Reading damper

[lensjack]

I'm enjoying my new Model D as I adapt to its nuances. Question, please: What position is the indicator in when the damper is set at any specific number? For example, if I wanted the damper set to 10 (which I don't), would I point the indicator to the groove below 10, put it smack in the middle of the 10, or push it all the way to the stop? In other words, if it's on the groove between 4 and 5, is it set to 4 or to 5?

[Ombrax]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

Don't bother reading any of those numbers.

Set the PM to display the Drag Factor, row a few strokes, and use that to gauge where you want the damper lever to be.

https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... etting-101

https://www.concept2.com/service/monito ... rag-factor

[Dangerscouse]

We will all agree with Ombrax on this.

The numbers on the damper are fairly meaningless, and the drag factor is the all important element to focus on. Drag is subjective so have a play around with it and find what suits you best, but don't assume 'higher is better'. I generally row at 115-120 as an example, but the max drag on my rower is circa 220

[Citroen]

The numbers on the damper are fairly meaningless, and the drag factor is the all important element to focus on. Drag is subjective so have a play around with it and find what suits you best, but don't assume 'higher is better'. I generally row at 115-120 as an example, but the max drag on my rower is circa 220

The numbers on the fan cage were the subject of an earlier discussion with the late great Bob Spenger.
viewtopic.php?p=180738#p180738
He convinced us all that the damper goes up to eleven.

[lensjack]

Many thanks for your kind replies. I do understand the importance of drag, and probably should have said so. Reading the damper setting is the one topic for which I've found no definitive explanation. I asked about it because I'd like to establish a consistent way to remember where I set it as I dial in drag. Since it appears there's no agreed-upon standard, I might as well choose my own, right? So I'm going to think of the lower stop as zero, and the groove above each number as representing the full value of that number. (There will be no 11 for the likes of my geezer self.) If anyone present knows of any lawful impediment to this arbitrary decision, please declare it now or forever erg in peace.

[Citroen]

You use the damper lever to adjust the drag factor. It doesn't matter an iota what number the lever is set to. DF trumps damper lever position.

Roughly, set the DF between 110 and 120 if you're lwt or under 5'9". Set the DF between 120 and 130 if you're hwt and/or over 5'9"

See how things feel, adjust to taste - there is no prescription (unless your coach is trying to set up a real boat with multiple rowers all in step). Leave the damper lever wherever things work best for you. Every month check the DF again. If it goes down radically check the fan cage for dust (open and clean if needed). If you can't get the drag you want with the damper fully open, then once again it's time to clean the fan cage.

Worst I've ever seen was DF90 on damper 10 in a hotel gym, That machine hadn't been serviced since it left the C2 factory.

[Ombrax]

I asked about it because I'd like to establish a consistent way to remember where I set it as I dial in drag. Since it appears there's no agreed-upon standard, I might as well choose my own, right?

Jack, the number you want to remember is not the position of the lever, but the Drag Factor. As was stated above, 120 is a good place to start, and tweak as required. Try the following experiment: set the lever to give you a DF of ~120, and see how you like it. Then move the lever up until the DF is ~130. See how that feels. Then move it down until the DF is at ~110. Decide what DF feels best. For the sake of this discussion let's assume that that's DF = 115. Don't bother remembering the exact lever position for that, just the ballpark position.

If you row on your own erg just leave the lever in that position, and every now and then check to see if the DF is 115. If you're the type who wants everything to be dead nuts on, then adjust as often as you like. In the short term things like atmospheric conditions will have small effects on the DF for a given lever position. In the long term things like dust accumulation in the fan cage area will have potentially significant effects, depending on how often you open things up and give it a good cleaning. You can track this if you like by seeing if you have to start moving the lever higher and higher to give you a given DF. (Unless you're erg is in a very dusty location the change over time is very, very slow, and barely noticeable unless you have a log and are keeping track.)

If you share your home erg with someone else who prefers a different DF, or if you use an erg at the gym (when the lever will invariably be slammed to 10 because the typical gym user doesn't know much at all about rowing) then adjust the lever position to give you a DF of 115 (or whatever) and go.

I hope that makes more sense. Bottom line, the numbers related to the position of the lever really aren't terribly important. DF is.

Good Luck

[lensjack]

Thanks again. All very helpful. I'm not the only user at home, which is why I thought it might be useful -- once I've dialed in a comfortable DF -- to record where I set the damper is order to quickly reestablish my DF next time. I'll try what you've suggested. Endorphin-fueled happiness awaits.

[Dickie]

As your rower gets older (and dustier in the fan cage) the drag will change (go Down) in relation to the damper setting, so as time goes on it will be useless for anything.

[lensjack]

Following Ombrax's prescription, I settled on a 117 DF. It feels like a level at which I can maintain correct form while incrementally adding minutes as I try to recover my pre-pandemic cardio fitness while taking care not to fly and die.

Had to go months with no gym access, and a long wait for the Model D. My gym torture device was an elliptical, so I'm accustomed to more quad burn. On the C2 I'm driving off hard with my legs; we'll see how they feel as minutes rise. So far, I prefer the fuller-body rower workout. There's something blissfully mesmerizing about falling into its rhythm.

Anyway, my thanks to all who weighed in for your helpful advice.

[Allan Olesen]

Thanks again. All very helpful. I'm not the only user at home, which is why I thought it might be useful -- once I've dialed in a comfortable DF -- to record where I set the damper is order to quickly reestablish my DF next time. I'll try what you've suggested. Endorphin-fueled happiness awaits.

I wouldn't bother remembering the damper value. Put a mark on the cage where you want the damper lever to get your desired drag factor. As the cage gets dusty, and the drag factor reduced, move the mark. Job done.

[JonT]

If you are using Ergdata then on of the customer field that you can display is Drag Factor. Obviously it isn't a field that you would always want on, but it is easy to pop it on there from time to time to see what's what. I did this yesterday and realised my DF had crept up to 150 as a result of fiddling with it for sprint events etc.