Damper Settings - How to Find Your Efficiency Point

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[@elecaire9094]

This should be part of or linked to any video for absolute beginners (like me). It makes complete sense, frames the discussion relatably and changes where I'll be putting the damper doing the drills I'm doing daily to work on form. Great video!

[@LanceCampeau]

@ 5:16

[@TheCratsky]

I row twice a week using the 8 setting now. I've moved down from the 10 setting in just on 8 weeks. It's a challenge but focus on breath, pull and overall pace has helped. Thanks for posting great content. Hoping to improve with your tips.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Keep up the great work!

[@piotrlisiak7205]

Dziękuję za ten odcinek..to dużo zmienia w postrzeganiu znaczenia przesłony..Thank you for this episode ... it changes a lot in perceiving the meaning of damper ..

[@ridindawaves777]

Thank you, I've always felt comfortable on a bottom 4 but never knew why or how the damper works now I know and will hang around that setting and lower to get to a sprint workout

[@johntaylor6345]

Great video. I did not know it was called a damper because I've only just started using a concept 2 rowing machine in my local gym. It's now one of my favourite exercise workouts as part of my total workout. I've increased my time from 6min to 7min per day until I re

[@roberthurley7718]

Thank you for this video. As a newbie, it answered a question I didn't even know how to articulate.

[@BobGnarley.]

Very helpful! I think it's important to bear in mind the movement itself without any resistance matters. That is why there is a setting at all, it's not like a 1 is slacking

[@tommyryan7041]

Just found your channel. As a fit pro we all have our strengths and weaknesses, the erg has been the latter for me. Using your channel will help remedy that, thanks for all the great videos and resources! Keep it up!

[@Death_Incarnate]

Thank you so much for the videos dude, helps me get the most out of my rower. Please don’t ever stop putting out great videos like this.

[@SidGoreEngineer]

Thank you!!! I had my concepts wrong. Re-learning the basics from your channel.

[@thinkingoutloud3757]

Thanks for this! I just bought a Concept2 and day 1 I was on 3-5 today just to experience rowing for the first time, and while it was nice, it didn't seem to impact me the right way. I'll try cranking it up tomorrow.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Did you see this video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoeVnIWPbtJsZ6M Give it a watch and see if finding your personal setting might help?

[@alwatts4108]

great comment on setting the damper, I was not aware of the setting until I saw this comment

[@Rhythmicons]

I just got into rowing over a week ago and have been using the damper at 10. Rowed almost a 10k in 50 mins. Now I want to understand the importance of the split and DF.

[@justintemp]

This is one of the best explanations I've seen.

[@MrDesertmike]

Proud to say I figured this out on my own😁😁

[@DarkHorseRowing]

🙌 Great work!

[@HeartFilledHatred]

Me too! My wife's in to Crossfit and she's always sticked to 10, HEHE!

[@simoncanning9749]

Genuinely intrigued Dark Horse. I am fully aware of your in depth knowledge of all things rowing and physiology; however; This sounds entirely counter intuitive to me. As an endurance athlete (pretender 😬) surely the fast twitch factor would be better with high drag, slow twitch lower drag? As in you need that explosive power at high drag to get the acceleration of the flywheel? Am I right in thinking that there is a standard amongst “those that know” of a 3 or 4? Just trying to get my head round it and looking to train for a distance row so would be very interested in your thoughts. 🙏

[@connieq]

Very good explanation, thank you. I'm still learning.

[@lucasgraham-brown4371]

Or... you could use it at a 4-5 because that’s what it was designed to do, as it closely stimulates resistance of the actual water

[@Oncewasdonka]

Actually it's not about what number it's on its about drag factor. Different machines will give different drag depending on age and wether the thing gets mantained.

[@cisium1184]

@@Oncewasdonka While all machines vary a bit in drag factor, Concept 2 drag factors generally mimic the drag of boats on the water. Basically, the air intake in a given damper setting correlates to the water resistance created by the beam width of a boat. So, 1 is roughly equivalent to a one-man scull, which is a very slippery, fast boat with a narrow beam. 3 and 4 are roughly comparable to varsity shells for 4 or 8 rowers. 6 mimics the drag of a conventional rowboat, and 10 is like those gawdawful lifeboats on oil tankers and such. I'm not certain I have those numbers exactly correct but that's the principle.

[@Oncewasdonka]

@@cisium1184 Thanks my point is the drag may be set to 6 but because the machine is not serviced and is full of dust and other stuff it has less resistance. I'm not a rower but have been using these machines for 25 years. I'm self taught so could be wrong. Thanks

[@cisium1184]

@@Oncewasdonka No you are right. Individual machines definitely vary - as do individual boats of the same type.

[@cfvgd]

@@cisium1184 if thats the case. Wont having it on 1 be better if you wanna row a distance as fast as possible?

[@0kimbc28]

Love your channel!

[@mach5jeep]

I put baseball cards in the spokes so it sounds like a motor boat

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Not sure that's the greatest idea but to each their own.

[@paulcarroll443]

hahahaha classic!

[@donethier7935]

Wacko Banana-Pants Ahhhh that brings back the good old days lol.

[@cfvgd]

HAhahaha

[@NickForest999]

They’re called Spokey Dokeys in my part of the world

[@curiosity_saved_the_cat]

Great info! I have been practicing on and off for a couple of years with the damper set at 10 thinking I was a beast 😥. Recently I tried a workout with the dampper set at 5 because I wanted a light workout. I was aiming to get the same splittime as usual and noticed it seemed so much harder to achieve. Question; does a lower damper setting require a higher drive speed × stoke rate in order to reach the same splittime compared to a higher damper setting (a bit like a low and a high gear on a bicycle requires different effort to reach the same speed)? Anyway, thanks for all your video's. The rowing machine has helped me getting through challenging times more than once. This channel and Training Tall, inspired me to pick up a rigorous rowing schedule a couple of months ago and really helped me to feel great again.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Such a well thought out and articulated question. A lower damper requires a faster catch and faster drive, and once good connection is established we can add increased stroke rate to that list because it will be effective stroke rate. Always work to achieve better positions first and foremost then move to rate from there. Does that make sense?

[@curiosity_saved_the_cat]

@@DarkHorseRowing It makes sense indeed. Quality over quantity. It's tempting to just be seduced by a lower splittime, but in the long run that will prevent reaching maximum performance. I'll keep it in mind. Thanks.

[@danielulm9314]

I've been told I looked ripped but had terriblish erg scores pretty sure this is what i need

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Hope it helps Daniel!

[@serenah8860]

Great info! Thank you.

[@ademarco0302]

This was excellent, thank you

[@Marine_Veteran_Vegan_Gamer]

This makes sense on why i was getting smoked on a 1. Haha Great info, thanks! 🌱💪🏽🖖🏽

[@Peterkramer929]

Most videos focus on efficiency without explaining what they mean. This vid teaches me more, thanks for that. Yet..what does the concept2 really measure. Force on the cable? Will (given enough speed) the lowest setting really give you the best times? For me the lower settings feel better and more natural but I push myself to the higher settings, thinking it it is better. Will change it tomorrow. cheers

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Thank you for this, I'm happy to hear we've created clarity for you. The C2 measures force, acceleration, and distance. All three of which can be manipulated independently thus why lower dampers can create equal outcomes. Your brain is on the right track. Report back with your findings!

[@davidbratzer]

Good video.

[@Max.RobynYT]

So if your a sprinter and going to do a 500m sprint you would use 1 on the damper?

[@Lehmann108]

No. You want to mimic the "weight" of the water for your event.

[@charlesrestivo870]

Nice thank you for information

[@mikeadamczyk2191]

Great tips

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Thank you for watching, Mike!

[@fraternallove4370]

Thank you

[@pnbeck]

Thanks for the video, but is there a process for determining the optimal damper setting? For example, should I row at a 1 for 4 minutes and record the avg. watts produced then do the same at a damper of 2 and record the watts, then continue up to 10? Thanks.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Philip have you seen our other Damper setting videos that help you test different damper and drag factors?

[@pnbeck]

Which ones?

[@randyegibson]

It wasn't until the end of the video that I realized that it was shot right across the street from where I work. :-)

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Well that’s cool! Where do you work?

[@randyegibson]

@@DarkHorseRowing SDPD Crime Lab

[@mikejones5540]

What are the benefits of using a rowing machine?

[@samuelscheetz]

So i should find my happy drag factor and always row about there? What about a really short row vs a really long row? I can hit 1:15/500 for a couple hundred meters with the DF at 200 but that would seem impossible at a DF of 100. When doing a 10k a DF of 100 would feel great. Let's say my happy DF is 130 would is there a standard curve i can follow? For example should i add 10% to my happy DF for a 100m row and subtract 10% for a 10k row? Lots of questions. Thanks!

[@DarkHorseRowing]

There is no hard and fast rule to Drag Factor, only what feels best. GENERALLY, the longer the piece, the lower the drag factor though and the shorter the piece the higher so your assumptions are fairly in line!

[@RadekPilich]

What the hell 🤯 It doesn't make sense intellectually to me, but will try next time. I have always been using setting between 5-8, now I'm curious if I might get better workout with 3-5.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Yeah, on the surface it catches a lot of people off guard and feel counterintuitive.

[@dspirit444]

Great info but can you relate this to weight loss...should someone wanting to lose stay at a 1?

[@calvinclick670]

I have been rowing on 10 for over a year. I am comfortable with it at this point. Should I adjust?

[@tylluscharles1214]

What should be your damper setting to achieve an 8 minute-2000m?

[@Tugger4me1]

So i row for endurance / distance general fitness 3 times a week, this month i row 5k 6k & 7k next month will be 6k 7k 8k. I row at a drag factor of 110 to 140 depending how i feel, roughly R4 to 5' ish as per Concept guidelines. When i have rowed at R8 i feel i am just working upper body - arms. My SPM would 20 to 26'ish, 30 feels like a sprint with short strokes while lower i can get full 1mt+ travel. Confused as hell now.

[@probitionate]

Aside from regular interval days, I use my C2 to row 5,000m. That's it. (The computer monitor is mostly wasted on me. LOL) I row at the top end of 3. (and have for decades.) I'll probably experiment on my own, but all things being equal, how would my time vary if I went down to a 1, or up to a 7? (And how is this handled at indoor meets?)

[@tuckerclark]

I'm new to this exercise, found this to be awesome than treadmill or running, so higher the damper setting, more drag making harder to pull? Is that right? Awesome exercise new to this and trying to understand the setting rating.

[@pallekjrlaursen8388]

Unless you are doing sprints (

[@julikenn]

I think every rower has to experiment to see which drag factor gets them best results!

[@DarkHorseRowing]

To each his own!

[@AdamThomas671]

So longer rowing session (rowing 10k, 12k, ect.) use a higher dampening setting and lower for the more explosive interval trainings you would do?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Great questions Adam, but it's not really fixed to any distances. It's purely a decision of one's own as to what feels best for any given distance or time.

[@AdamThomas671]

I see, so it just boils down to preference then? Should a rule of thumb be try to match the resistance of the water for long distance? I was watching another rower on here and they were explaining what drag factor to look for if you want to match water. I just want to try and optimize and get as much as I can out of my sessions on the erg is all. Any advice, tips are very welcomed :)

[@dynamite479]

Hello, great videos they've helped me alot. My rowing goals are time trials for the 2000m, 1000m and 500m rows. My times are 6:49 for 2000, 3:05 for 1000 and 1:23 for the 500m. I weigh 190lbs and I'm 5'10.5. I find if I use anything lower than a 10 damper setting on rows of 1000m or less, I cant acquire these times. I'm working harder and faster to get the same pace ( feels like I'm on an easy gear and just can't speed up). I've watched other dudes on youtube my size or bigger killing 1000m rows with the damper on 6-7. Am I missing something? I cant find anyone online recommending a 10 setting. I'm not a cross fitter and I keep my rowing separate from my other workouts so I'm rowing fresh. And insight would be great.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Absolutely, have you checked out the rest of our channel? I have a feeling we could be very helpful to you.

[@dynamite479]

I think I've watched most of your videos. I can guess my question would be a hard one to answer. I realize everyones different. Thanks for the reply.

[@pconrowrrt]

Check out British row teams, water is 3 to 5, they do meter rows for time on the concept. A 10 is not recommended due to injuries. Your time are excellent!

[@cooperjobe8360]

dynamite479 The higher the drag the more force can be applied per stroke, but at a 10 the efficiency is not as good as a lower drag with higher stroke rate for the rowing athlete. As a lightweight rower (

[@TheBodyFirmATL]

I'm 6'2 225 and feel the same way. I've done 1:21 500, 6:33 for 2k and 17:57 for 5k and I agree. I feel like all of my power is wasted on lower damper settings. Leveraging my weight again the resistance also helps when keeping lower stroke rates. It keeps my heart rate in my efficiency zone.

[@probitionate]

So I have long prided myself on being dumb, not stoopid... But I'm still confused. I work out essentially on the same machine. And within a small variance, I row the same time for a 5,000m row (and have for years.) My damper setting for the past two years has been 3. So here's my question: All things being equal, what kind of difference would I feel (and see in my time?) were I to change the setting to a 6?

[@triplecap4307]

I wonder if Shawn would give this same video today.

[@TheJohnCooper]

Does adding a more difficult damp setting give you a better result? In other words if you can pull stronger resistance efficiently does it show in your pull result?

[@galaxi407]

I've noticed at the gym, all the rowing machine are set at number 10.

[@hombrenuevoacts1728]

Which one covers more meters per pull?

[@nopain1984]

What is the best drag setting on a hydrow machine?

[@TonyPharmD]

I'm a marathoner that does CrossFit. . . so how does that work?

[@thomasbertazzoni6903]

congratulations on the channel, I'm from Brazil and I learn a lot from your teachings. I have a question to ask. What is the mathematical formula used by PM5 to project the average speed and distance? what is the most important factor in this equation? power, s / m, or drive length?

[@TRIBOY16]

Not a fan of sprint type rowing at damper 1-3. Because there is no way you can avoid springing your knees on the catch. Some dont get injured but some do, rowing this way. A controlled movement towards/at the catch (without springing the knees) then exploding towards the stretch , is a safer wayy to perform this exercise. And to build a decent sweat this way, damper needs to be at 5 or higher. End of the day there is no one size fits all technique

[@thegravellesstraveled2320]

I have always rowed at a 10 setting. When I use the lower settings it just feels that I am not getting the same distance/resistance on my stroke. It's like stepping on the gas with a manual compared to an automatic. Anyway I've been doing it that way for decades.

[@josephhuber8972]

But...my problem is that I am using rowing as a cross training tool for my marathon training. Will a 10 damper setting fatigue my legs more than a 1 or vice-versa? My goal is to cross train with a non-impact machine, i.e. a rower, while minimizing the leg fatigue, so that my legs remain fresh and my runs remain strong(er) the next day. advice?

[@natalimahsa]

hi thank you for your good tips and technics it's been very useful I would like to ask about the fatigue during the ergo after 2 minutes I start getting tired and I'd prefer to stop how can I reduce that thanks

[@DarkHorseRowing]

It's all about intensity. If they are going to hard even the best rowers in the world will want to get off after 2 mins. Have you seen our pain cave video? Give it a watch: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaS3Ymdtqr-fa9E

[@michakoecki9603]

Question ....so whats dumper when people hit records ?? 500m 2000m ???

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Great question. It’s whatever the person wants. There’s no standard damper to use for testing purposes.

[@michakoecki9603]

@@DarkHorseRowing so how you can compere results then ??

[@acura32ai]

Fast at the catch is better than fast strokes?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Yes. Fast turn around > high stroke rate. High stroke rate can be helpful but not without a good catch.

[@nonofyabidnez5737]

Yey I'm glad I'm a super slow twitch kind of guy ;o)

[@carlgreen5168]

Now this is the biggy for me....i simply cannot hold my splits unless i.m on damper 10.....now i dont know if thats because i.v always had it on 10 ever sinse i discovered erging(some 20 yrs ago), or is it just bad technique??? I have no idea....

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Hey Carl, Understand that if you've been doing this for 20 years at the same drag factor then adjusting it is going to fly in the face of what your body understands fora bit. So there is guaranteed to be a drop in performance if you decide to make the switch. Initially it says nothing about your technique, other than that's how you've developed your body to connect with the machine. Make sure you check out the drag factor workout we just released and give the workout a try to see how it influences you and your perception of damper/drag factor. Cheers, The Dark Horse Crew

[@alwatts4108]

I am big guy 265 I am glad I watch your comment on settting I want to burn more calories therefore low setting for me

[@nmacog]

I've just started your 20 min beginner workout (new to rowing) - coming from using a crosstrainer regualrly and hitting it fairly hard for 45mins what damper setting would you recommend ? I'm currently on 7 and feels OK ... your thoughts ? I know this is a totally different ballgame to crosstrainer / exercise bike just unsure about best damper setting to use ...

[@barakau]

Interesting. New subscriber from this vid. I always set 10 simply because it felt the hardest and therefore I thought I was getting the most burn from this setting on a 500m sprint. I usually go fast and then completely struggle when only 200m left. Should I obviously be lowering the drag setting? And if I lower it and still do a 500m sprint, will I burn less calories compared to drag setting at 10? My main goal is improve my cardio levels. Thanks

[@DarkHorseRowing]

You will still burn the same amount of calories, especially if you're able to persist for more than 300m and all the way through 500m. So definitely lower your drag factor so you can find better movement quality which will give you a better workout.

[@barakau]

Appreciate the reply. Have definitely learnt from this channel. Thank you!

[@DarkHorseRowing]

You're very welcome.

[@lucavanderlaan2860]

What about for a rower where is water resistance

[@DarkHorseRowing]

It’s dependent on each coach and the water conditions they’re trying to emulate

[@lucavanderlaan2860]

Dark Horse Rowing thanks for the reply

[@vadimyakus]

All I get from this video is that I have to set my damper set at 5 LOL

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Might be worth watching it again!

[@Jeffbrowne45]

So beginners should start with 10??

[@ilanpi]

I'm fairly sure that you don't understand what it is and how this and damper setting affects the distance.

[@ekremgokhan5070]

WHY DIDN'T i watch thuis before.... i practice at lev4 3 or 5 never more.... next session i'll start at ten. And make it with time lower and lower .....ciao

[@blubbox5635]

Both of the guys in the examples are lifting their heels - why so?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

+Blubbox once an athlete is comfortable with their technique and being able to push through the entire foot it's OK for the athlete to lift the heels slightly because they know how to place the heel and still push through the whole foot.

[@kindcopy]

Tried to sign up to your newsletter but keep getting an error message. Any ideas?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Hi Catherine, We just tested it on our side through the form on the home page of our website and it worked. Can you please try it again? Thanks!

[@kindcopy]

Dark Horse Rowing hi guys. Tried again and no luck. It says "too many subscribe attempts for this email address. Please try again in about 5 minutes #8467"

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Have you since been able to sign up?

[@kindcopy]

Dark Horse Rowing Yes thank you. I was contacted a while ago and always enjoy your e-mail newsletter.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Great! Glad you've been enjoying the content.

[@ruleofones]

Hi Shane! Ive watched all your videos on drag factor. So i implemented the Drag Factor workout yesterday, and if im interpreting the data correctly, i managed to produce the most wattage at setting 4 and 1, though setting one seems impossible right now to maintain. In terms of comfort, i dont know exactly where i was most comfortable, but i do know that the very high and vey low settings were least comfy. 3 questions; does this mean i will most likely get the best and most out of my workout at setting 4 since i produced the most work? Is this a type of workout you recommend to be done monthly for example, to see if anything has changed? And lastly, im still a bit confused because in my mind the low drag factors are meant to mimic hydrodynamically designed boats, and high drag factor is for moee cumbersome boats, so if a sprinter with fast twitch decided to set the drag factor say 2 points higher, wouldnt their explosiveness improve, similar to training with a parachute? And if this is the case, then it would stand to reason that increasing your explosiveness at a higher drag setting will ultimately make you stronger/faster?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Atif, you've really unpacked a lot here, thank you so much: 1. If you want to get the best results out of any particular workout per your current fitness then yes. 2. Yes, I'd say every other month test would be good for this to re-test where your drag factor lives as you progress. 3. Absolutely, just because you found 4 to be most effective at this moment doesn't mean you shouldn't train at other drag factors. The key being that when you do, you have a reason and training response designed behind WHY you're using it which comes back to your example of the parachute. So by all means, mess with it even when your test results say otherwise because you will be training at drag factor for a reason and at the end of the day that's what it's about is improving your ability to understand and connect.

[@ruleofones]

Thank you for the reply! If i understand correctly, using the examples of the runners, training at a decreased drag setting will increase the fast twitch fibers of an endurance runner, and training at a higher drag setting (assuming you apply the same explosive stroke maneuvers) will increased the amount of power a sprinters fast twitch will generate? I would assume that the only way you would increase slow twitch fibers is by slowing down your "stride" on a higher drag setting, so as long as you use the higher drag setting like a parachute, you will maintain your fast twitch, just make it more powerful per contraction. This still confuses me a bit because if thats the case, it still always makes sense to train at a higher drag setting because, if you imagine an actual rower, wouldnt training with a less hydrodynamic boat make them better and faster in their boat? So while my work generation at the other settings wasnt as much, wouldnt that mean im getting a better workout? The only objection i can think of to setting the drag to 10 is the analogy of trying to squat the whole rack; obviously one is supposed to incrementally add weight. Thanks for you patience and i hope im on the right track and making sense.

[@ruleofones]

P.S. i dont know where the "love" button is or id do so to your comment :)

[@purdybby]

I a medium rower not fast or super slow I set mine to a 4

[@padola07]

I can't emphasize enough how wrong this video is. A big strong rower is the type that challenges for the WR on the 100m or 500m. Me at my 1:17m 500M best will beat all of them handily if you have them row at a 1 and I row at a 10. This is so so wrong I had to check if the video was posted on April 1st.

[@spookify]

Prove it... Do 3 tests all out 2k row... damper at 1, 5 and 10 and see how you do... I see hundreds of KZbinrs and videos sayings what you said however no one has done a comparison video.

[@cbridger7142]

If i'm doing a HIIT workout and switching between fast and slow... what's the best setting?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

The one that gives you the best workout and lets you get the most out of each stroke.

[@simon1234567ful]

The logic is flawed... +always depends on the distance... why should women generally row on a lower damper setting than men according to your statements that doesnt make sense... Lot of truth though in your statements. IMO you shouldnt use the damper numbers but rather the drag factor and i think you shouldnt start out higher than 150 drag. Rowing on a the max dragfactor makes it nearly impossible to sustain good form throughout a workout since you cant sustain that load for too long and sooner or later will start hunching your back etc.

[@VileTasteOfDeath]

For a long time I was doing a 30 minute row on damper 10 at a stroke rate of around 30-32 and a calorie rate of 920-940 an hour. That was great for maintaining health, but was kind of stagnant and I definitely had a performance wall where I couldn't regularly break the 980 calorie rate barrier. Recently I've slowly added in some HIIT sprints throughout the 30 mins and even though the PM shows a similar calorie rate, I definitely see improvement in fitness. Visually my percentage of body fat "looks" better and I have lost overall weight. Having said that, I've always dampered at 10, is there really any value to drop it at this point?

[@I-love-duckz]

i like settling at 3

[@morieragaucho972]

Can someone sponsor me a concept 2 ? It can be used or beat up it doesn't matter.

[@frederickp.8410]

I always use 10 and row 10k in 45min I don't think I will lower it. Soooooo.... that's it.

[@zuzanahoudkova4497]

Quiet enough for late night use. I wish there was more resistance on the highest level. It doesn't really stress the body much if you are a stronger person.

[@diamondmeeple]

Effiency? = Rowing 5000 meter as fast as possible?

[@BandiGetOffTheRoof]

3.5 to 4 mimics water

[@DarkHorseRowing]

It may on a new machine, unfortunately on used machines that get dirty or see more use, damper setting will actually change resistance the dustier a machine gets. For example, if you put 5 machines next to each other from 5 different locations and set them all to a 4, they would all report different drag factors even though the damper was the same. It's why we like to talk about Drag Factor over damper setting.

[@3rdJose]

BandB1111111 just when u thought u knew what you were talking about

[@BandiGetOffTheRoof]

If you erg to train for 8's, you could leave the damper on 3 or 4 for a million meters and be just fine. Unless you erg in a lint factory.

[@3rdJose]

Couldn't care any less right now about what you're saying

[@RiverTwice]

Dark Horse Rowing I've been wondering about that a lot! I row at a bunch of different gyms where the maintenance of the concept 2s I use can vary widely. Where can I check to dial in whatever my preferred drag factor winds up being when I'm on a different machine? Also, can you give me a rough idea about HOW much variation is possible between ergs? I want to estimate about 30%, but I don't really know if that's just in my head.... Thanks much! I just discovered your channel yesterday and I'm devouring it! 👹 I like the blend of influences in your coaching style.

[@lvg777]

I've just watched your video about not lifting your heels when you row, yet both of the rowers in this video lift them. Is the 2nd rower you? You lift your heels up and come forward past vertical shins. The first rower lifts them way up, comes way forward and nearly touches the frame with the handles. Have you polished up on your technique since you made these videos? Personally I don't lift my heels. I row barefoot and you cannot lift them when barefoot as it would be too uncomfortable. Apart from being inefficient, bending the knees too much (lifting the heels) puts a lot of stress on the knees, which is particularly bad for people with knee injuries or arthritis.

[@3rdJose]

Les Jensen because ur a rookie, they know what they're doing

[@lvg777]

What's that supposed to mean? I'm just asking for an explanation of why they teach it one way and demonstrate it another. I appreciate Dark Horses videos and he's doing a great job... I'm hardly a rookie though. I'm 57 and have been rowing on Concept2 since the B-model in the late 80's... so nearly 30 years... and I've owned C and D models.

[@3rdJose]

Les Jensen great job

[@econ3539]

Dark horse rowing provides extremely inaccurate and faulty information. The informations provided in this video is just outright wrong. Using a 10 is for sprinters, using a 1 for long distance(no one excpet weak girls use 1, maybe a dude on a long row would use a 4-6). what they say in this video, is exactely the opposite and outright wrong. Their information comes from Fitness Rowing, and not actual Rowing. I saw the video about the heel lifting aswell, and had to correct him there aswell. Most of the time you do not lift your heels in an extreme sprint, but all the other time its an absolute must that your heels leave the board. Altough, its important that you build up the power on the erg and get your heels back down as fast as possible to get the most out of your calves. And remember, 10 is for sprinting, not a 1!

[@rgoo519]

Put it on 10 and make it quick.

[@beachesandhose2374]

I see almost every pro with a concept 2, why is that?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Because it's the best indoor rowing machine you can purchase. Do you own an erg?

[@majikfountain7613]

​ Um ...Beaches? I am very curious. Did you see the bottom line on that "pro rowing" contract? Was it enough to get credit at Starbucks?

[@adamqvisten2223]

Hey there Dominick Cruz!

[@econ3539]

this is utter bullshit?! the sprinter is using the 10, whereas for long workout sessions you use the lower damper settings! i wanna see you making a fast 250m sprint on the 1... lol

[@DarkHorseRowing]

In this video we are talking about rowing efficiency. Everyone has their preferred damper setting depending on their athletic abilities. You can row the same time with max and minimal damper setting. They will both feel different . One will feel better than the other. Of course the stroke rate will also change. Our point is about the efficient power application so you can achieve the best results in any situation.

[@bjarteeide5677]

This is unlogical I think. It is the opposite I think and also have read in concept2 forum. If you move slow you should not use 10. Then the wheel has nearly stopped when you reach the catch position. Imagine that this will make it very hard to start each stroke. If you though move fast, are sprinting, you can use high damper setting because you then are able to catch before the wheel has slowned down to much. Then it becomes easier to start the stroke and easier to get it speeding up (if you use low damper setting it is harder to give force into the stroke).

[@DarkHorseRowing]

It's often isn't the opposite but forums will be forums and you can find someone who believes each side of the argument in a forum. It's a great place to discuss opinions. This is ours and I would welcome you to try it before making any assessments of its validity.

[@BlackDotIndustries]

drag.

[@allonszenfantsjones]

No damper setting here, water rower ;-)

[@stvm]

Worst drag factor advice ever

[@DarkHorseRowing]

😂 excited to hear yours

[@EmanuelaleunamE]

Geez, those two rowing clips showed truly awful technique! The machine was even lifting off the ground in the first clip. Did these guys ever watch the official Concept2 rowing technique videos?

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Thanks for commenting Emmy. It's definitely questionable when both of these athletes are competitive rowers. The first has a 6:02 2k while the second has been a US National Team rower for the past 9 years. We'd love if you would direct us to your own video where you more properly demonstrate the concepts we're discussing. Go ahead and drop the link here. Thanks so much!