What is the resistance in lbs of rowing?

I recently began working out again, after a long hiatus.
Among other cardio routines, on my days off from lifting, I’d like to use the cable row machine. (The type with a sliding chair and two pulleys)
I want to know what weight resistance best approximates the resistance I would feel if I were rowing in water for real.

Thanks in advance,

-j

Im not a physicist so Ill just pose a question. Wouldn’t the resistance depend on how fast you row? It’s not like free weights where your, well, lifting weights of a set amount, but rather displacing water.

Unfortunately you can’t reproduce the “feel” of water using weights. When rowing on water, when you exert more effort the resistance force increases. With weights the resistance force remains the same (it’s just the weight of the, um, weight), the weight just moves faster.

The resistance while rowing a real boat will depend on the weight of the boat you are rowing, how easily the boat cuts the water, how long your oars are and how big the paddle end of the oar is.

Well, I guess I should’ve realized the fundamental problems with my question before I asked it.

Sorry about that- my bad :smack:
Thanks though :slight_smile:

-j

It depends entirely on how fast you would be rowing in water.

In water, you can use 2 or 3 pounds of pressure on the oars, and you will move through the water.

Rowing machines that use weight as resistance do not simulate rowing very well, and should be used in a different manner.

Using this type of a machine as a cardio type work out rather than a strength work out runs a pretty high risk of injury. In real rowing, you don’t have the large mass of the weight jerking around on the end of the cable to strain or tear muscles, tendons, or ligaments. The danger comes when you have to quickly turn the weight around at the end of your rest stroke. You should use this type of machine like other weights and do a few sets of reps with enough weight that you can only do 8 - 12 reps in each set and not be able to finish the last set. You should move the weight in a slow, controlled, and smooth motion.

If you want to do rowing as cardio, do it on a machine that uses fluid (or electrical) resistance instead of weight. The machines that simulate cardio rowing best spin a large flywheel through a one way clutch. The wheel will turn a generator or some type of fluid resistance that gets exponentially harder as the speed increases. You have to work at it to injure yourself on this type of machine.

On preview, alot of people have answered while I was writing this… but, I’ll post it anyway.

They do make rowing machines that are intended for cardio work. See if you can find one of those–it’d be more like what you’re looking for.