Ultimate Concept2 Review - SkiErg vs BikeErg vs RowErg

[@timhanley9992]

I have all three, bought them used and two of them were hardly used and one was very lightly used. All of them were under a year old. I rotate through them pretty much all year. 4 years in and only modifications two date were a seat pad for the rower and a bike seat that both my wife and I feel comfortable with. Mostly use them to get in shape or maintain shape for XC skiing. The concept 2 Erg Data app and log book are excellent for tracking your progress. Was first exposed to the existence of all concept 2 ergs after watching Dark Horse Rowing KZbin videos while using a Nordic Track rower, where the belt soon broke and I was then on to Concept 2 after watching an earlier comparison video by Shane and DH. This video just re confirms my decision to go Concept 2. Thanks Shane.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Of course! So glad you made the decision you did. The proof is in the pudding right? These things just last forever.

[@terrylawrence4121]

Bought a Concept 2 rower at auction. Got it home and put a battery in the module and discovered it was made 2/14/2005. A 19 year old machine that works fine and has given me no problems whatsoever. These things last! Love my C2 and love your videos--they've really helped.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

YES! This is the story I hear over and over.

[@mwhill1000]

I have all three, on my second rower after the first one died after 24 years. Setting all three up for the ergathlon functionality is a great way to kick your own butt.

[@mitcha3751]

Glad to see you Shane in a new video and would appreciate seeing new rowing videos

[@DarkHorseRowing]

I got you.

[@lynnerousseau9676]

Dude, You been working out... looking a little trimmer, you were always Fit... but you are looking "sleeker now"- Great to see. Nice seeing all three Erg's. I've got a Ski, that I picked up maybe 3 years ago, I bought it because I've got a Model C from 1998- something like that, I upgraded to a PM5, so I had to dig out my serial number and I Was surprised that I had my Rower so long... Yes... Concept2 does a great job. How is ROV-ember coming?? Thanks Shane... I gotta start watching more Dark Horse...

[@lynnwalker]

I think you are spot on with the resale value of the row erg. Last year I was looking for a used one on FB marketplace, Craigslist, Next Door etc. and they were all between $750-$900! I relayed my interest in 4 or 5 of them and someone beat me to the sale every time, they go fast! I ended up buying a brand new one and I love it, no regrets!! After this video I'm really interested in the bike erg. Thanks for the reviews!!

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Absolutely, it's such a great machine IMO. I use it a TON in my training.

[@francesco.virzi4]

I am actually very curious about the skierg, it seems a particularly good workout!

[@thisscreensucks]

If you're going to use any of these for general fitness it should be a rower. More of a full body movement.

[@sandraredmond4812]

Love it ! Great for HIIT. You dont even need to wear shoes. Just walk up to it and get a great workout in a short about of time.

[@C4sp3r123]

@@thisscreensucks I have all 3 and agree the rower would be the go to if you could only have 1 machine, if 2 machines I would go rower and skierg.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

The SkiErg is sooo good, most of 2023 it was the machine I used more than anything.

[@francesco.virzi4]

@@DarkHorseRowingI’d like to see a video about it!

[@ddowns509]

Crushing it with the top-shelf content as well as some new production elements. 🔥 💥

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Always too kind :)

[@ddowns509]

@@DarkHorseRowing I don’t give out compliments unless I believe it. From one discerning eye to another, I know you get it. #ascotshop #toespacertoespacersftw

[@DarkHorseRowing]

#ascotshopforlife

[@jphoenix1639]

Thank you 🙌🦾

[@DarkHorseRowing]

I got you

[@viceamiralyamakaji5847]

I have the rowerg for 3 years and the bikeerg for a year and the 2 are absolutly perfect. I spend way more time on the bikeerg since i become using it with zwift, true game changer on the indoor sport game.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Absolutely. Isn't it fun?

[@larsbrown4811]

Are you aware of any surfski/K1/C1 ergometers? We had a homemade one at Newport Aquatics Center back in the day.

[@Chester16791]

I have all three and have never had a problem with any . Also in my opinion there isn’t a more interactive computer on any piece of gym equipment that I have used .

[@DarkHorseRowing]

If you have the trifecta you get it. They're just so reliable and usable.

[@Joh146]

Out of the three I´m only knewing the rower, because I´m training in the gym. Many years ago I owned a Nordic Track ExerSkier, but this was to loud in a apartment. The rower is a fantastic piece which is built to last and can left me lyning on the floor heavy breathing. Only for placement reasons I would take the bike oder the skierg, rowing is the more complet workout. In addition I´m using some kettlebells at home. But this is restart after some years of inactivity und additional pounds.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Hopefully you get a chance to work on the SkiErg too, it's such a great tool

[@C4sp3r123]

I have all 3, but hadnt heard about the doubling of the distance on the bike erg. To be honest i didnt really understand what you meant. Have you got another video that explains this more? Or could you provide a bit more of an explanation please? Thanks 👍

[@monkeyb1820]

I'm thinking that all it means is that it has all the same built-in workouts, but they're all double the length of those on the rowerg (the default distances are double the length). Obviously, someone can create their own workout and do their own manually-entered distances.

[@millatyme1771]

If you go on the live loop on the ergdata app, 1 lap on the rower is 1k meters. 1 lap on the bikerg is 2k meters.

[@SwindonRunner]

it's mainly for the C2 WODS and challenges. If the WOD says 1km/2min rest then for the bike it will be 2km/2min rest. If the challenge is complete 5000m a day for October then the bike meters will require double compared to the ski/rower.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

It's just that if you want equivalent workouts, the BikeErg would be double to distance. So if you wanted the equivalent of a 10k row on the BikeErg it would be 20k meters. If you wanted to bike the equivalent of a 500m row, it would be a 1000m bike. So as far as doubling the distance it's only in the sense of making it apples to apples on the row/ski

[@C4sp3r123]

@@DarkHorseRowing Thanks for the clarification/further information 👍

[@neilwheel]

Thanks for the review, Shane. Quick question : does the bike have a fixed wheel, as on a Spinning/track bike? TIA 👍

[@Chester16791]

No it doesn’t have a fixed wheel my friend 👍

[@neilwheel]

@@Chester16791 shame. I like doing reverse drills as a cool down.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

No, it's spins up then freewheels after it's done spinning rather than stopping or being able to reverse.

[@Bezherk]

Hi Shane, i heard you say this is useable with Zwift. But i presume that (for example) going up a mountain in Zwift does not automatically effects the resistance on the BikeErg? Like it does on a Wahoo Kickr.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

Yeah; that’s correct. It’s a more simple experience for sure but it’s what I use nonetheless.

[@Bezherk]

@@DarkHorseRowing Thanks for your quick reply. I'm just weighing the pros and cons on different indoor bikes. I have the RowErg and love that thing and the ease of use of it. It really stepped up my game since i bought it. And yes, inspired by your channel, so thanks for that!

[@DarkHorseRowing]

@@Bezherk Good luck in the decision. I'm probably biased because it's what I have, but I've also used the Peloton and I still think I'd choose the BikeErg.

[@CamronStewart]

Distances are doubled on the bike erg??

[@DaveNeve]

However much I like Concept 2 and the RowErg and SkiErg, (not so much the BikeErg), I'm still convinced based on donkeys years of experience that if you want to get and stay fit and have space for just one machine, go for an Assault bike. It's the only machine that lets you exercise your legs, your lats and your pecs and shoulders a bit as you have the handles that move backwards and forwards. There are more subtle advantages too if you are overweight with a big gut. Most people will say that overweight people should have their weight supported (bike or rower), but a big gut stops you getting into a good rowing position (the catch) And even if you somehow still manage to get into a good catch position, your belly will put more pressure on your diaphragm, which will leave you short of breathe and reduce your workouts. So rowing comes later when you've already lost some weight An Assault bike will let you breathe better, which is vital too. The only downside is that many of them come with small narrow saddles not suitable for big arses (pardon my French), so you need to be able to change the saddle if you are overweight. Once fit, you can consider other machines of course, as well as running.

[@psb217]

Assault bikes, rogue echo bike, etc. are great for HIIT style training. You can dump a lot of watts into the machine in a short time using your whole body and without the need for technique like on a rower. But, in my experience, they're not great for longer steady state work. Going for more than 30 minutes or so gets pretty uncomfortable due to the style of movement, rather than due to the energy demands. If you want to do longer steady state work, the rower and bikeerg are generally better options.

[@jamesdspaderf2883]

@@psb217 I was also looking at the assault bike. But which model?

[@psb217]

@@jamesdspaderf2883 I had a schwinn airdyne at home, but I prefer the rogue echo bike based on my time using it in gyms. The screen on the echo bike is nicer to look at and work with.

[@DarkHorseRowing]

I gotta disagree based on the assaults notorious unreliability. I swear every assault bike I've ever been on has been broken in some way, shape, or form. I agree an assault bike/echo/airdyne etc you can get some good raw work done, but when compared to the functionality of any C2 machine, they just can't hold a candle to the variety or workloads you can accomplish.

[@psb217]

@@jamesdspaderf2883I had a schwinn airdyne at home, but based on gym use I prefer the rogue echo bike. The screen/interface on the echo bike is nicer to work with.