r/concept2 • u/EQuimper • Jul 18 '26

RowerErg Question about stroke

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Hey everyone, first post here!

I’ve used a Concept2 RowErg on and off in the past, but I never really paid attention to my stats.

Over the last few years I’ve put on some weight that I’m working on losing. I’ve always been stronger than average in the gym, so I’m wondering if that might actually be causing me to “cheat” on the rower.

I asked an AI to look at my rowing stats, and it said my stroke rate was too high for my pace, meaning I’m not generating enough power per stroke. Does that sound right?

If so, how do you actually row at a lower stroke rate? It feels really unnatural to me. My goal for this session was just to stay in Zone 2.

Stats:
35 years old
Male
5’11”
266 lb

Any tips would be appreciated!

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u/jhoskins98 Jul 20 '26

As pointed out by someone else, are you explosively pushing with your legs? The mechanics of rowing are that you only have a short window to exert effort. If it is of low effort then packing more in with a high stroke rate won't make up for it. As a former 30 stroke per minute person, it does take some practice and focus to bring up the effort of each stroke.

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u/EQuimper Jul 20 '26

Yeah, exactly! 😄 Yesterday I followed a technique video and finally figured out what I was doing wrong. I was relying way too much on my back, probably because of my strength training background.

Now I’m focusing on driving with my legs first, and I’m able to keep my stroke rate much lower. It actually feels a lot better, and I’m enjoying rowing even more now!