The First Degree Fitness range of Fluid Rowers offer a unique and realistic approach to rowing;

Water has unique “cube rule” physical properties, which mean that to go twice as fast through it requires 8 times the effort!

So as the athlete increases workout intensity, the Fluid Technology resistance unit responds instantaneously.

No slack, no slippage, no flat spots, just full on resistance, in an instant, always there for you at the precise moment you want it!

Every competitive rower knows the feel of the cube rule, and just how tough it can be to squeeze that tiny extra bit of speed out of the boat in the race to the line.

And that’s why we say  NO SLIP – NO SLACK

How it works

Two chambers are contained within one tank.
The inner (passive) chamber stores water.
Resistance is created by impeller blades churning water in the outer
(active) chamber.
Moving the level indicator varies the level of water in each chamber.
Maximum resistance occurs when the greatest
volume of water is in the outer (active) chamber.
Level 1 Light resistance.
Most water in the inner
(passive) chamber.
Level 10 Medium resistance.
Water levels equal
between chambers.
Level 20 Heavy resistance.
Most water in the outer
(active) chamber.

Why it works

Water has a unique “cube rule” – this means that to go twice as fast requires 8 times the effort! Any increase in the user’s exercise intensity is instantly met by a corresponding increase in resistance. At a given water level this provides a range of resistance.
Patented Fluid Technology further enhances this, providing infinite variation of that range by varying the volume of water against which the user works.
Fluid Technology also supplies the most consistent linear resistance system available. There are no “flat spots”, common to other designs of water and wind resistance mechanisms.
Why settle for second best? Experience the difference that Variable Fluid Resistance makes to your exercise.

The Concept 2 Rowing machine range consists of the Model C and Model D.

One of the main reasons that drive the success of the Indoor Rower is the Performance Monitor, it’s extreme accuracy: all the times and distances it shows are comparable between different machines and users. As well as giving you reliably data to chart your progress, this has also led to the development of such things as the Concept Ranking and the sport of indoor rowing. The PM3 displays on an LCD screen information live  when you row, as a user you can race against your previous workouts, or against a PaceBoat. Users can choose from a variety of units and display options, including watts, calories, a Bar Chart and a Force Curve. The removable LogCard stores all your data and workouts and allows you to transfer them to different machines or to your computer. This also allows you to upload information to various websites to compete all over the world with your time trials and compares how well your workout ranks world wide. So from rowing at home you really can come part of one the most rated froms of exercise.

The Concept2 Indoor Rower is based on air resistance, which captures the rhythm and feel of rowing on the water by using a carefully balanced and calibrated flywheel almost like a large fan and as you row wind is generated to also help cool the rower. The resistance you feel using the Indoor Rower is the wind resistance generated by the spinning flywheel. With no brake pads to wear out, and no friction mechanism to generate heat, the flywheel motion is smooth, long lasting, and maintenance free. James Cracknell said  “Wherever we train we always take a Concept2; it’s brilliant. It registers your power output, monitors the distance rowed, all the stuff you need to know really. It’s probably about 80-90 per cent similar to rowing a boat on the river.”

So if your considering any form of exercise at home it really is worth considering a quality commercial rowing machine, www.healthclubsathome.com have several models on display for you to try and compare.

The big question is which machine would we recommend ? Why not visit us and you can test for yourself both the Concept2 and The Fluid Rower range, Healthclubsathome.com have a great team of expert fitness staff that will advise on what suits you. Why not call us on 01733 205551.

Why choose a Fluid Indoor Rower to get fit over other fitness and gym equipment

Over the years I have spent a lot of time working out and trying to stay fit training in gyms, health clubs and doing some free weights at home.. I usually went to the gym 2-3 times a week; I would break each session into doing the following, 20-30 minute on a treadmill or cross trainer, and then do the rounds on the weights circuit.

I got fit and toned but never managed to stay fit and toned for long. I love food and eating out and generally having a good time.

After much research and looking at ways to get fit and back into shape, I decided on a rowing machine, now the only machine I have ever used in a gym is a Concept2, quite a novelty when you have the wind cooling you as this machine is air driven. With the concept2 rower you get quite a lot of features from the PM3 monitor that records your stroke, distance as the norm and you can even upload your data to various web sites and track how well you’re performing.

So my mind was set to purchase a concept2 and I started to look around for a great deal, this is where I hit a brick wall. I never for one minute thought I would be looking at the best part of a grand for a rowing machine! I then started to look on ebay taking my search to independent second hand dealers. I then came across www.healthclubsathome.com which is located in Peterborough. Health Clubs At Home offer mail order items through an online shop and also has a large show room so you can try before you buy. I did some Google searches and they came highly recommended.

The purpose of my visit was to view the second fitness equipment, to negotiate a deal on a refurbished Concept2 rower. I couldn’t justify £1000 on a new rower, so a refurbished product was my only option.

When I arrived at www.healthclubsathome.com I was met by a nice guy called Rob who showed me round the equipment for sale. I put the Concept2 through its paces and it performed much the same as the Concept 2 indoor rowers I used at the gym.
Now for £650 the concept 2 rower I was offered looked as new, with hardly any signs of real wear and tear. Now what caught my eye then was Rob very excitedly told me they had become agents for First Degree Fitness who produce the Fluid Rower.

I hadn’t used a Fluid Rower before although I had heard of them, Rob took me through to the main show room, where the various models of the Fluid Rower were on display ready to try out! The first thing that stood out was the water chamber, its bright blue colour against the silver of the frame, made the whole thing visually appealing almost like looking at a car you have never driven, but thinking that it will be very tasty.

I jumped onto the Fluid Rower E216 the cheapest indoor rower in the Fluid Technology range. Straight away I noticed the seat was in a great position and wasn’t to low, higher than the concept 2 and very easy and comfy to actually get your bum onto it. The foot rests were bang on and not to wide apart.

The handle on the Fluid Rower is so much better than the concept 2 rower, it doesn’t look or feel cheap and has a nice weight to it and felt balanced in my hands.

My first few strokes on the Fluid Rower convinced me I was going to buy it, the instant grab and resistance, the swish and swoosh of the water, it felt perfect.

Compare the concept 2 and its air system and the initial resistance is poor you almost get a few inches of stroke before the concept 2 rower starts to bite, then once you over come that initial force it then peeks and almost turns using its own force, almost free wheeling the large fan wheel. Compare this to the stroke on the Fluid Rower, its there no wait, no slip just constant force, when you stop your stroke the fluid rower stops!

The best part is now the price of £669 for a brand new Fluid Rower E216, I had decided straight a way it was a no brainer. I later did some more research and found www.healthclubsathome.com to be the cheapest by nearly £145, with all other retailers selling the Fluid Rower E216 from £799 - £830. Fluid Technology have a great web site with loads of information and also check out www.fluid-rower.com

So with a few clicks of the mouse, one Fluid Rower was ordered and delivered. So far I have been very impressed with the service I had received from health clubs at home. I will be posting details of the Fluid Rower and starting my 30 day plan to shed a stone and get back into shape for the summer!!! Watch this space

article taken from a review by paul from stamford

How can I shed the fat and get fit?

I have suggested that if Paul can row for about 45 minutes to 1 hour each day at a steady 2 minutes 30 seconds per 500m pace, he will burn around 500 calories.If he does that every day for a week he will have  burnt 3500 calories. Even if Paul didnt diet, at the end of the week he should have lost about  half a Kg of fat.

As you get fitter you will become more exercise efficient, so to burn the same number of calories each workout you'll have to increase the time or the pace at which you row or adjust the resistance level.

HOT TIP: Dont increase the intensity and the length of your workouts at the same time, do one or the other.

What's wrong with the orginal idea of the  (FBZ) CV Fat Burning Zone

The FBZ refers to exercise performed in the 60-70% of heart rate max (HRMax) for a minimum of 20 minutes.

There is actually nothing wrong with the concept of the FBZ, some trainers suggest that it's the best and only way to burn fat. I have already noted that any form of exercise burns calories. The FBZ was developed for a number of reasons.

1) Client safety and confidence. Rowing or running at a very easy pace for 20 minutes is not too far beyond most people's grasp when they commence an exercise programme. It is a target that can easily be attained;

2) Fat is burned at a proportionally higher rate at lower exercise intensities - see table 2. However, this as we shall see later is not really a crucial consideration for sustained fat loss;

These reasons are why FBZ workouts are often promoted; the problem then is that they become cemented into people's minds as the 'only' way to burn fat. FBZ workouts do have a place in a general fitness regime, but there are far more effective ways to continually burn fat once a level of fitness is achieved that will allow for higher intensity training to take place.

Some full-time athletes do go for long walks or slow runs to specifically burn fat, but this is in addition to their normal high-level training. Their leisurely efforts should be regarded as icing on the cake within their overall training plans and not a singular justification of FBZ workouts.

Anyone training in the various zones indicated in the 2K training manual, will burn large numbers of calories, which will lead to fat loss.

TRAINING TIP: If you are an advanced trainer use lower intensity efforts as recovery sessions between your higher intensity ones.

I have started Paul off on 15-20 minutes aday at level 7 on his Fluid Rower E216, aiming for at least 2500 meters in that time, I shall review Paul progress and start to adjust his routine once we feel happy he is able to perform the first week of actually doing some exercise. Dont rush your fitness program build up and enjoy what your doing.