Rowing Machines
Rowing is not only a good sport but also a very good exercise. But it is not possible to practice on water all the time. And practice on water is not measurable either. Rowing machines or indoor rowers are mechanical contraptions that simulate rowing. Rowing machines have come a long way. Around 1900 rowing machines’ design was pretty primitive. They used linear pneumatic resistance. In the 1950’s and 60’s, their design was altered and they pretty much consisted of a large heavy wheel with brake. That was like torture to rowers. In these models, the means of power measurements were provided. Around 1980, they introduced air resistance rowing machines. Later in 1988, they introduced a new system that followed a hydraulic flywheel rowing machine design. In many of the current rowing machines, this basic design is adopted. These days, rowing machines consist of a handle and a flywheel inter connected with a chain. When the rower pulls the handle using his legs to push himself and the flywheel apart, the flywheel rotates. The fly wheel has brakes that are applied by a magnet damper, pneumatic brakes or a hydraulic brake. The brakes are installed to bring the experience closer to the original thing. When the rower’s paddle comes off the water, the row boat or kayak decelerates. And the rower and the flywheel move apart. In some rowing machines, the rower is stationary and in some the flywheel is stationary. The measuring mechanism works with the flywheel. Some machines calculate the power of a rower stroke by measuring the speed of the flywheel. Then the machine monitors the rate at which the fly wheel decelerates during the rower’s recovery. Using such techniques, the rowing machine calculates other things.
The rowing machine is a very good simulator not only for people who are rowers and wish to improve, but also for people who would like to start as practice on the rowing machine will give them a strong base and an idea of what the real thing is like.
Tags: Air Resistance, Brakes, Contraptions, Damper, Fly Wheel, Flywheel, Good Sport, Hydraulic Brake, Indoor Rowers, Kayak, Magnet, Mechanism Works, Original Thing, Power Measurements, Row Boat, Rower, Rowing Machine, Rowing Machines, Stroke, Wheel
Rowing Machine | admin | 
January 24, 2010 10:57 am
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