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NOTICE: Please note that this is an old version of the Indoor Sport Services website provided for archive purposes. Do not purchase/hire anything through this site, instead visit our new site at indoorsportservices.co.uk or phone on 01159 455522

Why Buy An Indoor Rower?

Greg Searle

The Concept2 Indoor Rower is the world's number one rowing machine. Here are some of the reasons why the Indoor Rower is resident in virtually every gym in Britain, as well as an ever growing number of homes:

Versatility

Concept2 Indoor Rowers are used to test and train Olympic rowing athletes, yet they also offer a safe, gentle and easy exercise for novices, seniors or rehab patients. No matter why you row, it will offer just the right level of resistance, and an infinite variety of workouts.

Quality

The Indoor Rower is built to last. The machine you buy for your home is the same as the machine that we sell to the gym, and these last for years, despite being used 12 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can rest assured that it won't break down the minute it's out of warranty. Ultra-FIT Magazine calls the machine "totally bombproof", which while that might be overstating the mark slightly, isn't far wrong: we know of people who are still using their Model B machine after nearly 20 years. You don't need to worry about how to store it either, as the machine easily and quickly breaks down into two pieces if you're short of space.

The Feel of the Machine

The Indoor Rower is based on air resistance technology, which captures the rhythm and feel of rowing on the water by using a carefully balanced and calibrated flywheel. The resistance you feel in using the Indoor Rower is the wind resistance generated by the spinning flywheel. With no brake pads to wear out, and no friction mechanism to generate heat, the flywheel motion is smooth, long lasting, and maintenance free. Here's what double Olympic champion James Cracknell had to say about the machine: "Wherever we train we always take a Indoor Sport Services; it's brilliant. It registers your power output, monitors the distance rowed, all the stuff you need to know really. It's probably about 80-90 per cent similar to rowing a boat on the river."

The Benefits of Rowing

Rowing is a complete form of exercise. Rowing's combination of cardiovascular and strength conditioning make it a great addition to any fitness or training program for people of all ages, and with a wide variety of fitness goals. People we know who benefit from the machine range from Olympic rowers to 94 year olds; from international rugby players to couch potatoes; from people recovering from major operations to people determined to keep middle age spread at bay. Some other benefits include:

Feedback and Performance Analysis

Machine Feedback One of the main reasons behind the success of the Indoor Rower is the Performance Monitor. The main principle behind the Performance Monitor is it's extreme accuracy: all the times and distances it shows are comparable between different machines and users. As well as letting you reliably chart your progress, this has also led to the development of such things as the Concept Ranking and the sport of indoor rowing. The PM3 is also a sophisticated piece of machinery; when you row, you can race against your previous workout results, or against a PaceBoat. You can also choose from a variety of units and display options, including watts, calories, a Bar Chart and a Force Curve. The removable LogCard stores all your data and workouts and allows you to transfer them to different machines or to your computer.

The Sport of Indoor Rowing

Indoor rowing on the Concept2 Indoor Rower has developed into a sport in its own right, and is now the number one mass-participation indoor sport in the UK. The 2004 British Indoor Rowing Championship attracted nearly 3,000 entrants. There's also the Challenge Series and the Online World Ranking, which have thousands of times for all different age groups and distances, allowing you to see how you match up to others.

The Company Behind the Machine

The final thing that helps to set the Indoor Rower apart from other pieces of fitness equipment is the company behind the machine. We don't believe that our role ends the moment you purchase a machine. As well as providing comprehensive customer service, if you ever have a problem or question about your machine, we have also created a wide range of support materials to help you get the best out of your investment. These include our 200 page Training Guide, motivational help, distance award schemes and the Online Ranking.

If after all this you're still not convinced that the Concept2 Indoor Rower is the machine for you, or if you've still got some questions you'd like answering, give us a ring during office hours on a Monday to Friday on (0115 945 5522) or email info@indoorsportservices.co.uk and we'll try our best to help.