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Rowing Factors FAQs |
Catch Factor CF indicates TIMING of the handle and seat coordination. Rowing Style Factor RSF indicates relative SPEED of the seat and handle movements during the beginning of the drive. |
30/08/2022 |
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Analysis of U19 and U23 Worlds in Varese |
Rowing speed of younger rowers is growing faster than in the Olympic category and margins between them are getting smaller. Increase in rowing speed from younger rowers to Olympic level happens by gain in both racing Stroke Rate and Work per Stroke. Both components increased similarly by about 4% on the U23-Olympic jump, but on U19-U23 jump, the increase in Work per Stroke 4.4% was significantly higher than the increase in the Stroke Rate 1.7%. |
02/08/2022 |
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Comparison of blade types |
Further experimentation to determine the most efficient blade type was recently conducted, in which testing was done in a LM2x. Fat2 blades were the most efficient at low stroke rates 20-24spm, while Comps performed slightly better at racing rates 36-37spm. Using the analysis of the velocity gain and impulse efficiency, the Comp blade shape was found to be the most efficient of the three studied. |
13/07/2022 |
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Blade pitch adjustment |
Effective bladework depends on the blade pitch – the angle between the vertical and the blade during the drive. The lateral pitch can help to maintain optimal blade depth at variations in the handle force vector direction, caused by changes in the rower’s body geometry during the drive. It is recommended to set fore-aft pin pitch to 0o, to neutralize its effect. BioRow can help you with rigging in a number of ways. |
15/06/2022 |
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Rigging optimization for rowing efficiency |
With very "light" rigging, a sculler struggled to “connect” with water and apply power: strokes looked too light and unproductive. It was decided to make combined changes of both levers and stretcher position, which helped to maintain a comfortable finish position. The optimized rigging significantly improved ability to apply force and power: projected time over 2km was 12.5 and 18.7s faster after rigging changes. |
12/05/2022 |
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Practical implications of axial oar forces |
Recent BioRow research has found that the axial blade force plays a negative role in propulsion: it creates a braking force component in the opposite direction to the velocity of the rower-boat system. Therefore, the blade axial force must be minimised. The axial handle force is a static one and creates no energy losses. |
04/04/2022 |
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Determination of rowing power |
Rowing power is the most important indicator of performance in our sport, and new findings from our latest blades research may help to provide more accurate calculation of rowing power and feedback on it. The rower’s power production could be on average 3.6% higher that readings from systems with gate force measurements. This partly explains higher power values on-erg compare to on-water rowing, which has much more complex mechanics. |
08/03/2022 |
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Details of force transmission at the handle |
The effects of two factors: 1) stroke rate, 2) blade type on the force transmission at the handle is analysed here. At high stroke rates, it is important to apply a short upwards force to the handle after the catch for a quick blade entry, without increasing catch slip. Friction is the main and the most efficient way to pull the handle because direct force application to the centre of the handle would require significant muscular contraction and energy cost. The handle torque is balanced mainly at the gate, and possibly, at the blade to prevent over-squaring. |
03/02/2022 |
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Force transmission at the handle |
New data obtained using the recently developed BioRow 4D handle force sensor allows derivation of fine details of force transmission from rower to oar: pulling angles in horizontal and vertical planes, and torque applied at the handle. This newly data allows for better understanding of Rowing Biomechanics, fine analysis of individual rowing technique and rigging specifics (say, effect of span/spread, oar pitch, etc.). |
08/01/2022 |
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Effect of blade rotation in the water |
Blade rotation in the water during the drive consumes energy and reduces the propulsive force and power within the rower-boat system. Force losses from the blade to the gate-handle system are related to the depth of the blade in the water. For the first time, we were able to estimate experimentally the losses of force/power caused by the blade rotation in the water. |
06/12/2021 |
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