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Just in time for Christmas and after a little bit of work, we've got the Rowperfect UK Shop working!

 Please have a browse and send us your feedback.

Here';s what I love about the internet - before we even announced this, Jim Bamber, Paul Barham and James Coe had already found it and bought stuff!  Cheers, guys. 

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Following my appeal for reviewers for the new DVD by Paul Thompson, Karthick Tadinada of Christs College Boat Club and Cantabrigian Boat Club, volunteered. 

Here is what he has said (and posted) on the DVD 

Having received a review copy of Paul Thomson's new DVD, I thought I'd share my views with the group. Although a long-time lurker on this group, this is my first post so go easy!
First of all I'll lay out what I think the purpose of rowing video is, and then describe the DVD and my opinions of its contents.

I believe that the primary purpose of rowing video is instructional.

When produced correctly, video has the ability to break down a complex looking motion into a series of steps and can clearly show the timing in the sequence of the various actions. Video is very helpful in providing a mental picture of a 'correct' rowing stroke, so that technical aims in training are clear.

FISA does their world championship and olympic regatta DVD, but most people would appreciate the chance to see international athletes in training at low rates.
Paul Thomson's DVD is indeed marketed as a "..unique opportunity to see the techniques of Britain's best rowers in training..". The sweep rowing demonstrations are by the mens lightweight coxless 4 (LM4-) , and the sculling demonstrations are by the womens quad (W4x). It is broken down into 3 main sections: Technique, rowing & sculling exercises, and land training. There are also several interviews with both athletes (Triggs-Hodge, Vernon, Grainger, Flood, Hunter, Purchase) and support staff (nutritionist, strength and conditioning coach, physiologist) strewn about the DVD.

I played the video straight through and got off to a very inauspicious start. It seems to me that the first section on technique consisted of some training video and someone reading from a script with minimal effort made to connect the two. It is pretty clear that the voice-over is being read from a script thanks to some pauses in phrases (like boat….. speed). I had hoped that the video would consist of some slow motion or pauses or repeated clips. The only plus is that there is about 25 minutes of footage of good rowing and sculling.

Next came the bits on rowing exercises. Things started getting much better at this point, as the audio started to become relevant.  Most importantly, the purpose of every exercise is described as well as things to be mindful of.  Watching a good crew perform the exercises well is also very impressive (the inside arms only of LM4- stood out for me).
However, for exercises that were the same in both rowing and sculling the voice-over was identical.

Where this video really shines is in the land training section. There is an extensive selection of weights exercises and core-stability training that is excellently demonstrated and explained.  Zac Purchase demonstrates the power clean, seated row and the good morning exercise stood out with freakishly good form.  The strength and conditioning coach was also excellent in his brief cameo.

The core stability and stretching sections, in my opinion, probably warrants the price of the DVD alone.  A huge variety of exercises are demonstrated by Kath Grainger, with the coach right next to her providing relevant commentary as the exercises are being performed.  Good form is clearly illustrated, and common mistakes are highlighted.

 In summary:

Pros: Excellent core-stability, stretching and weights training section

Cons: Poor attempt at explaining technique

Thanks very much, Karthick - we appreciate an independent view. 

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A Royal Marines Commando team will be rowing the Atlantic starting in 19 days.  They bought some of their supplies from us.

Using the great British (and military) sense of humour to its limits, their crew, called Row Commando has its own website and blog where they hope to post progress reports.

But curiously, there is no mention on the site about rowing commando!

They probably will, mid-Atlantic when it gets hot… 

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It is interesting how 'themes' occur in life and business.  Today I've had two enquiries from customers who own Dreher oars and sculls about how to check the pitch and remedy altered pitch.

First you have to check the wear on the sleeve of the blade.  If it is very worn, it's probably best to replace the sleeve rather than try and adjust the pitch on the spoon to compensate for wear. [OK to do in an emergency for a short period but as wear continues the 'new' pitch will soon be off].

If the sleeve is alright, then it is possible the spoon has slipped.  Dreher oars and sculls are assembled using hot melt glue, not expoxy resin.  This means that when heated, the glue melts and the spoon can be re-positioned.  As the glue cools it hardens again.  [most other oar manufacturers do not use hot melt].

Dreher UK sells its oars and sculls at 0 degrees pitch.  If you've bought from us, this should be standard specification.

Checking and Adjusting Pitch

Materials needed:
Pitch meter (digital)
*If adjustment is necessary, you will also need
Industrial heat gun or blowtorch
Aluminum foil

Due to the high stresses associated with rowing, it is possible that the blade pitch may shift slightly. If you suspect that the pitch of your oars is not at 0 degrees, checking the pitch can be done easily, using a short piece of 2" x 4" board on a flat surface or if you have built an oar fixture (instructions for building a solid oar fixture useful for clubs / schools with a fleet of oars). BTW for the solid metal plate a foot stretcher plate does nicely!

Step 1: Place a short piece of 2 x 4 (i.e., 12 - 18 inches long) on a flat surface. Set your pitch meter to zero degrees on the 2 x 4 reference surface. Place the blade of the oar on the 2 x 4 with the tip of the blade extended 2.5 to 3 inches (~7cm) from the center of the board. The spoon should be face down with the convex surface uppermost.  The centerline of the shaft should be 90 degrees to the orientation of the 2 x 4 reference board. Place your pitch meter on the flat part of the sleeve adjacent to the button on the spoon side of the button and observe the reading. We recommend adjusting the pitch for any reading greater than 0.3 degrees. 

Step 2: If the pitch needs adjustment, you will need to melt the glue bonding the blade to the shaft. If you will be using a blowtorch, first wrap a strip of aluminum foil (about 3-4" wide) around the shaft near the blade in order to avoid scorching the carbon. If you have access to an industrial heat gun, the aluminum foil will not be necessary. Heat evenly around the shaft and avoid heating the spoon. When the glue is melted sufficiently, place the pitch meter back on the sleeve and twist the shaft until you obtain a 0 degree reading. Leave to cool.  Re-check measurement when cool.

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We had an enquiry from a customer about how to improve the recoil tension on the chain / elastic.

I have just moved and re-assembled my rowperfect.  The chain return is very slow.  How should I proceed in correcting this.
 
Regards
John Swift

Here is how to do it yourself.

1. Take the main frame part of the RP off the bar.
2. Turn it upside down and look at the bottom part between the foot stretcher rests where you can see inside.  There is a small horizontal bar around which the ends of the elastic bungee are wrapped.
3. Using a curled wire (coat hanger) hook out the two ends of the elastic so they are outside the main frame. 
4. Using a pair of pliers, take hold of the end of the elastic and pull it firmly towards you.  The looping is designed to grip back onto itself.  And so if the elastic tension is weak, you can pull a longer end out while still leaving the loop intact. 
5. Pull out the other side so it is symmetrical and the tail ends are the same length.
6. Cut off the surplus elastic and tuck the ends back inside the main frame.
7. Replace main frame on bar.
8. Row (perfect).
9. Repeat until tension is as you desire.

Having said all that, it is good practice for a frequently-used RP to replace the elastic about once every 1-2 years.  When we service RP in the UK we nearly always replace the elastic.

Now, replacing the elastic is a tricky job and best left to the local agent. 

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