Should I Buy A Concept 2 Rower
The Concept2 is one of the most tried and true rowers on the market. The "erg" (as it's commonly known) provides a double-dose of conditioning and muscular endurance, and is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity and a nifty monitor to track meters rowed and calories burned.
should i buy a concept 2 rower
Concept 2 started in 1976 when two Olympic rowers decided to make their own oars. Six years later they built the first indoor rower, which not only became the best-selling rower in the world, but it set the standard for all future indoor rowers to come. Olympic athletes still favor it today, and the company has grown to manufacture Skiergs and Bikeergs as well.
The Model D comes with adjustable foot-rests, a 14-inch seat height with an aluminum l-beam monorail and stainless steel track for a smooth back-and-forth slide. This is a light cardio machine with wheels, which means you can move it with ease around your space. Also, for storage, the rower can be easily broken down into two segments, hung on a wall with a Rogue wall hanger, or simply tilted upright and stored vertically.
Before I started working out at home, I belonged to a CrossFit gym for several years. We used the Concept 2 rower at least twice a week during warm-ups or as part of the daily workout. I have a solid understanding of what makes this rowing machine so great and the types of people who should own and use one.
The Concept 2 rower consists of a sturdy aluminum frame and stainless steel monorail. The chain belt is mostly smooth, but rowing with proper technique is crucial in preventing it from bouncing.
If you want to add gamification to your workouts, the Concept 2 rower comes with several games that test your ability to manage intensity and pace yourself consistently. These games are fun if you get bored with your typical rowing workouts.
While Concept 2 rowers come with pre-programmed workouts, there is no option to live stream classes directly from the PM5 monitor. Competitors like NordicTrack and Hydrow have this capability. It would be nice if Concept 2 offered it as well.
Assembling a Concept 2 Model D rower is easy, and the machine comes with all the screws and tools you need. You should be able to do it yourself within about a half hour. However, a second pair of hands can be helpful since the machine is heavy.
Rowers like the Hydrow and some Sunny Health & Fitness models offer magnetic resistance. You adjust the resistance level on these rowers using a magnetic mechanism attached to a flywheel. There are also water-based rowers that get their resistance from a water tank attached to the machines.
Each type of rower has its good and bad features, and which one is best for you will depend on the levels of quietness and data accuracy you want in a rowing machine. However, based on hundreds of Concept 2 Model D reviews, it tends to be a clear winner compared with many other rowers.
The drive occurs as you push through your feet and initiate the pull. This position involves the chest, upper back, shoulder, lat, trapezius, bicep, and forearm muscles. It also works the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves.
The monitor on this rower is quite small, but it displays time, distance, calories burned, strokes per minute, and total stroke count. But at a much lower price than the Concept 2 rower, the XTERRA rower is a good option for those new to rowing or who want to save money.
A Concept 2 rower should last for at least 20 years if maintained properly. Proper maintenance involves vacuuming dust from the flywheel when needed, tightening the screws if they become loose, and oiling the chain after every 50 hours. You should also check the drive cord for wear and tear after every 50 hours of use.
The Concept 2 Model D rower is relatively loud. Some people liken the noise to a washing machine or dishwasher. People you share a house with or neighbors in a condo or apartment building may be able to hear it. Putting a carpet or rubber mat underneath it can help dampen the noise.
It is very easy to put together. The installation requires putting together the front and rear legs with 10 screws and attaching the monorail end with the flywheel end. You also need to install the pickup cable and Performance Monitor. The necessary tools are included with detailed instructions. It should take about 30-45 min. There are also videos on the Concept 2 website to help. Here is a link to the Assembly Instructions.
The Concept 2 Model E is an air resistance rowing machine, just like the Model D. The spinning flywheel attached to fan blades creates the resistance. Pulling the handle of the rower spins the fan blades to make wind. Creating more wind makes the handle harder to pull. Air resistance rowers provide a smooth resistance and are the preferred rowing machines among athletes.
The rower accommodates users of many sizes, with a maximum weight capacity of 500 pounds (226.8 kg). Additionally, rowers with an inseam of 38 inches (96.5 cm) or longer can contact the company for an extra-long monorail.
The rower features a solid, sturdy design; accurate performance metric tracking; and a smooth, fluid motion. It also offers Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in device holder, making it easy to track your stats and stream instructor-led classes.
The more you spend on a rowing machine, the wider range of features you can expect. A basic rower will usually come with a hard plastic seat and basic console with metrics, such as speed, time and distance monitoring. Spend more and you may get a heart rate monitor, a sturdier frame, and padded, adjustable seats.
More expensive rowers will cost more because they are made from superior materials and use the latest tech to provide a premium experience. Hydraulic rowers tend to be the least durable and this is reflected in the low price. If you want something to last, opt for a water, magnetic or air resistance rower.
Many people using rowing machines do so with poor technique, turning the resistance up to max and pulling like crazy using arms, back and legs all at once. This is not how it should be done and developing bad habits like this can cause serious long-term damage.
Scopes should be passed when fetching an authorization code, and getting an access token (either with an autorization code or when using a refresh token). You should pass your original scope(s) for all subsequent calls. It is possible to request fewer scopes but not to request additional scopes after the initial authorization code.
When an access token has expired, rather than request a new token with username and password, you should use the refresh_token to get a new one. The lifetime of the refresh token is currently one year. Set the grant_type to refresh_token and pass the correct refresh_token value. When you use it, as well as a new access_token, you will also get back a new refresh token, meaning you can use the API indefinitely without the user needing to reauthenticate. If the user does not use the client for over a year, they will need to log back in.
Each workout can also have an optional set of targets which the athlete tried to hit during the workout. For split and fixed distance/time/calorie intervals, these targets should at workout level (i.e. the same level as split or interval data). For variable interval workouts, the target should be at the level of each individual interval. The targets object is optional, and all keys in it are optional. Note, only one of watts, calories or pace can be present (i.e. you can not set both a target 500m pace and a target watts).
In April of 2021 Concept2 rebranded the Model D and E of their rowers as the Concept2 RowERG and Concept2 RowERG with tall legs. But the Concept2 Model D is the same product, just with updated branding so this review is still relevant.
Rowers can use different types of resistance such as air resistance, magnetic resistance, water resistance and a hybrid of any two (usually air and magnetic). Air resistance is the tried and true method of rowing resistance because it produces unlimited resistance, does not require electricity, and air rowers last forever. But air resistance is noisy. The Concept2 Model D is the premier air rower, but it is not a quiet machine. If you are looking for something subtle to use in the background of a bedroom or shared room, the Model D is not the best choice. However, if you have a dedicated workout space or separate room and want the best air rower on the market, the Model D is it.
The Model D handle is ergonomically-designed for a comfortable hold with overmolded soft rubber grips. The handle is sweat resistant and can be easily wiped down to sanitize. The handle has five vents in the center so you can wrap your fingers through the center of the handle with one hand to row unilaterally. The comfortable handle allows users to complete longer rowing routines without hand or shoulder fatigue. The seat slides right up to the junction between the pedals and the handle for a comfortable catch position. The handle is raised just enough to keep your spine in alignment throughout the rowing stroke. The position of the handle in relation to the pedals also keeps knees upright in the proper position.The handle is sweat resistant and can be easily wiped down to sanitize.
Concept2 recommends a space 9 feet long and 4 feet wide to properly operate the rower. Make sure you have enough space to the sides and rear of the rower since you lean back through the finish. Do not place the rear of the rower directly in front of a wall. Also, there are some combination exercises you can do off the rower (such as stand behind the rower, place one foot on the seat, and then allow that leg to open laterally for a deep side lunge), so more area may be needed depending on your planned usage.
In this article we share 5 essential tips for Concept 2 rowing machine maintenance to help get the best from your rower. Concept 2 rowergs have a well deserved reputation for reliability. In fact Concept 2 rowing machines are so robust that there's a good chance it will last as long as you are physically able to row on it and it can be handed down to the next generation! 041b061a72