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Physics of the WaterFlywheel
In much the same way as an oarsperson levers the boat through the water with each stroke, the WaterRower user levers the Water around in the tank
The drag of the water moving past the boat or tank is indeed the resistance when rowing or waterrowering. And an increase in speed of the boat through the water (or water past the tank) will increase this resistance and require an increase in effort/intensity
Increasing the mass of the water in the tank does little to increase this resistance. It simply makes the WaterFlywheel seem heavier in much the same way as rowing heavier boat class would (or increasing the gearing
We recommend the use of 18 litres of water in the tank which we feel simulates the double scull. Increasing the water level by a litre simulates a heavy double scull or a single scull. Increasing by two litres simulates a heavy single, etc.
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Importantly it is this mass of water which enables the WaterRower to so closely simulate the feel of rowing. The mass of the flywheel does not lessen (or fade) through the stroke (as it does in a lighter air resistance based flywheel). It is the same form beginning to end. Even from stroke to stroke
Gearing- gearing is a term used in rowing which relates to the mechanical advantage given by the oar. Changing the gearing relates to changing the fulcrum (or Oar length) to alter the mechanical advantage. Typically it is done to adjust for different boat classes or weights or to cater for unique conditions (head winds or tail winds). The changes made are very small; typically a little a 5mm (0.2") change in the pivot position relative to a oar which is 3750mm (148") long. This varies slightly with boat class
Boat Class- Rowing, as Olympic guise, has numerous different boat classes. In its more traditional/working/recreational form it has many more again. There are two broad categories of Rowing- Rowing or Sweep (where the oarsperson has one oar) and Sculling (where the oarsperson has two oars) Olympic/World Rowing Championships boat classes include- Single Scull (1 athlete, 2 oarsper boat), Double Scull (2 athletes, 4 oars per boat), Quadruple Scull (4 athletes, 8 oars per boat), pair (2 athletes, 2 oars per boat), four (4 athletes, 4 oars per boat) and eight (8 athletes, 8 oars per boat). All eights have coxswains (specialist steersperson) and there is also a coxed four category. There are separate classes for men and women and for lightweight (men- crew average < 70 kg/154lbs and women- crew average <57kg/126lbs)
Self Regulating Resistance- The Theory
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