Row Bike
On Sunday I went to a kayaking competition and amongst the various kayaks lying around and up for sale, this caught my eye last weekend at the National Watersport Centre at Nottingham. This was while my youngest daughter was competing in some kayak sprint races. I had never seen one of these Row Bikes before and therefore I was interested to find out more.
Actually this proved a little difficult as I saw the owner riding around on it (or is it rowing?) but I couldn’t grab hold of him. Then it disappeared, perhaps he’d sold it? Nevertheless the question of whether you cycle a RowBike or row it was on my mind and something I wanted to ask him about, apart from the obvious “may I have a go?”.
These machines seem expensive. This one, as a used private sale, was priced at £1,000. Yes that’s right, £1,000. Does it help if I write it instead? One thousand pounds. Is that easier to swallow?
Also can’t help but wonder what it would be like to ride, or row. Are they stable enough for use on the roads, especially going slowly? Perhaps it’s a novelty bike and intended only for show type situations? My guess is that is would be a little weird to begin with, especially starting off. How does it feel with bursts of power as you pull back on those handle bars?
So if this is yours, or you have something similar, or if you have been on one, please let me know! Just leave a comment below.
Links:
Row bike website
Rowing bike
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Well the Rowbike web site says it all plus up to $3000 in price. No doubt Doug has checked out the site by now.
Well, I am that Rowbiker seen at Holme Pierrepoint and yesterday by Doug beside the Thames at Oxford. Do you row it or ride it? I suppose the answer is that you row it to ride it. It is a very good form of exercise for the whole body and at the same time a new skill as the rowing action and the steering both come from the handlebars through a well engineered system. On the flat and over gentle hills it is possible to achieve good speed. I have seen video of one climbing steep hills in San Fransisco. Age and weight prevent me from doing the big hills but the Rowbike is very easy to push and good exercise in that way.
My Rowbike is for sale as we haven’t got enough room for the bikes and kayaks and camping kit etc. The Rowbike is in very good condition with a few scratches. I am open to sensible offers. Tel 07811 406319.
Hi Tom
It was a pleasure to meet you on Sunday; we could have chatted for ages! Thank you for telling me more about the Row Bike and for answering the points I had raised in my blog post – it certainly is an interesting bicycle.
I can imagine it would be an excellent form of exercise from using a rowing machine in a gym myself which gives a good all-round workout.
Also it was good to have the opportunity to see it in more detail and I was fascinated by the steering mechanism which I guess you would have to get the feel of it for a while.
Here’s wishing you luck in finding a new home for it!
Kind regards, Doug.
Still got the bike? want to sell it?
Roberto,
My apologies for not replying sooner. The bike isn’t mine but the owner’s phone number is Tel 07811 406319 (this is a UK number).
Hope this helps,
Doug.