Damper setting for marathons (different?)

gcanyon · Post by **gcanyon** » May 3rd, 2006, 11:14 am

Rowing with a higher drag factor is a very different experience. My first introduction to rowing was during a competition where we had to use a damper of 10. At the time it didn't seem too bad.

Now I row on 1 or 2 most of the time, and I love doing distance. I rarely row less than 5000 meters. I tried 10 again last night, and boy!

So I'm wondering: do people use a lower damper/drag factor when doing longer distances? If you do, what do you use for a 2K and for a marathon (or other long distance)?

ancho · Post by **ancho** » May 3rd, 2006, 1:10 pm

I row about anything at DF 115-125.
I used to row at higher DFs before (140), and it took me some time to get used to the lower DF, but I feel better now, and I have been getting PBs an all distances except the 5k with DF 120.

johnnybike · Post by **johnnybike** » May 3rd, 2006, 2:49 pm

I row everything from 300m to FM at 130.

Kozak · Post by **Kozak** » May 3rd, 2006, 5:13 pm

Is drag factor the scale from 1 to 10 on the side of your erg which dictates how much resistance each pull is? I always put my drag on 10, I don't know why people would put it lower?

krisi · Post by **krisi** » May 3rd, 2006, 5:45 pm

from 1 to 10 is damper setting, not drag factor.

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 3rd, 2006, 6:26 pm

Kozak wrote:Is drag factor the scale from 1 to 10 on the side of your erg which dictates how much resistance each pull is? I always put my drag on 10, I don't know why people would put it lower?

Folks put it lower because they want to enjoy their rowing and don't want to hurt themselves.

It controls the air flow through the fan and therefore controls how fast the flywheel accelerates and decelerates during the stroke.

The PM2 and PM3 monitors can show your drag factor. It's a useful measure since not all ergs are the same, not all ergs are clean. Damper 10 on a machine full of dust bunnies could equate to damper 5 on a clean new machine. The worst machine I've ever used was at the Bracknell Hilton, it had a drag factor of about 135 on damper 10.

I, mostly, row on a clean machine at damper 3. I checked the erg I was using today, it had a drag factor of 110.

A low damper setting is like a fast moving racing boat. A high damper setting is like an old wooden rowboat.

Even world champs don't tend to go above 135 drag factor.

Drag factor and damper setting is the most FAQ on here.

jbell · Post by **jbell** » May 3rd, 2006, 8:26 pm

I usually try to keep the drag factor @ 125ish. Lower and it feels too easy, and higher just hurts my back more, so thats about perfect.

Kozak · Post by **Kozak** » May 4th, 2006, 2:03 am

Well when I have my damper setting on 1-6 it feel to little resistance. So I just put it on 10 to get more out of my strenght. Isn't this a good idea? I never do really long distances, sometimes I do a 7 km/.

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 4th, 2006, 8:11 am

Kozak wrote:Well when I have my damper setting on 1-6 it feel to little resistance. So I just put it on 10 to get more out of my strenght. Isn't this a good idea? I never do really long distances, sometimes I do a 7 km/.

Get the drag factor. I'd suspect your machine may be due for some spring cleaning.

The maintenance books are here: http://www.concept2.com/05/rower/service/pdf_index.asp

Kozak · Post by **Kozak** » May 6th, 2006, 6:55 am

Aha! I am such a newbie when it comes to ergometers.

We have 12 ergometers in our rowing school but I never checked for drag factor. I just put the damper on 10 and I start rowing.

BTW Why would people want to choose different drag factors? Is it so that the better you get the higher DF you can have?

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » May 6th, 2006, 3:54 pm

Kozak wrote:BTW Why would people want to choose different drag factors? Is it so that the better you get the higher DF you can have?

No. It's so you can make your erg feel like the boat you're training to row. And so you can get all ergs to feel the same.

You don't increase the DF "as you get better". You find the DF that suits you and your technique and stick at it.

David Howells · Post by **David Howells** » May 10th, 2006, 3:11 am

Kozak wrote: BTW Why would people want to choose different drag factors? Is it so that the better you get the higher DF you can have?

Think of it like choosing a gear on a cycle. If you choose the right one then you're able to peddle at a good cadence and go relatively fast, if it's too high your leg speed / cadence is too slow and it's tiring, if it's too low your legs are spinning too fast and you don't get the speed. Same thing with the drag factor and what suits one person doesn't necessarily suit others.

ancho · Post by **ancho** » May 10th, 2006, 6:44 am

David: I have to love your avatar!

enzedone · Post by **enzedone** » May 15th, 2006, 8:37 pm

I am new to this rowing caper. A frined of mine put me on his at DF10. The first one gave me a serious back pain, but after a while i got used to it.
But what i would like to know is, what is the official settings for national or international comps?
Do they differ from country to country. If i row and train at a certain level and then go to a comp(if i ever decided to), is going to be set at a special level that i'm not used to.............

is there an International standard?
cheers

DavidA · Post by **DavidA** » May 16th, 2006, 11:45 am

You are allowed to set it at any setting you like, you just may not change it once the race starts.
I think you will find that most of the people who know better set the damper lower, e.g. in 3-4 range.

David