As an engineer, I’m always interested in getting useful data from my training sessions on the water, on the rowing machine or when cross-training (cycling, running etc). The rowing machine is easy, as all the data is provided by the Concept2 monitor – watts, strokes-per-minute, time, distance, heart-rate and more. In fact, either using a Log Card or my Garmin GPS (310XT) watch, I can record these sessions and upload to my computer for later analysis. When I’m on the bike, I’ve got power (thanks to a Stages Power Meter), speed, distance, time and heart rate.
On the water however, there are some issues…
I have my GPS, which will give me land speed (and heart rate, distance, time) and also a NK SpeedCoach for water speed and stroke rate. Knowing your speed through the water is essential in rowing, as the majority of training and racing is done on moving water (i.e. rivers). This means that your land speed depends somewhat on the stream of the river, and isn’t a good measure to use. However, there are other aspects missing from rowing measurement:
- Can we monitor force during the stroke for technical improvements?
- Can we check our catch and finish angles to adjust rigging accordingly?
- How can we measure our power expenditure, like on a bike or a rowing machine?
Force & Angle Measurement
The Oar Inspired IntelliGates will allow your force applicataion to be measured throughout the stroke, but not only that, it will allow several rowers in a crew to be monitored concurrently. This is a great tool for technical analysis, and for matching rowers to each other for optimum crew performance. A lot can be gained from being able to see where each rower applies their power during the stroke, and through careful coaching, the force profiles of a crew can be brought in line. In a sport of small margins, every few percent counts.
Now it’s worth bearing in mind that the Oar Inspired system is not the first to achieve force measurement, with several other systems currently available.
Other Rowing Telemetry Systems
- Peach Innovations (price for a single ~£2600)
- In use by several high performance and national squads
- Can measure boat speed
- Can measure gate forces and angles
- Can measure foot forces
- Can measure seat position
- Detailed analysis using the Peach software
- BioRow (price for a single ~£6000 for everything, but can rent)
- Probably the most complete system, and in use in several national squads
- Can measure boat speed
- Can measure gate forces and angles
- Can measure oar forces
- Can measure foot forces
- Can measure body positions
- Can measure wind speed and direction
- Detailed analysis via the BioRow software
- SmartOar (price for a single ~£700)
- Can measure oar forces via dataloggers inside Croker oars
- Can optionally provide live feedback to coaches
- Analysis via their software aftwerwards
- Weba RowX (price for a single ~£1700)
- Can measure boat speed
- Can measure gate forces and angles
- Can measure oar forces
- Can measure foot forces
- Analysis via their software aftwerwards
- Can optionally provide live feedback to coaches
Now, you might be thinking “why is Oar Inspired better”? The main reason here (in my opinion) is price. For around £550 (GBP), you can have a system which will log gate forces, angles, boat speed (impeller and GPS) and allow for post session analysis (as well as live feedback). Currently this is for a pair of sweep-oar gates, but they intend to launch sculling gates if they get enough funding, and aim for a similar price point.
Not only is is low-cost, but Oar Inspired have also been liasing with Rowing in Motion to bring some of RiM’s app-based analysis to the Oar Inspired system. This will give cloud-based analysis after sessions, but also video synchronisation with the data – a powerful feature!
Another measurement that can be useful in many of these systems (including Oar Inspired’s) is that of angular measurement of the gate. Obviously the angle is useful in order to make sense of the force data (and derive power for example), but it is also useful to look at the actual angles achieved by the rower, with a view to adjusting their rigging accordingly. All good stuff!
Power Measurement
Power measurement is what we use on the rowing machine all the time, although as rowers we normally think in terms of splits (minutes per 500m). It’s invaluable, as once you have tested to find out where your training zones are, you can gauge intensity of all training sessions easily. For instance, the bulk of aerobic base training is done at a blood lactate level of less than 2mmol/L. It is fairly easy to test lactate levels and correlate this with power on the rowing machine, and once you’ve done that, you can just train at the a power which corresponds to 2mmol/L or less.
Similarly, getting a power meter for my bike has completely changed the way I ride – it allows me to train at a given intensity regardless of the conditions. I know that if I want to take an easy recovery ride, I’ll be at the correct intensity if my power is ~200W. I may end up going slower up hills or into headwinds, but that doesn’t really matter, since I just want to keep the power output constant.
In a boat however, there is no power measurement – if you train using a device such as a NK SpeedCoach, then you can train at a consistent water speed, but what about head/tail winds, conditions or even changes in water temperature?
Once you can measure forces through the gate (and later through the feet) with a system like that of Oar Inspired, it becomes plausible to monitor power output in real time. This could become absolutely invaluable both in training and also in pacing of race pieces. Imagine knowing through training that you could sustain 350W for 20 minutes (from training scores); then you know come race day that whatever the conditions, you ought to be able to sustain 350W, you may just go slower in a headwind or faster in a tailwind…
Summary
In summary, I see huge potential in the Oar Inspired system (and their partnership with Rowing in Motion). It is aiming at the right price point (similar to what Stages have done in cycling), and can provide valuable feedback for rowers at every level. I for one have backed the product, and I’d encourage you to do the same!
PS – I note that Rowing Musings has done a similar post: http://rowingmusings.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/oarinspired-arrives-on-kickstarter/