5 ms·

I recently bought a rowing machine (Concept2, "top of the top") ... and I'm very disappointed. It's just not challenging enough (and I'm not very fit). Running

by tomp 5y ago

I recently bought a rowing machine (Concept2, "top of the top") ... and I'm very disappointed. It's just not challenging enough (and I'm not very fit). Running/cycling (on a machine), I can easily ramp up the difficulty enough so that I'm sweating in 10 minutes. Rowing, I barely sweat even after 20 minutes (on max hardness, 27ish strokes/minute). One of the best "time savers" for cardio is HIIT, and you just can't do that rowing.

fastasucan 5y ago
Dont use max hardness, you most likely are not strong enough and dont have good enough technique enough for that. Reduce the damper setting and watch some technique vids on youtube.
subpixel 5y ago
You can HIIT row, see Apple Fitness+ if you can stand the wellness vibe. But if you want challenging, join the Concept2 challenges. I was doing 10k rows several times a week as a middle-of-the-pack competitor and if that doesn’t challenge you then you should go pro. But as I mentioned in another comment, you can injure yourself on a Concept2 if you don’t cross-train. It’s not a magic device.
tesin 5y ago
I'd have someone check your rowing form - I can't really imagine how rowing could be too easy. If you're applying your legs as you should, and trying hard, it's as difficult as you want it to be
- sfgweilr4f 5y ago
  yeah. not easy. 33 strokes per minute. set to 10 resistance on concept2. proper form. go for 30 minutes. I'm unconvinced this is an easy thing for an unfit individual. I'm fairly sure an unfit individual would only be capable of 2 minutes... at best.
inetsee 5y ago
I was on my rowing team in college, and I have a couple of opinions. 1) 27 strokes per minute is not max. I'm 70 years old and I do 30 to 33 on the rowing machine where I work out. When I was in college, our training sessions were all at 30 to 35 strokes per minute. Training sessions lasted for 1 to 2 hours, six days a week. 2) As for HIIT, during a race we would often do a "power 10", where we would apply maximum power to our strokes for 10 strokes. We only did 10 strokes because at the power levels we were expected to apply, doing more than 10 would burn us out rather quickly. I still do rowing because it's an aerobic exercise that works most of your muscles; arms, back, legs, stomach. The only exercise I've heard of that does more all around is cross country skiing, and I hate the cold.
dolni 5y ago
Rowing is pretty dependent on good form, I have noticed after not doing it too long. Pulling faster/harder will make it more difficult. Try that, I guess?
balfirevic 5y ago
What are your 500m splits? > One of the best "time savers" for cardio is HIIT, and you just can't do that rowing Of course you can, something is wrong here, although it might be difficult to diagnose over the internet. "max hardness" might be a clue - you probably shouldn't be setting the resistance to maximum and maximum resistance does not imply more intense workout.
lerchmo 5y ago
Until your doing 1:10 500’s you can keep pushing harder. Rowing fast is one of the most demanding movements you can do.
mcswell 5y ago
Roman legionnaire in charge of rowers: "Men, I have good news, and bad. The good news is today is Sunday, a day of recreation. The bad news is, the Captain wants to go water skiing." Ramming speed...

by tomp 5y ago

fastasucan 5y ago

Dont use max hardness, you most likely are not strong enough and dont have good enough technique enough for that. Reduce the damper setting and watch some technique vids on youtube.

subpixel 5y ago

You can HIIT row, see Apple Fitness+ if you can stand the wellness vibe. But if you want challenging, join the Concept2 challenges. I was doing 10k rows several times a week as a middle-of-the-pack competitor and if that doesn’t challenge you then you should go pro. But as I mentioned in another comment, you can injure yourself on a Concept2 if you don’t cross-train. It’s not a magic device.

tesin 5y ago

I'd have someone check your rowing form - I can't really imagine how rowing could be too easy. If you're applying your legs as you should, and trying hard, it's as difficult as you want it to be

sfgweilr4f 5y ago
yeah. not easy. 33 strokes per minute. set to 10 resistance on concept2. proper form. go for 30 minutes. I'm unconvinced this is an easy thing for an unfit individual. I'm fairly sure an unfit individual would only be capable of 2 minutes... at best.

inetsee 5y ago

I was on my rowing team in college, and I have a couple of opinions. 1) 27 strokes per minute is not max. I'm 70 years old and I do 30 to 33 on the rowing machine where I work out. When I was in college, our training sessions were all at 30 to 35 strokes per minute. Training sessions lasted for 1 to 2 hours, six days a week. 2) As for HIIT, during a race we would often do a "power 10", where we would apply maximum power to our strokes for 10 strokes. We only did 10 strokes because at the power levels we were expected to apply, doing more than 10 would burn us out rather quickly. I still do rowing because it's an aerobic exercise that works most of your muscles; arms, back, legs, stomach. The only exercise I've heard of that does more all around is cross country skiing, and I hate the cold.

dolni 5y ago

Rowing is pretty dependent on good form, I have noticed after not doing it too long. Pulling faster/harder will make it more difficult. Try that, I guess?

balfirevic 5y ago

What are your 500m splits? > One of the best "time savers" for cardio is HIIT, and you just can't do that rowing Of course you can, something is wrong here, although it might be difficult to diagnose over the internet. "max hardness" might be a clue - you probably shouldn't be setting the resistance to maximum and maximum resistance does not imply more intense workout.

lerchmo 5y ago

Until your doing 1:10 500’s you can keep pushing harder. Rowing fast is one of the most demanding movements you can do.

mcswell 5y ago

Roman legionnaire in charge of rowers: "Men, I have good news, and bad. The good news is today is Sunday, a day of recreation. The bad news is, the Captain wants to go water skiing." Ramming speed...