Home Exercise Equipment Help

If you want full body, I think a rower is the only one that really qualifies, at least of what you listed as possible options.

If you aren't looking for something that will replicate your outdoor experience (i.e. you want to bike indoors because it's too wet/cold/whatever outside to ride), then a rower would probably be my first recommendation regardless.

Another vote for a rower. I'd go for the Concept2.

I do, however, REALLY like my bike trainer. It kept me going all winter, and now I'll tuck it away in the closet and take the bike back outside.

Then again, I did a strength workout this morning with a 40-lb bag of dog food, a 12-lb bag of brown rice, and a gallon jug of olive oil -- I call it the Costco Workout -- so I may not be the best person to get equipment advice from.

Another Vote for a Concept 2 rower, if you can find one.

I think a cable machine is good to stay in shape. I have one in my home gym with row, pull up, dip, press, quad and triceps. Pretty much total body. Plus i have a bench and squat rack.

littlebear0121 wrote: »

Thanks everyone! sgt1372, I actually like rowing a lot. There is a concept 2 rower for sale nearby for $350. Is this a good price?

OMG, yes, run to go buy that and have cash! It might need some minor work (perhaps) at that price. I would bet it's gone already, though. Anything under $700 is a fantastic price for one!

For me (others have already said what I'd say), you can't beat the Concept2 rower. With that said, my wife likes the Air Dyne Pro (Assault style bike) more. I row roughly 50K to 70K meters a week on a C2 rower, but I will say the Air Dyne (or Assault Bike or the new Rogue Bike or a Cybex) would provide similar types of work/calories. They are full body workouts too. So is a SkiErg but I think (to me) that would be a bit boring. A lot of really serious C2 rowers now have SkiErgs at home too. I don't think any of the Air Bikes would be as durable, though, as a C2 rower.

littlebear0121 wrote: »

Thanks everyone! sgt1372, I actually like rowing a lot. There is a concept 2 rower for sale nearby for $350. Is this a good price?

Late response but hope it's still helpful.

At that price, it's probably a very early model or really beat-up.

I wouldn't buy anything older than a Model D w/a PM3. Model Ds date back to 2003. You can determine the date it was made from the serial number based on the following:

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

The PM3 monitor was introduced at the same time as the Model D in 2003. It is functional but has been susperceded by the PM5.

See:
http://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm3

The PM3 can be upgraded to a PM5 for $160-$180 depending on the mounting bracket used.

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

Earlier PMs can be upgraded to a PM5 too but they would have come on Model C's or earlier (over 15 years old) and I see no reason why you should even consider that regardless of the price.

There are certain features that the PM5 has that are worth upgrading for like the ANT+ HRM connection and the ability to use a USB drive to record and log your workouts online to the Concept2 Logbook.

I never found the HRM connection reliable and stopped using it but I log all of my workouts online and find the USB drive feature essential.

You can use an obsolete Logcard to record your workouts on a PM3 but I'm not sure it's possible to transfer the data on a Logcard to your computer w/o a card reader that I've never seen offered.

Lastly, you can see the lifetime meters rowed on any C2 by following these instructions:

http://www.concept2.com/service/monitors/pm3/how-to-use/viewing-lifetime-meters-odometer

This will be an indication of the degree of use but meters alone should not be the only consideration because is not uncommon for a well cared for C2 owned privately to show millions of meters of use.

I've only had my C2 for 2 years and only rowed 400k meters on it in the 1st year but have rowed 1.6 million meters this year (most of that just in the past 4 months) for a total of 2 million meters overall. However, I am the only one using the C2 in my home and it is well cared for and not abused.

On the other hand, a C2 from a gym w/millions of meters on the monitor is likely to be a wreck. It will probably still work but the internals will probably be extremely worn and require reconditioning.

I would avoid any gym owned C2's unless they show extremely low use and proper care. The cost of repair for an abused and neglected C2 could wipe out any possible cost savings buying used and may even end up costing more than buying one new.

Regarding cost, I see very few Model D's w/a PM3 offered at less than $700, which could be for a C2 up to 15 years old!

You can buy a brand new Model D w/a PM5 directy from Concept2 (or, if you want a black one from Rogue) for $940 (including shipping).

I shopped on Craigslist and eBay for a long time b4 deciding that it wasn't worth $200-250 to buy one used and paid for a brand new and current model w/warranty from C2.

I like to save $ but I try not to be pennywise and pound foolish and am willing to pay more when the circumstances justify it. I believe that buying a C2 is one of those cases. You'll have to decide whether it is or not for you.

Remember if you are able to buy a used C2 w/a PM3 for $700-750 and want to upgrade to a PM5, it will cost you $160-180 more wiping out most if not all of the cost savings of buying used.

On the other hand, if you can buy a well cared for Model D w/a PM5 for $700-800, I'd jump on it. The cheapest of these I've ever seen was and is still being offered at $850, which is not cheap enough to me.

Anyway, these are the reasons I chose to buy new and I hope this info will help to inform your buying decision.

Good luck!

I agree with you Sgt on the watching out for a broken machine but the SkiErg can certainly be a lower body workout too. I know some world class indoor rowers that use the SkiErg and swear it's every bit of a whole body workout as the rower. I haven't done it (and I'm not on the level of these guys -- one just broke the WR for the 5K on the SkiErg for the 40 to 50 age group), but I trust these guys a lot. The guy who broke the record is a well respected trainer in Europe.

http://www.concept2.com/news/skierg-using-legs-or-not

I just want to point out that, while a rower is certainly good exercise, most people don't actually prefer it over an elliptical trainer, as is evident if you look at any gym with all the different options. It really depends on what you are getting/staying in shape FOR. Whatever that activity is, you should emulate it with your machine.

littlebear0121 wrote: »

Sgt1372, The rowing machine for $350 is 90 miles away. Owner doesn't know the model number or the type of monitor, but he sent this photo. Can you tell by the photo if it's too old? I would guess that it is based on the price. Thanks!

That's a PM1, so it's definitely an older model. The earliest models didn't even have a fan guard and I can see the fan guard on this one. It would have to be well, well taken care of with it being that aged. It's possible that it's still in great shape and that all it might need is a PM5 upgrade ($180). If so, you might have an older, but very functional and reasonable rowing machine. If the PM1 works and it doesn't bother you it isn't very interactive, then you're good.

littlebear0121 wrote: »

Sgt1372, The rowing machine for $350 is 90 miles away. Owner doesn't know the model number or the type of monitor, but he sent this photo. Can you tell by the photo if it's too old? I would guess that it is based on the price. Thanks!

Can't see the pic on my phone. Pics of the various models can be seen here:

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

As I said before, I would NOT recommend buying any used C2 other than low useage, non-gym owned Model D w/a PM3.

Anything else will be OVER 15 YEARS OLD!

Have you vever owned anything 15 years old, particularly cars, that didn't need some repairs?

While C2s are as bulletproof as they get, they can wear out too and the older it gets the more likely they'll need repair.

If you think you're qualified to judge if an older C2 needs repairs or not and are quslified to do those repairs, go for it.

Otherwise, buy the latest model C2 you can find/afford.

If you really want and can use one, my recommendation is to bite the bullet and just buy new. The additional cost will be offset by piece of mind of buying something that you don't have to worry about as well as a manufacterer's warranty.

OP: Thought I'd just mention one other thing.

Before you ask your doctor and/or PT to advise whether rowing would be a good exercise for you considering your spinal problem, you need to make sure they actually know what is involved in rowing. Many people do not.

If they are not experienced w/rowing, ask them to view the following video before rendering their advice:

http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/technique-videos

For proper rowing technique, it is recommended to keep the back fairly straight and to NOT bend forward and back at the hips beyond the 11-1 o'clock position as indicated in the video.

Many people you see at the gym bend (or lurch) too far forward at the catch and too far backward at the end of the drive.

This is inefficient and unnecessary but many people, who don't row, think that this is how it "should" be done or is done because they see people doing it that way and don't know any better.

If your doc and/or PT have this misconception, they could provide you with bad advice concerning the benefits and/or safety of rowing given your condition.

So, it's best to make sure they know what proper rowing technique is before you accept any advice from them regarding the batter.

Good luck!