Question for PaulS

Citroen · Post by **Citroen** » October 13th, 2006, 7:15 pm

mdc45 wrote: 3) stick with the lower drag around 105 and practice 10m/stroke

From your list option #3 is the simple choice.
But at 6ft you could go a bit higher than 105.

GeorgeD · Post by **GeorgeD** » October 13th, 2006, 8:43 pm

Citroen wrote:
mdc45 wrote: 3) stick with the lower drag around 105 and practice 10m/stroke
From your list option #3 is the simple choice.
But at 6ft you could go a bit higher than 105.

A question that could be asked is, "If I can achieve the paces I want at a lower drag and am comfortable with the rate, why add more 'stress' by increasing it

George

seat5 · Post by **seat5** » October 13th, 2006, 9:35 pm

I'm 5'11 ish, 160 lbs, and usually row at df 117, and at 10MPS unless the workout I'm doing has a pace/rate that doesn't work out to 10, or if I'm going for a PB and don't care how I get there.

From what it sounds like that might be kind of high for my size?

NavigationHazard · Post by **NavigationHazard** » October 14th, 2006, 6:40 am

Carla, if you haven't already read this advice from Terry O'Neill* on the British site, you might find it informative:

http://www.concept2.co.uk/training/tels_tales.php?id=40

* 3-time British Olympic rowing coach

As for a DF of 117 being 'high' or not, IMO the main criteria are whether you're comfortable with it, whether it's allowing you to row well and efficiently, and whether or not you're trying to emulate the feel of a multiple-rower boat in which everyone perforce shares the same DF.

If you're getting maximal power at 117, why change? OTOH, if you can generate more power by dropping the drag a bit and speeding up your drives, it's probably to your advantage to do so. Alternatively, it might be that you can handle well a DF of (say) 125. Provided you're not constrained by the multiple-rower problem, I think the best way to figure out what will work best is to experiment.

For what it's worth, many national squads specify DF for ergometer tests. Canada, for example, says that heavyweight women are allowed a maximum DF of 120. Your setting 117 is under that (although actual DF will vary somewhat during a piece due to ambient humidity, air currents, etc.).

Cheers.

PaulS · Post by **PaulS** » October 14th, 2006, 10:58 am

mdc45 wrote:Thanks for the explanation and the graph Paul.

So which do you think is more beneficial for me to improve technique?

1) use a higher drag and work on recovery speed to maintain 10m/stroke
2) use a higher drag and fixed distance of 11 m/stroke
3) stick with the lower drag around 105 and practice 10m/stroke

#3 would be my suggestion, and as you gain comfort with that, make small increases to the DF to challenge your recovery even further. A change of 5 units in DF is significant when going up, do no more than that in a single day and no more than 10 in a week. When you learn to increase the speed that your muscles are working, a slower flywheel adds a lot of stress in the early drive and you need some time to adjust for that.

Sitwronge · Post by **Sitwronge** » October 14th, 2006, 11:55 am

PAUL S SHOULD I EAT 5 MORE DOUGIE BISCUITS??????

#1 EAT 5 MORE DOUGIE BISCUITS???????

#2 DO YOU TAKE MORE DRUGS AND EAT MORE CATS, LESS DOUGIE BISCUITS????????????

#3 SHOULD I EAT THEM FASTER OR SLOWER??????????????

PAUL S THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERT ADVICE ON THESE THINGS!!!!!!

PLUS ANOTHER QUESTION WHAT DOES SPI STAND FOR AND HOW MANY CATS????????? THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Sitwronge · Post by **Sitwronge** » October 14th, 2006, 11:55 am

PAUL S WHAT DOES DF STAND FOR THANK YOU!!!!!