Rowing Machine Review



             


Monday, January 28, 2008

You Get A Full Body Workout And A Toned Torso With A Rowing Machine

One of the most complete cardiovascular exercises around has to be rowing. A proper workout on a rowing machine will tone all of the major muscle groups such as your legs, back and arms. The beauty of using a concept 2 rowing machine is first of all it doesn't involve water.

This rower doesn't get you wet, there are no early morning trips to get your machine out of the boat shed. No cold changing rooms and gale force winds for your training session. And there is definately no need to find the nearest river to row your machine on. All you have to do is set it up in an adequately spacious area and away you go.

There are lots of different machines available on the market. Although they generally fall into 2 categories:

-Water rowers -Air rowers

The water rower, which contrary to their namesake, do not end up in you getting wet after a vigorous workout. The machines are very beautifully designed and use enclosed water and paddles for resistance as opposed to air. These rowers tend to be quieter than air rowers and are just as much works of art as they are exercise machines.

Then we have the concept 2 air rower. There are many other brands available but this piece of machinery is commonly accepted to be one of the best, if not the best. They are engineering masterpieces and are all calibrated to the same standard. So, if you do a certain time on a concept 2 rower, you can rest assured that, that time will be replicated exactly on another concept 2 machine. This is the reason why the world indoor rowing championships use the concept 2.

The information that the display monitors show on the concept 2 is extensive, with the new monitors even being able to be plugged into a PC, so you can race with other rowers from all around the world.

Shopping online for a bargain rower is easier than ever. Take the hassle out of dragging your feet around the mall, put your feet up, pour your favourite drink and browse through our links and see what offers we have available.

Vanessa Cane is A Freelance Writer For 1st-For-Exercise-Equipment.com. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information About All Kinds Of Exercise Equipment, Including Treadmills And Elliptical Machines.

Vanessa Cane is A Freelance Writer For 1st-For-Exercise-Equipment.com. You Can Find Lots Of Useful Information About All Kinds Of Exercise Equipment, Including Treadmills

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Saturday, January 19, 2008

The merits of rowing machines

One of the fastest growing sports around is indoor rowing. Whether its for competitive reasons or fitness reasons or both, the advantages of indoor rowing are clear. You are indoors. You probably havent had to travel more than a few yards from one room of your house to another. Its convenient, location wise and you can make it fit your lifestyle. It is a simple thing to schedule an impromptu 30-minute session on your rowing machine. The alternatives to home indoor rowing are obviously outdoor rowing and a trip down to the local gym. The saving in time and effort owning your own machine is clear. If you are lucky enough to have the space in your dwelling for a rowing machine, then take the opportunity to exercise whenever you like.

The ideal location for your rowing machine is a room with plenty of ventilation, so you can get the big lungfuls of oxygen for the final push at the end of your rowing session. Also, a room that doubles as a home gym will need plenty of airing, especially after you have had a vigorous workout. An ideal room to house a rowing machine is an attic room with velux windows. Its out of the way, so the machine doesnt impact on everyday life. Most machines are self-assembly so you can take it up there and assemble on site as it where. The machine is then out of way and you can enjoy your indoor row without distraction or interference from others.

Once, you have your machine assembled and in place you can then add some rowing accessories. Most people like to listen to music or watch TV while exercising, so get a media system and your ready to go. This is something else that outdoor rowing cant offer. Its questionable whether listening to music or watching TV does help, but at least its possible with an indoor rower. There are many rowing accessories you could purchase, but wait until you have started in earnest before buying every little gadget and fashionable item.

Rowing is a great way to work out the stresses of the day and get the great cardiovascular workout for both the upper and lower body rowing is one of the best forms of exercise for this. All the major muscle groups get a good workout. It is important to have a correct technique though and it may help to pay a visit to the local gym to get some good advice on the correct technique and useful programmes to follow.

It you find indoor rowing is missing something, then you good look to enter some competitive events, to give your training more of an edge. Competitive indoor rowing a fast growing sport, so do some research and you may find some venues near your home.


Ian Wide writes for several sport sand leisure sites such as rowing machines.

 

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

A Quick and Easy Guide to Indoor Rowing Machines

Did you know that rowing is one of the best exercises for developing aerobic fitness? Not only does working out with rowing machines or rowing ergometers allow people to develop their cardiovascular system, but they also place considerable demands on your muscular system as well!

Unlike cardio machines such as treadmills, exercise bikes and stair climbing equipment, a rowing machine exercises your upper body as well as your lower body. The rowing stroke when using an indoor rower is composed of 65-75% leg work and 25-35% upper body work.

Other benefits of indoor rowing are getting a full body aerobic workout with one machine, and the lack of impact that is experienced when compared to other aerobic activities. When you’re jogging outdoors or using a treadmill machine, there is orthopedic trauma placed on your body every time you take a step. This is not the case with indoor rowers.

When you’re looking for the best rowing machines for you, there are many options available. There are four distinct types of indoor rowers: piston or cylinder based rowing machines, flywheel rowers, magnetic resistance indoor rowers, and Water Rowers.

Hydraulic Rowing Machine

The hydraulic rowing machine may be the best way to go if space is a concern, or if you’re on a tight budget and you want an economical indoor rower. Hydraulic rowing machines receive its tension from the amount of air or fluid that’s compressed with a cylinder or piston, and can be adjusted by most models of indoor rowers.

Although hydraulic based indoor rowers are low-cost, they differ from air, magnetic and water rowers because the rowing machine technique doesn’t allow you to pull in a straight line. The majority of hydraulic piston based rowers require you be placed in an exercise position that does not allow you to perform a natural rowing motion. Because of this, you are unable to naturally synchronize your arm and leg movements together.

Flywheel Rowing Machines

The air or flywheel rowing machine for exercise offers a similar feel to outdoor rowing. Flywheel exercise rowing machine receives its resistance from the pulling motion, which spins a flywheel with fan blades attached. The resistance is provided by the wind. To increase the resistance of a flywheel rowing machine, all you have to do is pull harder. This moves the flywheel faster, and a greater wind resistance is provided from the fan blades of this type of indoor rower.

Compared to piston/cylinder or hydraulic based rowing machines, air rowing machines provide a more natural, continuous, and smoother rowing stroke.

The Concept 2 (or Concept II) rower is among the most popular flywheel air rowing machines. This machine is used by fitness enthusiasts, health clubs, corporate fitness centers, and rehabilitation clinics as well. Along with health, fitness and rehabilitation purposes, the Concept2 is the rowing machine of choice for indoor rowing competitions around the globe, such s the Crash-B Sprints World Indoor Rowing Championships and the European Indoor Rowing Championships.

Magnetic Resistance Indoor Rowers

A magnetic resistance fitness rowing machine is known for being virtually silent and providing a smooth rowing stroke. Unlike flywheel based indoor rowers which receives its resistance from the wind, magnetic rowing machines utilizes a magnetic brake system.

One of the main aspects you’ll notice with magnetic rowing machines is that is doesn’t product much sound at all. Rowing machines based on magnetic resistance produces no friction (like the flywheel or Water Rowers), thus providing a silent workout.

Fitness rowing machines based on magnetic resistance are available utilizing only magnet resistance or a combination of magnetic and air resistance.

The WaterRower

The WaterRower is an ideal rowing machine for those who participate in outdoor rowing. The Water Rower's unique patented Water Flywheel has been designed to emulate the dynamics of a boat moving through water. Just like rowing outdoors, the WaterRowers’ flywheel receives its resistance by overcome the effects of drag as water moves past the tank. This indoor rower is also virtually silent when in use. All you hear is the swishing of the water while using this rowing machine.

The WaterRower is constructed with a wooden frame. This makes this rowing machine one of the most attractive models available, and the mechanical vibrations (common to other indoor rowers) are dampened. There is also a commercial version of the Water Rower sporting a metal frame.

Another model of water based rowing machine is the First Degree Fitness Fluid Rowing Machine.

Summary

In sum, whatever type of rowing machine you choose, rowers are an excellent choice for developing aerobic fitness and building a healthy heart.

John Phung is a certified personal trainer and successful writer for http://www.all-rowing-machines.com, providing information about Concept II D rowing machines, Water Rowers, and more.

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