Question for you erg hardballers

[av8ter01545]

If two rowers pull a 30 minute piece with the same split, say 2:00 but one does it at a stroke rate of 20 and the other at 25 is either one at a higher fitness level aerobically or from a strength standpoint?

Thanks for any answers!

[johnlvs2run]

It depends on what they weigh, their gender, age, how long they've been rowing, and their height because a taller person can carry more lean body mass.

[michaelb]

Since what is measured on the C2 is power, expressed in terms of pace, I would say there is no significant difference. The "boats" are going the same speed/pace, and it really doesn't matter that much how they get there.

However, most people will find rowing 30min at SR 20 harder than SR 25. Rowing at the slower SR takes most people out of their comfort zone, so they are less comfortable, and for most people at those paces and slower, you never get in a rhythm. How much the flywheel slows would depend on the drag setting, but it is going to slow a lot more at 20 than 25, so you lose the feeling of momentum (you don't tell us the drag setting used, which could counteract some of the difference in pace).

So I would guess that the person rowing SR 20 would be faster in a race, but in order to race, they are probably going to have get their SR a lot higher, and so from this little information we don't know if they are capable of that.

[av8ter01545]

[quote= a taller person can carry more lean body mass.[/quote]

yup, but a short fatty (sorry, heavy person) has less travel and a lot of momentum with weight (ignoring the fact that ergs don't float)

My feeling is that most things being equal between the two a lower rate is indicative of more strength and the higher rating of better cardio

Keith

[av8ter01545]

[quote="michaelb"] (you don't tell us the drag setting used, which could counteract some of the difference in pace).

Drags are 4 in both cases.

All in all just curious what this might indicate about the rowers fitness and where to gain. But, I guess like most things with the erg nothing is simple!

~K

[PaulS]

If two rowers pull a 30 minute piece with the same split, say 2:00 but one does it at a stroke rate of 20 and the other at 25 is either one at a higher fitness level aerobically or from a strength standpoint?

Thanks for any answers!

How about this question: Could the R20 person replicate the R25 performance, and vice versa?

If both performances are right at maximum, the one accomplishing it at the lower SR is more fit. I'd find it difficult to believe that if they rated up to 25 that they would not also increase their avg speed for the entire piece, which no-one would argue against as a measure of higher output capacity (higher fitness).