What OTW Training have you done today

[Byron Drachman]

Not exactly training--more working on technique for about 16K, with some stops to take some photos. My main focus came from something Roy mentioned: Easy at the catch, gradually apply more pressure all the way to the finish. When I do that the stroke is so much better. (Better being a relative term, better compared to when I forget to try to send the boat at the finish.) Sorry to hear about the bad weather in the east. We've had nearly perfect weather in Michigan. Here is a photo I took a little after sunrise this morning.

Mike, my limiting factors also seem to be around the shoulders and the rib cage. You are right to be careful. If my shoulders bother me too much then I might return to using macons in the fall after the last head race.

by_the_stairs_Aug_29_2011_c_r.jpg (65.71 KiB) Viewed 9412 times

[Tinpusher]

Nice picture Byron. I`m thinking that`s the bow of a Hudson not dissimilar from mine.

[Rocket Roy]

That is one beautiful scene. Is that a river or a lake? How much are B&B's near there

A guy at TSS is using macon's on purpose......to aid his stroke so that when he goes back to modern blades he'll fly. As you would Byron.

[Byron Drachman]

Nice picture Byron. I`m thinking that`s the bow of a Hudson not dissimilar from mine.

Hi Dave,

Yes, that is a new Hudson. I love my '76 Staempfli but I need to do a lot of work on it and I don't want to take it to regattas because of the wooden hull.

That is one beautiful scene. Is that a river or a lake? How much are B&B's near there

A guy at TSS is using macon's on purpose......to aid his stroke so that when he goes back to modern blades he'll fly. As you would Byron.

Hi Roy,

That is the Grand River. From our dock you can go at least 12K before you need to turn around. I wish they would put in a floating coffee and donut shop at the turn-around point. If I remember right, there is a Dunkin' Donuts (a coffee and donut chain) across the street from the dock somewhere out east where you place an order, and they deliver it to you at the dock so you can take it with you in your boat.

I love sculling with macons. They are not as forgiving of an imperfect stroke as a modern, larger blade is, so you need good technique. With the larger blades if you are not fully squared at the beginning of the drive, as long as you have a loose grip the water will square the blade for you. My experience with macons is that the water does help you but not as much . Of course the down side is that they don't grab much water so you don't go as fast. On the plus side, they are easier on the back, shoulders, ribs, etc. Back and rib injuries increased when rowers switched to the modern oars with the larger blades.

Byron

[Bob S.]

I love sculling with macons. They are not as forgiving of an imperfect stroke as a modern, larger blade is, so you need good technique. With the larger blades if you are not fully squared at the beginning of the drive, as long as you have a loose grip the water will square the blade for you.

Byron

I found that I had more of a tendency to crab with the hatchet blades. I couldn't afford a coach, so I never did get the problem analyzed. Somehow I managed to avoid that with the sweep hatchets, which was fortunate because there were very few willing to row sweeps with macons and one can't exactly be an odd man out using the one macon in a 4 or 8.

Bob S.

[mikvan52]

Flooding prevents sculling here in VT today... we're on national news... Many local businesses and homes destroyed by flood waters. Countless miles of roads washed out...
We live on a hill and escaped danger... roads mostly impassable ... but we got out w/our 4wheel drive this afternoon... after erging...
Ironically we travelled to reassemble our boatclub's equipment back to where it belongs in good weather... no losses there!

The CT river is a total mess... probably no sculling till Thursday... so... back to the
'hated erg' (3x16'/2'r) today

[Byron Drachman]

Flooding prevents sculling here in VT today... we're on national news... Many local businesses and homes destroyed by flood waters. Countless miles of roads washed out...
We live on a hill and escaped danger... roads mostly impassable ... but we got out w/our 4wheel drive this afternoon... after erging...
Ironically we travelled to reassemble our boatclub's equipment back to where it belongs in good weather... no losses there!

The CT river is a total mess... probably no sculling till Thursday... so... back to the
'hated erg' (3x16'/2'r) today

That's good news that you escaped danger, and it is very sad about all the damage to the businesses and other homes. The news showed the CT river flowing very fast with all kinds of debris.

[Rocket Roy]

wow! It did a lot of damage to Vermont from what we can see from the UK. Glad you are all ok but as Byron says sad for all those badly affected, let's hope the insurance and government help pretty fast.

You are going to have to be eagle eyed on the river in the days to come. I guess it's a long river and could be throwing down debris for a while.

[Rocket Roy]

On the Thames at Chiswick at 5.45 am, still dark here. I love this time of day before most other people wake up.....
OTW with Ali is like formulae 1 racing;
Or so it seemed when Ali put his power down in the boat this morning! Such POWER it brought a stupid grin to my face, it was like sitting in a race car being driven round Silverstone by Jensen Button. And he was taking it easy because he is still nursing a dicky back.

I learned a lot this morning and hopefully made another step forward, certainly felt like it. But still working, as I'm sure I will be for the next 2 years, on the technical stuff before putting any power into it.

At the end of each session we do a power 15 strokes or so when we increase the pace to what I'm assuming is race pace. Absolutely brilliant stuff to be doing this in a 2x with such a good rower, and we seemed to be moving the boat very quickly despite my best efforts to slow it down (obviously I wasn't really trying to slow it down) just my awful style would do that all by itself.

90 mins OTW.

For my 15th outing OTW I am well pleased with the progress we are making.

I also met my next coach the GB rower and all round nut case Tim Male, apparently he's a nut case because he pushes himself so hard in training and races.

Good start to the day.

My lat is still in pain.

[mikvan52]

Roy:
"15 outings" ~ It seems you've come a long way!
Looking forward to sharing water-time w/you...

Tend to the back

[Rocket Roy]

Roy:
"15 outings" ~ It seems you've come a long way!
Looking forward to sharing water-time w/you...

Tend to the back

I reckon about 6 months down the line I'd be not too bad.

I'm off to get some fiery jack and voltarol rubbing jel's, plus some scissors to cut off the seg's on the hands.

If I can get a berth at Vesta I'll maybe buying the KIRS at the week-end, Ali is going to Henley on sat so we could test it out. And he could tell me if it would suit me. I just wouldn't know.
I can't wait til next summer to row with you on the CT. That will be after my first Henley.......Are you coming over to race or just watch?

[Tinpusher]

You have indeed come a long way in a short time. Having comprehensive, good quality coaching at the beginning will set you in good stead for the future. No bad habits being formed.

I'd be interested to hear what Ali and you think of the KIRS.

My session today was a light one in a good breeze and chop.

10700m 56:18.4 975 strokes r17.3 2:37.9 HR 129 avg 140 max

Kept the HR nice and low.

[mikvan52]

I can't wait til next summer to row with you on the CT. That will be after my first Henley.......Are you coming over to race or just watch?

Roy: About Henley...

THe vBs would love to rendezvous with the B's... Hope we can swing it! Will PM you...
Wouldn't it be great to watch the elites and then do the Henley Masters regatta the following week?
Maybe Sander would come too(?).... cool-beans!

[Rocket Roy]

I can't wait til next summer to row with you on the CT. That will be after my first Henley.......Are you coming over to race or just watch?

Roy: About Henley...

THe vBs would love to rendezvous with the B's... Hope we can swing it! Will PM you...
Wouldn't it be great to watch the elites and then do the Henley Masters regatta the following week?
Maybe Sander would come too(?).... cool-beans!

The more the merrier. And you could use my KIRS boat, if you like, as could Sander if he's not too heavy.

[Byron Drachman]

Hi Roy,

The UK KIRS website is neat.

http://www.kirsuk.co.uk/

I like the videos with Mahe D in the images & video section. In the second video, while sitting in the boat he takes out the oars. He can get away with it and I am pretty sure I could do that too. But it is best to hold onto both oars with one hand until you are out of the boat. Among other things, if the water side oar is not there and if a wake from a power boat comes your way before you get out of the boat, you have a good chance of going swimming.

Speaking of not flipping, here is a tip:

Once you have your own shell, you can wrap a small piece of Velcro around the rigger. While you are on the water and want to do something a little complicated such as changing clothing, fussing with footstretchers, pouring coffee from your thermos into a cup, taking photos, etc., you can bring the handles together with the blades resting flat on the water and tie them together with your piece of Velcro, and then you have both hands free. For something not complicated, the usual way is to tuck the handles behind your elbows and then you can free up your hands.

Byron