I'm going to buy a rowing machine for use at home for daily cardio. I used to use them in a gym and always prefered them to running(my knees and heels are FUBAR).

I'm just not sure what I should go with in terms of air/magnetic/etc resistence.

The Concept 2 models seem to be popular.

Just thought some of you guys might have some advice or personal recomendations...would help especially since these things seem to run about 600-1200 depending on if it is used.

CDS

Thanks a lot. I think you just cost me $800. Boston area 2+2'ers: Concept 2's used at CRASH-B for sale.

I have this one. I got it for free and had it in my college dorm room. It sucked but I use to do it and watch tv.

Alot cheaper than c2. You can usually get them for free from craigslist.

Concept II isn't just "popular," its the standard by which any non-water based rowing is founded on. Every competitive rowing program in the country uses them for off water training. If you buy one, you can compare your results with high school, collegiate and club rowers across the country. Its simply a phenomenal peice of equipment and the only major production rower that approximates the rate/power ratio of actual rowing.

One warning I would use is to make sure you are using proper form for two huge reasons:

1. The threat of degenerative injuries, mostly to the back.

2. Make sure you aren't cheating the effective length of the stroke.

I say this because the number one peice of advice I would give to someone thinking of buying one of these is to be sure their okay with the resistance. I see alot of people at the gym with resistance on 10, plowing out 35 strokes a minute with handle actually moving a total of less than 12 inches horizontally while their body contorts in a spastic motion to try to get some form of extension. They are not using the machine. Even on 1, the resistance can be significant after a few minutes with a hard leg drive. Most people aren't used to putting this much effort in to their cardio. ( i.e. the burn will not just be your heart and lungs) Will you truely feel like doing this day after day even when you are sore?

If you are straight on both of these, there isn't a better peice of cardio equipment out there.

This seems like a solid idea but i never feel like i'm working THAT hard on a rowing machine. Whats the calorie/hour comparison with jogging? Of course it would depend on speed of both but...seen any numbers?

A strong rower can pull a calorie/stroke for a short while. This is half a horsepower. In other words, a **** ton of power output.

Not doing it right then. I get more winded than I do running in the same period of time, obviously no way to determine if I am working each equally but other than balls to the wall sprints, rowing kills.

yeah your doing something wrong..I can jog for awhile on a treadmill but if I row I get worn out quite quickly. I think i'm just gonna save up and buy a concept 2...though they are fairly loud correct?

Only other ones i was looking at were kettle or kettler magnetic resistence

Ok I bought a Concept 2 late December. I have mine set to 6 and push out 30-31 reps. I started at 5000 meters and now am up to 7500 meters and constantly improving my time.

I have added a program Row Pro to my laptop and than connect a USB to the concept and voila I have a actual rower on the screen. I also can program in pace boats with preselected times or my last time. I ordered a the heart monitor receiver fromConcept for 425 and it syncs with my polar.

I have to say best workout I have gotten and motivation is great with the pace boats.

Save up for the Concept 2 is all I can say. as for being Loud Any peice of good equipment has some noise. I still use my stereo or Tv while doing it

Goal is 10,000 meters and form is important. I row a complete stroke were i am hitiing my gut often with the handle. Gereat Ab workout also

lozen, that distance you shouldn't be pulling anywhere near 30spm. 20-23 is probably ideal.

So should i be changing the setting or increasing the power of my strokes through my Legs? My form is very good. I appreciate the advice bout little more detail would be great

lozen..
where did you buy it?
new or used?
which model was it?
how much did it run you?
easy to assemble?
does it fold up and store easily or do u keep it in garage etc?

tnxs

Try and aim for a very explosive stroke. Your recovery should take about twice as long as the drive. If you're going at 30 the ratio is probably more like 1:1.

Every time you start a stroke it takes a while to spin up the flywheel - kind of like a fixed cost of power. Therefore the higher your stroke rate the more power you lose from your body to the flywheel.

Bought Here in Canada at Fitness Depot and they matched the Direct price from Concept $1300 CDN Rowpro software $99 US It was New
I do believe it is a C Model
So simple to put together.
It does fold up but I keep it in the basement so never tried

Iam going to give this a try. Though I find that I am getting a great workout and sweating. Best Time at 7500 meters is under 32 minutes.

The pupose of the more explosive stroke is ....................?

I do appreciate the insight

Once I get a bigger place one of these is so going in my gym room

lozen, check these videos out
http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/excercise.html#Row

cool thanks Smiley...wish more ****ers had these out here in LA. seems like there are a ton of them selling used on the east coast

While this is true, you have to keep in mind that there is a de facto higer resistance to the rower at a lower stroke rating. Obviously he wants to maintain a good ratio (3:1 recovery to stroke time is expoused as ideal, but 2:1 is realiztically more likely)

If he can't get to a 30 without racing up the track on the recovery than you are right, he needs to slow down. An untrained person rowing at that rate for that kind of distance "probably" is racing the tracks

But a 20-23 rating is awful slow if he is trying to maximize distance over a 5000. I know I would start to blow my quads out at that rating. I think a 26-28 would be more advisable.

That is where the "work" is done. Granted this is a focus that is translated over from actual rowing, but if your doing the work out, why not do it right.

There is little to be gained, work out wise or other, from accelerating the recovery. Why not put the effort in to the resistance portion of the motion, where you can gain more strength as well as cardiovascular benefit?

You'll want to work on some of the following:


As you finish the pull of the stroke, quickly accelerate your hands away from you chest and move your body angle toward the wheel. (The seat shouldn't have moved yet at this point.) Now this will create momentum. You should feel as though you are simply controlling that momentum for the rest of the stroke. As you apporach the catch, feel as though you are decelerating. You actually won't be, but thats the sensation you want. As stated by smiley, this should be taking you 2-2.5 times as long as it takes you to pull to full extension.

With this type of motion, your body isn't going to be able to consistantly exert itself in two directions. Work on the one that counts.

Hey guys need some quick advice

is $500 a good deal for a concept 2 model C that is in pretty good condition?

Very Good Deal Does it have the USB and Heartrate connection on the bottom of the Displau unit?

price is a decent deal, not amazing but model c's will sell for $600+ sometimes. i hate the handle of the model C compared to the model D, along with the model C monitor.

i'd definitely spend the extra 250-300 on a model d.

yeah i would if i could actually find a model d..this is LA not like Boston where everyone seems to be selling them

ok i can get a concept B for $275 or Concept C for 500...is the C worth the difference?