The Infamous Ergometer Machine

The rowing machine that transforms average athletes into Olympic caliber beasts. I am not talking about a magical pill that makes you stronger overnight. No, I am talking about a machine that can potentially make you extremely fit, but you need to put in the time.

The ergometer, or erg for short, was first created in 1981 when two Brothers Dick and Pete Dreissigacker thought of making a machine that was easy to practice the rowing technique while not always having to go on the water. Also, their machine was almost $2,400 less than the next indoor athletic machine on the market and this made it become extremely popular over the years. Over more than thirty years, only five models have been produced; each erg better than the last one. This just goes to show how the public began to love the design and simplicity of the machine. Rowing athletes ranging from Olympians to recreational people wanting to get a workout in the gym were all using the erg.

Key features of the erg is the stationary foot plate with the long track on which the seat slides on. The large fan that uses air resistance to increase or decrease the drag factor (how hard it is to pull the handle to make the fan spin) allows the rower to personalize his or her workout accordingly. Also, the ergonomic handle with the bicycle chain forces the user to maintain a certain handle height that mimics the rowing form. The body of the machine rests on two metal plates; one place at the back of the slide and one placed right beneath the fan enclosing.

The most important aspect of the erg is the ergometer screen which is adjustable to be directly in front of the athletes face while rowing. The digital screen displays the split, which shows the time it will take to complete 500 meters if the split is maintained. Also, the screen also shows the stroke rate, which is how many strokes the rower will take in one minute. Another key instantaneous statistic is the number of meters that the athlete has completed during the workout. These three main data collections are all averaged when the workout is completed and the athlete can even break down the workout by meters or time back in the memory section. All of these awesome features make erging one of the most fun workouts to do! (That was sarcastic).

But seriously, erging is a very healthy activity and I recommend athletes who are looking for some cross training during their sports season or after, to hop on and row some meters. I promised it will hurt badly in the beginning, but it will be well worth it. I guarantee that you will like the way you look after a few weeks.