Row better. Buy smarter. Get faster on the erg.
Honest rowing machine advice, erg training plans and technique help.
Photo: Gtrognot / CC BY-SA 4.0
Free 8-Week 2k Erg Plan
A week-by-week PDF plan to take seconds off your 2k, sent straight to your inbox.
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All rowing machine guidesRowing MachinesBest Rowing Machine in the UK (2026)The best rowing machine for most UK homes is the Concept2 RowErg at around £990. Here is who should pick a WaterRower, Hydrow or a cheaper air rower instead.Rowing MachinesConcept2 RowErg Review (UK, 2026)A research-based review of the Concept2 RowErg: around £990, no subscription, a PM5 monitor and a five-year frame warranty, plus who should buy something else.Rowing MachinesBest Rowing Machine for Beginners in the UK (2026)The best rowing machine for beginners is the Concept2 RowErg if you can afford around £990. Cheaper starts, classes and what to avoid.
Train
All training guidesTrainingYour First Month on the Erg: A 4-Week Beginner PlanA four-week, three-sessions-a-week plan for new indoor rowers: set-up, easy pacing, rest days and how to build from 10 minutes to 25 minutes of rowing.TrainingHow to Do a 2k Erg Test: Setup, Warm-Up and PacingA step-by-step guide to rowing your first 2k test on an indoor rower: safety checks, machine setup, warm-up, pace arithmetic and what to do afterwards.TrainingHow to Improve Your 2k Erg TimeWhat most improves a 2k erg score: aerobic volume, targeted intervals, strength, pacing, mental preparation and rest, with a worked pace sum and sample sessions.
Technique
All technique guidesTechniqueCommon Rowing Technique Faults and How to Fix ThemEight common indoor rowing faults, from shooting the slide to a collapsed finish, with what each looks like, why it happens and a drill to correct it.TechniqueStroke Rate Guide: Choosing the Right Rate for Each SessionWhat stroke rate means on the erg, which rates suit steady rows, intervals and a 2k, and how to check your metres per stroke so a high rate is not just fast flapping.Rowing MachinesHow to Use a Rowing MachineHow to use a rowing machine: set up in 4 steps, learn legs-body-arms, fix common faults and follow a 4-week beginner plan with rate and effort targets.
Tools
Pace calculatorTurn your 2k time into splits, watts and training paces.2k predictorEstimate your 2k from a longer test, or the other way round.Split and watts converterConvert between split, watts and calories per hour.Calorie estimatorSee monitor calories, adjusted for your body weight.Club finderSearch our rowing clubs by country, city and what they offer.
About
The Rowing Tutor is run by Dan Higgins and Louis Zaidman. We write honest, research-based advice on rowing machines, erg training and technique.
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