History of the Concept 2 Rowing Machines
by John
Phung
zone3
When most people evaluate their overall fitness level, there are very
few that do not have goals they would like to meet to improve their
performance. There are three major areas or concerns that most people
indicate impact on their ability to increase their fitness level:
•The time factor. Many people are so busy they simply don’t
have additional time in the day for longer or more frequent workouts.
•The cost factor. Going to the gym or working out at home can be
costly both in gym memberships and home fitness equipment prices.
•The boredom factor. Whether at home or in the gym the workouts
become old quickly and it is hard to get enthusiastic about returning.
These factors are even more pronounced if you are working out at home.
Due to space and cost restrictions there are limits on the equipment that
most of us can purchase to set up in a home gym. Luckily there are some
impressive total body workout home fitness equipment products on the
market. One such piece of equipment is the Concept 2 rowing machine.
Unique in its design and geared to provide an intense cardiovascular
program as well as working all the major muscle groups this machine is
everything the home or club fitness enthusiast could ask for. The design
of the equipment and the natural movement of the muscle groups when
exercising also provides opportunities for using the Concept 2 rowing
machines in sports rehabilitation training.
Concept 2 rowing machines are also known ergs. This is a shortened
version of the full name, ergometer, which comes from Greek and literally
means a “work meter”. Ergs have changed and developed over time to the
effective exercise and training equipment that they now are.
Evolution of the Concept 2 rowing machine
There are currently four models of the Concept 2 rowing machine and
each one has improved on the last. The idea for the indoor rower was
developed by two brothers, Peter and Dick Dreissigacker, both who are avid
rowers and in 1976 were in training for the Olympic trials in pairs
rowing. They were designing their own oars in the back of a bread truck
that doubled as their home. While the trials for the Olympics did not go
as planned, the carbon fiber oars that they developed did. The
Dreissigackers moved in their combination home and office truck from
California to Vermont to set up a shop to make carbon fiber oars. They
bought an old dairy barn and began the process of converting it into a
shop and producing rowing equipment, starting with oars. Since that time
the company has grown and expanded to include many different types of
products for both land and water rowing.
•1977 the first set of carbon fiber oars were used in the World’s
Championship.
•1978 colleges and universities began using the Dreissigacker oars
for competitions with outstanding results.
•1980 the brothers look for ways to keep rowing over the long Vermont
winters and experiment with a bicycle nailed to the floor and a pull
chain. The concept of the rower is developed and improved.
•1981 the Model A, known then as the Rowing Ergometer was produced.
It was made largely from bicycle parts.
•1982 the C.R.A.S.H–B rowing club in Boston called to discuss setting
up an indoor rowing race.
•1984 the Dreissigacker brothers moved out of the barn and into a
commercial facility due to the overwhelming response and demand for the
Model A.
•1986 the Model B rower was developed that added a better, safer
design including a flywheel cover, more natural rowing movement, and a
performance monitor.
•1991 saw the introduction of the Model C rower. More streamlined and
ergonomically designed the Model C rower became very popular for both
club and home fitness use.
•2003 was the year the final version of the Concept 2 rower was
introduced. The Model D rower is the most advanced of all the rowers
that Concept 2 offers with a powerful performance monitor, heavy duty
construction, ergonomically re-designed handle, quiet performance and
impact-resistant flywheel cover. There are significantly more damper
settings available on the Model D rower than on any other rower model.
The chain can be easily removed for cleaning and the outlet strip is
made of stainless steel to prevent any rusting.
The Model D PM3
One of the most unique features of the Model D Concept 2 rowing machine
is the powerful PM3 that is included as a standard feature on the model.
This advanced performance monitor is a menu-driven onboard computer that
takes all the tedious paperwork and logging out of the rowing exercise.
The PM3 uses a C2 logcard that allows you to set up your own personal
training workout and use a simple push of a button to start it up rather
than having to reprogram every use. In addition the C2 logcard can be
removed and the program downloaded to your personal computer for
additional data monitoring.
Indoor rowing competitions
One of the big problems with working out at home is the isolation and
lack of competition and support. The indoor rowing enthusiasts have
addressed this concern by setting up indoor rowing competitions. The
Amateur Rowing Association and other rowing groups such as the C.R.A.S.H-B
rowing club have been strong supports of these events.
Indoor rowing competitions have become very popular in a wide variety
of settings. Schools across the UK and other countries hold indoor rowing
competitions as part of their year long rowing training and conditioning
exercises. 2005 will mark the beginning of the Concept 2 indoor rowing
competitions for schools. It is free for schools to join the Concept 2
indoor rowing program. In Korea an indoor rowing competition is held
yearly for blind individuals with a volunteer calling out information to
the rowers that are competing.
The inclusive nature of indoor rowing makes the sport appealing to
people of all ages and levels of experience. The categories in a
competition depend on both age and weight and are calibrated on a Concept
2 rower to provide a standard for measurement. The indoor rowing
competitions are usually 2,000 meters.
C.R.A.S.H-B Sprints
These annual indoor rowing competitions are held in Boston Maschettutes
and started in 1980 by a group of Olympic rowers in the area. The original
name of the organization was the Charles River Association of Sculling
Has-Beens hence the C.R.A.S.H-B name. It was later changed to Charles
River All-Star Has Beens, but the tradition continues. They originally
raced five miles, but the competition has now been shorten to the 2, 000
meter sprints. All rowing equipment used is the Concept 2 Model D
rower.
Anyone is able to enter the event and all that you need to supply is
your correct name and your last 2000 meter ergonomic score. This allows
the organizers to place you in the correct level for competition. The
competition attracts people from all over the world, with hundreds
competing in each category.
British Indoor Rowing Championship
This competition was first held in 1991 and attracted 200 competitors.
Now held in Birmingham, England the competition attracted over 3000
participants and is the world’s largest indoor rowing competition. Like
the C.R.A.S.H-B competition is features Concept 2 rowing machines on a
2,000 meter sprint.
In addition to the sprint competition the BIRC includes a 4000 meter
four person team relay competition.
The Future of the Concept 2
The popularity of the sport continues to increase and expand. With
advances in the science of fitness and health the benefits of a Concept 2
rowing machine become more evident. The Dreissigackers continue to stay on
the cutting edge of rowing equipment production and are always looking for
ways to improve the product and to promote the sport. With advances in
technology and design there just may be a Model E Concept 2 rowing machine
in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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