The Rowbike
August 3rd, 2005 by CarlDoes it ever end? The stair bike, the row bike… people cycling underwater. This is madness!
I’ll bet you get one heck of a workout, but how do you control it? I can see it now… downtown New York, rowbiking my heart out down the sidewalk, getting some great cardio …instantaneous death when I collide with a bus. Just kidding… I’ll bet it would be fun to use in a rural area or a neighborhood perhaps. Just make sure you wear a helmet… and knee pads, shin guards, upper body armor…
They actually have multi-speed drivetrains too. Seriously, go to their site and check them out…. Make sure to go to the videos page so you can see them in action.
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Where do you guys run across this stuff? It’s hilarious.
On the rowbike website the caption under the animated GIF says “Rowbike Models: Click to View.” But when I click, I don’t see the models, only more pictures of rowbikes.
I own a Rowbike 726 King. I really enjoy it, and at the beginning it takes some getting used to. However, once it becomes routine, I have more control over the bike then I would with a regular peddle bike. One question I get, is about catching myself in a fall should I spill the rowbike. The curiosity is that since my feet are planted on the foot base at the top of the front fork can I get my foot down quickly enough to break the fall, so I don’t hit the ground with the bike falling on me. The answer is, yes. On a peddle bike, should you start to wipe out, the natural reaction is to take your foot off the peddle and catch yourself. The problem is with a peddle bike once you take your foot off the peddle to catch yourself, your leg isn’t far enough out horizonally to succesfully break your fall in most instances. With the rowbike once you sense yourself beginning to fall, because your foot is on the foot rest your leg is already extended horizontally further out than as opposed to a peddle bike. Therefore once your foot hits the ground your leg is extended further out to break your fall. When this has happened to me, I’m able to break the fall, without me or the bike hitting the ground. I enjoy the upperbody workout as well as the workout for the legs. Those who haven’t ridden a rowbike assume it’s powered entirely with the upperbody. That isn’t the case. You can work yourself so most of the power excerted comes from the upperbody or more from the lower body. The seat slides back and forth on an I-beam so you can hold the rowbar somewhat stationary and power the bike 90 percent with the legs. Or, you can keep your legs still, and power the bike by working the rowbar with your upperbody. Alternating the two methods will keep you from tiring out sooner than you’d like. I find rowbiking much more enjoyable than peddle biking. When I first got the bike, the ride was about 2 miles and that was enough, because of the upperbody excertion. However, after about a month I was doing daily rides of 20-25 miles. My longest has been 30 miles. This summer I hope to do a 100 mile ride in one day. The nice thing about a rowbike or whatever type of bike you purchase regardless of what you pay, they are a good long term investment in yourself, and as long as you have a parts-supplier, the bike should last you the rest of your life. :))
So I have no firsthand experience with the ‘rowbike’ but I would guess that John here is either completely full of crap or works for the rowbike company. Do yourself a favor, people. Avoid all these stupid, gimmicky contraptions which also include landrider, the bike for people too stupid to shift.
Chris,
You’re a dumbass. Try the product before spouting your mouth off. I know that’s a hard concept for someone of such IQ though… And no, I don’t work for the company. That makes 2 retarded assumptions on your part. Douchebag.
Kick ass and take names John. I don’t own a row-bike, but have looked at the specs and features available. Seems like a good mechanism to me. And to those people who aren’t sure whether or not to try something “new”… ALWAYS try, consider, mull, experiment, whatever…that’s how good things get started. I’m gonna try out the next one I see.
Couldn’t agree with John more. I have been rowling for about a year now and John’s description on the learning curve and technique is spot on. I have belonged to different gyms over the years and this is the easiest thing to stick with I have ever tried. I enjoy it enough to carry on even in winter months and I live in Canada.
Mike
Hey! I’m thinking about getting a rowbike. I live in the mountains and I’m a little concerned with using this thing on hills. John (or anyone who has used one of these), what is your experience with hills? Also, I am about 5′ 11”. The specs seem to say that the King is for tall people, but i like the idea of the bigger wheels. Will I have a problem using the King at my height?
RowBike sounds just the ticket. Couple of questions. What is the steering like? How does the seat feel? Does anyone in Perth Westn Australia have one?
Cassandra
Cassandra,
The steering was a bit of a challenge but it is very doable. To confirm, you can steer at any point in the stroke. During the pull and the return. After you master it, I think the steering is more sensitive than a coventional bike. Seat could be a little softer, but I think they sell an upgrade on the website. Defintely not a deal breaker though. Go for it.
To Rich: I’m barely 5′8″ and I have no problem starting and stopping my 726 King Rowbike. My suggestion is that a person should have a minimum 30″ inseam to use the 726 King. Any shorter than that, I suggest going with one of the 720 models. As for going up hills, it does become considerably more difficult to rowl, but once you get to the top of the hill, ride down is certainly fun! If your path consists of low grade hills, then you can still maintain a good pace without killing yourself. If where you would like to be riding consists of rather steep hills, you may want to re-think it. I live in eastern North Dakota so hills aren’t much of a problem. It’s pretty flat out here on the prairie.
Also, the following response (supposedly by me) was not written by me. I can honestly say I have never written the word “douchebag” either on the ‘net, email, or with pencil and paper. I think I know who is responsible for that post though.
John Radniecki Says:
September 29th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Chris,
You’re a dumbass. Try the product before spouting your mouth off. I know that’s a hard concept for someone of such IQ though… And no, I don’t work for the company. That makes 2 retarded assumptions on your part. Douchebag.
Has anyone out there purchased a 2006 rowbike or later? I have seen from the website that the “Dave Cam” mod has been added. I would just like to know if it improves the speed and lower gears as much as they say.
Thanks
Anybody out there have a used rowbike for sale, preferably one with gears?
I’m looking at buying one for riding in San Francisco, and would also like to hear from folks on how these rowbikes handle hills…
thanks,
Ricki
Rowbike has allot of pluses, specifically it gets you outside. Working out indoors does not work for me. Gym memberships and workout equipment go unused. I have a bike path near where I live so rowbike is not a problem.
On the other hand it is a bicycle. Bicycles require regular maintenance. It will not replace a regular bicycle for routing cycling. I would not ride it in traffic. Only bike lanes and paths.
stupid, gimmicky contraptions - Nah just gimmicky. It really does work.
As to hills. Going up hills are tough especially at the beginning. If the only routes near you are very hilly row bike is probably not for you. I do a 3mi route with about 100 ft climb. It is not bad but it takes some building up to.
Anyone have a rowbike in the Michigan area? I’d really like to try one.
I just got a 720. It works fine and is great excercise but I don’t think I’d ever ride it on my commute or to the store. When I ride my peddle bike it is part of me and the constant application of power and ease of steering, countersteering or well bunnyhopping debris or potholes is necessary for riding with traffic. Emergency braking, riding into the wind and purposely sliding on a peddle bike is also very neccessary for safety and long term use.
While I may get to a point where there isn’t such a deadspot on the row bike and I’m able to strear it well your still basically on a rowing machine that happens to have wheels with tiller steering. I live in a nice small town with quiet roads so I shouldn’t have a problem using it.