my heart rate at work and rest.

Dave

[jackarabit]

I have V4.3 on a win10 computer but haven’t used it for the past couple yrs. I joined only 2 online 30’ rows in 2016. The scheduler utility was clumsy and I didn’t find many offerings in my time zone. I did enjoy exporting the row report of daily workouts to an Excel-based program which created colorful charts of performance parameters against time from .csv stroke files. When C2 added graphic representation to ErgData submission to the logbook, I gradually lost interest in RP. I got it on special for 39USD so didn’t feel i lost much by moving on.