How the Concept2 Rowing Machine Changed Rowing

The Concept2 indoor rower gave rowers a way to measure fitness and compare it fairly. Before it, coaches relied on boat times affected by weather, crews and water. Today the erg score is the language of the sport, and the machine is a fixture in gyms and homes far beyond rowing clubs.

Where it came from

Concept2 was founded in Vermont in 1976 by brothers Peter and Dick Dreissigacker, who were rowers and had previously made oars. They launched their first indoor rower, the Model A, in 1981, using an air-resistance flywheel that responds to how hard you pull. Later versions were labelled with letters. The Model D arrived in 2003, and since 2021 it has simply been called the RowErg.

The key design idea was simple: a fan that you spin yourself. The harder you pull, the more the air pushes back, so the machine never has a fixed load that is too heavy for beginners or too light for strong rowers. That made it useful for a squad with mixed abilities and made scores meaningful across people.

What changed in the sport

• A common measure. The 2,000 m erg test became a standard selection and benchmark tool, since the race distance for Olympic rowing is 2,000 m. See how to do a 2k erg test.
• Training anywhere. Crews can train through winter, bad weather and at any hour, without needing a boat, a coach boat or safe water conditions.
• Objective data. Split, stroke rate and power let coaches monitor each athlete rather than guess, and spot who is improving or struggling.
• Selection. Erg scores now feed into crew selection, alongside on-water performance. USRowing, for example, considers them for selection camp invitations, together with water performance and coach assessment.
• Indoor racing. In 1982 the CRASH-B rowing club in Boston approached Concept2 about hosting an indoor competition. Today a World Rowing Indoor Championship takes place in a different country each year, giving rowers a competitive outlet away from the water.
• Wider fitness use. Gyms and home users adopted the machine, which is why you will find a Concept2 in so many fitness studios. See what rowing machines gyms use.

How racing and ranking work

Because every RowErg measures the same way, results can be compared online. Rowers log pieces, set personal bests across standard distances such as 2,000 m, 5,000 m and 10,000 m, and some enter virtual races. Age and weight categories exist so that comparisons are fairer. For guidance on what is a good time, see our 5k and 10k benchmarks.

The monitor

The current PM5 monitor shows time, distance, pace, stroke rate and power, and connects by Bluetooth and ANT+ to heart rate straps and the free ErgData app. It lets you save workouts and compare against others online. Older monitors in the PM line did the same job with fewer connections.

Limits

An erg score does not capture boat feel, steering, balance or tactics. It is a good predictor of potential, not a substitute for time on the water. Coaches generally use it alongside on-water performance. Tall, heavy rowers tend to score well on absolute power, so lightweight and open categories matter when comparing people.

The machine today

In the UK, the RowErg with standard legs is around £990 (checked 30 Oct 2026). Our Concept2 RowErg review covers the machine in detail, and things you didn’t know about the Concept2 RowErg adds some background. For the wider context, see the rowing machines hub.