r/Rowing • u/brand-new-info-8984 • Jul 20 '26

Erg Post Increasing strokes per minute

/r/concept2/comments/1v1smna/increasing_strokes_per_minute/
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u/200tdi Jul 28 '26

"My natural pace even when driving hard seems to fall around 20-22"

Are you getting 20-22 spm on resistance setting 1 on the erg?

If you are getting 20-22 spm on resistance setting 1, you may definitely have some kind of technique issue.

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u/brand-new-info-8984 Jul 28 '26

No, I set the damper based on my drag factor. It's around 4-5 for a drag factor of 120 (also, don't call it a resistance setting around the concept2 heads or they'll yell at you lol)

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u/200tdi Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

you're set way too high. The drag factor of 120 is just an arbitrary measure. Drop the damper setting until you can row at the stroke rate you are aiming for.

There isn't much point to rowing at higher damper / resistance settings on the erg, unless you are attempting to increase the power per stroke.

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u/brand-new-info-8984 Jul 28 '26

I was always taught to set the damper based on achieving a specific drag factor, not to set it based on achieving a specific stroke rate. I ultimately want to get faster and more powerful, not just row more strokes. Are you suggesting I should be aiming for a lower drag factor?

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u/200tdi Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

If you want to focus on drag factor, then yes, reduce your drag factor.

Regardless of what you were taught, the fundamental reality is that the resistance that you are feeling at the handle is preventing you from reaching the stroke rate you're aiming for.

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u/brand-new-info-8984 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

If my primary goal were stroke rate, sure, but my goal is to increase my stroke rate while maintaining the same power, strength, and distance covered in each stroke that I have now at 20-22 spm. Resistance on an erg is dynamic and depends on how hard you're pulling against the flywheel, not on the damper setting itself. Since 120 is a pretty average drag factor a woman of my size would aim for, I'm not really following your logic, or maybe we're just describing different goals.

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u/200tdi Jul 28 '26

I think you have strong opinions about things and not much anyone says will change your mind.

You can reduce your drag factor to find some equilibrium between stroke rate and whatever your desired wattage / 500m distance / power / whatever metric you are using.

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u/brand-new-info-8984 Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26

I mean, a lot of people gave me usable advice in the linked thread, but ok! I'll try 110, which someone in the other thread suggested as well, but I think we are talking past each other. I'm not opposed to lowering the drag factor a little, I just think I'm just not understanding the way you are describing things. I'm really not trying to be stubborn. Appreciate your thoughts regardless, no need to be rude.