How Good Are Rowing Machines?
Discussion
I've just joined a gym and they've got the usual treadmills, cross trainers, bikes and rowing machines.
After having a go on the rowing machines I found them the most enjoyable of the exercises and they seem to be pretty popular on here as well.
How good are the rowers in terms of a cardio workout?
Are they good or bad for backs and shoulders?
After having a go on the rowing machines I found them the most enjoyable of the exercises and they seem to be pretty popular on here as well.
How good are the rowers in terms of a cardio workout?
Are they good or bad for backs and shoulders?
I'm a fan (and have a concept 2 rower in my shed).
For me, I feel the rowing machine is far and away the best piece of gym kit to get in shape. They are low impact, excellent for shoulders, arms, legs and back. I don't think I've ever been fitter than when I joined a rowing club which used the rowing machine as the key fitness and training tool.
I foudn it complimented my cycling & running - and found unseen levels of stamina, which I put mainly down to bashing out the kms on the ergo.
Another good thing is you can record and measure your performance down to the last watt of power you expend vs distance/time/500m split which is great for tracking your inmprovement over time.
The most important thing is make sure your technique is right. I cringe in the gym seeing people flapping around, with everything in the wrong order and is a short way to a back unjury which can happen if you do it wrong. You need to ask the staff for the correct way of doing it - there are also plenty of videos online to help you.
The Concept II website has an excellent forum, and training plans. which are a good place to start.
For me, I feel the rowing machine is far and away the best piece of gym kit to get in shape. They are low impact, excellent for shoulders, arms, legs and back. I don't think I've ever been fitter than when I joined a rowing club which used the rowing machine as the key fitness and training tool.
I foudn it complimented my cycling & running - and found unseen levels of stamina, which I put mainly down to bashing out the kms on the ergo.
Another good thing is you can record and measure your performance down to the last watt of power you expend vs distance/time/500m split which is great for tracking your inmprovement over time.
The most important thing is make sure your technique is right. I cringe in the gym seeing people flapping around, with everything in the wrong order and is a short way to a back unjury which can happen if you do it wrong. You need to ask the staff for the correct way of doing it - there are also plenty of videos online to help you.
The Concept II website has an excellent forum, and training plans. which are a good place to start.
MacGee said:
def go to concept site...training and comps...excellent.
Haha, I went to the gym this afternoon and tried 2000m on the rower, I came back and entered my time (8:51.8) on the ranking page on the Conceot site and found that I ranked 1347 out of 1475 people! Looks like I've got some practice to be doing!It's quite a helpful site and it's nice to have the rankings to give me something to work towards
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