Model B vs. C or D

[mikej2]

Hi,
First time poster here.

There's a local person selling an older model B for around $100. Seems like probably a fair price, but I'm wondering how it compares to the newer machines.

My use will be for exercise and training and indoor rowing during the frozen months. I doubt I'll be doing any erg competitions, wouldn't mind getting a shell though, so compatibility with newer machines isn't a major factor. Noise might be though. Ease of use might be a factor as well if I want my wife to give it a try.

Not even sure if the guy still has it. If not then I'll just wait for another one to come along or will buy a newer one in the Fall.

Thanks for any input or guidance.

Mike in Wisconsin

[PaulS]

Hi,
First time poster here.

There's a local person selling an older model B for around $100. Seems like probably a fair price, but I'm wondering how it compares to the newer machines.

My use will be for exercise and training and indoor rowing during the frozen months. I doubt I'll be doing any erg competitions, wouldn't mind getting a shell though, so compatibility with newer machines isn't a major factor. Noise might be though. Ease of use might be a factor as well if I want my wife to give it a try.

Not even sure if the guy still has it. If not then I'll just wait for another one to come along or will buy a newer one in the Fall.

Thanks for any input or guidance.

Mike in Wisconsin

Buy it, as long as there is no terrible evidence of abuse you can replace all the possible consumable parts for about fifty bucks and even put a current handle and PM on it, don't forget to buy a "speed ring" for it to get the resistance level down. It would be tought ot go wrong if it is in good repair.

[schweinlew]

Hello,

I recently acquired a Model B to which I would like to attach a speed ring.

Is the speed ring a commercially available product? If so, where would I find one?

If I saw a picture of one, I'm guessing that I could make one--or at least a less-pretty approximation to one. Is the speed ring a cylinder that goes around the inside circumference of the cage or is it more of a two-dimesional flat ring that somehow restricts air to the center of the flywheel?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Will

[PaulS]

Hello,

I recently acquired a Model B to which I would like to attach a speed ring.

Is the speed ring a commercially available product? If so, where would I find one?

If I saw a picture of one, I'm guessing that I could make one--or at least a less-pretty approximation to one. Is the speed ring a cylinder that goes around the inside circumference of the cage or is it more of a two-dimesional flat ring that somehow restricts air to the center of the flywheel?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Will

Call C2, that's where I bought mine. Though You may want to think if you need any other replacement parts at the same time due to the cost of shipping.

BTW - The CBreeze works on a Model B, you can see pictures on my web site, under the FAQ regarding the Model B, and that picture even shows the Speed ring installed.

[johnlvs2run]

I have a model B and a model C.

My model B is probably worth around $550, the same as the C.

It will cost more than $50 to upgrade the model B, provided you upgrade the seat, pm, and cogwheel. You don't need the new handle or the quiet kit and you certainly don't need to purchase a speed ring.

I would first upgrade the speed ring and you can do this yourself by cutting out a ring from cardboard, black roofing paper, rubber from a truck tire innertube, or almost anything else. Then attach this to the side of your erg with plastic ties. This gives you the same range of resistances as on the model C or D. You can cover the perimeter of the erg the same way.

Secondly I would upgrade the seat. The original model B seat is very uncomfortable. You can get a new seat from c2 or make one from a piece of plywood and 2 layers of 1/2 inch hard foam on each side on top, with an inch open down the middle inbetween them. Glue the foam to the plywood and you have a better seat than any of the ones made by c2.

Finally I would upgrade the monitor and the cogwheel. The 14 tooth cogwheel is only about 10 bucks and takes about an hour to replace. Or get the quiet kit which costs around 55 bucks. A pm2 or pm3 will cost around $150 or so.

Model B's sell on Ebay for $300 and up with none of the upgrades above.

If you can get one in reasonable condition for $100 then that is a great deal and I'd go for it.

[Bob S.]

Secondly I would upgrade the seat. The original model B seat is very uncomfortable.

To you, perhaps. When I gave away my model B after recently getting a model D, the one thing that I was tempted to keep was the seat. When I tried out a model C at a club when they first came out, many years ago, the first thing that I noticed was that I hated that seat which was so uncomfortable compared with my own model B.

I have installed a C2 pad on the model D and that seems to have made it tolerable enough for up to an hour.

Bob S.

[PaulS]

Secondly I would upgrade the seat. The original model B seat is very uncomfortable.

To you, perhaps. When I gave away my model B after recently getting a model D, the one thing that I was tempted to keep was the seat. When I tried out a model C at a club when they first came out, many years ago, the first thing that I noticed was that I hated that seat which was so uncomfortable compared with my own model B.

I have installed a C2 pad on the model D and that seems to have made it tolerable enough for up to an hour.

Bob S.

Now Bob, are you breaking the wonderful advice you gave me?

[Bob S.]

Now Bob, are you breaking the wonderful advice you gave me? ;)

Yes, I sure did, Paul. My hope was that it was innocuous enough slip under the radar screen. Still, it would be nice to go back to the luxury (available on the U.K. site) of having an i-file.

regards,

Bob

[AndyM]

Finally I would upgrade the monitor and the cogwheel. The 14 tooth cogwheel is only about 10 bucks and takes about an hour to replace. Or get the quiet kit which costs around 55 bucks. A pm2 or pm3 will cost around $150 or so.

I have a Model B and was wondering what the quiet kit is and if it works. I spoke with C2 and they said it was for the Model C.

Thanks for any info.

[johnlvs2run]

You're right about that. The quiet kit is only for the C.

You don't need the quiet kit for the B.

The 14 tooth cogwheel is only $10 or so, and takes about an hour to replace.

You should replace the chain at the same time though, so you may as well take out the skewer, clean and oil it, and make sure the bungee snugs the handle just up to the cage but no tighter than that. This will add another hour to the process.

The pm2+ is much more accurate and useful than the pm1.

[AndyM]

Thanks for all the info.

Andy