Lightweights are known for having a better technique, unlike heavyweights where tendency is plow through. Rowing has quite complicated physics, many works were written, but those going by feel, having best technique and feel go fastest.
Not surprisingly, it’s a little more nuanced than this. The other way that rowers create drag is by “checking” the boat. When you change direction at the catch, if you start to pull on the oar before you’re fully connected to the water, you’ll push the boat backwards instead of pulling it forwards. The bigger you are, the bigger the slowing effect is if you get this wrong, thus the smaller margin for error you have with your technique.
At some level though, everyone does this nearly perfectly. At that point perfect synchronization with your teammates (swing) starts to distinguish the boats from one another.
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I used to row, years ago. In a boat, on water.
I’ve also been on and off the erg over the years, but nothing much recently.
I’ve also just been coerced into a 5k C2 leader board challenge at work.
I see Concept2 have a Watts/500m pace converter on their website. Is there some rule of thumb that I can use to know what pace I should aim at, based on my TR FTP?
eg My FTP is currently set at 268W - C2 say this equates to 1:49.3 pace. So in theory, should I be able to go out and row my 5k at 1:49? ie ~18:20ish for the total distance?
Can you show the link?
Sounds near enough. My FTP is 254 at last test and my best 5k is about 19:50. Could probably go a bit harder than that of flat out. I’d def be interested in understanding more about threshold and rowing.
This one?
Depending on your form, I think 1:49 for 5K would be too optimistic if you haven’t rowed for some time. Probably erg 2K time would be a better estimate for 5K, as you know…
I used to do sufferfest videos on the erg while competitively rowing, I think bike power to rower power was more like 80% match, erg being harder. As a comparison developing 600w on the erg is rather challenging while on the bike probably anyone can do it, and for longer too.
Actually, recalling numbers. At the time of rowing, I had bike FTP of around 300. I had to tune my FTP to 280 to be able to complete hour long sufferefest videos.
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Yes makes sense. I’ll see when I can schedule a 2k test and go from there.
Yuck… 
You waste a lot of power changing your body’s direction at the catch, like 30-50 watts (depends on weight and stroke rate) vs. basically no waste in cycling. Also you’re using a ton of back and arm muscles which aren’t used in cycling…
So, there’s really no rule of thumb to translate. You need to do some easy days to get a feel for the form, then do an ftp test like effort and use the resulting watts to estimate your rowing ftp.
Last year, in a 4, we won a bunch of regional-level events. Coach decided to put us together with some more experienced guys in an 8. Result, despite adding better rowers than our 4, seems to be a worse boat. We haven’t got in sync, whereas the 4 was. We have a 6km race on Saturday which will be a big test! I’m going to stop rowing for a while after this race as I just can’t train effectively for my cycling goals while spending so much time at the rowing club and travelling to and from, sadly.
This winter I trained on the erg consistently. After 2 months of building up the efficiency of your erging muscles you should be getting close to your biking FTP. Some of my comparative numbers were FTP cycling about 270 W, erging about 260 W. At a HR of 130 bpm, my erging power was around 200 W, on the bike I need to get to 225 to 230 W to get my HR to 130.
My best 7 min wattage last year on the bike was 323 W (on a TR ramp test), on the erg it was 310 W during a 2000 m indoor erg competition.
Conversely, I live in eternal hope that one day cycling will adopt the Lwt/Hwt status of rowing 
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I did a half ironman quite a few years ago in New Zealand and the organiser gave entrants the option of stepping on the scales during registration and ranked participants in two classes, the “light Clydesdale” (90-100kg) and “Clydesdale” (>100kg). Added a nice dimension for a country full of ex-rugby players squeezing in to lycra!
The thing about rowing is that they have the weigh scales present at the events to qualify the LWT’s. Not much of a stretch to weigh everyone and do the calculation at the event.
@jonbar123 So over a year later are you still rowing on the C2? I’m going through the same thought process as you did and looking at getting a C2, I would be interested in know what you think now.
I used my C2 rower during the Base season (12 weeks) in place of the Wednesday ride on the MV plan. It’s more of a full body workout and good cross training. I don’t know that it helped but not sure it hurt either. I guess if you just need a change and want to be off the bike it’s good. No magic pill though.
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I started rowing in march 2019 and still do it. I had a break during summer as I was cycling more outside. I absolutely love it when weather doesn’t allow me to go outside or just to make training more diversified. Currently I’m rowing 2-3 times/week sessions from 30-60 mins, sometimes intervals and sometimes just steady row. I’ve also added running. I know that looking on pure cycling performance it might be not as good as followong only cycling plan, but it’s just more fun and that’s most important for me. I also see that it’s much easier for me to achieve high HR on C2 than on bike, also my HRMax on bike was 183 and on Erg I’m able to achieve 186.
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Thanks, looking for the full body workout and a bit of change whilst indoors.
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Hi there
I still have the c2 and I do row but not regularly. Over Christmas I did a bit as a bunch of us had organised a ‘fun’ session at the local rowing club which of course turned into a competition. X4 500m sets. The most important piece of info you need to know
of course is that I placed second!
Joking aside I think it is a great cross training opportunity. I’ve moved house recently so been off the turbo the past few weeks but started back this week. Once I get settled in more I would like to to even a couple sessions a week on c2 if I can. Other decent
cyclists I know have used it for interval training and said it really helps with races - with their ability to stick with breaks when things start lifting in intensity.
Just with me talking about it a few of my mates have have started doing it at gym and one has bought his own and is chasing my times down!! 
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I only spent one winter in college grunting on ergs, so the Concept 2 experience is still pleasant for me.
I really think they’re excellent together – say 70% bike, 30% row during the off-season, or now that SARS-COV-2 is doing its thing. Since the gym is closed, I went in on a model D. 30-40min on the erg after a trainer session makes for a good calorie burn, and some variety.
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Having the trainer and the erg in the same room is allowing for “bricks” with just a few minutes in between (in the past, I’ve done them witha few hours between bike and erg, or erg and bike).
Erg after bike? Doesn’t feel cruddy – just less leg drive, slower splits.
Bike after erg? Sucks. I did a 10k row before 2hrs endurance on the trainer yesterday, and my quads hated me after 60min. I’ll trust that did some kind of good, though I’m not sure what…
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