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Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

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Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#51

Post by rloomba »

elliekelly wrote: post #40
mawise wrote: post #26

> I feel like sometimes this pisses the hardcore rowers off but I’m not a rower, I’m a tech guy. I also think fitness is important and have been working out all of my adult life. Some other comments have mentioned the Concept 2 and how it's the standard. It sounds like you're actually targeting non-rowers who want a Peloton-like experience. (Sort of like how Peloton doesn't really target the cycling community). Is th…

I'm not OP but I suspect I'm in their target demographic. Orangetheory Fitness doesn't use the Concept2 and no one cares. I've never once heard anyone at Orangetheory complain that the machine wasn't a Concept2. I don't think the former rowers in this thread complaining about the machine are at all reflective of the public at large.

lol you're paying $20 for a 45 min class at Orange Theory... if you're shelling out $2500 for a new piece of gym equipment, you're going to care a little bit more.

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#52

Post by FullNameAndy »

CJefferson wrote: post #10

When I first looked at your website I wondered if you were a spin-off / subsidiary of Peloton. The whole design / feel feels identical to me. How close can the "look and feel" of two websites be nowadays before you get in trouble? (genuine question) Honestly, I would consider trying to get your own, more independent look+feel, even if you by coincidence ended up with your landing page looking like Peloton.

As a young fitness company i'll take the comparison to Peloton as a compliment. I see what you mean and to your point branding and differentiating will become a higher priority when we can afford to do so.

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#54

Post by AWildC182 »

FullNameAndy wrote: post #48
AWildC182 wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Edited my comment when I saw this. This is exceedingly dangerous. Ask any rower that's worked with people on C2 machines. Everyone will instinctively throw the damper to setting 10, then throw their back due to bad posture.

Good point. We do our best to educate users with intro rowing videos that can be found on the touchscreen. Any any time the resistance is at a high level, we use little animations that show proper form and technique.

This is a kind of thing that needs a lot of direct coaching to achieve...

There are two major rowing postures you'll find people tend to use, hips rotated forward and hips back (spine slightly arched forward/convex). Neither is really wrong but for high resistance you need to be in the hips forward position (back slightly concave) as is the technique for weight lifting in the seated row. IME most people don't actually comprehend which position they're in but using the wrong one can be catastrophic. You typically have to spend a few hours with someone ensuring they stay in the correct orientation before they really get it.

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#55

Post by cycomanic »

AWildC182 wrote: post #35
FullNameAndy wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You make a good point re: the C2 market. I mentioned up top that a huge part of our experience is the electronically controlled resistance that adds up to 100+ lbs of force. Our high-intensity games and strength content, which differentiates us, requires this and the reason why we opted to build our own rower. Thanks for the feedback.

Edited my comment when I saw this. This is exceedingly dangerous. Ask any rower that's worked with people on C2 machines. Everyone will instinctively throw the damper to setting 10, then throw their back due to bad posture.

I'm a former rower as well, I disagree that sitting on a rower is dangerous for getting back injury. Considering that pretty much every gym I know just puts them in some corner without anyone around who knows how to row, I believe this is not an issue.

I know of no one who has injured themselves rowing (on a machine or outside).

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#56

Post by FullNameAndy »

EamonnMR wrote: post #24

Rowing is my favorite form of excercise, so this is an exciting product. I'm always telling myself I'll get a Concept2 when I can afford one (right now I have a cobbled together combination of two discount machines.) Can you compare your product to C2's offering? Exciting to see innovation in the rowing space-it feels pretty monopolized right now.

Great question. Like many people in the thread have already mentioned the C2 is a great, solid product. Where we feel we are different is the focus on high intensity interval training (HIIT)- our content (fully animated video games, races against olympians or the Aviron community and guided strength programs) works along with the resistance of the machine to provide a solid option for at home HIIT. If you're looking for visuals, competition, and variety Aviron can be a good fit.

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#58

Post by Multiplayer »

Hi - congrats on your amazing looking product and experience!

I just purchased an Ergatta 2 weeks ago, waiting for delivery. In what circumstances would I want your product instead of the Ergatta?

Background: I'm an avid peloton user for 3 years now, (also just picked up the tempo.fit for guided lifting) and am looking to mix in intense rowing sessions. The Ergatta looks compelling for gamified sessions with competition.

Change my mind?

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#59

Post by phjesusthatguy3 »

AWildC182 wrote: post #13

Long time high level rower here. Why make a new rowing machine when Concept 2 is the calibration standard all athletes use and has a relatively open USB interface? For those not in the know, rowing machines all have different calibrations. C2 is the standard because they're very consistent across machines and are by far the best made allowing for many thousands of hours of use without failures. Most experienced rower…

I've seen numerous ads for Peleton; I have no idea what Concept 2 is, much less some ad on YC for yet another YC product I'm not going to buy.

In addition, I've seen at least one New York Times article (each) wringing their hands about Biden riding a Peleton and wearing a Rolex, like it's surprising that US Presidents are inordinately rich.

Anyway, I'm gonna get my fat ass back on the hydraulic rowing machine I have stored in my basement before I buy anything else from anyone.

Re: Launch HN: Aviron (YC W21) – High-Intensity Peloton for Rowing

#60

Post by slingnow »

FullNameAndy wrote: post #52
CJefferson wrote: post #10

When I first looked at your website I wondered if you were a spin-off / subsidiary of Peloton. The whole design / feel feels identical to me. How close can the "look and feel" of two websites be nowadays before you get in trouble? (genuine question) Honestly, I would consider trying to get your own, more independent look+feel, even if you by coincidence ended up with your landing page looking like Peloton.

As a young fitness company i'll take the comparison to Peloton as a compliment. I see what you mean and to your point branding and differentiating will become a higher priority when we can afford to do so.

They're not comparing your company to Peloton -- they're comparing your website, which appears to be "influenced" by the Peloton site. The color scheme is pretty much identical. I don't think it's meant as a compliment as anyone could hijack some CSS from a competing website.
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