STOP Rowing on Resistance 10! 

How the f*** does Google know I Used a rowing machine today.

I’ve been told that around 4.5 is as close to flat water as you can get

Resistance on a C2 machine does not define how hard is to pull the wheel, but how quickly it slows between active phases of subsequent strokes. At higher resistance the wheel just slows more and you start your stroke with slower wheel, so you can put more energy into each stroke (at the expense of force exerted), while still maintaining your cadence and stroke ratio (active to rest phase ratio). Higher drag factor setting is roughly equivalent to feeling rowing in a heavier and more immersed boat. Feeling, but not distance displayed. The distance displayed is dependent solely on the mechanical work done over the wheel and it's damping force. In a heavy boat at the same work you will just go more slowly. On C2 you will go the same distance at different damper settings if you compensate it with the stroke rate and force. So people doing 2k in 7 minutes are equivalent rowers, independently on what drag factor they do it. Like it does not mean, on which speed on derailleur in bike you go in the race. It's your choice.

To everyone misunderstanding and saying “what’s the point of the lever then” or “I get a better workout by putting it at 10” here’s another analogy: gears on a bike. Putting the resistance down at 1 is like cycling in first gear, you’ll find that you’ll just spin the pedals fast but not really go anywhere. Putting the resistance at 10 is like cycling in your highest gear: it’s just really hard to turn the pedals. The optimum gear is a balance of the two that lets you work most effectively. There’s a reason Olympic rowers always train with a resistance setting of 5-6 (DF 120-140), stop thinking you know better than them.

Although true as far as it goes (that resistance is determined by effort), the purpose of raising the damper lever is to increase the deceleration of the flywheel hence determining the the initial effort at the start of the next stroke. So, if you do all out high intensity intervals and you want the most difficult workout and are not necessarily interested in emulating smoothly gliding over still water swiftly, then keep the lever up.

My dad did the hardest stroke, but he's still recovering

Depends on what type of piece you’re doing. If you’re doing a 2k test, obviously you’re not leaving it at 10. You’d gas out half way through or rip out your back keeping that SR above 32BPM. Setting between 4-6 is ideal for the erg so long as it coincides with a drag factor between 115-130.

Different strokes for different folks or whatever Ghandi said

I'm at drag factor 120, which is around 5. That's the instruction from my PT. Sometimes it's put down to 1 on occasion

I row at 11.

God I love you. My machine is arriving soon, and you are, not only a great help, but a great inspiration too.

This is a great tip. I've been rowing for a couple years and I never know where to set the resistance so I usually have it at about a five or six. Good to know that I was doing it right.

I agree, I keep it low. I feel like putting it up too high I'm exerting myself to the point of not wanting to continue.

Thanks, I like rowing a heavy boat….been rowing at 10 forever with great results….my abs are loving it too ❤️💚💙

Just keep it at 10 and get stronger.

This was REALLY useful and explained a lot to me about lightweight people in my gym who row with resistance 8+ and complain that the Concept 2 has very little resistance.

I don’t think this is completely accurate. The first stroke will always be hard because you’re starting the wheel to spin. But once the wheel is spinning each stroke at a level ten will be much harder then a level one when applying the same force. The drag doesn’t become a factor until after the wheel is spinning.

Lol i forgot how to crank up the resistance thanks

Thank you for this.

it's all about the drag factor. I think the recommended df for men equates to around level 5 on the damper.

He’s right. I have the Water Rower, and the same concept applies. You can’t change the resistance on it.

Wow! This is useful!

So why would it matter if it was on 10 or 1?

Love you thanks

Resistance on a C2 depends on how clean the cage around the fan is, how recently the chain was oiled etc... There's a measure called drag factor that takes all of this into account. Use that instead. For most workouts, a df of 110-120 is fine. The first stroke, which this guy is demonstrating, will always be harder as almost all the resistance comes from getting the flywheel up to speed, not from the fan.

As a rower, we always erg on 4-5, some of the ergs might be set to a 3.

Does this apply to resistance band rowers too?

When I pull hard my rowing machine lifts of the ground how come ?

But what if you crank it up to 11?

why put it in the middle if doesn't matter ?

So what's the point of it then?

SOOOo in conclusion the higher the setting the more drag and the more work you have to do?

Is this the same for the water rower? I usually crank it up to 16?

That’s what she said

I'm not going to change the resistance of my rowing machine, as it would involve adding or removing water. It's fine where it is!

Nope... won't stop doing it.

In rowing competition the goal is to reduce resistance. 😆 Technique wins races, not resistance. I person with great technique can make a 12' aluminum boat seem fast. Resistance in rowing is equivalent to putting your boat or shell in molasses...or rowing with crappy equipment.

I understand the video…BUT resistance does matter. Why would they have it if it didn’t? 🤔 Also I’ve noticed a difference

So lower setting will let me row longer duration?

I get more fan at 10 that's the only reason i have it at 10🤣🤣🤣

God loves you all

🏆

oh i get it now, i been wondering y 10 was so easy still

So basically the resistance lever doesn’t do anything?

Been doing it at a 10. Challege accomplished

This is why I only squat 5lbs at a time. I just do it harder.

with a water rower the amount of water the first ew strokes are so tough lol

i have mine at 3-4 but most important is that your resistance is at 110

it's a ridiculous argument, putting the resistance up and keeping the same pressure makes the stroke longer, and putting it down makes the stroke quicker. It's not about harder or weaker. So you're arguing that it's better to do shorter strokes and more of them (as they will be quicker, so more strokes will be done in the same amount of time). It's not more strain on anything.

Yeah but doesn’t the resistance kick in when I’m rowing hard and fast? You wouldn’t get the same workout on 1 as on 10, right? You feel the difference when you get up to speed. It will feel the same when it’s the first stroke.

Wiping out the thought water rowers don’t have settings.

I wish the rower had higher resistance

Austin is so cute. Facial expressions makes me want to watch more.

Level 7+ works muscles but more chance of injury

or you can put it at a 3 like we actually do at the boathouse lol

Jim Carey of fitness

Resistance Is Futile -The Borg

❤

But then 🤔 what is the resistance even good for? 😂 Why doesn't it have just one fixed setting?

Or you could get a water rower and forget about the resistance level

Blud really made a rowing resistance video with the rowing technique of a novice 💀💀

Why do you look like jim carrey

Harder strokes 😂

6-7. Unless the rower is broken

10 or you are soft.

Nice little comment section 😅😂