Metronome Training

[winniewinser]

Strange question maybe but wondering if anyone has ever used a metronome app or a real metronome to pace your session consistently? I had a thought last night that it might be an interesting test to row to a beat and downloaded an metronome app.

Anyone else use that or similar? Or am I mad!

[Citroen]

You're as mad as a box of frogs.

He who cannot be named. The only poetry professor to ever get banned for life from this forum used to advocate it. Everyone else thought he and his preachings were completely crazy.

You'll find some of his noise and complete nonsense in his eponymous thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10509&start=4230

[uk gearmuncher]

Sweet Jesus... what is this ? The 1950's ?!!!!

[winniewinser]

You're as mad as a box of frogs.

He who cannot be named. The only poetry professor to ever get banned for life from this forum used to advocate it. Everyone else thought he and his preachings were completely crazy.

You'll find some of his noise and complete nonsense in his eponymous thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10509&start=4230

Hahahaha....just thought I'd sling it out there ....not tried it yet

[Dangerscouse]

With some concerted effort and concentration it's not too hard to get it consistent. I don't ever give it much thought but I fall into a fairly steady flow regardless.

I'm just not interested enough to try and really nail the consistency

[jamesg]

metronome to pace your session

Timing (adagio or allegro) need not be held constant, which is what a metronome would try to do.

We know our ratings, and even without feel or noise from the crew, this is enough to control rhythm (3 or 4 time), if the boat/erg is geared to give a quick pull.

[StevenWayne]

I love it, @WinnieW! I have metronome app for iPad and have set it to have a human count...a voice saying “One, two, three, four, five” on the selected tempo. For about half of my workouts (my slow steady workouts), I row while watching YouTube and sports on my big screen TV, and i don’t like looking at the monitor so I toss a cloth over it. It’s super easy to get engrossed in what I’m watching and slack off on my pace. My post-workout review shows a variable pace because I’m distracted. In comes the metronome app by my side, and the audible cue reduces SPM variability and improves my performance for the session. Ive been using a metronome in this way for a month now with resounding success.

[mitchel674]

You're as mad as a box of frogs.

He who cannot be named. The only poetry professor to ever get banned for life from this forum used to advocate it. Everyone else thought he and his preachings were completely crazy.

You'll find some of his noise and complete nonsense in his eponymous thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10509&start=4230

That thread was before my time, but a quick review today gave me quite a chuckle. Thanks for the link!

[GreenStratMan]

I love it, @WinnieW! I have metronome app for iPad and have set it to have a human count...a voice saying “One, two, three, four, five” on the selected tempo. For about half of my workouts (my slow steady workouts), I row while watching YouTube and sports on my big screen TV, and i don’t like looking at the monitor so I toss a cloth over it. It’s super easy to get engrossed in what I’m watching and slack off on my pace. My post-workout review shows a variable pace because I’m distracted. In comes the metronome app by my side, and the audible cue reduces SPM variability and improves my performance for the session. Ive been using a metronome in this way for a month now with resounding success.

What time signature? ;o)

I use a metronome for spanking the plank.

I’ve heard it said that John Bonham was called the human metronome. But his stroke rate could vary quite a bit.

On the other hand George Martin said Ringo Starr was as consistent as you like and Martin used to be able to splice drum parts to other parts of the track. Not sure if it’s true?

Anyhoo, both my stroke rate and pace fluctuate quite a bit. Maybe consistency will come in time. Or I could give the metronome a go. Mine has a nice cowbell sound, can’t have too much cowbell

[MPx]

One of my Training Partners (Richard S) often uses a metronome. His natural rate is relatively high, but he follows a version of the Wolverine plan and for many sessions has prescribed rates. Looking at his graphs, he can absolutely nail any rate called for from 16 to 30+ (although I don't think he bothers with the metronome for the higher rates). I probably do more meters @r20 than any other rate so that's now fairly natural for me, but even though I count and know they are all spot on for stokes, my graphs are quite fluffy compared to the flat lines of Richard's. He persuaded me to try myself, which I did with a clockwork music metronome that we already had here. It was to help me rate at 18 and did the job, but I didn't like it as it didn't tally exactly with the PM5 - maybe an app would have been more accurate, but that would require a second device if you use ergdata.

[StevenWayne]

You should try the metronome, Kevin. It's not Ringo, but still fun nonetheless. LOL

Mike, I think you may be right about using a metronome app. I use one for iOS Apple that is called Pro Metronome, excellent because it has a wide range of sounds, can get louder than a mechanical metronome, can get low on rate to 10 SPM, and even has a built-in timer (eg 30 minute workout, it times the metronome for 30 minutes). It does take a second device--in my case my ipad--when I'm on iPhone ErgData, true. I dig that I can maintain a stroke rate outside of my internal "norm", which seems around 20-21 SPM, for workouts. The other day I set it at 28 SPM (which is very fast for me) and was able to maintain it for the full 30 minute workout with little fluctuation and a new "experience" for me, solely because I had the metronome app guiding me. Sure, I could eagle-eye the PM5 for the entire half hour, but its much more pleasant to row, sometimes close my eyes, relax my mind, and simply listen to the click of the metronome.

[GreenStratMan]

You should try the metronome, Kevin. It's not Ringo, but still fun nonetheless. LOL

Mike, I think you may be right about using a metronome app. I use one for iOS Apple that is called Pro Metronome, excellent because it has a wide range of sounds, can get louder than a mechanical metronome, can get low on rate to 10 SPM, and even has a built-in timer (eg 30 minute workout, it times the metronome for 30 minutes). It does take a second device--in my case my ipad--when I'm on iPhone ErgData, true. I dig that I can maintain a stroke rate outside of my internal "norm", which seems around 20-21 SPM, for workouts. The other day I set it at 28 SPM (which is very fast for me) and was able to maintain it for the full 30 minute workout with little fluctuation and a new "experience" for me, solely because I had the metronome app guiding me. Sure, I could eagle-eye the PM5 for the entire half hour, but its much more pleasant to row, sometimes close my eyes, relax my mind, and simply listen to the click of the metronome.

I shall try it right now and report back, Thank you.

[GreenStratMan]

So, I gave it a go. Unfortunately I left the metronome on the default setting and the click sounds very much like the creaking I get. Must get some electrical tape and try lining the joints where they contact the sleeved bolts of the frame. So I will use a different sound next time. But there were times when I could hear it and it seemed to help. I found it quite hypnotic, which is nice. I'm a hypnotherapist, so it's nice to drop into those relaxxxxxxing states. Whose hypnotising the hypnotist? ;o)

I set it to 22 for my 8k SS, which required the last 2k at increased pace. I did find that when I was on the beat, the constant rhythm was advantageous to the overall stroke and was more relaxing.

My graph looks far from flat. I need some more practice. Obviously! ;o)

[Popcorn]

I think it sounds like a good idea for once in a while. It is hard for me to maintain a steady stroke rate and there are times when I don't want to look at the monitor all the time but could use some help staying on track. Sometimes I like to close my eyes and just try to feel what I am doing but I invariably slow down or speed up.

[Tsnor]

Do you set the metronome to 1 beat per stroke? Or some multiple like 3 beats (1 pull, 2 beats recovery)? Or to something faster ?