HARDWARE
I live in Vermont, in the middle of nowhere. But it didn't matter when I decided to cruise the Internet for virtual competitions with other indoor rowers using Concept2 rowing machines connected to their PCs. To the rest of my home-gym rivals out there, I was just another lost soul looking for a serious row.
The Concept2, which measures almost 8 feet by 2 feet, is the sturdy stainless steel and maple number found in many gyms. Users who want to compete online start out by going to a custom bulletin board on the Net, where people who own the company's machines can look for scheduled races or set up a one-on-one. Hundreds of people converge here during a given month. I just logged on to my regular ISP, ran the Windows bulletin board software, and looked for a good match. First, I tried to race a guy from New Zealand, but, given the time difference, we couldn't find a convenient start time. I finally scheduled a race with Bill, who lives in my time zone, for a 2,000-meter race.
After logging on, Bill and I lined up our little sticklike yellow "boats" on the blue computer screen and I hit the Start button, triggering a short countdown on the screen while we both readied for the starting gun. Immediately my virtual scull pulled out ahead onscreen. But I fell behind a few minutes later and then quickly caught up again (I suspected that Bill was taking it easy on me). Coming in to the finish, we were neck and neck, and I had a rush of adrenaline. My palms were sweating, my heart was racing. I wanted to win.
And I did, by just 3 seconds. My rapture was deflated, however, as soon as I posted my results in Concept2's online rankings, which includes those who compete online as well as in actual gyms. For my category - a lightweight 30- to 39-year-old female - I came in dead last. But hey, I still had a pulse.
Concept2's e-Row server hosts a community of regulars who compete from places as far-flung as Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, and Finland. And the 5,000-plus rowers who use the online rankings include Olympic medalists and members of the United States National Rowing Team. It's intimidating, but it means the average Joe or Josephine can size themselves up against the pros.
To join the fray you need a PC and a package that includes the Concept2 indoor row machine, e-Row software, and Performance Monitor 2+, which connects the machine to your computer via a serial cable. It also helps to be patient. The e-Row CD comes in a blank case with no instructions. Installation is easy, but using it the first time is not. My advice: Go straight for the Help menu before donning any Lycra.
PM2+ package: $830. Concept2: (800) 245 5676, +1 (802) 888 6333, www.concept2.com.
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