Elbow pain

[JaapvanE]

pulling on a handle that keeps your hands forever locked in one position

Yep, you are holding it wrong....

[Slidewinder]

JaapvanE and Jamesg have responded in the approved fashion.

And Slidewinder has responded in exactly the way we expect with exactly the negative arguments he always spouts.

You are mistaken. My outlook and my comments are the most positive you will find on this forum. Unlike others here, I do not want to see the C2 RowErg stuck forever with that rigid stick of a handle, with that junk seat, with those ridiculous foot straps... I look to a better future. I call cheerfully to all C2 ergers to look at the C2 rower with new eyes. It is a boring old family sedan. But my positive message has always been that with a few changes here and there, the old C2 grocery-getter can readily be converted into a sports car.

[JaapvanE]

C2 RowErg stuck forever with that rigid stick of a handle, with that junk seat, with those ridiculous foot straps...

Yeah, positive.... And you forgot your shock cord.

But my positive message has always been that with a few changes here and there, the old C2 grocery-getter can readily be converted into a sports car.

Sorry. A grocery car is good for things, getting groceries for example. It is safe and extremely reliable. Its design is optimised for that. If you want a good sports car, buy one. It will be less safe and reliable, and will not even get you onto the carpark of a shopping center, but it will be fast and look cool.

Messing with a design and adding bells and wissels will never cut it. You can't change a Volvo into a Ferrari, let alone a Lamborghini, no matter how much you tweak it. You just end up with a car that sucks at getting groceries and also sucks at being a sports car.

A C2 is the indestructable workhorse for rowing workouts. It can literally take decades of neglect and abuse, and will keep going without any issue. It is pretty good at that. If you want a better experience or better ergonomics that is closer to OTW rowing, buy a BioRower that is truly a different design that is optimized for that. Just don't get into the approach of botching up a design to end with a Frankenstein machine.

[jamesg]

The OP did not mention rowing as a source of his problems, nor any other specific cause.

Where angels etc... maybe it would be better to see something first. Many videos of ergers show a total lack of style, leading only to low performance, not necessarily damage.

I'd like to see a video of non-C2 handles in action; if they automatically avoid risks to the wrists, so much the better.

[Slidewinder]

C2 RowErg stuck forever with that rigid stick of a handle, with that junk seat, with those ridiculous foot straps...

Yeah, positive.... And you forgot your shock cord.

If you want a better experience or better ergonomics that is closer to OTW rowing, buy a BioRower ...

Yes, the shock cord. It is among the long list of improvements that could be made to the C2 rower. An elastic cord is such a crude method to take up the chain, isn't it? Utilizing gravity is a more elegant solution. Gravity never wears out, never goes out of adjustment, and is unaffected by ambient temperature. But stay tuned. Positive bench test results indicate the viability of another non-elastic chain take-up and handle return that could rival gravity in simplicity and elegance.

The BioRower is a knock-off of the Coffey Rower. Olympian Calvin Coffey has been quietly building and selling his sculling simulating ergometer for decades. His patent has expired. This opened that market for the BioRower. For those who do not have room, or cannot afford, the Coffey or BioRower, a properly designed handle on the C2 RowErg would be the next best choice. It does not turn the RowErg into a sports car. It reveals the sports car that has always been there.

[Slidewinder]

The OP did not mention rowing as a source of his problems, nor any other specific cause.

I'd like to see a video of non-C2 handles in action; if they automatically avoid risks to the wrists, so much the better.

The OP did not mention rowing as a cause, but he/she posted on this rowing website, so it is a reasonable assumption...

The 'nates' strap-type split handle automatically avoids risks to the wrists (see the thread 'Split Handles" by 'nate' in the Indoor Rowing section). It ensures that the hands, wrists, and forearms remain in bio-mechanically correct alignment throughout the stroke. Unfortunately, as I point out in that thread, the forward structure of the nates assembly limits the user's forward reach at the catch. However, the straps in the nates set-up can be replaced with hinged linkages so that the benefits can be enjoyed by all users. What this looks like is in the public domain. Search 'Slidewinder rowing handle'. You will find nothing for sale, but you will find videos and photos of the articulated handle I designed and fitted to my C2 Model D years ago. It solves all of the problems associated with the non-compliant, rigid, single-piece stock C2 handle.

[jamesg]

posted on this rowing website, so it is a reasonable assumption...

His 600+ posts describe weight lifting, among other activities. I saw one recent post that said:

Sunday: Squats 5x60kg, 2x100kg, 2x120kg, 2x140kg, 2x160kg. Trap bar block pulls 2x120kg, 2x160kg, 2x180kg, 2x203kg. Tuesday: 1hr kickboxing class Weds: 25 min bike erg, dist 10886, watts 134, rpm 70, av/1000 2.17.7, df 80. Thurs: Bench press 1x8 40kg, 1x6 62k...


He also mentions cycling; and that he has used an erg for 24 years. His elbow problems date from this year. He has a long post on 31 Oct 2024 which describes his work.

[Tsnor]

You are mistaken. My outlook and my comments are the most positive you will find on this forum. ... I look to a better future.

Sticky ?