Originally Posted by
KenCT
I'm 61 and cycle about 100 miles a weekly year round; about 2/3 outside and 1/3 on the smart trainer.
Has anyone here added indoor rowing as part of their fitness routine and if so, has it improved your cycling?
I'm recovering from surgery for a fractured foot (5th metatarsal avulsion), and won't be back on any bikes for a few more weeks, maybe two months before I ride outside again. Thinking about rowing until the foot is healed and then making it part of my winter indoor training.
I've never done rowing before but I tried by brother-in-laws Concept 2 machine last week and feel it is something I would enjoy in addition to virtual cycling.
Any suggestions? Thanks
I alternate rowing with cycling (I do most of my rowing in the winter - the erg is in the garage - no A/C). I bought a Concept 2 Model C in 1997, and with well over 30 million meters in, one overhaul and a PM5 power meter upgrade a few years ago, it's still perfect*. When I'm up to rowing speed, I do 10,000 meter sessions, interspersed with 500-meter interval sprints if I'm feeling masochistic. I have a TV/headphones up on the wall for long rows, but if I'm going for time or pace, I just concentrate on the PM numbers. Apart from the aerobic benefit, I feel that the core and upper body workout makes for more stability when climbing out of the saddle.
*CII is the standard for good reason - built like a brick outhouse. The only downsides are (1) they're noisy, and (2) as far as I know CII don't have any Swift- or Peloton-esque interactivity, which some rowers offer. I think this would be a real incentive for many, and would certainly make longer rows a little less boring.