Rowing has been an Olympic sport since 1900, as rough seas prevented the sport's debut at the first modern Olympics four years earlier. As of March 2011, U.S. crews train in two locations. The men's team calls the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, home, while the women's national team works from the Caspersen Training Center in West Windsor, New Jersey. One of the primary training tools are ergometers, or indoor rowing simulators. Concept 2 is an official patron of U.S. Rowing and provides its ergometers to the team for training.
What is an Ergometer?
An ergometer, or erg, is an indoor rowing machine. The Concept2 ergs have rolling seats, like a boat, with crossbars to simulate an oar. The bar is connected by a chain to a spinning flywheel, which uses resistance to simulate an oar sweeping through the water. A damper attached to the flywheel's casing regulates airflow, increasing or decreasing resistance. A computer tracks simulated distance, speed, calories and pace.
Concept2 Model D
Concept2's base model D is a foldable, all-metal machine. The erg measures 8 feet long, 24 inches wide and the seat is 14 inches off the ground. Rowers sit on a padded seat that moves along a smooth stainless steel bar with their feet locked into a flexible footrest. Model D comes with either the PM3 or PM4 monitor. The monitors measure the same performance data, though the PM4 offers rechargeable battery packs and wireless machine-to-machine competitions.
Concept2 Model E
The model E offers both comfort and aesthetic upgrades over the entry-level model D. The primary difference is the rail height. Rowers on the model E sit six inches higher off the ground for a more comfortable rowing experience. The nickel chain is completely covered, offering a cleaner look. The model E only comes with the PM4 monitor.
Concept2 Dynamic
The Concept2 Dynamic erg was released in 2011 as an upgraded training tool for high-level competitors. The rower sits on a stationary seat with their feet strapped into the footrest. When rowing, the footrest moves in the opposite direction of the pull-chain offering a closer simulation of the stroke motion. The rower sits 21 inches off the ground, with the flywheel situated underneath the rail.
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