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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

#241

Post by maerF0x0 »

Grustaf wrote: post #216
mrkwse wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is an appropriate argument, but afaik it's along the lines of Peloton's subscription pricing. Peloton's shown there's a clearly established market that will pay that sort of price for a home fitness service.

But isn't Peloton fairly unique? Like Crossfit, it somehow has gained a huge following that is not directly related to the actual product, it's much more about marketing nous. That is much harder to reproduce than simply building a solid physical product.

+1000 to this.

You dont buy a peleton because you need economical exercise. You buy a peleton as a form of conspicuous consumption and "exclusive" group membership (I'm a spin _athelete_!) .

The marketing hyperbole gets eaten up in our IG/social media obsessed environment.

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

#242

Post by FullNameAndy »

maerF0x0 wrote: post #240

NordicTrac RW600 for half the price and no recurring membership. https://www.nordictrack.com/rowing-machines/rw600 Many people fail to realize it does not have to be expensive to get "fit". (north) Americans have the bad habit of buying expensive equipment long before it's required for their task / sport, opting to spend their way into an image before earning their way by doing. To paint an analogy, people have bough…

Great point. I will add that RW600 does require a reoccurring membership for $468/yr after the first year.

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

#243

Post by malandrew »

DennisP wrote: post #236
malandrew wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I guess a drawback is it doesn't really lend itself to a nice big screen like OP's project. I don't see why not. My RP3 uses any Android tablet. I have like a 7-8" tablet in there, but there is no reason I couldn't put a much larger tablet like an 18.4" Galaxy View.

How do you like the RP3 in general? I thought seriously about that before getting the Oartec, mainly because it was cheaper and I didn't have a strong need for portability.

I never tried the Oartec so I can't compare to it, but I'm really happy with it. There's also now the RP3 Model T that was released a few months after I got the regular RP3. I'm in the PNW, so I was able to save on shipping by picking up the RP3 in person from the US distributor.

I'm really quite happy with it and far prefer it to a C2. The software is pretty decent too and the force curve in particular is quite useful to help you figure out how to connect all three motions smoothly for mostly consistent even power.

Family and friends that have used it have struggled with getting started with it but mainly because they've learned such bad form from static machines like the C2. But near as I can tell that will happen with anyone used to a static rower that's never been on the water or coached on proper form.

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

#244

Post by FullNameAndy »

remir wrote: post #238

Question 1: would you be able to use this in a condo without annoying other co-owners? The specs page says the noise level is at 60db. Is this at HIIT level of effort? Question 2: assuming one buys this and cancel their subscription down the line (subscription fatigue), is the software on the unit useless without it or is there still some basic funcitonnality?

Great questions! 1: 60db is with moderate rowing. With hard rowing, it doesn't get much louder compared with say the Concept2 thanks to the nylon belt and smaller fan blades. 2: Still some basic functionality including a profile with workout history and controlling resistance. More details here - https://www.avironactive.com/membership/

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

#245

Post by DennisP »

malandrew wrote: post #243
DennisP wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you like the RP3 in general? I thought seriously about that before getting the Oartec, mainly because it was cheaper and I didn't have a strong need for portability.

I never tried the Oartec so I can't compare to it, but I'm really happy with it. There's also now the RP3 Model T that was released a few months after I got the regular RP3. I'm in the PNW, so I was able to save on shipping by picking up the RP3 in person from the US distributor. I'm really quite happy with it and far prefer it to a C2. The software is pretty decent too and the force curve in particular is quite usef…

Cool, thanks. Didn't know about the new one.

Do you feel like the RP3 teaches proper form, for someone who hasn't had coaching or been on the water?

A drawback of the Oartec is that the display is rudimentary. It'll show you speed/distance, watts, or cal/hr, and that's it.

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

#246

Post by CalChris »

The C2 is the Toyota Camry of rowers. This seems to me to need an application of Rule 39 of Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design.

  39. (alternate formulation) The three keys to keeping a new human space program affordable and on schedule:
    1) No new launch vehicles.
    2) No new launch vehicles.
    3) Whatever you do, don't develop any new launch vehicles.
https://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/akins_laws.html

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

#247

Post by sincerely »

CalChris wrote: post #246

The C2 is the Toyota Camry of rowers. This seems to me to need an application of Rule 39 of Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design. 39. (alternate formulation) The three keys to keeping a new human space program affordable and on schedule: 1) No new launch vehicles. 2) No new launch vehicles. 3) Whatever you do, don't develop any new launch vehicles. https://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/akins_laws.html

The same would supposedly apply to Peloton, and yet they're successful beyond belief...

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

#248

Post by CalChris »

sincerely wrote: post #247
CalChris wrote: post #246

The C2 is the Toyota Camry of rowers. This seems to me to need an application of Rule 39 of Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design. 39. (alternate formulation) The three keys to keeping a new human space program affordable and on schedule: 1) No new launch vehicles. 2) No new launch vehicles. 3) Whatever you do, don't develop any new launch vehicles. https://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/akins_laws.html

The same would supposedly apply to Peloton, and yet they're successful beyond belief...

In a WeWork kind of way. They've raised $1B in funding.

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/peloton-interactive/...

But they are profitable, something WeWork will never say.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/peloton-produces-profit-fo...

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

#249

Post by malandrew »

DennisP wrote: post #245
malandrew wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never tried the Oartec so I can't compare to it, but I'm really happy with it. There's also now the RP3 Model T that was released a few months after I got the regular RP3. I'm in the PNW, so I was able to save on shipping by picking up the RP3 in person from the US distributor. I'm really quite happy with it and far prefer it to a C2. The software is pretty decent too and the force curve in particular is quite usef…

Cool, thanks. Didn't know about the new one. Do you feel like the RP3 teaches proper form, for someone who hasn't had coaching or been on the water? A drawback of the Oartec is that the display is rudimentary. It'll show you speed/distance, watts, or cal/hr, and that's it.

I wouldn't say it teaches proper form, but it does encourage it. If you're not using at least somewhat proper form, the seat really isn't going to go back to the neutral position and you're going to occasionally be bouncing off the bumpers at the front or rear of the rower.

While I don't know how to make a machine that promote the following without putting telemetry in the handle, I also coach people using my machine to row with a D-shaped motion that mimics taking the blade out of the water and almost scraping the top of your knees on the return. The goal is to force people to mostly return the handles with their forearms and torso before collapsing their knees.

The RP3 display is definitely something worth trying out. It's not perfect, but I really like it. Contact the US distributor and he might be able to put you in contact with someone local to you that has one.

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

#250

Post by dqpb »

FullNameAndy wrote: post #192
beloch wrote: 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…

I’m surprised your claiming the belt is smoother than the C2 chain. Every belt rower I’ve used skips when you pull hard. The C2 never skips.
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