Rowing

drewfromrisca

Not sure this is the right section to be posting but are there any rowers out there?

I've been looking to getting into rowing but as I've got a disc problem in my lower back I'm unsure if it's suitable for me. I would also like to use the rowing machine in the gym but I'm unsure to use that too. Anyone out there rowing who have back problems too?

ride_whenever

Hey, i'm a rowing coach if that helps! I had to stop competing due to knee issues, but i still try and get out most weekends.

As for back pain, it can be very tricky with rowing. The bulk of your power comes from your legs and glutes, but this has to be applied effectively to the oar to move the boat. I would also advise avoiding rowing machines until you have been taught to row properly as bad habits can cause serious problems. Your best bet would be to head down to your local boat house and ask if they do learn to row sessions. That way you can try out rowing without having to commit to a full years membership of a club.

It will help the muscles that support the back but it is a case of whether you can row pain free, what sort of movements generally cause it to flare up?

drewfromrisca

Most things unfortunately, from bending over to pick something up to something small like sneezing and coughing!

Clever Pun

just a gym bunny myself, but I would like to get out there at some point

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ride_whenever

I find gym rowers hilarious, sure they can put down some power, but it just looks hard...

My favourite one is hopping onto an erg next to a gym-bunny going balls out, and just sedately rowing alongside them at half the rate but twice the power output!

As for OP, the bending aspect might be an issue, can you do a squat keeping your body bent at the hips to about 60 degrees, ideally with your back bent slightly the wrong way? From the sounds of things you'll probably struggle with rowing and it'll only exasserbate your back.

beverick

I have quite major lower back issues which make slipped discs pale into relative insignificance.

I assume you have diagnosed disc problems and, as such, I would seek medical advice rather than relying on posting on internet forums (which, to be honest, is no more reliable than stopping people in the street at random and asking them!). I was actually pointed towards a sports physiotherapist for advice.

It turned out that, for my specific problems, rowing is actually beneficial as strengthening the muscles in my lower back compensates for the inherent weaknesses I have in the same area.

I also agree wholly with the posting about getting your technique correct. It's all too common (and indeed amusing) at the gym seeing people thrashing around like an eel on speed on the ubiquitous 'Concept II' rowing machines.

You'll probably recognise the typical CII user. Little leg extension or forward reach, head down back arched, stroke count in the mid to high 30's but with a 500m split somewhere around 2:15-2:20. They usually burn out after 1000m or so.

I did 10k on saturday at a leisurely 1:56 per 500m. The 27pm stroke was unusually high for me but, as each machine is different, it could have been the set up for that device.

Bob

ride_whenever

27 spm: you lack discwipline!

18 is where the cool kids are... in all seriousnes 27 is a bit high for ~ 40mins!

woodford2barbican

ride_whenever wrote:

I find gym rowers hilarious, sure they can put down some power, but it just looks hard...

My favourite one is hopping onto an erg next to a gym-bunny going balls out, and just sedately rowing alongside them at half the rate but twice the power output!

As for OP, the bending aspect might be an issue, can you do a squat keeping your body bent at the hips to about 60 degrees, ideally with your back bent slightly the wrong way? From the sounds of things you'll probably struggle with rowing and it'll only exasserbate your back.

I like doing this as well - best bit is to then go on for twice as long as they did...had someone ask how I did it once!

Just showing off. But why not? It is not like I am an elite athelete, it is all down to technique.

beverick

woodford2barbican wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

I find gym rowers hilarious, sure they can put down some power, but it just looks hard...

My favourite one is hopping onto an erg next to a gym-bunny going balls out, and just sedately rowing alongside them at half the rate but twice the power output!
......

I like doing this as well - best bit is to then go on for twice as long as they did...had someone ask how I did it once!

Just showing off. But why not? It is not like I am an elite athelete, it is all down to technique.

Like minded folk....

As with most endurance sports It's as much about about technique as absolute effort but I think the key is to make it look easy even though it isn't. I've always concentrated on technique for any endurance sport I've taken part in - cycling, swimming, running and a few other 'ings....

It is quite funny to match the mets of someone next to you just using a much slower stroke.

The temptation is to keep looking at their display until you entice them into "upping" their effort to beat you. Let them spin for a while and then just increase the power in each stroke. If you're lucky they'll go from :oops: to :shock: whilst you just look 8) !

A few years ago a guy called me a tw** and then stormed off for doing that.

I had restorted to rowing one handed though.......:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

ride_whenever wrote:

27 spm: you lack discwipline!

18 is where the cool kids are... in all seriousnes 27 is a bit high for ~ 40mins!

As I mentioned, 27 was a bit high for me I usually aim for 22/23 spm. I find much below that and I'm relying on upper body strength too much and the fan loses too much speed between strokes.

This was one of the newer machines with the electronic programming which do seem to 'spin' a bit faster than the older ones. I assume it's to do with how much drag's applied.

Bob

pjm-84

Don't blame you I used to do the same. Generally the noise gave the game away...... whoooosh. I also like the fact that everyone puts it on a 10 when in reality a 3 or 4 is just about right.

McBain_v1

I have done some rowing but once my cumulative total passed 1,000,000 metres I packed it in. I've got the t-shirt now proclaiming membership of the "million metre club" but I didn't find that it really helped with my cycling.

I'm sticking to weight lifting at the moment and am finding that deadlifts are really brutally effective at building hamstring strength. Mind you, I would not recommend them for anyone with lower back issues

randellp

Where abouts do you live? I could suggest some good places to start if you live in/near the Thames Valley (as you might expect - lots of rowing round here!)

I rowed for a couple of years, and there were a fair few people at the club with back problems, some who had to give up because rowing caused it or made it worse, and some rowed because it sorted their back. I guess your doctor could tell you what would be best. I would hope that the action of rowing which strengthens your shoulders, back and core muscles might be beneficial.

I found that sculling (two oars) was more of a balanced pull from front to back than with a single sweep oar where you twist your trunk in the stroke - which could pull your back out of line and damage it.

Another vote here for gym ergoing and doing 18spm! Some of the technique in the gym is shocking and I often wanted to stop some of these people and tell them how to do it properly. Especially when the "trained" staff would just be sitting chatting to each other and not sorting them out.

As for contributing to cycling, I found the rowing training helped a great deal with climbing. I would literally blow my (admitedly not super fit) friends away on hills because I seemed to develop much more stamina and higher pain threshold thanks for the hours spent on the ergs & on the water.

drewfromrisca

I live in Hammersmith, about 10 mins away from Thames. I work in Chiswick which has a fair few rowing clubs. I might just pop down there and ask around. When I go see the doc next to arrange my injection I'll ask her about rowing but I'm just not sure they understand things like that as previously one doctor said to keep on running and another told me to stop. I had to stop in the end as it was crippling me within 5-6 mins.

ride_whenever

If you're having trouble with keeping your rate down set the drag properly before a session, on the older ergs you set it by pressing the two left hand small buttons at the same time IIRC and on the newer ones it is in setting or options or something like that. Roundabout 120-130 is best.

I'd agree with the comment about hill fitness, you build up so much quad and glute strength and your pain tolerance shoots through the roof.

redddraggon

I used to do rowing at school.....I used to quite enjoy it....until everyone (bar me) got really good - I even rowed with the captain of this years Cambridge crew when he was still at school.

Rowing always gave me a really numb bum. I hated the winter on the water - my hands got so unbelievably cold it was painful. And I kept falling out of singles.

ride_whenever

redddraggon wrote:

I kept falling out of singles.

Dryness FAIL

That said I capsized a double the other week, although I've figure out why. I've also seen my fair share of capsized eights!!!

Clever Pun

ride_whenever wrote:

I find gym rowers hilarious, sure they can put down some power, but it just looks hard...

My favourite one is hopping onto an erg next to a gym-bunny going balls out, and just sedately rowing alongside them at half the rate but twice the power output!

don't get me wrong some people are utter pony at it...

I managed 2k in 6.47... I then fell off the seat

pjm-84

I remember doing a timed 2k training piece alongside my buddy a few years back. Now I'm little lazy so I let him go ahead by a few second and started to push after the 1000m mark. It was more fun then a focused test but we ended up doing a 6.16 and a 6.17min for the 2k. I lost by 0.9sec but hey I was 36 at the time to his 30.

Now he collaspes on the machine, feet still strapped in, trying to keep the contents of his stomach in his stomach. I'm laughing at him telling him his pushed too hard. Yep I can speak but he can't so I see myself the moral victor. Just slighty misjudged the charge for the line that's all. To prove this I jump to my feet but for some strange reason :?: my legs instantly fail and I collaspe to the floor with a thud. My buddy is now laughing and heaving at the same time as I decide to continue my exit from the ergo on all fours.

Greg T

Our erg room used to be at the bottom of a flight of cast iron spiral stairs.

I have had to haul my broken body our of there using using my teeth.....

In a massive show of Bravado I've challenged all my old rowing mates to compete in the BCs annual 1,000 m sprint erg challenge.

The only one to tale me up on it is a 6'3" triple Cambridge head blade winning, top third of the etape this year demi God.....

Everyone else will be 21...

I am a dead man

ride_whenever

TBH, if you can stand, speak, open your eyes, beathe at the end of your 2k test then you didn't push hard enough...

As for vomiting, the only reason you shouldn't is because you don't have the energy...

batch78

I'm a bit dissapointed in you all really, does nobody have the bottle to admit your jealous, and slightly embarrased, to be sat next to me, ripping it up at 35spm, power setting 10, gurning like a pro??? Have you never noticed all the fit young women smirking at your feeble, slow action??? Pah 2k in 6mins, who needs to row for that long when you can use the same energy exhausting yourself in half the time!!























Did anyone ever find the tongue in cheek emoticon?

ride_whenever

but when they see our rippling muscles as we glide effortlessly across the water and the sun is sitting low on the horizon, glinting of the puddles...

it's the whole P+P mr Darcy thing, gets them every time...