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

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191–200 of 256 posts

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

#191
post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other challenge I is related to hardware. The reason why everyone is talking about the C2s is that pretty much every other machine is crap. The forces pulling on these machines are substantive and concept managed to make a machine that held up over time, unlike the others. So I hope you guys made those things sturdy enough. Robustness isn't the only reason C2s are considered the best. Unlike all the cheap brands,…

Huh I love C2s but have always felt that each rower s values were different. I'd feel the same level of exhaustion in one machine on a 3 compared to a ten on a different machine. Assumed some tolerance was off!

are you aware of the drag factor? Afaik, that is the exact measurement of resistance, not the damper on the side. The damper setting and friction will differ greatly from machine to machine, especially older, worn out machines.

https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/tips-and-gen...

https://www.concept2.com/news/damper-and-drag-olympians

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

#192
post #190

Great idea! I used to be a competitive rower. When I was working at a gym during my studies I was actually talking with the managers of running some rowing classes (similar to spinning). I think the main challenge with rowing machines (and the reason why we didn't do rowing classes), is that for beginners there is essentially only hard or off, i.e. it is difficult to adjust to different exhaustion levels. That leads…

C2 really is the monster in the room. The rowing machine market is less diverse than exercise bikes, and C2 sits atop the mountain. Anyone who rows seriously (and many who don't) have used a C2 at some point. The Aviron Impact Series (an odd name for a low-impact exercise machine) rower is $2149, while a C2 Model D is $900. The Model D has been in gyms for decades. Literally, your local gym may have one that's decade…

Let me start off by saying the C2 is an amazing rower, but we thought we could improve on its design for the regular user who cares most about a fun and engaging experience. For example, the belt is industrial nylon (not plastic), the same material as seat belts. The main benefit to this is it makes the rower quieter and feels smoother. The rail is aluminum and legs and frame are made from steel, which makes it stable and is why the Aviron rower weights twice as much as the C2. Finally, it is selling for $1999 with taxes, shipping, and the screen included.

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

#193
On Jason Osborne, Olympic rower and recreational cyclist:

""" “I can do 480 watts for six minutes [on a standard 2km rowing ergometer test]. In cycling I can hold like 470-480 watts for 20 minutes. So yeah, that’s a big gap, obviously,” he said when referring to the differences between power measurement compared between rowing and cycling. One of the factors in the difference between power output is that while cycling requires consistent power throughout the entire duration, the recovery phase of the rowing stroke generates no power, effectively meaning that for a third to a half of the testing duration, zero power is produced. """

This falsifies your claim that rowing burns more calories per minute than cycling.

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

#194

On Jason Osborne, Olympic rower and recreational cyclist: """ “I can do 480 watts for six minutes [on a standard 2km rowing ergometer test]. In cycling I can hold like 470-480 watts for 20 minutes. So yeah, that’s a big gap, obviously,” he said when referring to the differences between power measurement compared between rowing and cycling. One of the factors in the difference between power output is that while cyclin…

Does it?

Rowing could simply be less efficient at turning the calories you're burning into the power output being measured.

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

#195

On Jason Osborne, Olympic rower and recreational cyclist: """ “I can do 480 watts for six minutes [on a standard 2km rowing ergometer test]. In cycling I can hold like 470-480 watts for 20 minutes. So yeah, that’s a big gap, obviously,” he said when referring to the differences between power measurement compared between rowing and cycling. One of the factors in the difference between power output is that while cyclin…

How does it falsify that claim? 480 watts is 480 watts. That's an equivalent unit to calories per minute. In rowing, the recovery phase outputs no power but requires some power input.

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

#197
post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

C2 really is the monster in the room. The rowing machine market is less diverse than exercise bikes, and C2 sits atop the mountain. Anyone who rows seriously (and many who don't) have used a C2 at some point. The Aviron Impact Series (an odd name for a low-impact exercise machine) rower is $2149, while a C2 Model D is $900. The Model D has been in gyms for decades. Literally, your local gym may have one that's decade…

Let me start off by saying the C2 is an amazing rower, but we thought we could improve on its design for the regular user who cares most about a fun and engaging experience. For example, the belt is industrial nylon (not plastic), the same material as seat belts. The main benefit to this is it makes the rower quieter and feels smoother. The rail is aluminum and legs and frame are made from steel, which makes it stabl…

Am I missing something? Your site says $2149, not $1999. And it has a $29/mo membership.

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

#198
I’m an older person who used to work out regularly in a gym before Covid. Since lockdown, I have spent a fair amount of money on exercise equipment for my home—dumbbells, elastic bands, and, especially, a cable crossover machine that cost a couple of thousand dollars. Even though I have no experience with rowing or rowing machines, your product is the sort of thing I might have considered buying last spring.

Here’s my initial, superficial reaction. The video on your site shows people using the machine not only for cardio but also for resistance training. But as near as I can tell, the resistance training is possible in only one direction: bicep curls but not tricep extensions, pulling for the back but not pushing for the chest. The shot of the man doing dips is not very convincing, as that move can be done perfectly well without your machine, and it can’t be done while looking at the screen.

I can imagine buying a cardio-only machine that doesn’t try to provide a strength workout. But your video also seems to promote the muscle-building elements while going only halfway. For me, at least, that is a bit of a turnoff.

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

#199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Certainly more accurate than most other ergs (that's how we rowers call them). However, it's not perfect. Nothing is ever perfect when it comes to measuring real world biomechanics. I did competitive rowing in my youth + I've spent a couple years building rowing technology, sensors + telemetry, so I can maybe offer a few interesting insights about their issues. Don't get me wrong, C2 ergs are great craftsmanship, bui…

Thank you for all that detail! A tangential question: At elite levels how well does performance on an ergo translate to on water performance? I rowed reasonably successfully at a junior level and I was much faster in a boat than others that would kick my butt on an ergo. This was always explained away as better technique. I’d be interested to know at a level where everyone has great technique if ergo/boat performance…

I only have an anecdote, but when I was rowing competitively ergo competitions just started to become a thing. I know that some of them were won by nonrowers even against olympians. IIRC this was particularly true in the lightwave class, because they tend to be less genetic "freaks".

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

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let me start off by saying the C2 is an amazing rower, but we thought we could improve on its design for the regular user who cares most about a fun and engaging experience. For example, the belt is industrial nylon (not plastic), the same material as seat belts. The main benefit to this is it makes the rower quieter and feels smoother. The rail is aluminum and legs and frame are made from steel, which makes it stabl…

Am I missing something? Your site says $2149, not $1999. And it has a $29/mo membership.

After staying on the site for some time, a pop-up form asking for your email in return for an additional $150 off will appear.

And yes, the membership is $29/mo or $25/mo if a year is paid up front.

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