Rowing offers numerous benefits. Regular rowing workouts--which use virtually every muscle in your body-- will increase your whole-body strength, develop your aerobic fitness and help you manage your weight. Rowing is a low-impact activity which places minimal stress on your joints and offers a scalable workout that can be adapted to suit your individual fitness needs. There are a number of different rowing machines available.
Types of Resistance
Different rowing machine designs use a variety of ways to simulate the action of pulling an oar through water. Some rowers use large fans--Concept 2 being the most well-known. Others such as the WaterRower use a liquid-filled drum which, according to the manufacturer, feels a lot like rowing on water. Some rower models use electromagnetic resistance, which means that the machine must be plugged into an electrical supply to work. Hydraulic rams are used for resistance by some manufacturers, but these are less common and tend to only be used on outrigger models--which simulate the action of sculling--and simple design home use models.
Drive Mechanisms
The drive mechanism connects your body to the rowing machine. Some designs use a chain while others use a cable. Chains are more long-lasting but require regular maintenance to keep them in good condition whereas cables are maintenance-free but might need to be replaced periodically. Outriggers use lever arms which work independently and closely simulate the action of sculling--rowing a boat using two oars instead of one.
Monitoring Performance
In a rowing boat, you can see how far and how fast you are traveling. Rowing machines use electronic displays so that you know how your workout is progressing. Most modern rowing machines are supplied with a monitor which displays stroke rate, distance, speed and time. Some machines also will interface with your PC or Mac so you can download, analyze and store information about workouts, including power output and heart rate. This feature is useful if you are a competitive rower and want to finely tune your fitness level.
Cost Comparisons
Rowing machines are available to suit almost all budgets, but you tend to get what you pay for. As of August 2010, indoor rowing machines cost from $149 for a basic hydraulic lever arm design rower to more than $3,000 for the highest specification Kettler rowing machine--there is a huge difference in resistance, comfort, durability and performance across the price range. A more conservative budget of $1,200 to $1,500 will buy you a commercial quality Concept 2 or WaterRower. Because they are very long-lasting, you can save money by purchasing a used rowing machine.
Competition Rowing
In addition to being an effective workout, rowing machines are also used in indoor competitions. The standard rowing machine for competitive events is the Concept 2. Competitions include distances from 500 meters--546.8 yards--to the full 26.2-mile marathon, but the most popular and well-attended events are the 2,000-meter races. There are also online events that allow you to connect your rowing machine to your PC or Mac so that you can race against people from around the world without leaving your home.
Member Comments