Product Features :
- Sturdy rowing machine with 6 resistance levels 1 air resistance and 5 air and magnetic resistance
- Contoured ergonomic seat glides along precision bearing rollers to ensure smooth performance
- Aircraft grade aluminum and steel frame 44 inches of travel from pedals to accommodate different heights
- Adjustable height and angle console tracks your time distance strokes calories burned and heart rate
- Folds up for easy storage measures 17 x 22 x 68 inches W x H x D lifetime frame warranty
>> Looks great for the target market
which is the average moron that has no clue how to row Probably the only thing they got right on this rower is the huge seat for the fat butts that are going to use it You want to row Get a concept 2 learn how to row catch drive release and GIVE ME SOME FRIGGEN POWER 30 s God I miss the 1 hour erg workouts in the freezing shellhouse miss my 1 16 500m too rofl
>> BodyCraft VR100 Review
I ve had the VR100 for a little over a week now I ve used it for thirty minutes every day I m very satisfied with it I had used a Concept II Model D owned by a friend on several occassions and had originally thought that I would buy one of those However the Concept II is more than two feet longer than the VR100 and that was an issue for me The VR100 is a solid machine The only reservations I have is the pull mechanizim Whereas the Concept II uses a chain the VR100 uses a nylon strap about an inch or so wide I just wonder if it is as durable in this application as a chain I know that a chain can wear out too especially if it is not lubricated periodically Time will tell
The only weakness in the VR100 is the computer It s very basic but it does the job for me I find that if I just monitor the strokes per minute I can use that to control my effort while watching my heart rate The VR100 computer can monitor the heart rate if you buy the optional chest strap I didn t because it is suppose to be compatible with the Polar straps It is compatible but if you get too far away from the computer it can t pick it up I called BodyCraft customer service They told me the Polar unit I have T 31 is only good up to three feet While you are rowing you tend to get further than three feet from the computer so it doesn t work well That s not a big issue for me because I m still wearing my watch and it picks up the heart rate just fine It has many more features related to monitoring the heart rate
Bottom line I m glad I bought it instead of the Concept II It s much more compact and it gives me the kind of work out that I wanted
>> I know I m going against the grain but it s really worthless
Don t be fooled by its slick appearance Whoever designed this machine has no clue about rowing
To row the standard 2000m distance on the BodyCraft VR100 takes EXACTLY two hundred and twenty strokes It does not matter if you take 220 long powerful strokes or 220 stunted one foot strokes the computer always displays 2 km Nor is it responsive to resistance 220 strokes at the highest resistance level gives you 2 km as it does at the very lowest resistance level Also according to the computer you burn 6 calories for every stroke it does not matter if they are long and laborious or short and effortless Clearly the manufacturers installed a dummy computer to fool unwitting buyers in no way does it measure power like a real ergometer
Thus the exerciser has ALMOST NO CLUE about his performance and fitness The computer is nothing more than a stroke counter and a clock The stroke rate indicator is fickle and nearly useless and the speed is also made up How can you measure speed without measuring power
What s left A rolling seat with a handle Perhaps this part of the unit could be worth say 300 the construction looks solid Some people can live without a computer and just need something for a proper workout But maddening quirks ensure the unit gives you nothing resembling an actual rowing experience Good indoor machines already have enough trouble in this regard
The foot braces They swivel about and envelop the whole foot On real boats and proper rowing machines the feet are strapped onto a fixed plate The strap holds down only the ball of the foot allowing the heel to come up at the catch when the rower is stretching forward about to pull Since the ball of the foot is fixed firmly to the boat all the rower s energy flows into the boat when he begins the leg drive On the BodyCraft the entire foot pivots How can you row with no fixed surface to push against
The flywheel It is mounted very close to the track making it very easy to bump into at the catch This is infuriating
Resistance The oars of a rowing shell at speed provide surprisingly little resistance a high cadence is the key to going fast and getting a good cardio workout Resistance on the BodyCraft is huge only the bottom two resistance levels resemble anything like an actual boat and poorly at that Plus a nearby electric fan was all it took to permanently increase the magnetic resistance on my VR100 making it even more useless
Why waste 700 for this piece of junk Buy a new or used Concept2
