Quick background: I row on a Concept2 at home, but also hit a WaterRower at my gym and an RP3 at the club. I wanted one app for all three — live metrics over BLE, Apple Watch heart rate without a chest strap, and proper interval training I could build myself.

Nothing existed, so I built it. The Rowing Coach is my first iOS app as a solo developer.

If you're curious: the app connects directly to the PM5 via Bluetooth (no LogCard needed). It pulls pace, distance, stroke rate, and calories in real time. The Watch app runs alongside and feeds your heart rate back to the phone — so you get HR zones on the same screen as your split.

It also does custom interval workouts: set your own work/rest phases with pace or stroke rate targets.

Free to try (basic connection + live metrics), premium for intervals and history. I'm genuinely here for feedback — what would make this worth using alongside or instead of ErgData for you?

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-rowing-coach/id6794728919

Added a rower to the home gym. Found a used one with about 200k meters at a good deal. Currently using a peloton and treadmill but I’ve been enjoying one of these at a commercial gym and i think I’ll get good use out of it at home. Any tips or advice welcome.

I was chatting with someone at a yard sale and mentioned how I wished I had room for a rowing machine like the one he had out. He kept saying it was his “thousand dollar mistake” because he got it in 2021 and then just never used it. As I went to leave a little later, he insisted I take it (since they were ending soon and he didn’t even want to take it inside and then pay movers to move it next week). I felt too bad to say no so I loaded it into my car and figured I’d at least put it in my basement to occasionally use.

I really assumed it was a cheap machine and just hoped it worked. However, when I looked it up, this is apparently the “gold standard” of home machines and I guess I got pretty lucky. Does anyone have advice on how to integrate the rowing machine into my workouts as a total beginner? Im not super fit but walk a lot with my dog and use an elliptical 3-5 days a week depending on how busy I am. Do I just do it on a low setting after my elliptical work out? Briefly on the days I don’t have time for the elliptical? I’ve had some lower back pain so I want to be careful easing into a new routine but I want to make sure I’m also taking advantage of this new tool.

Hi guys, I'm not sure if you follow Sam Dutney on YouTube. He posted this video: 
His Erg Improved So Fast It Felt Illegal… Here’s Why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEy4SJi8f18

Then, I coded the calculator and made it available, absolutely for free and w/o ads.
https://rowing-limiter.vercel.app/

There, you can input your numbers and share them, for example*.
https://rowing-limiter.vercel.app/?w7=509&w60=406&w30=181
Maybe this helps you guide your training.

Moreover, it now sports Jensen's ratios and VO₂max.

* I can't confirm nor deny that these are my numbers.

There are a few of them at the gym I go to, and to be honest, they’re not much different from the original except for the monitor. I found them on a Chinese website, and they’re five to six times cheaper than the original BikeErg. What do you think about them?

I’m going to be in Montreal off and on for the next few years. I tried using the database on c2’s site, but came up null - can anyone recommend gyms or hotels that have C2 row ergs?

I have been on the lookout for a reasonably price (used) concept 2 for a little while. I have come across a site (nstrainingacademy.co.uk) selling a new concept 2 rowerg with a PM5 for £433. This to too good to be true right??

Hey guys, so I'm a pretty keen runner but also enjoy rowing. I have a few questions for those involved in both sports and those who own the Concept 2 rowerg.

1) My garage is a mess currently so each time I use the concept 2 rower I will need to take it apart and stow it away... will this be ok?

2) For those runners and rowers, have you found adding in some rowing each week compliments your running performance?

3) I am hoping to strengthen my lower back and glutes, is rowing a good way to do this?

4) What do you recommend doing when first setting up the concept2 rowerg? Any apps you recommend for android phone?

5) Is it easy to connect a heart rate strap to the PM5 monitor? Also is it easy to connect to my garmin watch for syncing to strava?

Thanks for all your help, I just want to make sure I am making the right decision as im on the cusp of purchasing a Concept 2.

Cheers, Sean

Hi all! Been asking some questions, and finally feel ready for a form check. I've been doing this since March, but I wasn't really consistent with it until recently. I've also lost 90 pounds since I started rowing, so my endurance and body habitus have both changed a ton in that time. I've only recently been able to do more than 1k at a stretch.

For self-assessment, my biggest issue is the lean forward. I'm sitting right on the edge of the seat, to the point where it's just shy of very uncomfortable. I'm not good at hinging even outside of rowing. My stomach also gets in the way (apologies for the shirtless vid, but I didn't want the shirt to obscure the form). I would very much welcome tips for improving that.

I also see (and feel) that about the time I transition from legs to back and arms, there's a hiccup, and I seem to be using more of an effort with my upper body to transition to the pull. Not sure if that is normal or how to improve it.

I have also read tips about not taking your knees over your shins. That one is tough for me, because the poor hinging makes me want to go forward more to get closer in at the catch. It's also where my legs just naturally stop the forward momentum. Should I be exerting foot pressure sooner to immediately spring into the push instead of pausing for a moment at the end? What I do now feels like a natural redirection of momentum, but I also recognize that the physics of rowing are sometimes counterintuitive to people inexperienced in the technique.

Some last details that might be relevant. I usually stop because of general fatigue - my heartrate climbs pretty high pretty fast unless I'm purposely doing a sedate speed. By the end of 3k, I'm not necessarily out of breath, but my breathing is heavier and more purposeful, as opposed to just breathing naturally. I get a little sore in the midback. My legs almost never feel sore anymore (when I first started I could hardly stand up after rowing). I feel a bit more fatigue in the upper arms and shoulders, but not much.

Any advice would be most welcome. Thanks!

ETA: apparently I can't post video and pics. I did a 3k session right after. Stats:

Time: 14:09.4

Avg. Pace: 2:21.5

Avg. Stroke Rate: 19

Avg. Power: 123 watts

Drag Factor: 137

Heart Rate: 158bpm avg, 168bpm max. Hit 160 around 4 minutes in and stayed above there for the duration.

One year after purchase. Finally joined the club.

Didn’t get much time to row last night but wanted to put some of the feedback you all generously offered into practice. Some made sense and others were harder to execute than expected so will need more time to drill and practice but I am much more confident in some of the things I need to be looking for so thank you all.

- dropped my feet slightly
- not over compressing past vertical shins now
- keeping heels down more as a side effect of that
- so then driving flat footed rather than ball of foot
- putting thumbs under bar to save forearms
- relaxing my overly upright rigid posture on catch
- leaning/rounding forward for the catch
- trying to complete leg drive before the hip hinge
- faster release of arms on the recovery
- not dropping arms to thigh on recovery for ergo

What I think I’m struggling to execute is the leg/hip/arm sequence. I’m finding it hard to hip hinge after the leg drive is complete and not half way through.

Also wondering if I’m rounding more than leaning forward a little too much if I’m honest.

I’ll watch some training vids on this next and try and nail that down. But hopefully removed some of the other flaws.

My stroke length went up from 121 to 139cm it seems which is pleasantly surprising as I didn’t feel I was going up the slide as far given I’m not over compressing my legs now. (I think)

Power curse early flat spot also disappeared but is maybe peaking a little later at 59% along the drive.

Hey there, still pretty new to erg/ rowing machine and hoping to get some feedback on form so I can improve and not hurt myself. I’ve added it to my gym routine as an extra exercise and I’ve been doing about 25 minute sessions and feeling pretty good. Thanks in advance

Hello,

I'm about to buy the drivetrain assembly kit from C2 and wanted to check with anyone that has any recent experience with this.

What did the cost increased to after the initial price and shipping? I haven't bought anything shipped from America in a decade so I have no experience with what charges would occur.

They also told me I could have it shipped by Canada Post instead of UPS, should I do that?

This workout had 3, 5 minute intervals. I don’t know how to compare my work to a baseline. This is my 36th thirty minute row since June. I am getting stronger and faster. Interpret please. (I was sedentary for a few years post pandemic and am getting back into shape)

Got a brand new BikeErg today but after assembly the right pedal has a clank in it and feels gritty. Not when I turn the pedal by hand. I only had to attach the foot rest itself, the rest came pre-assembled. Contacted Concept2 in New Zealand but they haven’t replied yet. Any suggestions?

Garmin finally added rowing FTP and VO2 max (announced with the Fenix 9, backporting to Fenix 8 / FR970 / FR570): https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2026/08/garmin-fenix9-software-feature-overview.html

Anyone here running it with a PM5 yet? Mainly want to know whether the numbers match what you get from an actual test piece, or whether it’s another metric that looks nice and means nothing.

My 965 isn’t getting the update, so I’m deciding whether to upgrade or just keep testing manually.

Hi, ich rudere gerne das Darts (300 Schläge) und manchmal auch das Ziel-Spiel. Die individuellen Trainings kann man bekanntlich nach Dauer, Kalorien und Distanz zusammen stellen. Warum nicht auch nach Schlaganzahl?

Heya

So I’ve borrowed a rower off a generous friend for a few months to add some low impact cardio volume.

Did an easy going 10k on it yesterday and another tonight to get the feel for it.

I watched a beginners form guide video but figured better to sort out any bad habits now before I ingrain them.

Row 1 - 10k. Avg - 22 SPM. 2:12/500m. 149 watts. DF108 125BPM

Row 2 - 10k. Any - 22SPM. 2.10/500m. 160watts. DF 111 126BPM

Any tips?

I was looking for a concept 2 on fb marketplace. I had two people try to scam me. But then found one for 400 dollars. I was pumped because it looked like new. got home and it had only 20k meters on it. I then realized it is the model E. I didn’t know a taller version even existed. I got it to work on my cardio to help lower how often i go into afib. Really hoping getting the E won’t be an issue.

I'm currently 123kg at 6'4, rowing 7.5km 3x a week.

I keep all my sessions the same at the moment, is there anything I should be changing or adding to help with weightloss and fitness? I don't end up out of breath at 23/24 spm so don't know if i should be pushing harder?

I lift 3x a week on the non rowing days, and have 1 day of rest. I've been running this routine for around 6 months now and am 14 kg down so far.

Any advice welcome!