Rowing Machine
- Thread starter TurbotH
- Start date
I'm 100% in agreement, rowers are the very best piece of equipment in my eyes. If you can't go for a cross-country run then an indoor row is a close second place.
Form and technique is key, practically every gym rower I see is doing it 'wrong'.
Wow... Now thats funny!
Good going man, I normally run between 10-15km active resting or 4-6km high intesity... after a workout (i dont workout after the long distance run..)
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Why?
Rowers are a fantastic workout, you could live on one!
I stripped a lot of fat (10%) and *built myself up pretty much on a rower over a few months, I now add press-ups and stomach exercise to tone and bulk, but rowing is at the heart of my workout.
Over time it does build your whole body, it's just a very gradual process.
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You may.
I train for primarily strength and mass. I use CV not only to help keep healthy, fit, drop body fat and make me feel alert but also to make this mass and strength functional.
The heart is a muscle and should be trained just as hard as any other. There's no point having big strong legs if your heart can't support supplying them with blood to move. It's all about balance but also proportioning.
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I got a rower for this reason, I wish I'd got a treadmill. The rower built power, but didn't help me lose an inch on the waist like I wanted.
Technique?
There's no point thrashing away for 10 minutes, rowers are like runners, they should be used over sustained periods and even better alternate pace.
I typically do 4 minutes 'moderate' rowing with a 1 minute full out blast, then back to steady for 4 minutes, repeat this over 30-40 minute period.
Moderate on a Concept 2 for me is 2:10 per 500m, full blast is 1:40.
It doesn't make a difference what CV equipment you use. If you diet isn't upto scratch you won't get anywhere.
Calories burned are calories burned. Calories burnt on a treadmil won't loose you anymore weight than calories burnt on a rower.
My personal preference is max resistance on rower and row 1500m as quick as you can, take a 1m break and repeat another 9 times. Take a 10 minute break and repeat if you don't already feel like jelly
One of the best routines I have ever done
One of the best routines I have ever done
This is a common misconception. The lever down the side of the fan doesn't adjust the resistance. It adjusts the 'catch setting'. Basically how far back from the beginning of the stroke the resistance is introduced. 10 being much further back and 1 being with the chain almost all the way drawn in. It's supposed to simulate the different types of rowing boat and boyancy in the water due to the extra weight in the boat. Being sat higher up in the water the oars/paddles make contact further back on the stroke than when positioned lower in the water.
Sounds like a beastly routine you've got there!
Was given to mimmick 80 minutes of rugby (to get pre season fitness drill) but I like it so much I use it all year round. Horrible to start with, the worst part is the 10 minute gap as I really don't want to do another 10 after.
We've got a C2, obviously it's a great piece of kit. One thing that you might find useful is a computer interface, that lets you record your rows and then race against a 'ghost' of yourself. Some of this can be done straight on the C2, but it's much more fun in 3D. Arguably the definition of gimmick, but really helps to push yourself.
That sounds like professional athlete level!
Ahhh, rowing! I used the rower to get up a decent level of fitness. Definitely is the best CV I [used to] do. I lost a lot of fat because of it! Unfortunatly I tend to do more running than rowing these days, usually only row about 2k/day at a steady pace (~8-8.20).
I was rowing around 30-50k a week at one point. It's hard (10k for example takes me around 40 minutes) and very boring (iPod is a must!) but the benefits are very obvious if you keep at it.
Please, please, please get your technique right. It annoys me the amount of people I see flapping about on the rower. You can find some very good examples on YouTube
If you're going to buy a rower, don't get anything other than a Concept2. Pricey perhaps, but they are the best.
I was rowing around 30-50k a week at one point. It's hard (10k for example takes me around 40 minutes) and very boring (iPod is a must!) but the benefits are very obvious if you keep at it.
Please, please, please get your technique right. It annoys me the amount of people I see flapping about on the rower. You can find some very good examples on YouTube
If you're going to buy a rower, don't get anything other than a Concept2. Pricey perhaps, but they are the best.