HereNow Ergo is an app for use with a Concept 2 Rowing Ergometer and the Shox-Box. It measures the stability of your rowing and helps you row faster when you get back into your boat in the spring. The app shows you levels to help you keep the erg stable and shows you a Smoothness number to measure how youre doing. Keep it smooth!
Necessary Equipment:
You should get this app if you have a C2 erg and both the front and rear Shox-Box. It may be used with any version of the C2 rowing machines. If you only have one Shox-Box, this app will not do you any good.
The phone needs to be level and stable to get accurate readings. If you have your own erg, consider getting a case and some velcro to attach the phone firmly to the erg. If you are using the erg and show-box at your club or gym, you could ask to have velcro installed on the machine or you can buy a shoelace at the store and temporarily tie the phone onto the erg with a shoelace. Truly a "shoestring" budget approach :)
Usage Details:
The app shows you two bubble levels that indicate how stable you are keeping the erg. The Smoothness score measures how smooth you keep the rowing machine while you row. It is a scale of zero to ten with ten being the best. Any check or instability in the set of the erg will cause the number to go down.
To use the app with your erg, download the app, start it up and put it on the down tube that comes down from the fan down to your feet. You can rest it on the base.
Optimum Calibration:
The app will work as soon as you turn it on and put it on the erg. However, for best measurements, its a good idea to tweak the Erg Angle setting to get the vertical bubble to be centered when you sit at the finish.
When rowers of different weights sit down on the erg, they will cause the erg to change in angle. A heavier rower tilts the erg more. For best results, you should calibrate the app for your weight. A heavier rower needs to adjust the Erg Angle setting slightly higher. A lighter rower needs to adjust the Erg Angle setting slightly lower. When it is perfectly set, the bubble in the vertical "level" will be centered when you sit at the finish.
Enjoy and let us know what you think!