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The Concept 2 is widely regarded as the best rowing machine in production. They are the training aid of choice for Olympic rowing teams and they are used within the World Indoor Rowing Championships. Concept 2 rowers can be found in gyms and fitness centres across the country and many thousands of people use them for home fitness equipment.
What makes them so good?
The Concept 2 Rower is a phenomenally robust and durable piece of exercise equipment. I once worked at a gym which had a fleet of Concept 2s. One of them – which we were loath to replace because of its historical and sentimental value – was well over ten years old and must have covered in excess of 35 million metres (figuring 10,000m every day for 360 days (-5 closure days) x 10 years). Yet it still functioned perfectly! Yeah, ok, it sounded a bit ‘throaty’ and developed an ominous creak, but then over a long and lustrous career it had probably made more crossings of the English Channel than a P&O ferry.
As well as being very nearly indestructible, the sleek slenderness of the Concept 2s makes them perfect for your home gym. I’ve used rowers in the past that made the Mary Celeste look small. However, the Concept 2 does not carry any superfluous cargo and they can be split in two or stood on their head enabling you to sequester it away in a dark corner until you fancy having a crack at Redgrave’s 2000m PB – good luck!
Dimensions
Overall Length 96 in (224 cm)
Width 24 in (61 cm)
Seat height 14 in (36 cm)
Why row?
Next to cross-country skiing rowing is probably the best cardiovascular exercise we can perform. Unlike running and cycling, which focus exertion primarily on the muscles of the leg, rowing stimulates all of the major muscle groups – legs, back and cardio-respiratory system – and everything in-between. That’s why after a 10 kilometre rowing session you feel like every sinew in your body has been recruited in the conquest.
How to row PROPERLY!
Few people row properly and they make all manner of technical mistakes; pulling straight out the catch; slipping the legs underneath the paddle; bending the knees before shooting the arms forward; etc., etc.
I routinely made all of the above mistakes as well. That was until I happened to make the acquaintance with a semi-professional rower (who boasted a sub 6:30 2000m PB).
After watching me break every technical rule in the book (as well inventing a number of unique mistakes of my own), he spent some time showing me how I could improve my technique. Once I’d adopted the proper techniques, which took a couple of weeks of practice, my rowing performance noticeably improved.
Because I’m a big believer in sharing good practice, I have endeavoured to capture those rowing techniques in a short video.
Rowing distances to aspire
Most all committed rowers aspire to set a PB time for the following five distances:
1) 2000m
2) 5000m
3) 10,000m
4) 21,190 (half marathon)
5) 44,195 (marathon)
Other distances include 100,000m and 1 million metres – these are classed as ultra-distance events, for obvious reasons (if you fancy having a bash at it, the best 1 million metre time is currently held by an Australian, Andrew Abrahams, who completed the distance in 4 days 23 hours 50 minutes 6 seconds – presumably not in one stint).
Ok, let’s have a look at the best rower in the business:
Manufacturer Overview
Flywheel design minimizes noise while maximizing a smooth feel.
Includes the Performance Monitor 5, giving you accurate, comparable data for every row Adjustable monitor arm.
35.5cm seat height, nickel-plated chain, adjustable footrests and ergonomic handle. Construction : Aluminum front legs, steel rear legs
Easily separates into two pieces for storage. Caster wheels make it mobile.
Requires footprint of 274 cm x 122 cm; 227kg capacity; 5-year frame warranty.
Click the image for product availability
Concept 2
The dependable performance of our Model D RowErg has made it the best selling indoor rower in the world. Recognized by competitive rowers as the standard for indoor training, the Model D delivers an effective cardiovascular workout that will increase your fitness level and tone your physique. At a fraction of the cost of other home fitness equipment or a yearly gym membership, you can have the luxury of working out in your home whenever you choose…and get a great workout to boot.
We value practical design: our Model D is efficiently engineered and will last a lifetime. The Model D you buy is the same machine used by Olympic- and elite-level athletes to train for their sport—it’ll take the abuse of heavy training day after day. If you’re looking for a solid piece of exercise equipment at a great value, the Model D is the perfect choice. (Taken from the Concept 2 website.)
(As we are very interested in user feedback at Hungry4Fitness, I would be very grateful if you could take a few seconds out of your day to leave a comment. Thanks in advance!)
Blog Author
Adam Priest is a former Royal Marines Commando, professional personal trainer, lecturer, boxing and Thai boxing enthusiast
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