what do you do while erging?

[ThatMoos3Guy]

I have a real hard time erging for an extended period of time. I can barely get through steady state. I've tried watching TV, but ergs are just too loud for the most part. Any good programs people can think of that don't require sound? I'll listen to music, but my headphones don't work great for exercising and once again, the erg is too loud of speakers. I'm going to look into getting a new headset, one better for erging. There isn't anyway to reduce the noice produced by the fan?

So, what do you guys do to get through the tedium?

[igoeja]

Ten years ago, I purchased a videotape that put you in the shell of a quad, and you rowed along with the team; maybe there is something similar on DVD. Nowadays, I use my iPod; I put together playlists that I find motivational, e.g., wordplays and ideas that are rowing like, or simply paced the way I want to feel, slower for long pieces or fast and hard for intervals.

[Montanaandy]

Don't know which model erg you have but I have a Model C which makes more noise than the Model D/E yet I can play my ipod on an ihome and hear it. Granted sometimes the music can get washed out by the erg noise but I can usually hear it. I have the ihome positioned behind me and to the right. I have a number of different playlists on the ipod that I listen to although I am usually busy concentrating on my stroke rate, form, etc. so I don't even realize what is playing most of the time except at the beginning of the piece.

My goal each time is to finish the piece. I try to match or better the previous time if possible but don't care if I don't. My times are much worse during the summer months because I find it harder to row given the heat & humidity levels, sweat, etc.

If I can get to the 1/2 way point of a piece I can finish it. I have wanted to bail a few strokes into a piece countless times when I just don't feel like rowing and what I do when this happens is I slow things down until I am mentally ready to pick it back up which will happen after a minute or two of very relaxed rowing.

I also use the re-row feature and I don't like to see the pace boat get too far ahead so this motivates me to pick up the pace. I would love to use Rowpro or something else to motivate me but I have a Mac and cant get Rowpro to work my Windows side (VM Ware Fusion). I am looking forward to a Mac version someday.

[pjc]

koss sparkplug ear buds are cheap and do a good job of blocking out ambient noise. i use a ipod shuffle attached to my cap, with the headphones just dangling down. the ear buds stay very secure with this system as there is nothing pulling down on them, and the whole set up costs less than $70.

audiobooks and podcasts can make the time pass pretty quickly. when i get to a difficult part of the workout i turn the ipod off to concentrate, the other 30 minutes or so is generally entertaining.

[igoeja]

Consumer Reports, top-rated, headphones (Score refers to sound quality):

Stereo (Portable)

- Altec Lansing BackBeat Titanium UHP326, $80, Score - 71
- JVC HA-FX300, $100 , Score - 71
- Sennheiser CX 300, $35, Score - 71
- Monster Turbine High Performance In-Ear Speakers, $150, Score - 66
- Skullcandy Full Metal Jacket, $65, Score - 66

Stereo (Home)

- Grado SR80, $95, Score - 86
- Grado SR80i, $100, Score - 86
- Grado SR60, $70, Score - 76
- Grado SR60i, $80, Score - 76

Noise-canceling:

- Panasonic RP-HC55, $60, In-Ear, Score - 68
- Bose QuietComfort 2, $300, Over-the-ear, Score - 68

[slwiser]

I would not use any of my high end headphones while exercising with all the sweat that I produce.

I have used some cheap buds though.

Checkout head-fi.org for headphone lovers web site. We are all craze there.

[dr. espo]

i've just started, but found that I'm so focused on the pace boat that I don't need any other distractions. I'm sure as I get into more of a groove for distance rather than the 5K's I've been focusing on now I'll go for the ipod ear buds, or just blast the tv with some dvd playing.

The other option is to go with a rowpro type program so you are watching yourself against a paceboat in color even

Good luck!
Mike