Indoor Rowing: What is drag factor and how to set your damper

Another video on technique, how you should have your rower set up, and the reasons behind setting it up the way that we do. "Drag factor" is a value specific to Concept 2 rowers, but the video explains what happens when you increase the damper on the rower and why you want to row with it at a lower value.

These concepts also apply to rowers other than Concept 2, although how you adjust the resistance may change.

[roberthurley]

This is one of the best explanations of drag factor and damper setting adjustments I've heard yet. Thank you for explaining this so thoroughly.

[rockjockfilms]

Just BRILLIANT! Thank you thank you for this articulately explained video, I’m very new to rowing and am trying to learn the importance of every aspect of the positions for the duration of a stroke. Now I can check understanding Drag Factor off the list.

[jonathanwhalen]

That you. Best explanation that I found for tuning in the damper.

[byronlane]

If a rower were to row at a given number of strokes per minute both at damper setting two and damper setting nine, would he or she go faster at setting two, setting nine, or would it be the same for both?

*On a bicycle, riding at 90 RPM in first gear brings the cyclist a lot shorter distance than riding at 90 RPM in 10th gear.

However, for a rowing machine, this might be more like pedaling with the brakes on lightly vs. pedaling in the same gear and at the same RPM but with the brakes on hard.

[ZacharySound]

This exactly what happened to me. I sometimes feel like its too easy or that I'm pulling it too far before I feel the 'catch' if that makes sense. Then wondering.. do I need to up the damper at that point of engagement? etc etc.

[DaveNeve]

Great until the last bit. When you try to determine your drag factor, you do the test with the lever in which position. Also, how does a drag factor of 120 relate to the lever? I mean you see 120 displayed but what do you then do with the lever.??? do you move it up or down?

[dermotbalaam]

Lever at around 5 will be close to 120 drag fact. Move the lever up to increase down to decrease. I think elite heavyweight rowers would be around 125 to 130.