Indoor rowers?

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Replies

  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    MeanderingMammal wrote: »
    TmacMMM wrote: »

    Ack! That stinks. How long have you had it, and is this first problem you've had?

    I've had it about 10 years now. Have had to replace the speed sensor, and I freshen the water in the tank every couple of years, that's about it.

    I'm very happy with it, sits in my TV room, quite discrete and easy to use.

    They are beautiful machines. I've been curious about the durability of the various erg options, so thanks for the data point.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Most on-water rowing clubs or camps will require you to be able to swim as a condition of membership, and some will make you prove it (Standard for one camp I attended, that made me test, was 100 yards continuous swimming without touching or aids, plus maybe 5 or 10 minutes of treading water.)

    Yeah, that's why I never took up "real" rowing. Not a great swimmer and don't like the idea of needing to swim to save my life. ;)

  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    TmacMMM wrote: »
    I've always wanted to row on the water, but could never seem to make it happen.

    ....

    So I think I can do it, if I keep up the training. And this summer, I plan to sign up for the Learn To Row program on the water.

    I was gonna say come out to Worcester this summer for the learn to row day on Quinsig. Donahue Rowing center in Shrewsbury is the ramp.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,225 Member
    sgt1372 wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    Most on-water rowing clubs or camps will require you to be able to swim as a condition of membership, and some will make you prove it (Standard for one camp I attended, that made me test, was 100 yards continuous swimming without touching or aids, plus maybe 5 or 10 minutes of treading water.)

    Yeah, that's why I never took up "real" rowing. Not a great swimmer and don't like the idea of needing to swim to save my life. ;)

    FWIW, in practice, I've only flipped once unintentionally, in many hundreds of hours of rowing. But that was a double, and it was April in Michigan, water probably below 50 degrees F . . . the kind of experience I refer to as "sub-recreational" ;). Otherwise, I've been lucky - and that's what it is, luck, not so much skill. My regular rowing double partner, for example, flipped singles so many times in her early seasons of rowing. So you never know.

    (I'm not a good swimmer, either, and used to be much worse before taking adult learn-to-swim lessons at around age 48. However, even before lessons, I could swim on my back for long periods (although slowly), so I could pass the swim test. IMO, you're missing out big time by not trying on-water rowing. It's very, very fun, intellectually interesting, physically technically complex, and a good workout once you have some technique in place.)
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    IMO, you're missing out big time by not trying on-water rowing. It's very, very fun, intellectually interesting, physically technically complex, and a good workout once you have some technique in place.)

    Perhaps but, at 66, it's not something I'd care to do anymore because IMO it would require too much time and energy to engage in it, which is the same reason I gave up downhill skiing and motorcycling not too long ago.

    It wasn't the inherent dangers in these "sports" that convinced me to give them up. It was just that I didn't want to devote the time necessary to fully engage in them anymore.

    There are just other things I'd rather do w/my time and energy.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    TmacMMM wrote: »
    MeanderingMammal wrote: »
    TmacMMM wrote: »

    Ack! That stinks. How long have you had it, and is this first problem you've had?

    I've had it about 10 years now. Have had to replace the speed sensor, and I freshen the water in the tank every couple of years, that's about it.

    I'm very happy with it, sits in my TV room, quite discrete and easy to use.

    They are beautiful machines. I've been curious about the durability of the various erg options, so thanks for the data point.

    Well the Team GB Rowing team use them, so make of that what you will.

    I've had a closer look in daylight, and can see where the glue has perished. It'll take me 2-3 hours to dismantle, clean it up and glue, then leave to cure until I reassemble, which will take me another hour or so. The alternative is spend about £150 sending it away to get repaired.


  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    A quick update on my rowing progress. Prior to getting the rower, it had been at least 6-7 years since I'd done any sort of cardio. I was really out of shape. After just over a month of rowing 5 days/week, I've managed to take 40 seconds off my 500m split time (which seems pretty good, i think?). I'm still pretty dang slow, but the week-to-week improvement I'm seeing is really motivating. :)
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    Nice! Are you doing mostly steady-state rows (where you feel like could keep going forever) or are you adding in intervals or sprinting? I'm interested in the approaches people take.
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    edited January 2017
    Right now, I'm following the Pete Plan which incorporates SS, speed intervals and distance/endurance intervals. It feels like a pretty balanced approach to training and so far, there's enough variety each week to prevent boredom.
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    Oh, that's right. You told me that already. So it's working as intended! :)
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    Apparently so!
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