Concept2 ERG

[Saxman]

I think cycling is your best bet if you are trying to avoid boredom. As long as you keep taking new routes, it keeps the boredom somewhat at bay.

[Day]

Cycling is great. But few have the grits to be doing it outdoors at 6:00 a.m., in the dark,on ice and snow, at -5 degrees, on a typical Montana winter morning. After work it's just as dark, just as slick, and almost as cold. What we need is a velodrome. There was rumor of one planned for Bozeman a couple of years back. Sadly, it was just a rumor. Even if we had one it would be the same ol' roundy round, day in and day out. Spinning, or rollers, is where it's at in the wintertime here in the bozone. But still, no upper body workout with cycling. Try the ERG sometime. You might like it.

I think that if you're foul weather training consisted of spinning, rowing, and climbing at the gymn, you'd be one fit mother come spring.

[the lurkist]

I noticed on Mark Twight's site for his gym (in SLC?) as mentioned in another thread that in many of the bios of the members of the gym they mention as one of their fitness markers is their 2k and 5k row. Their times weren't that fast. The fastest I saw was 2k in just under 7 min.

[TradMike]

Cross training does get you to the next level. I swim and bike. Swimming allows me to fly up cracks and laybacks. Biking makes the hike in with heavy loads not faze me plus stand around on crappy feet. I think low impact is key just like the rowing machine.

[michellerossi25]

Love this thread. I rowed in high school and coached all through my undergrad. The concept 2 site is pretty great. You can find some great workouts on www.rowersworld.com or www.row2k.com. Also, the USRA webiste has all the rankings of the fastest 2k times.

Heres a couple of my favorite workouts...

6 X 2000 meters. If you can find someone crazy enough to do it with you. Use their time on the erg as your break.

5000, 4000, 3000, 2000, 1000. That's always a fun one!

2 minutes on 1 minute off X 10.

If you change up the rating that will also vary the workout. Keeping the rating at about a 22-24 is recommened on longer pieces. However, I keep about a 28 on my 2000 pieces.

Deficit Fatigue Tests are always fun too. Take your average 500 split and subtract 3 seconds off of it. Set the display to show your average 500 time and try to keep that average.

For example say your best 2k time is 8 minutes. Your average split would be 2 minutes. Minus 3 seconds=1.57

Start Rowing and after no longer than a minute or so see how long you can keep the split at 1.57.0 The stroke it pops up to 1.57.1 you have 3-5 strokes to drop it back down. If you dont then youre done.

This is a great way to drop your 2k time.

I could go on forever!....pm me if you would like more info!
PS Did you get the Model D?

[L K Day]

Thanks for recommended workouts and the links. I've only been using the concept2 for a little over a week so I need to be careful and avoid overuse injuries. I did do a 10K last Sunday morning. It felt good, but I know I pushed it because I was still tired the next day. I've been out of town on business (hot laps at Firebird in Phoenix) for the last few days, and boy am I tired. I'll get some rest and be back at it soon. Thanks again for the encouragement. Oh, I got the model E, perhaps an unnecessary splurge, but it's really nice.