Most rowers would rather be rowing on the water than sitting on an indoor rower.
Yeah, I get it.
But if you find yourself on an indoor rower, especially that stalwart of equipment the Concept2 Indoor Rower, there are tricks-of-the-trade you can use. Simple tricks.
I’m going to share 3 of my favorite with you.
Why use these simple tricks for your indoor rower?
I’ll explain the tricks in a second, but here’s why you’ll want to use them. Each trick will:
- Improve the performance of the human on the machine
- Extend the life of the machine
- Reduce the level of annoyance when the machine is being rowed
- Reduce the spread of illness, especially in high-use situations
Each trick will take 5 minutes or less.
The supplies you need will cost less than $5 USD.
For the benefits you’ll get from these tricks, they offer a great return on your investment.
(You can watch a video of all three tricks here)
Trick #1: Oil the chain on the indoor rower (time = 2 minutes)
Concept2 supplies small bottles of chain oil with each new erg. You can substitute 20w oil in a pinch. Concept2 recommends you apply the oil every 50 hours of use. And it’s easy to do.
Put a table spoon of oil on a paper towel/rag, and then wipe it on the length of the chain. That’s it.
Trick #2: Inspect, clean, disinfect the handle of the indoor rower (time = 5 minutes)
Inspect: Check the handle for wear and rips in the material. Also inspect the attachment to the chain for tightness and possible frozen links.
Clean: The handle can get down-right gross. Sweat, grim, and oil from hands get driven into the handle each time it is rowed. Using glass cleaner, a kitchen scrubby, and paper towels, I clean the handle every month.
Disinfect: After each row, disinfect the handle. There are several ways to do it. I use wipes, others use bleach solutions, spray or aerosols. Use the method that works best for you. This is important to do in high-use situations.
Trick #3: Clean the monorail of the indoor rower (time = 2 minutes)
After each practice, I use glass cleaner and a paper towel to clean the monorail (a.k.a. rail). I am never surprised by the amount of dirt that is removed.
Conclusion
There are other tricks you can use to increase performance, extend life, and reduce annoyance with your Concept2 Indoor Rower, and I cover those next week.
In the meantime, watch the video about these 3 simple tricks, and get ready for a better experience with, and on, your indoor rower.
Keep reading
- Concept2’s maintenance recommendations for Model D indoor rowers
- Everything you want to know about an indoor rowers (wikipedia)
- 6 Steps to a Million Stroke Boat
