Whether you already row or are considering rowing as a way to keep in shape, cross train for another sport, or compete on the water, the Concept2 Model D indoor rowing machine is a terrific choice. Rowing offers several benefits over other exercises: Concept 2 Rowing Machine exercises your entire body, including the arms, legs, chest, back, and abs; its low-impact rhythm is easy on the knees and ankles; Concept2 Rowing Machine burns a ton of calories because it uses so many muscle groups; and it relieves stress. The Concept2 Rowing Machine adds to these benefits by offering such features as a quiet flywheel that’s designed to minimize noise while providing the smooth feel of rowing on the water, along with a spiral damper that lets rowers choose the feel of a sleek, fast boat or a slow, heavy boat.
The Concept 2 Rowing Machine offers a different rowing experience than the rowing you did as a kid.
Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine
The difference lies in the sliding seat, which compresses and extends your legs with every stroke, in addition to the more obvious work being done by the back and arms. This promotes both strength and flexibility throughout the wide range of leg and arm motion, while challenging the back in the middle of the stroke and the abs at the end. In addition, customers say that the rhythmic nature of rowing helps clear the head and ease the stress of the day.The Concept 2 Rowing Machine comes with a PM3 performance monitor that accurately tracks your distance, speed, pace, calories, and watts, with five display options for rowers--all data, force curve, rowing with a pace boat, bar chart, and large print. The monitor also provides easy menu-driven operation, letting you access a powerful list of features, including preset and favorite workouts, trials against a previous performance or pace boat, FISH games, animated rowers that teach techniques, and multiple language options. If motivation is what you need, you'll find it in Concept2’s online challenges, Million Meter Club, and online ranking.
The Concept 2 Rowing Machine Model D is also notably comfortable, with an ergonomic handle that allows for a natural arm and hand position; an aluminum rail capped with a stainless-steel track for smooth seat movements; and adjustable Flex-foot footrests. Other details include a removable LogCard that stores your workout data and personal preferences; built-in heart rate monitoring with an optional Polar receiver (sold separately); a USB interface for easy data transfer to a PC or Mac; caster wheels for quick mobility; and a collapsible design for efficient transport and storage.
The Concept 2 Rowing Machine Model D requires a footprint of 9 by 4 feet for use and offers a weight capacity of 500 pounds. It also carries a five-year warranty on frame parts and a two-year warranty on moving parts and the monitor.
Manufactured by the company that set the standard in rowing, the Concept 2 Rowing Machine Model D Indoor Rower delivers proven performance and fitness benefits. Concept2 Indoor Rowers are used worldwide by Olympic athletes, cardiac rehab patients, and every caliber of rower in between. Rowing provides superb total-body cardiovascular conditioning in a smooth impact-free exercise. A great investment, this commercial-grade machine is recommended for home use and supported with free online motivational tools such as the Concept2 online logbook, rowing challenges and training forum. The self-calibrating Performance Monitor (PM3), included with each Concept 2 Rowing Machine Model D, displays workout data, five display options, a LogCard to record results, games and more! Every Concept2 Indoor Rower comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and limited 2-year parts, 5-year frame warranty.
Features of Concept2 Rowing Machine Model D
- Indoor rowing machine with sliding seat for complete total body workouts
- Quiet flywheel minimizes noise while providing smooth feel of water rowing
- Lets rowers choose between sleek, fast boat and slow, heavy boat
- PM3 performance monitor tracks your distance, speed, pace, and calories
- Requires footprint of 9 x 4 feet; 500-pound capacity; 5-year frame warranty
Your Choice of Performance Monitor
The standard PM3 monitor will provide and store information for up to 300 workouts. (You can even race against a pace boat based on your previous workout data.)
Upgrade to the PM4 monitor to get wireless heart rate monitoring, a rechargeable battery pack and wired or wireless racing.
Compact Storage!
Machine separates easily into two parts for transport and storage. This can be done on a daily basis -- no tools are required. Also, caster wheels make the Concept 2 Model D mobile.
World-Class Features
Concept 2 machines work on air resistance to capture the rhythm and feel of rowing on the water by using a carefully balanced and calibrated flywheel. The resistance you feel is the wind resistance generated by the spinning flywheel. With no brake pads to wear out and no friction mechanism to generate heat, the flywheel motion is quiet, smooth, long-lasting, and maintenance-free. The spiral damper lets rowers choose the feel of a sleek, fast boat or a slow, heavy boat.
The Concept 2 frame also features an aluminum I-beam monorail with a stainless-steel seat track. The maximum user weight of 500 lbs makes it perfect for heavy use in health clubs and boathouses.
Customer Reviews:
This review is from: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Sports)
About me: I am 50 year old chick just trying to hang on to what I got. I have have two herniated disks in the past, compete in triathlons and trying to stay in decent shape without too much time commitment. I swore off the local gym due to distance, cost, germs and just ridiculous drama. Since then I have been "piecing together my basement gym". I have all of my equipment from Craigslist, but the C2's just never come up for sale. I had decided to add some hard hitting cardio to my workout; I did a bunch of research and came up with "rowing".Initially, I knew ZERO about rowing, so I read EVERY AMAZON review, watched every YOUTUBE video. I will say it is not very often that I will pull the trigger on a $900 purchase sight unseen, but I did confidently with this purchase.
With that being said, I can honestly say this piece of equipment has humbled me. I got off after my first 2000m in 9 minutes and my muscles were screaming and I was so hooked. Where else can you get a non-pounding workout that totally takes your breath away in 10 minutes and is FUN, FUN, FUN!
I always do mega-research on any big purchase. After reading all the reviews, here are the few notes about the rower, accessories and usage that I jotted down that might help others in their purchase:
1. There are several programs out there for rowing, the two most popular seem to be: 1)Oarsome Foursome and 2) RowPro from DigitalRowing.
I didn't try Oarsome Foursome, but this is what the website said: A general fitness and training DVD for all fitness levels - with or without a rowing machine brought to you by the Australian rowing legends, the Oarsome Foursome. I have other workout DVDs like this and they are interesting the first few times, but because "they play the same thing time after time" they become stale. ProRow, reviewed below, will keep your attention over time because it is very customizable.
ProRow is a slick software program that keeps you visually engaged in your rowing progress. This program offers multiple combinations of rowing, will track your progress and allows you to easily race against other rowers throughout the world. Users can pick various distances, race against yourself or multiple Olympic caliber rowers, change views, race online, and even offers a coaching clinic. I did try this software and I did love it. The free, 20 day trial is almost a no-brainer and is a Cadillac program.
My only gripe with the software is that it doesn't let you adjust the time for your time zone. Customer support said this would be fixed in the next release late 2012, but I find it incredibly annoying to have to calculate the time to join a group row. The software is $100...which is a little steep after plopping down $900 for the rower, but it is a one time fee without those annoying renewable/yearly fees. My assessment: Worth every penny!
2. I went back in forth in trying to justify the extra expense of PM4, but I just couldn't. Now that I have the PM3, I have to admit I didn't really think about the value of the heart rate (HR) capture. [The other features of the PM4 I determined I could live without].
One reviewer made a comment on how he could see all his progress over time: heart rate, SPM, time and weight because it was all tracked. That got me to thinking. I do have a Polar HR monitor that is compatible with the rower and C2 does sell a $25 cable that will allow me to use my HR monitor. The only thing I won't be able to do is see my HR on the PM3 module...but my HR *will* be visible and captured if I use the ProRow program which I always do anyway. So the $25 cable gets me HR data with a PM4.
3. As a newbie, I found the Youtube and Concept 2 videos on proper form essential before I ever sat on the machine. I think it helped me understand/visualize good form before I got settled into any bad habits.
4. One row owner noted incredible weight loss and toning results using the "Pete Plan". I found the website and plan by googling "Pete Plan" and "rowing". It's free. Check out the tab called "Pimp My Erg". There is a device called C-Breeze that takes the out air from the flywheel and blows it back out on you to keep you cool. Xmas gift???
5. One row owner recommended oiling the chain every 10th use and using a Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean on the bar to keep it clean and friction free.
6. Several folks used towels over the seat for extra cushioning, others bought the C2 seat. Some folks use gloves; my bike gloves work great.
7. For an non-impact workout that maximizes calorie burn this machine is the answer. I can easily burn about 150 calories in 9 minutes with a 2k meter row which equals 900 calories in an hour!!
8. One reviewer has her kid do a 500m row before he could use his X-Box. How creative...
9. My 13 year old told me that rowing was so easy. We sat down and has a "row off": I did a 2000m and she did a 500m. I beat her Strokes/Min by .1. Since then, she is on my rower twice a day...when her friends come over, she makes them row. She is determined to beat me. [Not going to happen, Jessie!]
9. Okay, this is where you will find me totally crazy. There are actually indoor rowing championships. Amazon won't let me post the link, but on the C2 website go to /home/racing/calendar. I found a local event in my area and immediately signed up for a 500m race the same day I ordered the rower.
The local row team sponsors this indoor rowing competition. They bring in new C2 D rowers, use them one day and sell them afterwards. Big screens to watch the action, age group competitions [13-70] and so many different length races. There was a time lapse Youtube video of last year's event that is worth two minutes if you haven't been to one of these.
These local events are feeder/qualification races for the World Indoor Rowing Championships, called C.R.A.S.H.-B in Boston-February 18th this year. C2 has info about this on their website under RACING or check the C.R.A.S.H.-B website directly.
10. Out of all my workout equipment [CompuTrainer, elliptical, treadmill, Bowflex and VasaTrainer swim machine] if I had to pick and keep just one....yep, it would be this rower.
11. I am very glad I pulled the trigger.... this is the only piece of equipment my whole family uses on a consistent basis.
Hope this helps!
Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine
">----------------------------------------------------- Below is some newbie rowing data you need to know:
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But before going into the workouts, you need to know how to set up the rower correctly and how to measure your efforts effectively.
Setting the damper correctly
The damper is the lever at the side of the flywheel with positions marked 1 to 10. You'll often see people in the gym get on the rower, crank the damper up to 10 and start rowing. Actually this is not really what the damper is for, and higher resistance is not always better.
To understand this, think in terms of real boats. A setting of 10 is like a big heavy boat: it has the potential to cover a given distance faster than a lighter boat, but only if the rower is big and powerful enough to drive it. A smaller and lighter rower will do better in a lighter boat and will be able to cover the distance faster than they would in the heavy boat.
A real racing boat is equivalent to a damper position of 4. Rowers who race on water will do the majority of their training at this setting to replicate the river conditions. For indoor rowing, the most efficient damper position for you will depend on your weight, level of conditioning and what kind of workout you are doing e.g. sprint or endurance.
To set the right damper position, you need to test your `drag factor' by rowing a few fairly hard strokes on the machine. The drag factor will display on the machine as a number between 100 and 150. The British Amateur Rowing Association has a list of recommended drag factors as follows:
*Lightweight (around 61.5 kg or less) women performance athletes: 125
*Heavyweight women performance athletes: 130
*Lightweight (around 75kg or less) men performance athletes: 135
*Heavyweight men performance athletes: 140
For normal trainees, I would knock 5 off these recommended drag factors. For example, if you are a lightweight woman doing a 5k row, go for a drag factor of 120.
How to set drag factor
Which buttons to press depends on what model of rowing machine you are using. On the Concept2 PM2 machine pictured below, press the RESET and READY buttons simultaneously. The drag factor will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen. On the Concept2 PM3, drag factor is one of the menu options. Row around 10 strokes reasonably hard and adjust the damper lever to get your desired drag factor. For most of my training sessions, I tend to go for a drag factor of 120 - which for me translates to a damper position of 5.
Using Split time
When I first started using the rower in the gym, like many people the numbers I used to track progress were distance, time or calories. These were things I understood - or thought I did. Then someone explained split time to me, which is the number labelled av/500m. This is short for "average time to row 500m" and is the standard method of measuring pace in rowing.
So if you row 2,000m in 8 minutes, your av/500m split time is 2 minutes over that distance. However, at any one point in time you may have been rowing a bit slower or a bit faster than your average. You would probably have started slower and got much faster in the last few hundred metres.
The rower's readout can give you both your current split time and your average split over the distance. In the picture, my current split is the figure of 1:54 in the middle of the display. The lower that number goes, the faster my `boat' is moving. However, I can only row that sort of split for a couple of minutes, so that would be a sprint for me.
Split time is used obsessively by on-water rowers and people who compete because it gives you the most important piece of information: how fast the boat is travelling. I use split time as my main benchmark, but it is acceptable to utilise calories, heartrate or other measurements as well. Crossfit, for example, often makes use of calories as a rowing measurement in its workouts.
Choosing stroke rate
Stroke rate is measured in "strokes per minute" or SPM. A high stroke rate, e.g. 35 SPM is not necessarily the most effective way to make the boat go faster, especially at medium to long distances. Many workouts will have a prescribed stroke rate range, such as 22-24 SPM.
Stroke rate can also be a matter of personal style or technique. For instance, I tend to row at a lower stroke rate than many lightweight women because I have powerful legs due to my weight training background. So I give an almighty shove with my legs, which generates a lot of power but means I move a little slower.
Standard distances
The most common race distance in rowing is 2,000m. Elite heavyweight men will do this in around 5 and a half to 6 minutes, elite heavyweight women in around 6 and a half minutes. Mere mortals will achieve around 8 minutes, or half a minute either side depending on sex, weight and fitness.
The 5,000m and 10,000m are common long distances. Popular sprint distances include 250m, 500m and 750m.
Putting it all together
All these settings and numbers might sound rather technical, but once you start rowing it is much easier to understand how all these factors work in tandem because you can see the effect on the computer readout in real time.
For any distance, it is important to pace yourself and not go off too quickly. It is very easily done as when you take your first few strokes on the rower, the wheel feels very light. Be warned, this feeling does not last!
For long distances such as 5,000m, it is advisable to use a slow stroke rate of 20-24 SPM until the last 1,000m or 500m when you can up the rate.
It is also good practice to pick a modest split time and try to stick to it consistently; for example trying to keep to a split of 2:15 for the whole distance, or upping your split every 1,000m. This is trickier than it sounds and is important for good technique.
For sprint distances, it is fine to increase the stroke rate and the damper position as you are not rowing for very long. A 250m sprint will take most people a minute or less. Sprint distances are useful for interval training.
Sample workouts
To train for my first 2,000m race competing at womens lightweight, I used some of the following workouts:
1. Medium distance steady row
3,000m steady row, gradually increasing split as follows:
*First thousand metres @ 2:20 split, 22-24 SPM
*Second thousand metres @ 2:15 split, 22-24 SPM
*Third thousand metres @ 2:10 split, 26-27 SPM
*Last 250-500m, push as much as you feel able
To replicate this workout, choose your own split but keep the SPM the same. This kind of session trains you to row at a consistent, steady pace. It's important to learn how to row at a steady pace because it is so easy to go out too fast and fade halfway through. The first thousand metres will feel very easy but you will start to feel it after the halfway point.
2. Long distance steady row
5,000m or more steady row at a consistent split. This is about getting your base distance in so that you can work on technique and endurance.
To find your steady pace, row 5,000m in any way you can. It will probably take you somewhere between 20 and 25 minutes. When you have finished, note your average split time over the entire duration. The next time you row 5,000m, try to keep to that average split time for the duration.
3. Intervals
1000m or 750m intervals off 4 minutes rest. Aim for a medium stroke rate of around 26-28 SPM and try to get faster with each interval. 2-4 intervals is sufficient when you first start doing these.
4. Sprints
It is useful to do the occasional sprint (especially against a friend) to get the feel of going flat out for a short distance.
Warm up and warm down
As with any workout, it is good practice to warm up and warm down. Spend at least 5 minutes on each. You can also use the stationery bike or cross trainer to warm up and down.
This review is from: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Sports)
I own the Concept 2 Model D. I purchased it last year after an exhausting field and internet search. I "casually" used it for several months until a few months ago when I became very serious about losing weight. I now use the rower 5 to 6 times a week 30 minutes minimum- with an average of 45 minutes and occasionally (usually Saturday mornings) a 60 minute workout. I do not overdue the individual workouts, and maintain about a 23 stroke per minute rhythm. I chose this rower for several reasons. First, the great reviews on internet websites. Secondly, I was very impressed with the sales associate. He did not try to "oversell" me, instead he convinced me that for my needs the model D was more than sufficient. Third, I was fortunate enough to try one out at a friends home gym- I was impressed. Lastly- this is a high quality machine- very sturdy and well designed.
I utilize this machine, along with a low carb diet and walking 3-4 miles 2 to 3 times a week, to lose 75 pounds! I started this last September 2008- weighing in at nearly 300 pounds at 6'1". As of now, end of March 2009, I am down to 225 and feel great! That's it, no magic other than consistency! If it were not for this rower, my efforts would have been much, much less successful. (I tried walking alone on previous attempts and walking by itself as the main exercise did not cut it for me for drastic weight loss.)
This rower offers a full body workout! I ordered the machine and it arrived inside of a week. The rower literally snaps together. I did call customer service with a couple questions, and they were very helpful and walked me through the set-up. It is sturdy for big guys like me. The only maintenance I have done is an occasional wiping of light oil on the pull chain- that's it. The machine is not so noisy that I can't watch TV while working out. I strongly recommend this rower!
TWO YEAR UPDATE (2/12/11)- I still use the rower and it is still in PERFECT condition! The seat is a bit softer but no wear or tear. 4 friends have purchased this rower after trying out mine. About a year ago I reached 215 pounds using the same program described above. Then, totally unrelated to the rower, I pinched a nerve in my right shoulder from an old dislocation I had as a kid. I had to stop rowing because of the discomfort. Within 6 months I gained 10 pounds and was up to 225 again. My shoulder had healed so I tried this rower again, only this time instead of extended cardio several times a week, I incorporated the rower with Dr. Al Sears high intensity interval training, three times a week for about 12-15 minutes. All I can say is "wow", within 6 weeks I blasted 25 pounds off with no discomfort. The rower was perfect for his method! I also experimented with a powerlung, and used it for once a week, 10 minutes at low intensity. My lung power greatly improved. Although I have not religiously used the powerlung once a week, I try to use it whenever I am in the mood- about once every two weeks. The result has been great.
Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing MachineThis review is from: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Sports)
You need go no further than a major crew regatta such as the Head of the Charles to understand why Concept2 rowers are regarded as the best available. Generally there are only a few rower manufacturers represented in vendor alley, and the one with the crowd will be Concept2. Found in crew boathouses everywhere, not only are they well-built and smooth, but can even be linked together to work in unison for training purposes. It's actually quite amazing to see in action. Concept2 also has an enormously enthusiastic user base that competes across the world. That's indoor rower competition! You'll also find Concept2 rowers in gyms everywhere - they're very tough. This review is from: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Sports)Concept2 makes two models. They are actually fairly close in specs and the pricing difference is a few hundred dollars. This listing is for Concept2's D model with their PM3 electronics module. I view the principal difference between the D and E models as height (the E is a bit taller). The E also comes standard with the PM4 module, while the D is available with either the PM3 or PM4. For most people the major difference between the 2 modules is that the PM4 comes with heart rate monitoring and a chest strap. If you don't need HR monitoring or already have a standalone monitor, you'll be quite happy with the item presented here - the D model with the PM3.
This review is from: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine (Sports)
I bought a Model D with the PM3 monitor in August, 2009. I have been overweight my entire life and in November of 2008 I finally decided to change my life. I started a new way of eating with Nutrisystem and I started exercising. I bought an elliptical and treadmill to join my stationary bike and started losing weight. As I slowly became more fit, I kept researching other things I could do to keep my interest in exercise going. I'd never seen an indoor rower, but read about them as being terrific exercise in various places. I started looking really hard at them when I realized just how great a workout they offered at a low impact. Concept 2 is considered the standard in rowing machines. I was very pleased with the price point as well. I'd already spent a lot of money on the treadmill and elliptical and didn't want to drop a lot more. One very nice thing about Concept 2 machines is that they hold their value very well. I couldn't find a used Model D in my area on Craigslist, but the Model C's and B's were still selling for great prices. That helped solidify my decision to purchase a Concept 2. Ordering was easy. I got the PM3 monitor because I already have a polar watch/monitor and because it was slightly cheaper. I initially didn't get the polar receiver, but have since bought it as it is much easier to look at the monitor and see my HR than having to try and peer at my watch. I chose the Model D versus the Model E again because of price. The only difference between them (other than the Model E only comes with the PM4 monitor) is that the Model E sits up higher off the ground. I'm still pretty spry, so I didn't care about this. And I find that I have no problem sitting on the rower or getting off of it. It was delivered in one big box (but the whole thing is much, much lighter than most other fitness machines like my treadmill and elliptical which required common freight shipping). I opened the box, removed the 2 pieces, screwed in the 4 feet and was rowing within a half hour. Very, very easy to set up.
I really like the ability to track the distance and time that I row and trying to improve my times. The software that comes with it includes an online log book that you can upload your data to and even rank yourself compared to others in your class [male/female, age and weight (lightweight vs. heavyweight)]. The Concept 2 following is huge; there is a forum for people in the U.S. and a more active one for people in the U.K. There are several training programs developed by different people that you can follow. There is third party software that you can buy (limited versions ship with the rower for you to try) like RowPro where you can actually link online and race people from around the world! There are even indoor rowing championships/contests all over the U.S. using...what else? Concept 2 rowers, of course! Once you row 1,000,000 meters on your machine, the company will send you a t-shirt. There are also rewards for people rowing longer distances. There are contests as well. Right now, I am aiming to row >100,000 meters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For everyone who does accomplish this, Concept 2 will donate a certain amount of money to one of 3 charities (you get to decide which one receives the donation for your part). What a great company!
I row while I watch TV; usually a sporting event (Pittsburgh Penguins hockey is my fave!) I have no trouble hearing the TV. I row a combination of intervals and longer distances. I've definitely seen improvements in my cardiovascular fitness. I still do a variety of exercise, including using my treadmill and my elliptical. Of all these activities, I think rowing wins hands down in terms of how effective a workout it is. I've enjoyed it so much that I bought a Model D for my dad to use at his house (and I can use it when I visit!). He is recovering from bypass surgery and started rowing in rehab. He really likes it too. I recommend using some sort of gloves for your hands; I've developed calluses where the bar is held, but I wear some weightlifting gloves while I row so I can keep a good hook on it (I sweat a lot). I bought the dust cover for it too as I have animals and lot's of dust in my house. If it is set up, you can put the dust cover on, but if it is taken apart the cover won't fit it. When it is taken apart, it takes up very little room. I just set it in a corner. Putting it back together is very easy, but I have learned to be careful as you can pinch your finger if you don't pay attention.
Overall, I think this is one of my best fitness purchases. It is a very solid machine and I know there are many people out there who have had their machine for many, many years. I can't see my much more complicated elliptical or treadmill lasting that long. It provides a fabulous workout and I love the ability to rank myself against other women in my age and weight class from around the world. I like seeing if I can improve my times. And I love the ability to break it apart and stick it in a corner when I have people over. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get fit. I've lost over 100 pounds so far, feel great and look great. A priceless combination!
