Model E

[[old] John Rupp]

I have a hook in the wall behind the erg, thread an old strap through the middle of the handle and then slip this over the hook. This way the chain is stretched all the way out and is easy to lube entirely.<br /><br />As regards the seat, it becomes more uncomfortable with longer rowing due to heat. The longer you row, the hotter it gets. To test this, feel the seat when you get off after a longer row. You will find it is very hot.<br /><br />Possible solutions are to keep the same seat design and materials, but have holes throughout so the heat can escape. Perspiration will also go in the holes, so these would need to slope out to the sides from inside. A benefit is that less perspiration will get on the railing.<br /><br />An alternative is to make a deeply ribbed seat, whereas the heat will escape through the ribs. As long as the ribs are not very wide, they will not be felt by the rower. I favor this rib idea as it is a simpler design and perspiration will also route through the ribs, rather than through the inside of the seat.

[[old] Lisa]

I have a few suggestions:<br /><br />To motivate me:<br /><br />- A drill sergeant to haul my butt out of bed at 5 am and make me sit on the rower<br />- A Scream-At-You feature where the model E starts screaming "You lazy lard-a**, get over here and row!" if I miss more than one day rowing. Of course, this has to be LOUD so I can hear it during my nap.<br />- A self-mobilization feature where the model E moves itself to in front of my refrigerator and will not let me open the door until I row 10K<br />- Foot locks that won't release until you row 10K<br /><br />To keep me comfy:<br /><br />- A heated seat for the winter and a cooled one for the summer<br />- A foot massager on the foot pads<br /><br />To be practical:<br /><br />- A pop-up clothes hanger from the flywheel<br />- Now I know this one is just plain silly, but it would be great if the model E would cook my breakfast for me while I'm rowing. Think of the time savings when I'm trying to get a few minutes of exercise before work!<br /><br />Lisa<br /><br />

[[old] Andrew Burrows]

FYI there are 3 of us in the UK that are "testing" a new seat designed by C2. It is made of harder rubber and each pad under each cheek can move independently so you can find a position which suits your butt. 1st of all I didnt think much of this seat but after a couple of months with it I think it is superb. I dont know when/if C2 are going to release this seat for everyone to buy though.

[[old] John Rupp]

I don't like the idea of a part of the seat moving with you.<br /><br />That means when the seat heats up, as it does, it would be impossible to move and get away from the heat.

[[old] Andrew Burrows]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Feb 28 2005, 07:52 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Feb 28 2005, 07:52 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I don't like the idea of a part of the seat moving with you.<br /><br />That means when the seat heats up, as it does, it would be impossible to move and get away from the heat. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br /><br />Sorry, I think you have misunderstood - or I havent explained properly which is probably the case. There is a pad under each cheek which you can move independently and when you find a comfortable position you tighten up some screws under the seat and it then stays in that position, so it doesnt move under you. Hope that clears it up.<br /><br />If you want to see more there is an old thread somewhere on the UK forum about it that includes pictures. Was posted by Steve Viney. Do a search for C2 seat or something, that should work.

[[old] malor]

I found the <a href='http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6476' target='_blank'>the new seat from Concept 2</a> thread on the UK forum. <br /><br />Here is steveviney's pic.<br /><img src='http://stevev.wirelessusers.co.uk/PC100101.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[[old] John Rupp]

Interesting. So you can adjust the individual sections forward, back or sideways irrespective of each other?<br /><br />Why is rubber used?<br /><br />I do like the additional space between sections, the space allowing more air flow and, thus, less heating up of the butt.

[[old] Andrew Burrows]

Thats the one !<br /><br />Each of those pads can be moved from left to right and twisted a bit one way or other until you find the position you like.

[[old] Andrew Burrows]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Mar 1 2005, 04:46 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Mar 1 2005, 04:46 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Interesting.  So you can adjust the individual sections forward, back or sideways irrespective of each other? <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />They dont go forward or back from memory!<br />

[[old] John Rupp]

Nice pictures on the UK site. Actually I like this one the best, similar to the plywood seat I made to replace the model B one.<br /><br /><a href='http://stevev.wirelessusers.co.uk/newseat.jpg' target='_blank'>http://stevev.wirelessusers.co.uk/newseat.jpg</a> <br /><br />More info on materials, "isn't as padded as it looks, it's fairly solid, not sure what it's made of, some sort of fairly solid gel type material, certainly not squashy foam or solid plastic."<br /><br />Without testing it or anything my preference would be:<br /><br />(1) Use solid material, not gel or rubber;<br /><br />(2) Put the sections in a centristic (most used) position and delete the option to move them.

[[old] Andrew Burrows]

<!--QuoteBegin-John Rupp+Mar 1 2005, 04:55 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(John Rupp @ Mar 1 2005, 04:55 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(1)  Use solid material, not gel or rubber;<br /><br />(2)  Put the sections in a centristic (most used) position and delete the option to move them. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />(1) Its about as solid as you would want it to be honest.<br /><br /><br />(2) Kind of defeats the point of the whole thing as the idea is everyone has different sized butts and some are bigger or smaller than others. So you find YOUR favourite position and then leave it from then on.<br />

[[old] John Rupp]

<!--QuoteBegin-Andrew Burrows+Mar 1 2005, 09:14 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Andrew Burrows @ Mar 1 2005, 09:14 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(1) Its about as solid as you would want it to be honest.<br /> </td></tr></table><br />Great. More thoughts on this. Leave the sections open, instead of enclosed (and the way the seat is currently), i.e. open the space between the sitting sections and the base. This will allow additional air flow in between.<br /><br />This design allows 1/4 inch (or so) holes throughout the sitting surfaces, allowing air flow to the space below and a much cooler ride. The base should have a 10% (or so) slope from center to allow perspiration to go off the sides.<br /><br />The material should be not insulating so it won't hold in heat, i.e. not rubber or foam. Wood or hard plastic would be better and is also easier to design with the holes and spaces.<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->(2) Kind of defeats the point of the whole thing as the idea is everyone has different sized butts and some are bigger or smaller than others. So you find YOUR favourite position and then leave it from then on. </td></tr></table><br />I suppose that would be okay if the sections were much smaller. The way they are in the pictures leaves plenty of room. Also the current C2 seats have plenty of room for adjustments of different sized butts without moving the seat around. Besides that the adjustments in the picture are not that big, no bigger than moving an inch one way or the other, and there is plenty of room for that with the size of the sections as they are.<br /><br />Having moveable sections, I think, would make the seat tend to be less in line, less comfortable, and more difficult to determine the difference.

[[old] John Rupp]

Having non moveable sections also simplifies the design, and allows easier construction with more space.<br /><br />Another idea is for the sitting sections to rock back and forth, alleviating pressure at the catch and finish of the stroke.

[[old] Canoeist]

I would add some sort of slides capability to the erg somewhat like the RowPerfect. A pin can always be put in to stop the slide motion for new rowers and gym muscle heads who would be banging the ends of the machine.<br /><br />I would also add the ability to elevate the front or rear legs an inch or two. Elevate the front and the erg becomes a sit up machine. Elevate the rear and the erg becomes a leg press machine.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack

[[old] Canoeist]

I forgot to mention improvements to the monitor. The monitor should be directly connected to the TV. Only if the flywheel is spinning or a certain amount of distance has been rowed, can the TV operate. This would be great motivation for my daughter and probably many others. During the holiday challenge, I told my daughter that she could watch some TV while she was rowing to pass the time. She would row 2K while watching TV, then stop and watch for another 20 minutes. This went on all month until she accumulated the 50K necessary for a T-shirt.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Paul Flack