Chip

Got to get fitter. Told one of these will do the job. Anyone got one?If so are they any good,what type to buy,and how much are they.

Chip.

Belf

It's got to be a Concept 2. Superb rowing machines, not cheap though at around £900.

markr1963

Yep, Concept 2 and there's Water Rower - not cheap either

JohnMcC

My old mans got a Concept 2 - its been great, but they are pricey.

Rasher

Yes agree Concept 2 are the dogs.These are a cracking way to improve cv fitness

imlach

Oh, and as with all gym equipment, it does not get YOU fit alone....you still have to put the hours in, and it can get boring at first - things will happen slowly - it took you years to put weight on, so don't expect it all to come off in a few weeks. Do you have a good level of motivation???

Do you have friends you can row/cycle with?

MattN

got mine from argos for about £100. Does the job. But I'm trying to put weight on, not lose it

TheScooby

Go old-school, get a concept 1

Tiggs

just checked the online rankings, im in the top 50 for the short stuff! seems i missed my vocation!

jbryant

Delta do a very good Air Rower (Delta Air Master I think it's called) that is similar in concept to the Concept, though obviously much more basic. Has only a simple computer with strokes, time, rep speed, distance, kcals, etc). They are £200 from Argos, and I picked mine up from ebay for £100 which is pretty good value as far as I concerned. I'm very happy with it and would have loved a Concept II (they are fantastic!), but simply cannot paying 5-6 times the price for it.

As for keeping a database of times. I <ahem> use a pen and a pad of paper.

Cheers
Joolz

jbryant

Oh, yeah - Avoid any of the really cheap rowers with hydraulic pistons. They're crap!

Joolz

ChrisB

My gym has the Concept 2 rowers - certainly get you sweating once you get going.

Side question - anyone else find they get a blister at the bottom of their finger where it joins your palm if you row too much? Or do I have just soft skin? Must be all the Fairy Liquid

S55 HOT

Check eBay.

One of my mates is currently selling his water rower (here) - superb bit of kit !

Mungo

Concept2 is the world standard for rowing machines. There are better ones (e.g. RowPerfect - more expensive and you need to rig up to a PC).
If you use the C2 a lot, make sure you get some basic coaching (maybe from a local rowing club) as you can injure yourself by rowing like a tool.

SiPie

Had one.... but it sank

I'll get my coat

imlach

Have owned a concept2 for about 4 years now - not cheap, but is a serious bit of kit.
Good build quality and ANY other "rowing" machine in a gym will seem really really crap compared to it.

Best bit about them is the online world database of times - you can compare your own performance against others in same age group or whatever worldwide.

Times of a lot of sport celebs (not just Steve Redgrave) are on this list, so you can compare how good you are against them.

You can't cheat the result - the time you get on your machine is 100% comparable to the time someone else gets on another machine....

However, any more than 30 minutes, and I do find it boring.

I still maintain my bicycle is the best way to do exercise without getting bored - the open roads/hills cannot be beat - 30 minutes on a bike outdoors feels like 5 mins. I find 30 mins on static gym equipment feels like 2 hours!!!

You can rent them if you want to try one out first.......

[Edited by imlach - 3/8/2003 8:55:02 PM]

Andy Mid.

I bought a Tunturi R710 last year and it's been pretty good. I'm sure the concept2 would have it in the twisties but in a straight line it'd be a close fight

Only problem with it is that the heart rate monitor isn't that accurate but the air wheel gives a smooth action and it isn't showing any wear after a year of pretty frequent usage.

[Edited by Andy Mid. - 3/9/2003 12:55:03 PM]