Posted: 3/29/2014 8:36:34 PM EDT
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Are there any Concept 2 users? I'm really close to talking myself into getting one for cardio work on both the really hot dog days of summer and the very cold days.
Could I hear some user opinions? |
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I really want one but haven't found a used one at a price I can afford. But I really liked using them at the gym. They are nearly impossible to find used, prior to the boom of crossfit you would see them popping up semi-regularly on craigslist etc. but now they are scooped up very quickly and go for top dollar. 
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I had one. worst piece of torture in the world. I did much of the conditioning with a collegiate crew team though, so I had to use it... Great workout... always made my ass hurt though... pulling sub 1:50 splits is torture regardless though. Paid ~900 new... sold it 6 years later for... 850... Thank you crossfit. |
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Oh yeah --- i have one front and center in my little pain cave (pic below) I also posted a link to the Concept 2 workout of the day site -- you can sign up and get these emailed to you 
Concept 2 WOD Some motivational pics of the National High Performance center in OKC to assist in your purchase decision -- a true "Go hard or go home" work environment  -- lots of guys working out there can go sub-6 on the 2k -- Ouch
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| Great/horrible piece of equipment. A few years of crew makes me never want to sit on one of those again... One thing you could do is look for a local rowing club in your area and see if they are selling any. The place I coach buys 10+ every year and sells a similar size group to help recoup costs. I believe used model D's were $650 and they sell all day long at that price. |
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Love mine. I HATE running and after a few years of crew, feel very comfortable on an erg. Honeslty, I mostly have one because I'm lazy. Going to the gym is a time consuming affair. An erg works a lot of muscles. Erg and body weight exercises plus the usual modification to diet have helped me drop about 15 in the past three months.
As far as I'm concerned, Concept2 makes the only rowers. I've never seen another that gives you the necessary data, feel, or quality. Be warned though, like almost all exercise equipment, learn how to use it before starting in earnest. Proper form is essential to preventing injuries, and proper form will not come naturally to you. |
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I have a LifeCore R100 (I think thats the correct model). The sister in law has a C2 model D. Both are pretty similar IMO. The lifecore is on par quality wise. I think its quieter than the C2 but probably not by much. It uses a fan and magnetic resistance. Not sure on the C2 but I think its all fan. I think the C2 computer might be more sophisticated but the LifeCore can vary resistance automatically during programs. Not sure if the C2 can as well. I like that the LifeCore has a strap instead of a chain pull. I like that the C2 doesn't need to be plugged in. Actually the LifeCore *might* be able to run on batteries but I dont remember. Mine is plugged in. Its a great workout. I was looking for a C2 but like everyone has said they were all close to retail price on craigslist and I looked for many months off and on. The LifeCore came up for a steal so I went with it.
Either way you go its a great workout and zero impact. http://www.livestrong.com/article/312551-the-top-10-rowing-machines/ |
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I had one. worst piece of torture in the world. I did much of the conditioning with a collegiate crew team though, so I had to use it... Great workout... always made my ass hurt though... pulling sub 1:50 splits is torture regardless though. Paid ~900 new... sold it 6 years later for... 850... Thank you crossfit. For me it was junior crew--HS age--and 1:45 was my goal. Don't remember if I ever actually hit it for a 2k, though. Maybe, because that's a 7min test, and I might have gotten down to that at some point. I think I at least got below 7:30 overall, which is around 1:50-1:51 average, at some point (and I was a lightweight, not a power rower; technique was the only way I could hang with some guys) At any rate, the Concept2 Model D is pretty much the standard for rowing machines, and for a good reason. But they're not cheap, and your best bet is probably hunting up a rowing club and seeing if they host a CRASH-B (indoor rowing championships) feeder in winter/spring. Sometimes hosting clubs will sell the demo ergs off relatively cheaply (compared to buying new anyway) after the event. |
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I love mine, good workout in a short time, doesn't take up much space. What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. |
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What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. Quoted:
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I love mine, good workout in a short time, doesn't take up much space. What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. Someone posted this in the other thread from T-Nation: Week 1 5x300m 120 secs between sets Week 2 5x300m 90 secs between sets Week 3 5x300m 60 secs between sets Week 4 5x300m 30 secs between sets After week 4 either up the 300m or up the number of times or try to complete 300m in a shorter time. It's what I like doing. 300m is just about somewhere between 1 and 1.5 minutes of work. Alternatives: 500m rest 60 secs 400m rest 60 secs 300m rest 60 secs 200m rest 60 secs 100m rest 60 secs |
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What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. Quoted:
Quoted:
I love mine, good workout in a short time, doesn't take up much space. What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. Concept 2 Rowing Workout Of the Day site |
| Yesterday after doing my 5/3/1 upper body lifts, I went to the gym and did my first rowing workout on a Concept 2 rower. I did 45 minutes at an average HR of 126. Is that the right length and intensity for a rowing workout? At this point I don't need more weekly HIIT workouts, so I kept it LISS. Still not sure if rowing is what I need or even if I was doing it correctly, but all my other cardio involves leg work. |
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Yesterday after doing my 5/3/1 upper body lifts, I went to the gym and did my first rowing workout on a Concept 2 rower. I did 45 minutes at an average HR of 126. Is that the right length and intensity for a rowing workout? At this point I don't need more weekly HIIT workouts, so I kept it LISS. Still not sure if rowing is what I need or even if I was doing it correctly, but all my other cardio involves leg work. |
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Yesterday after doing my 5/3/1 upper body lifts, I went to the gym and did my first rowing workout on a Concept 2 rower. I did 45 minutes at an average HR of 126. Is that the right length and intensity for a rowing workout? At this point I don't need more weekly HIIT workouts, so I kept it LISS. Still not sure if rowing is what I need or even if I was doing it correctly, but all my other cardio involves leg work. Rowing, when done right, is actually a leg and lower back exercise more so than an arm exercise ----- The Concept 2 website may have some instructional videos, ---- I will do a 45 minute low intensity workout keeping my heart rate at 126 and my 500 meter split time hovers around 3:00 per 500 (the 500m split is the benchmark for telling how fast you are going ) As well, although anyone can row, - it tends to favor taller folk when it comes to speed --- i'm short, so when i am on a 3:00 pace, i am putting out roughly the effort a 6 footer does when rowing at a 2:30 pace -- but trust me, if i get the pace down to the 1:50 - 2:00 level -- the heart rate starts getting way up there One of the tricks is to put your power down while keeping the speed moderate -- say 26 strokes per minute or so But just like cycling --- the heart rate doesnt lie -- a 126bpm workout when done for at least 30 minutes is a low intensity fat burner , or a warm up workout ----- there are a lot of different workouts that can go from long , slow , rest day slogs, to brief but intense interval sessions . The rowing guys use the 2k time trial as a way to benchmark their fitness , with world class athletes doing 2k in 6 minutes or so, -- and short chubby guys like me with no reach doing it in 10 -10:30 .- and all points in between A favorite workout of mine is 30 X 30 intervals ---- 30 seconds hard, then 30 seconds easy times how ever long you want to go, -- but 20 minutes of that is enough for me |
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For me it was junior crew--HS age--and 1:45 was my goal. Don't remember if I ever actually hit it for a 2k, though. Maybe, because that's a 7min test, and I might have gotten down to that at some point. I think I at least got below 7:30 overall, which is around 1:50-1:51 average, at some point (and I was a lightweight, not a power rower; technique was the only way I could hang with some guys) At any rate, the Concept2 Model D is pretty much the standard for rowing machines, and for a good reason. But they're not cheap, and your best bet is probably hunting up a rowing club and seeing if they host a CRASH-B (indoor rowing championships) feeder in winter/spring. Sometimes hosting clubs will sell the demo ergs off relatively cheaply (compared to buying new anyway) after the event. Quoted:
Quoted:
I had one. worst piece of torture in the world. I did much of the conditioning with a collegiate crew team though, so I had to use it... Great workout... always made my ass hurt though... pulling sub 1:50 splits is torture regardless though. Paid ~900 new... sold it 6 years later for... 850... Thank you crossfit. For me it was junior crew--HS age--and 1:45 was my goal. Don't remember if I ever actually hit it for a 2k, though. Maybe, because that's a 7min test, and I might have gotten down to that at some point. I think I at least got below 7:30 overall, which is around 1:50-1:51 average, at some point (and I was a lightweight, not a power rower; technique was the only way I could hang with some guys) At any rate, the Concept2 Model D is pretty much the standard for rowing machines, and for a good reason. But they're not cheap, and your best bet is probably hunting up a rowing club and seeing if they host a CRASH-B (indoor rowing championships) feeder in winter/spring. Sometimes hosting clubs will sell the demo ergs off relatively cheaply (compared to buying new anyway) after the event. You can also see if you can get some at a reduced price from the CrossFit Regionals or Games. Rogue will put it up in the used equipment section of their website. |
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Someone posted this in the other thread from T-Nation: Week 1 5x300m 120 secs between sets Week 2 5x300m 90 secs between sets Week 3 5x300m 60 secs between sets Week 4 5x300m 30 secs between sets After week 4 either up the 300m or up the number of times or try to complete 300m in a shorter time. It's what I like doing. 300m is just about somewhere between 1 and 1.5 minutes of work. Alternatives: 500m rest 60 secs 400m rest 60 secs 300m rest 60 secs 200m rest 60 secs 100m rest 60 secs Quoted:
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I love mine, good workout in a short time, doesn't take up much space. What can you tell me about the types of workouts that can be done on one? I tried to start a thread here about rowing, but it got no replies. How long did your workouts take? HIIT and/or LISS type workouts? I tried one for a few minutes at the gym after yoga class; I set resistance to the max, and it didn't feel like too much work. Someone posted this in the other thread from T-Nation: Week 1 5x300m 120 secs between sets Week 2 5x300m 90 secs between sets Week 3 5x300m 60 secs between sets Week 4 5x300m 30 secs between sets After week 4 either up the 300m or up the number of times or try to complete 300m in a shorter time. It's what I like doing. 300m is just about somewhere between 1 and 1.5 minutes of work. Alternatives: 500m rest 60 secs 400m rest 60 secs 300m rest 60 secs 200m rest 60 secs 100m rest 60 secs One of the rowing coaches used to have us do a pyramid workout a couple times a week (around other team exercises) 4min @ 20 strokes/min, 50% 3min @ 24 spm, 75% 2min @ 28 spm, 90% 1min @ 32 spm, 100% 2min@ 28, 90% 3@24, 75% 4@20, 50% Trick was, the percentages were based off our 2000m test times. So your average split, maybe minus a couple seconds, was 100. And then you work down from there. IIRC the coach used to check the power output function of the computer (Watts) to work out what our 50, 75, and 90 splits should be. Then again, he might have just memorized the formulas 
Other classic was the Dirty Dozen 1min on @100% 1min off at "paddle," or just barely pulling. Perform 12x, maybe with a minute or so to warm up on the machine first. If you're feeling sadistic, do your 2k test split for the first minute, then try to work it down a little bit on each successive interval. There's also the ever-popular 25min distance-erg, and the 5k, 10k, or even 15k time trial, if you're looking for more pure aerobic and less interval. Do check out Concept2's workouts, I'm pretty sure our coaches cribbed from them all the time. |