People On Ergs At The Gym

[[old] prezidentv8]

Okay, so I know I'm not the only one to notice this kind of stuff. I don't even claim to be an expert. But how about all the people in the gym that have no idea what the heck they're doing on an erg? I figured I'd come up with a few characterizations and see if anyone else has a few more good ones...heres the ones I always see....<br /><br /><br />Meathead-<br /><br />Meathead is characterized by using the highest possible resistance and a stroke rating of about 50, with a sequence that looks something like giving birth. Generally, he huffs, puffs, and screams, for about 60 seconds, and then walks away to do some bench presses.<br /><br /><br />Ms. I-Am-So-Working-Out<br /><br />She is the lady who dresses to look cute in the gym (not that I mind) just to check out the guys. On the positive side, she has phenomenal glutes. On the other hand, she really doesn't have a clue what to do. She is characterized by hopping on the last available erg and sliding back on forth on the seat with a split of about seven minutes. She tends to do this for about a half hour while people that know what to do are waiting. Cute, but very irritating.<br /><br /><br />The Total Body Workout Guy-<br /><br />Everybody's favorite poor-form gym erg-er. He uses the same type of sequencing as Meathead, but fantasizes about having a degree in "Creative Kinesiology." In other words, he makes up weird obscure workouts that no one would ever think to do on an erg. Some of his favorite moves are the "Erg Handle Curl" and the "Abdominal Twist," among others. A true circus act.

[[old] mpukita]

Because I've only ever erg-ed at home, alone, I've missed all of this free entertainment.

[[old] Ikabob]

Good Thread

[[old] Carl Henrik]

This is always a funny topic. It's been up a few times before. I liked the "total body work out"-character! Quite funny and though I've never seen one it just feels like those are out there. Erging at a rowing club makes you miss all this fun. Only occasionaly when you actually are on a gym do you get to see shows like that. <br /><br />Generally though the gym people use the erg very shortly, that's my impression. One of several reasons (Guess we could all go OT and express many that are inherent to erging or gym purposes) is that they cannot relate pace to effort, and watt is to abstract or technical so they use pace. This results in a strong likelyness to go too hard for a few minutes without realizing it or taking credit for it. Then they just get a bad feeling and want to get off. This is really a shame because the C2 erg measures watts precisely (not like some machines giving say .7 Kcal for every stroke no matter how hard). On top of that there is the great ranking system so you can know exactly how you relate to others as well. This perfect "measurability" is one of best features with erging, still it seems too "hidden" for gymmers. <br /><br />To solve this problem a little sticker could be on the machines that says something simplified about what is a good wattage for different ages, genders and weights. Theses categories are all very justified here because we are talking primarily about fitness for health purposes. <br /><br />That's a free tip to C2

[[old] Mark Keating]

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Nov 26 2005, 07:38 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Nov 26 2005, 07:38 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Because I've only ever erg-ed at home, alone, I've missed all of this free entertainment. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />No such problem with me - I have a mirror set up next to my erg!

[[old] Ray79]

There is also the "reverse phase" rowers in the gym. You know the ones, they take the rowing stroke and do it backwards.<br />Instead of the sequence being legs-back-arms on the drive and arms-back-legs on the recovery they tend to do it arms-back-legs on the drive and legs-back-arms on the recovery.<br />This is one of my favorites because it is so funny watching these types in real pain after about 5 mins of r30 and 3:00 splits. It also looks real funny, the way they exactly follow the shape of their knees with the handle on the recovery, thinkin they look smooooooth!!!!!!!<br /><br />Ikabob, im sure that there are some of these around your gym, you just have to look real hard for them. They dont tend to last more than 5 mins on the erg so you may miss them. You should make an effort to find them, they are real gym entertainment.<br /><br />Happy "Correct" Rowing everyone

[[old] DIESEL]

hey guys don't knock the total body workout dudes - (nah, it's fun - flame away! ) <br /><br />Xeno does a mean total body workout on the erg using slides - it's actually quite vicious. You guys will have to roadtrip down to Costa Mesa and take one of his classes - then you'll know what I mean. <br /><br />Here's another: the "this is too easy" person after you take a few seconds to teach them a few pointers - I try to do this in the very, very rare occasion there is actually someone on the erg when I come to the gym. (this usually happens once a month) <br /><br />anyway - it's usually this is too easy (as they are pulling 3:30 splits) and then of course I tell them that they really aren't pulling, and after a bit of huffing and puffing, they realize this stuff is really hard and most are discouraged and hop right back on the stairmaster or the treadmill. sad how most people run away from challenges rather than embrace them. The stairmaster is safe and unless you put it at warp speed isn't really going to kick your arse. Oh well. <br /><br />Yet another: a variation on the meathead. "Ego Meathead" (aka the Macho Meathead aka the Meathead who wants to race you) - it goes a little like this - you sit on the erg and the meathead next to you notices that your splits are lower than his - so then you notice him laboriously struggle to pull his splits down - you decide to have some fun with the guy and like a Ferrari toying with a riced-out Honda Civic - you play along until you get bored, bring up the rating and then watch him have a coronary trying to keep up with his horrible form, 10 damper, and 50 rating. <br /><br />I shouldn't take so much glee in that, but it is fun to watch the male ego in action. <br /><br />regards, <br />D

[[old] gaffano]

The meatheads on roids attempting to erg stories should have a thread of its own...however, I actually feel bad for those trying to use the erg for fitness but have terrible form, like gym newbies, and older individuals. My 15 years of club use clearly has shown that trainers/instructors have no idea how to properly use the erg. Therefore they never instruct or critque a person on proper form/settings. I am sure many people get injuries this way. C2 should work aggressively on insuring that gym owners/trainers know how to use their equipment.<br /><br />(Although it is nice that most are scared to use the C2 for those of us with crowded gyms....)

[[old] Xeno]

Out of the box rowing exercises are good to break up the KMS.<br />To make it interesting we do abs, curls, triceps, deltoides, row with one leg, roll the shoulders, etc. <br /><br />Showing bad rowing is good for laughs.<br /><br /><br />

[[old] akit110]

I am not surprised how few people use the erg given the inflated caloric expenditures I see on most of the new (and very popular) machines e.g. precor elliptical machine, cybex arc trainer. A lot of people pay a lot of attention to those numbers. If a relatively average person finds they can burn 500 calories in 30 minutes on an elliptical and considerably less than 300 on the C2 in the same time (due to their bad form and the more accurate C2 monitor), they aren't going to be coming back for more! <br /><br />P.S. There is a scene in Eddie Murphy's 1992 "Boomerang" which has three of the stars erging while holding a conversation. It's a nice depiction of how not to erg! It seems like there is no resistance on these machines. Maybe a stage hand is just holding the other end of the chain off-screen?

[[old] neilb]

Then there is the "oh so cool" type who thinks he has text book technique, low stroke rate, sub 1:55 splits, rows for at least 20 min steady and with no straps.<br /><br />Not so many of these about but generally can be recognised by aloof nature, arrogant stare, tutting at those who "clank the chain" and records name on C2 chart on gym wall.<br /><br />Normally can also be spotted by unwillingness to pass on tips to others (often caused by bad experiences of such behaviour.)<br /><br />Neil <br /><br />

[[old] bmoore]

<!--QuoteBegin-Ray79+Nov 26 2005, 01:42 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Ray79 @ Nov 26 2005, 01:42 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->There is also the "reverse phase" rowers in the gym. You know the ones, they take the rowing stroke and do it backwards.<br />Instead of the sequence being legs-back-arms on the drive and arms-back-legs on the recovery they tend to do it arms-back-legs on the drive and legs-back-arms on the recovery.<br />This is one of my favorites because it is so funny watching these types in real pain after about 5 mins of r30 and 3:00 splits. It also looks real funny, the way they exactly follow the shape of their knees with the handle on the recovery, thinkin they look smooooooth!!!!!!!<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />I tried to do one of these strokes in a recovery mode (2:15 pace) and nearly fell off the machine!

[[old] PeterWilkinson]

I often see a variation of the Meathead, the Expert. <br /><br />This guy occasionally uses the erg to warmup before his bench press session, on damper 10 obviously, usually in 5-10 stroke bursts with about 30 second rests between each burst. After his second interval at 50spm+, he is gasping for air and between gasps he nudges his buddy on the adjacent machine to snigger about the "slow" guy opposite, (me).<br /><br />This guy never does more than 3 minutes on the erg, but he must be some kind of technical expert, because he can often be heard loudly exclaiming how fast/far he went, or how slow the skinny guys are, while he wanders over to the bench press. He doesn't seem to notice that the "slow guy" (who is probably rowing 10K plus) is still rowing when he has finished his workout.<br />

[[old] DIESEL]

<!--QuoteBegin-PeterWilkinson+Nov 28 2005, 07:04 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(PeterWilkinson @ Nov 28 2005, 07:04 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I often see a variation of the Meathead, the Expert. <br /><br />This guy occasionally uses the erg to warmup before his bench press session, on damper 10 obviously, usually in 5-10 stroke bursts with about 30 second rests between each burst. After his second interval at 50spm+, he is gasping for air and between gasps he nudges his buddy on the adjacent machine to snigger about the "slow" guy opposite, (me).<br /><br />This guy never does more than 3 minutes on the erg, but he must be some kind of technical expert, because he can often be heard loudly exclaiming how fast/far he went, or how slow the skinny guys are, while he wanders over to the bench press. He doesn't seem to notice that the "slow guy" (who is probably rowing 10K plus) is still rowing when he has finished his workout. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />next time they do that, challenge 'em to a race, see what happens!

[[old] JCPC]

Just wanted to pass this along from last night.<br /><br />I was rowing a casual pace. watching the stroke power graph.<br /><br />I noted that longer stokes longer graph.<br /><br />Thought to myself: is the legth of the sceen the length of the longest possible stroke on a c2?<br /><br />I promptly pulled hard LEANED WAY BACK, PULLED MY HANDS UP OVER MY HEAD and found my rear intoduced to the rail!<br /><br />It gave even me a good chuckle.<br /><br />I haven't answered the question yet.<br /><br />John<br />