Rowing machine

beagletracks

Hello, mfpers!

I'm thinking about buying a rowing machine.

I walk every day with my dogs and have been considering a gym membership (quit mine when I moved last year), but I'd rather work out at home and I love rowing. I don't run because it's too much impact on my knees. The machine I'm looking at costs about the same as a yearlong gym membership.

What do you guys think? Recommendations? Experience? Expertise on the subject you might share?

Thanks. ❤️

beagletracks

That's the one I'm thinking of getting -- Concept 2 model D.

Great idea about CL. Thanks!

AnnPT77

Yes, if you're going to buy one, get the Concept 2. They last forever. (Even the initial monitor batteries - an industrial type - lasted over 5 years, maybe close to 10!)

Excellent online instruction, product support, challenges, logbook, competitions, and more. It's the machine on-water rowers, right on up to the national teams, use for land-based training. There are even actual races - online or location based - if you enjoy competing.

If I were re-buying, I'd consider the dynamic, but the D is an excellent choice. (I find the dynamic a teensy, barely perceptible amount easier on my problem knees - and it was not rowing that caused the problem initially, BTW. Also, the dynamic may be a tiny bit "boat-y-er", and I'm mostly an on-water rower.)

beagletracks

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Yes, if you're going to buy one, get the Concept 2. They last forever. (Even the initial monitor batteries - an industrial type - lasted over 5 years, maybe close to 10!)

Excellent online instruction, product support, challenges, logbook, competitions, and more. It's the machine on-water rowers, right on up to the national teams, use for land-based training. There are even actual races - online or location based - if you enjoy competing.

If I were re-buying, I'd consider the dynamic, but the D is an excellent choice. (I find the dynamic a teensy, barely perceptible amount easier on my problem knees - and it was not rowing that caused the problem initially, BTW. Also, the dynamic may be a tiny bit "boat-y-er", and I'm mostly an on-water rower.)

Thank you!

goldthistime

I have a Concept 2 rower and love it. If I had to choose between it and a gym membership though, I would choose the gym membership.

sgt1372

I have a Concept2 rower too.

Used it extensively early on for weight loss, now not so much but a moderate 15 min session is a sure way to burn 150 cals when I need to net out so excess cals.

I found people on CL wanted too much for their used C2's and just bought one new directly from the mfg.

Would never choose a gym membership over a C2 or any other home gym equipment. Far better and cheaper over the long run to work out at home if you can.

I've set up a pretty complete gym at home and also have a free gym membership but I seldom go to the gym and, when I do, the only things that I use are the Stairmaster and steamroom.

Public gyms are a necessity for those who can't setup one in their home but I've never heard anyone who setup a home gym say that they prefer to work out in public gym instead.

beagletracks

Thanks, everyone! Yes, I'd probably buy a new one. It's even available through Amazon (from the manufacturer). And I think working out at home is a better option for me than the gym for now given my schedule and other considerations. Great to hear you all like the brand so much. Thanks again!

sgt1372

peppermintpudgy wrote: »

Thanks, everyone! Yes, I'd probably buy a new one. It's even available through Amazon (from the manufacturer). And I think working out at home is a better option for me than the gym for now given my schedule and other considerations. Great to hear you all like the brand so much. Thanks again!

Better to buy it directly from Concept2.

As I recall there was a minor pricing difference on Amazon and buying it direct cuts out the middle man.

Concept has great customer service and stand behind their product 100%.

Enjoy!

Duck_Puddle

I had a different (cheaper) rowing machine for a while and using it was like being on a 3-wheeled skateboard attached to a door with a bungee cord-only the door doesn't close and latch all the way and you've got your smartphone propped on the floor agaisnt the door as a monitor. Then I bought a concept2 (model D) and fell in love. I got mine through Rogue. Worth every penny.

sgt1372

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

Pepper, also try facebook marketplace. There are ones near Connecticut, for example, priced at 800ish. That is a good deal for a lightly used one.

IMO, $800 is too much for a used rower that you can buy new for $900 plus $45 shipping directly from Concept.

BTW, OP, Amazon sells it for $945 (including free shipping) and Rogue sells it for $900 plus $45 shipping. It's all the same price but no reason to buy it thru Amazon or Rogue when you can buy it direct from Concept.

If/when you troll the used C2 ads, be careful about which PM (performance monitor) it comes with for the price quoted. The PM is one way to date the rower. The current PM is PM5 for Model D but goes all the way back to PM1 which I think was first installed in a Model B. Don't think they had a PM for a Model A, which is 30 year old antique now.

If you want to familiarize yourself w/the models look here:

http://www.concept2.com/service/indoor-rowers

There currently are 2 people on the SF Bay Area CL trying to sell a Concept 2 w/a PM 3 for $800, which is too much. It would cost you $160 to 180 (depending on whether you need new mounting hardware or not) to upgrade a PM3 to a PM5, which would wipe out the perceived savings of buying a used C2 for $800.

See: http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/performance-monitors/retrofitting-pm5

If you want to know when a specific rower was made, look for (or ask the seller to give you) the serial number. The 1st 6 numbers are the date that the unit was "boxed" -- mm/dd/yy. See for example:

http://www.concept2.com/service/indoor-rowers/model-d

The location of the serial number for each model varies but you really don't want to buy anything earlier than a Model D which was made between 2003 and now, which means there are Model D's out there now that are almost 15 years old. So, be careful.

You also "may" be able to determine how heavily a specific rower has been used by reviewing the "Lifetime Meters" reading on the PM3/4/5. This is how you do it:

http://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm5/how-to-use/viewing-lifetime-meters-odometer

However, the Lifetime Meter readings on all PM models can be reset (either intentionally or unintentionally). So, if the rower looks really "worn" and heavily used, don't be misled by a low Lifetime Meter reading that may have been reset.

Looking at the wear on the seat rollers (which are replaceable) would also be an indication of degree of usage.

In any event, that's what's so great about Concept 2, they give you all the info you need to familiarize yourself with all of the models to determine its age/use which will help to protect you from being scammed, if you decide to buy one used.

Good luck!

__TMac__

My current plan is to go to the CRASH-Bs again next year, and buy one of the C2 race machines at a discount.

I'll still go to the gym for lifting, but that's because I work at home and it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house!

beagletracks

sgt1372 wrote: »

Cutaway_Collar wrote: »

Pepper, also try facebook marketplace. There are ones near Connecticut, for example, priced at 800ish. That is a good deal for a lightly used one.

IMO, $800 is too much for a used rower that you can buy new for $900 plus $45 shipping directly from Concept.

BTW, OP, Amazon sells it for $945 (including free shipping) and Rogue sells it for $900 plus $45 shipping. It's all the same price but no reason to buy it thru Amazon or Rogue when you can buy it direct from Concept.

If/when you troll the used C2 ads, be careful about which PM (performance monitor) it comes with for the price quoted. The PM is one way to date the rower. The current PM is PM5 for Model D but goes all the way back to PM1 which I think was first installed in a Model B. Don't think they had a PM for a Model A, which is 30 year old antique now.

If you want to familiarize yourself w/the models look here:

http://www.concept2.com/service/indoor-rowers

There currently are 2 people on the SF Bay Area CL trying to sell a Concept 2 w/a PM 3 for $800, which is too much. It would cost you $160 to 180 (depending on whether you need new mounting hardware or not) to upgrade a PM3 to a PM5, which would wipe out the perceived savings of buying a used C2 for $800.

Looking at the wear on the seat rollers (which are replaceable) would also be an indication
In any event, that's what's so great about Concept 2, they give you all the info you need to familiarize yourself with all of the models to determine its age/use which will help to protect you from being scammed, if you decide to buy one used.

Good luck!

Wow! Thanks for all the information!

beagletracks

TmacMMM wrote: »

My current plan is to go to the CRASH-Bs again next year, and buy one of the C2 race machines at a discount.

I'll still go to the gym for lifting, but that's because I work at home and it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house!

Cool! Sounds like a great way to buy used with confidence. Unfortunately I'm on the wrong coast!

Thanks for mentioning the CRASH-Bs -- very interesting!

__TMac__

peppermintpudgy wrote: »

TmacMMM wrote: »

My current plan is to go to the CRASH-Bs again next year, and buy one of the C2 race machines at a discount.

I'll still go to the gym for lifting, but that's because I work at home and it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house!

Cool! Sounds like a great way to buy used with confidence. Unfortunately I'm on the wrong coast!

Thanks for mentioning the CRASH-Bs -- very interesting!

Yeah, that would be quite a drive to save a few bucks.

AnnPT77

peppermintpudgy wrote: »

TmacMMM wrote: »

My current plan is to go to the CRASH-Bs again next year, and buy one of the C2 race machines at a discount.

I'll still go to the gym for lifting, but that's because I work at home and it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house!

Cool! Sounds like a great way to buy used with confidence. Unfortunately I'm on the wrong coast!

Thanks for mentioning the CRASH-Bs -- very interesting!

In the past, they've sold machines after some regional qualifying races, too. If you look on the C2 web site around the end of the calendar year, you can probably find out whether any close to you are selling machines after the race. Its a modest discount, but you save shipping, and they're virtually new machines. I got mine after an Indianapolis race some years back.

beagletracks

AnnPT77 wrote: »

peppermintpudgy wrote: »

TmacMMM wrote: »

My current plan is to go to the CRASH-Bs again next year, and buy one of the C2 race machines at a discount.

I'll still go to the gym for lifting, but that's because I work at home and it's one of the few reasons I have to get out of the house!

Cool! Sounds like a great way to buy used with confidence. Unfortunately I'm on the wrong coast!

Thanks for mentioning the CRASH-Bs -- very interesting!

In the past, they've sold machines after some regional qualifying races, too. If you look on the C2 web site around the end of the calendar year, you can probably find out whether any close to you are selling machines after the race. Its a modest discount, but you save shipping, and they're virtually new machines. I got mine after an Indianapolis race some years back.

Thanks!