A delicate(s) question.

[icomefrombirmingham]

I was going to ask this question a couple of weeks ago with regard to doing long distances on the flat plastic seat on the erg. However, having now been on a wooden seat with and curled back (and about to start OTW on the same type of seats I presume?) the question is more urgent!

I am experiencing soreness and even bruising at the top of my backside. I think it has occured since being on the seats in a rowing tank for the first time this week.

I might be sitting too far back on the seat? But(t?) I might be wearing the wrong clothing.

Are rowing shorts a lot more comfortable than regular shorts. I wear fairly heavy cotton rugby short when I erg.
If so what materials are preferred. C2 offers two types....one fast drying man made material the other with a higher cotton content I think.

Does underwear make a difference and if so what kind is recommended....I am a 250lb. male and before some bright spark suggests it, will not be wearing frilly lace any time soon.

Thanks,
Brent

[Tinpusher]

Hi Brent,
I have 2 pairs of these and should get some more. They are way better than the C2 ones.

I have one of these too. I still get a bit numb after 60 minutes+ but definately an improvement over standard when used with a couple of folded towels and a neoprene pad too! Who said I'm a softy?!

Dave

[icomefrombirmingham]

Hi Brent,
I have 2 pairs of these and should get some more. They are way better than the C2 ones.

I have one of these too. I still get a bit numb after 60 minutes+ but definately an improvement over standard when used with a couple of folded towels and a neoprene pad too! Who said I'm a softy?!

Dave

Great!
Thanks Dave. I just needed an excuse to buy some rowing shorts...and the pad would help too. Do you mind me asking what size you wear? You are about 25lbs lighter than me, so I'm guessing I'm a size up from you at the moment. However I should be down to the 220s in the next 3-4 months.
I think I might be catching the up-curl on back of the wooden seat at the end of the drive (so at my layback...which I don't think is too much of a layback). So the padding going up to the waist band would be useful.
Don't forget it's the Henley Regatta in St. Catharines this week...until Sunday.
Thanks again.
Brent

[Tinpusher]

I just ordered 2 more pairs too! I'm XL but they are very stretchy and fitted as well when I was 270lb as the do now I'm 224lb.
Unfotunately I'm working all weekend, so I'll have to pass.
Cheers
Dave

[icomefrombirmingham]

I just ordered 2 more pairs too! I'm XL but they are very stretchy and fitted as well when I was 270lb as the do now I'm 224lb.
Unfotunately I'm working all weekend, so I'll have to pass.
Cheers
Dave

Thanks again.
I am still at 42" waist and 250lbs. But from what you say about stretchy I might get away with XL?
I don't want to buy anything else that has an XXL label on it!!!
Brent

[Tinpusher]

At my heaviest, 272lb, I was unable to get into my 38" jeans and had 40s. After only a few months I was back in my 38s no problem and now even they're too loose! I'd stick with the XL. They really do stretch a lot and it will give you the incentive to lose weight.

BTW I just weighed in again today and I'm down to 223lb, my target being 220lb. I am rowing 90K a week though on the 2K Interactive Program.

Cheers

Dave

[PaulS]

The bruising is unusual, and just to cover the particular bases, make sure that the "cutout" is toward the back.

It's not uncommon for seats to get placed backwards and it's very uncomfortable.


Upper left is the back.

Cheers.

[icomefrombirmingham]

The bruising is unusual, and just to cover the particular bases, make sure that the "cutout" is toward the back.

It's not uncommon for seats to get placed backwards and it's very uncomfortable.


Upper left is the back.

Cheers.

Thanks Paul,
Unfortunately last night was my final go in the tank. But looking at the picture I am almost sure you hit the nail on the head! I'm pretty sure the straighter side of the seat was at the back.
Certainly though I have done nearly 400k on the erg with no problem....two nights in the tank and I'm bruised!
I hope the boats are set up properly!
Brent

[icomefrombirmingham]

At my heaviest, 272lb, I was unable to get into my 38" jeans and had 40s. After only a few months I was back in my 38s no problem and now even they're too loose! I'd stick with the XL. They really do stretch a lot and it will give you the incentive to lose weight.

BTW I just weighed in again today and I'm down to 223lb, my target being 220lb. I am rowing 90K a week though on the 2K Interactive Program.

Cheers

Dave

Congratulations Dave!
I was just reading that the ideal physical specimen for elite level rowing is 6' 5" and 209 lbs. You could be a superstar!?

I, like Liquid, have been stuck for a week or so, at just above 252 lbs. I'm thinking this is psychological, last time I got myself in shape I started out at 252 lbs. So I maintained my eating habits and did three straight days on the erg, plus the 2 hours in the tank. And today I was 250.5 lbs.
It's a small step but giant leap kinda thing.

I'll go with the XL and risk have the sveldt women at the Y staring at my bottom for a while!!!

Brent

[icomefrombirmingham]

Just ordered a pair. If they fit, I'll order more.
Thanks.
Brent

[Bob S.]

Thanks Paul,
Unfortunately last night was my final go in the tank. But looking at the picture I am almost sure you hit the nail on the head! I'm pretty sure the straighter side of the seat was at the back.
Certainly though I have done nearly 400k on the erg with no problem....two nights in the tank and I'm bruised!
I hope the boats are set up properly!
Brent

When I first read your message about problems with the seat, my initial thought was that it sounded like a backward seat. But you said that it was in a tank and I figured that no way could the seats be backward in a tank setup. It is not all that uncommon in boats, especially for newbies in singles. I did it myself once, not at as a newbie, but in a state of early morning grogginess. As soon as I sat down, I knew it was wrong and got up and changed it. Some people get the idea that the cutout is for crotch room, whereas its true purpose is to leave clearance for the end of the spine. A couple of times there have been reports to this forum of people who had this problem on a newly misassembled indoor rower.

I have never rowed in a tank, and have had only a short look at one or two, so I don't know if the seats can be reversed or not. But surely, at a training center, they wouldn't have them screwed up would they? Maybe some wag was playing games.

Bob S.

[Storm Petrel]

Upper left is the back.

The wooden seat is handsome!

[icomefrombirmingham]

Thanks Paul,
Unfortunately last night was my final go in the tank. But looking at the picture I am almost sure you hit the nail on the head! I'm pretty sure the straighter side of the seat was at the back.
Certainly though I have done nearly 400k on the erg with no problem....two nights in the tank and I'm bruised!
I hope the boats are set up properly!
Brent

When I first read your message about problems with the seat, my initial thought was that it sounded like a backward seat. But you said that it was in a tank and I figured that no way could the seats be backward in a tank setup. It is not all that uncommon in boats, especially for newbies in singles. I did it myself once, not at as a newbie, but in a state of early morning grogginess. As soon as I sat down, I knew it was wrong and got up and changed it. Some people get the idea that the cutout is for crotch room, whereas its true purpose is to leave clearance for the end of the spine. A couple of times there have been reports to this forum of people who had this problem on a newly misassembled indoor rower.

I have never rowed in a tank, and have had only a short look at one or two, so I don't know if the seats can be reversed or not. But surely, at a training center, they wouldn't have them screwed up would they? Maybe some wag was playing games.

Bob S.

Hi Bob,
Well, I agree that it would be strange to have the seat on in a reversed position in a rowing training centre. I think that they could be reversed...I assume that they are regular slides from an boat and that the seat itself could be put on in any position it could be in a boat?

Thinking about this a little more, I think the seat in the Brock U. tank had an upwards curve at the rear of the seat. And if that is so, I think I might have been catching, or "pinching" my lower back(side) on the lay-back. I haven't been erging or tanking since last Thursday and I am much less conscious of any discomfort now after a rest, so I am pretty sure it was something to do with those seats.

I will make sure, before I get in the boat for my first go at the real thing next Wednesday evening, that the seats are the right way round.

I have convinced my wife that she wants to go and see the conclusion of Canadian Henley this afternoon....so I must be off.

Thanks for the help,
Brent

[Storm Petrel]

Years ago, at university, there were no stops on the back end of the seat tracks in our tank...if it has a simmilar design, it's possible the seat came off the track and someone, possibly in haste, replaced it backwards. We would occasionally find the entire tank backwards...a gesture from the men's crew...

[Bob S.]

We would occasionally find the entire tank backwards...a gesture from the men's crew...

Ah! It is interesting to see that what I suspected has indeed been done. Somehow it does not surprise me.

Bob S.