Are we getting slower

[coggs]

Interesting to look at the progression of times over the past years on the C2 rankings. Seem the 50 percentile times for just about every distance have shown a steady increase. Average time for 2K has gone from 7:18 in 2002 to 7:26 so far this year. For 5K time has gone from 19:52 to 20:25 over the same period. Wonder if that is because in the early days "real rowers" were the primary people using the C2. Now there are more people using it as a home or health club exercise machine. Still, that's a pretty sharp decline. Thoughts?

[Alissa]

Interesting to look at the progression of times over the past years on the C2 rankings. Seem the 50 percentile times for just about every distance have shown a steady increase. Average time for 2K has gone from 7:18 in 2002 to 7:26 so far this year. For 5K time has gone from 19:52 to 20:25 over the same period. Wonder if that is because in the early days "real rowers" were the primary people using the C2. Now there are more people using it as a home or health club exercise machine. Still, that's a pretty sharp decline. Thoughts?

Hard to really know, but I'd guess that you've probably identified the source of the "decline"--that is, the broadening of the user base beyond the "naturally athletic." That the "slower" feel comfortable posting represents quite a success on C2s part in marketing and nurturing the indoor rower/rowing market!

Of course I've also heard that current highly competitive rowers (who, presumably would have some of hte lowest times) decline to include their times since they don't want to "reveal all" to their competition which would tend to skew the average "lower"! So who knows?

Alissa

[PaulS]

I think a 'percentile' is not really the same as an 'average time' (unless the sample is infinitely large).

Your hypothesis could well be an explanation, as the population of less specialized folks increases it is likely to increase the number at the lower end and make for a larger change in the percentile times.

IMO, OTW rowers that are considered "competitive" will be very likely to remain in the 90th percentile, at least that would be a good start for them.

Some have argued that even though they never make the 90th percentile for their class, they are of a higher performance standard than those that do, however that argument seems a bit odd.

[flan48]

I agree that part of the reason could be people like myself buying, using, and, in my case especially, loving the C2 - BUUUT not caring (at this juncture) about speed. I and others use the erg for fitness and concentrate on techique. Additional speed will likley come with time, but is not of paramount importance.

My 2 cents.
Best regards

[Bob S.]

Some have argued that even though they never make the 90th percentile for their class, they are of a higher performance standard than those that do, however that argument seems a bit odd.

Some? Or someone?

[PaulS]

Some have argued that even though they never make the 90th percentile for their class, they are of a higher performance standard than those that do, however that argument seems a bit odd.

Some? Or someone?

Oh alright! A silly ponce as argued such a thing, and they may show up here to do it again.

That better?

Bob, I'd guess that with a small enough population, the argument above could actually be supported by facts, it's just unlikely in the real world rankings.

BTW - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[my0064]

Another theory for some of you to debunk, but it might augment the broadening base theory as well: It's only September, and with the winter months still ahead of us, it is quite possible that many of the OTW rowers are concentrating their efforts on the rivers and lakes rather than the erg. As such they probably aren't logging their time trials just yet. Once they come in due to the cold (and erg sessions become the main focus of their training) couldn't we expect to see the average/50 percentile times drop a bit? Just a thought.

[PaulS]

Another good point my0064, though hopefully only complete seasons were taken into account, which may not be the case with the reference to "this season" which is only just a bit more than 1/3 complete.