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Rowing machines and climbing?
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-Update- Last April I stated that if we are locked down for another couple of months I will be in pretty good shape. Well I am not in much better shape today, but at least I am in no worse shape. I gave up on my goal of 6000 meters in 30 minutes. Hell, I don't even row every day:-) But we are still locked down here and I am still at it. Today I did manage 2000 meters in under 10 minutes. I have tried my best but I just can't wear out the weight training set up I built and I am up to 10 push ups now. Who would have thought that today we would be at over 400,000 dead with the death rate still growing. The VA has contacted me and I guess that I will be getting the vaccine soon. For me the end is in sight and I hope the future is as bright for all of you. Roger Brown |
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You're kicking ass, Roger! Congrats! I stopped rowing last year once the new daily cases dropped down to about 30 in my state, and then I got really into hiking and top-rope soloing, but now that it's cold and gets dark early I'm back on the rower. I've been following this beginner program for the last few weeks: https://breakingmuscle.com/workouts/an-8-week-training-plan-for-the-beginner-rower Really like the structure the program gives with different recommended strokes/minute intervals. Finding a free beginner program has really helped with the motivation too!
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Well it has been a little over a year and a half and I am still banging away at it. The regular workout is now at 2000 meters. I can't yet get it under 10 minutes though. 10 minutes and 18 seconds this morning. I am up to 15 reps at 83# on the bench press and 13 push-ups today also. For those that don't know me that sounds pretty bad, but for those that do, they think that sounds great. Oh yea, since the start of this Covid thing I have dropped from 200# down to 184# this morning, and I quit getting hair-cuts. My wife and I have both had our Jabs so at least we won't be getting really sick or dying of Covid. Stay safe out there, Roger Brown |
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Well another 3-1/2 months and after a medical break I am back at it stronger than ever. Since my new heart valve was installed 5 weeks ago I have doubled my distance to 4000 meters a session, 4 days a week. My fastest time was this morning at 22:40. Not pushing the time yet, trying to keep the heart rate under 140. I do Cardio rehab 2 days a week at the hospital and they have you wired up so they monitor the workout. My heart rate at rehab yesterday was137 and it felt about like today. Medium hard with only a light sweat. A couple months ago after 2000 meters I was super tired, gasping for air, and soaked with sweat. Sure I knew there was something wrong, but I thought it was just old age. I'm still old but I feel a lot younger:-) The TAVR ad just came on CNN and yea, that was me! Severe. Life span 50% for 2 years, 20% for 5 years with my old valve. So....If you think something feels wrong, there just might be, and probably is, something wrong. LIFE IS GOOD, Roger Brown |
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Great work, Roger! Very glad you got what you needed, instead of being gone. I still row, but sporadically. I do enjoy it, though, and look forward to maybe having a chance to try out the real thing, in 2022! Best, Helen |
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Another 8 months gone by and after another medical break I am back on the Rower. Three months ago today I had a knee replacement and that kept me off the Rower for a few weeks. I only row every other day now, but the goal is 5000 meters in under 30 minutes each session. To mark 3 months, I pushed it to 5714 meters in 30 minutes today with a split time of 237.7. That may be my best time ever. Slow by rowing standards but fast enough for me:-) Knee replacement recovery is a long slow process. We bought a Van and have been building it out ourselves so that has kept me busy while the new knee gets itself re-attached to the quad muscles, tendons, and all the other stuff. Helen, did you get a chance to do some real time rowing yet? Post a trip report if you have or if you do. That is an experience I want to hear about. Life is good, Roger |
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Just noticed this thread and wanted to make a callout about the 1-10 damper setting folks have mentioned in this thread. On the Concept2 ergs that most gyms have the damper controls the amount of airflow to the fan and is used to adjust the "drag factor" on the machine so that you can get a consistent setting across machines (e.g. a setting of 8 on an old, worn out machine might be equal to a 3 on a new machine). concept2.com/indoor-rowers/…. You can check the drag factor via the monitor menu. https://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm3/how-to-use/viewing-drag-factor Drag factor changes the feel of the stroke and should not be conflated with power or resistance; cranking the damper to 10 and expecting to get a harder workout is a recipe for a back injury. Setting the drag to ~110 (probably around damper setting 3) is probably a good spot for most recreational rowers to stick with. In my experience rowing at the D1 level it was abnormal to hear anyone using drag >140 for anything and 120-130 was pretty standard. https://www.concept2.com/news/damper-and-drag-olympians Hopefully that's helpful to someone else who stumbles upon this. |
Jordan Rogers wrote: 3 of the 4 gyms I frequent have Concept 2 rowers (and I own a Concept 2). However, the Planet Fitness has some other brand, with a water resistance thing on the front. It doesn't seem to make any difference at all where you set the things, they are quite a bit easier than the Concept 2. They don't measure the same, either. I think it's a one size fits all amount of meter per stroke, maybe? Fairly unintelligent machines. They do make nice swishy noises though, lol! Also, if you're used to a Concept 2 erg machine, you will be able to impress gymbies with your presumed stamina on these things. Casually tell them you crank out a nice, easy, relaxing, 30 mins. No need to confess being trashed after 10 on an erg!
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Still working at it. At Cardio Rehab. they made us do 40 minutes of cardio every session and wanted us to do the same at home. It didn't matter what kind of machine, how fast, or at what level, as long as you did the 40 minutes. The only machine we had here was the rower so that is what I used. 4 to 5 minute split times was me, but I could get the 40 minutes in. After 15 months I got a bit better. I got my personal best today. 7652 meters in 40 minutes. If my math is correct that is a split time of 2:37. Nothing great but pretty good for a old guy. We bought a Van and just finished building it out so we will join Planet Fitness for a place to shower. I will try out their rower. Nation wide with showers AND a rower:-) |
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I love rowing machines. Cardio with more upper body involvement is great for climbing. It feels good for my posture and mid/upper back too. The concept 2 model d is definitely my favorite. As mentioned above, the drag factor calibration is essential to dial in a perfect cardio workout and not make it a heavier seated-row/weight training type of exercise. I think many who don't see the appeal of these machines or are getting elbow tendonitis have not experimented with this feature of the machine. It's like saying you don't like running when all you've done is uphill sprints. |
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Fascinating reading this thread. Stoked to see how people have progressed with this tool. 99% of my rowing was as a river guide on the Colorado and other rivers way back in my early 20's. It's such a different world from competitive rowing and especially from using a trainer. Sure, there can be plenty of flat water, depending on the river. But it's so much more dynamic than a lake or slow moving river. The aspect of this type of rowing that makes it feel more like climbing is that the techniques of reading the river and navigating the current seem almost as important as the fitness of rowing. I've used rowing machines to warm up for lifting and it's such a grind compared to dipping oars in water. As has been said, the muscle groups are so different from climbing. But fitness is fitness. |
 Intentionally pretty slow (not that I'm fast, lol), but this is a long time to row, for me. Fortunately, some guy showed up beside me, who was talkative. This was the Women's day challenge put out by Concept2! My row netted a small contribution on their end, pooled into various charities. H. EDIT to add, this was on the Concept2 at the local YMCA. My time is the top one. I didn't really look at those other numbers, wtf?! No idea whatsoever what that is. I assumed others who rowed that day, but that doesn't make sense. |
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If any of y’all are interested there’s an app called “rowpro”- it hooks up to your concept II rowing machine and you can row on a delightfully dated looking virtual river against other people with the app. Anybody interested? It’s been a while since I’ve done any rowing but would be down to hop on some pixelated water for a workout every so often. |
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Helen, I think those other numbers are your results for each thousand meters. After 3 days off I hit it really hard today, probably a guilt thing, and got an all-time high of 8000 meters in 41 minutes and 34 seconds. We have a month-long trip in our van coming up, so Carol got us a membership in Planet Fitness. That way we can take showers and I can use their rower. I will post when we get back on how it went. Good, Bad, or Ugly, it should be a great adventure :-) |
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Hey guys, Just thought I'd chime in with some recommendations. I love the Concept2 rower as a primary means of building cardiorespiratory endurance and power. I'm 6'2", 195Lbs so running has never been too kind to my lower extremity joints when attempting longer duration/distance pieces. When I discovered the rower it immediately became my favorite mode of monostructural training. If anyone is looking for programming for the Concept2 rower, I've been using https://fmrowing.com.. The guy who puts it out is a former British, Welsh, & Scottish indoor rowing champion. He is on hand through a Facebook group to provide tips, feedback, and coaching anytime you need it. You can buy it monthly or every 6 months I believe. Each week he releases 5 pieces to complete and you can do all 5 or even start with 2 to 3 to build up your volume if it's a newer mode of training for you. All you need for the program is a baseline 2000m test as all the pieces base your paces off of your 2K PB pace. I use the program year round at this point and when I'm training for alpine/mountaineering trips I try and do 3-5 pieces/week and it does wonders for my cardiorespiratory endurance when following the program to a T. Hope this helps anyone looking to improve their fitness. All the best, Craig |
