Try the Real Time Loop?

[stevegaspars]

That sure looks like a bug

A reasonable deduction, but from my experience bugs rarely are so graceful. Maybe the programmer likes the song 'Go West' by the PSB? Lots of spinning in that music video.

[edward.jamer]

Haven't been on the erg much since catching covid, and it's been tough to regain momentum and ambition afterwards...
Just wanted to jump in and say that the Real Time Loop was a lot of fun and a great change up from usual workouts or just self-paced rows.

Some people sound down on the usefulness in the comments here. That's fine, no feature will appeal to everyone. But this particular feature appeals to me, and wanted to leave some positive feedback for the deves here indicating as much.

[Carl Watts]

Updated the firmware on both of my PM5's today as my phone decided to update ErgData to the new version 2.1.4

Took a bit of a gamble because I use ErgData on an old Samsung A3(2017) phone and it really proved to be incompatible when the new version of ErgData first came out.

Jumped on the real time loop and it was interesting to see six people using it, amazing really when we cannot get people on RowPro.

The real time loop looks like a stepping stone to something more like RowPro on your smartphone, Concept 2 just needs to step up the graphics which is the easy part compared to the live online part.

[JaapvanE]

Jumped on the real time loop and it was interesting to see six people using it, amazing really when we cannot get people on RowPro.

Welcome back! I hope you overcome your injury.

Why not try EXR as well? Little less crowded than the Loop, but much better graphics. Another competitor is CoZweat. A Chinese product that is looking awesome (no idea about the gameplay). According to John, icrow seems to have quit (CoZweat demo in the same video).

The real time loop looks like a stepping stone to something more like RowPro on your smartphone, Concept 2 just needs to step up the graphics which is the easy part compared to the live online part.

I don't know. I'd like some competion too, but it is quite a different skillset you need to work with game engines like Unity or Unreal. For that type of development you also need 3D artists instead of just C++ programmers. For a gaming studio those competences are there, but for a mechanical company like Concept2, this is harder to come by.

[John Bradley]

I love the loop ..much better than just looking at numbers. in the view of the whole loop would be good if you could tell the times of the pace boats so you know how long you have to wait for it. Keep up the good work concept ..John

[mementobeansbeef]

Keep loopin' and enjoy the ride

[Jan H]

Tried the loop for the first time yesterday, I really like it, like another user said, it's much better than just looking at numbers.
Keep up the good work, Concept 2.

[CeeGee]

I really like it. Have only discovered it over the last week or two after a not inconsiderable amount of time off of the rower for one reason and another.
Gives me a bit of motivation knowing there are other folk out there, just rowing away happily, from various parts of the world. Really works for me.

I'm usually on early in the morning (about 6am, GMT) and my avatar should now be the same as the one on here, so if you pass me (more likely that than me passing you, though does happen from time to time!), do say hi - I obviously won't hear you, but will likely say it myself as we meet briefly !

[DavidA]

Yes, it would be nice to know who some of the other loopers are. E.g. an opt in list of who was rowing sometime during each hour.

David

[Aquaman]

The real time loop looks like a stepping stone to something more like RowPro on your smartphone, Concept 2 just needs to step up the graphics which is the easy part compared to the live online part.

I don't know. I'd like some competion too, but it is quite a different skillset you need to work with game engines like Unity or Unreal. For that type of development you also need 3D artists instead of just C++ programmers. For a gaming studio those competences are there, but for a mechanical company like Concept2, this is harder to come by.

Agree with Jaapvan - It takes a huge leap in engineering and design skill to go from the Loop to something like EXR, ImersU or IC (RIP). Compare the backgrounds of the teams behind them all. The tech stack of Concept2's ecosystem (PM3/4/5 consoles, ErgData, ErgRace,etc.) contains much more legacy code than what the others have built on, so C2 has a lot of tech debt to deal with in addition to stretching their stack.

Me? For racing in groups >3, I prefer a simpler perspective for seeing everyone in relative positions more like Waze. Visually offers more info on everyone than a front + peripheral perspective. Loop not exactly that, but close.

[Carl Watts]

Any online rowing software is going to have the same problem, not enough users.

Just not the numbers worldwide like Cycling, has to out number rowers by like 500 to 1 for users that want to use software and are prepared to pay for it monthly.

Rowers also have a different mentality in my opinion, they like to row solo where as cyclist just love a Peloton, especially as it becomes a major part of the ride to stay in the draft. Rowing just totally lacks the dynamics for a really engaging workout. I can say that in all honesty after moving from RowPro after using it for over 10 years to Zwift, the immersive experience with cycling is just never going to be there with rowing, that's not to say some really great graphics from different lakes from all over the world wouldn't be great to pass the time in training.

The success of rowing software relies on hitting a critical mass of users which I believe is going to be really difficult. I waited for over 10 years using RowPro and just saw people come and go come and go and in fact it peaked now years ago and has sadly declined.

[stevegaspars]

I find a lot of rowers have no idea they can connect their machine to the internet or smart device. I believe this may be slowly changing.

[Aquaman]

Any online rowing software is going to have the same problem, not enough users.

Just not the numbers worldwide like Cycling, has to out number rowers by like 500 to 1 for users that want to use software and are prepared to pay for it monthly.

Rowers also have a different mentality in my opinion, they like to row solo where as cyclist just love a Peloton, especially as it becomes a major part of the ride to stay in the draft. Rowing just totally lacks the dynamics for a really engaging workout. I can say that in all honesty after moving from RowPro after using it for over 10 years to Zwift, the immersive experience with cycling is just never going to be there with rowing, that's not to say some really great graphics from different lakes from all over the world wouldn't be great to pass the time in training.

The success of rowing software relies on hitting a critical mass of users which I believe is going to be really difficult. I waited for over 10 years using RowPro and just saw people come and go come and go and in fact it peaked now years ago and has sadly declined.

Agree on the critical mass. Wonder if the lack of 'on the field' social dynamic promotes isolation. For example, on the water your boat and the environment prevent the kind of banter and camaraderie a pack of cyclists have. In the boat, you are fixed in your position, so 1 and 8 are pretty much strangers. When pulling, you are not really gabbing away either. Spin class members can be cranking and socializing the entire time.

Running has a similar on the field isolation to it. It's arguably the biggest sport out there by numbers, and save for Zwift, no digital running experience has emerged as a clear winner. Even Zwift is a lonely slog when others are on.

[YamR1Rider]

Had a go at the loop today for the first time as was feeling pretty unmotivated - was nice to do something a bit different than chasing or holding numbers like usual! Be nice if it displayed a lap timer/counter on screen, or had some other customisation other than track overview/close in. I do hope they develop it a little bit more. Were about 20 people going round when I was on it.

[Carl Watts]

I think its slowly gaining numbers, not seen 20 months ago was always only 2 or 4 in my time zone.

I think its just a trial bit of software for Concept 2, obviously if the numbers take off it will get further development. Its going to need hundreds if not thousands of users.