Learn-to-Row Day came and went this spring, reminding me that the rowing club that I belonged to last year would soon be starting its 2008 summer season. Of course, as soon as the ice broke and the raging water from the snow melt had passed, there were scullers and crews rowing up and down the Connecticut River. But because I don’t own my own sculling shell, I depend upon my rowing club membership to get me into the water. With gas prices topping out at over $4 per gallon, I just can’t afford the 90 minute round-trip commute for my 30 minute slot to play in the river. So I have turned my attention back to my Concept 2 Model D erg.

A couple of years ago, I treated myself to a demo erg that had just been used during a couple of indoor rowing competitions. I felt very fortunate to live in Vermont, not too far from the Concept 2, allowing me to pick up my new rowing machine and to tour the factory.

I confess that over the last two years I have rowed on my erg sporadically. Some months, almost every day (once I had built up callouses), but many months I skipped completely, stopping every now and then just to wipe the dust from the machine. But this summer as I pine for the fluid motion and challenge of catching crabs, I’m going to rely upon iRow, Concept 2′s Personal Logbook and Online World Rankings, and maybe a new pair of slides to keep me motivated until I can return the water once more.

Tags: catching crabs, concept 2, connecticut river, gas prices, indoor rowing, rowing machine, Sculling, vermont