Rowing machines

Underground S&C Underground
1

So my gym just got a rowing machine and I gave it a shot for the first time today. This thing had to have been made in like 1982 because it had these old ass atari looking graphics. Anyways, I rowed for 20minutes (the highest you could go) and put it up to level 9 (the highest it could go), and my heart rate stayed right around 65%. I was expecting this thing to kick my ass but it really didn't, as far as exhertion goes I felt like it was the equivalent of jogging.

I thought about rowing faster but it had this thing on there that said "desired strokes per minute" and if I got above it it would start flashing till I got it back down.

So this is my question: is there something I'm doing wrong with this thing or can I make it more difficult (put a rucksack with weights on) or something like that? Contrary to most guys on here I'm a cardio freak, a distance runner (10k) and I sprained my ankle recently so I'm trying out new things. My gym has one of the tread-walls which I really enjoy but it just doesn't get my heart rate up enough. Any advice?

2

Rowing can certainly kick your ass, make no mistake about it. Turn down the "level" to perhaps 3, ignore the flashing, and crank the piss out it. See how that goes.

john

3

Here are some sort of benchmarks for rowing

500 meters under 1:30
2000 meters under 7 minutes
5000 meters under 19 minutes

Those are some decent times for non-rowers. Also check out the www.concept2.com website.

4

The problem is that the rowing machine your gym has seem to be crap. The Basic Concept II will always kick your butt. I do Intervals of 30sec on (Full out) , 30sec off (around 2min/500m) for about 5min. Great total body workout.

5

Has anybody tried the row machine that changes to a recumbent bike.

6

I've tried the Robot that turns into a Car.

7

Rowing kicks my butt...
Doing TAKU's HIIT with that. I suck at that right now.

8

C2 will kick your ass. try doing 1000-800 meters for time. we have contests at our gym and that will kill you.