The principle used here is to add vortex generators (turbulators) to the shaft. This will add turbulence to the flow so it stays attached to the oar longer which reduces the effective size of the shaft through the air. Same reason why golf balls have dimples, to keep the air flow attached longer and reduce drag. Obviously dimpling your shaft would remove material and probably comprise strength and safety. If you are going to go to these lengths, you want to look at the riggers too.

I can't wait for the first rowing competition when I see aero helmets on the athletes. Do rowers shave their arms/legs? I see lots of potential aero gains in rowing. Let's get one of those boats in a wind tunnel. It would be a ton of fun!

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

In all seriousness: in my humble opinion, helmets are a necessity for beach sprint and even coastal rowing

Great video, mate!

@AramTraining

3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

Surely having a foil on the top of the blade would cause more drag than the dots would reduce? I think the randallfoil is interesting but I would think having a vertical surface would cause a lot of drag

@ianjosephrandall

4 ай бұрын

The foil is proven tech www.researchgate.net/publication/377500445_Effect_of_Randall_foils_on_the_rowing_propulsive_cycle Likewise dots www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705816306452/pdf?md5=f164066cfe733c37b8c2330f3537a0f5&pid=1-s2.0-S1877705816306452-main.pdf

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

more forward propulsion in comparison

@daleq22

4 ай бұрын

I thought the same... Randal foils appear to increase the frontal area of a feathered blade by at least 3x. This additional frontal area is at the end of the oar where relative speed is highest, further increasing drag. While I can see dots may help aerodynamic efficiency, since they are located on a "slower" portion of the oar (inboard of the blade), the extra drag from the foil will significantly exceed the improvements by the dots.

@ianjosephrandall

4 ай бұрын

@@daleq22 these are not mutually exclusive... a big engine on a racing car does not negate the application of aerodynamic fenders. The foil is associated with increased blade performance.... you can still deal with the shaft.

@dermotbalaam5358

4 ай бұрын

The results say otherwise.

Interesting. I read about the use of 'go-faster' tape on the keel in at least one edition of the Boat Race.

Nature has already done that with a sharks skin, where fish secrete oil onto their scales, a sharks skin is covered in bumps or riblets called denticles that is suspected to give a hydrodynamically efficient advantage.

Skinny oar shafts are advertised as reducing air drag as well. Surely this has been tested.

Hi! I was talking with some fellow rowers about the biorower and we had 2 questions that we couldn't find good answers to 1) Is the biorower watts/splits consistent across machines? Have you published anything anywhere confirming if it is to verify? 2) What are the splits calibrated to? Single? double? straight 4? I've seen different answers all over the internet. Thanks!

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

A proper scientific study is currently being conducted, it will take a while before the results are out, though. So far: BIOROWER uses the standardized Watts to 500m-Split ratio everybody else is using. (200W equals roughly 2:00, and so on) It is more challenging to generate the same Watts on a BIOROWER compared to linear drive ergs because your actually need rowing specific technique to apply force around the oarlocks. The better your technique (also when you are tired), the closer the Watts are to your linear drive erg Watts. (This is also, what the researchers have confirmed so far)

@louispetitjean1652

4 ай бұрын

@@AramTraining This is good to hear! I'm excited to see the study. Is the study also evaluating the consistency of the same athlete across multiple different biorowers (intra-operator variability)?

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

Yes. Why do you need a scientific study, btw?

@louispetitjean1652

4 ай бұрын

@@AramTraining Well, people are very wedded to C2 and believe that it's the only machine that is reliable/consistent and thus is the only machine that can be used for testing (At least according to the princeton coaches I was talking to). A peer-reviewed study would go a ways to validate the variability of the biorower, both against other biorowers and compared to C2.

I am starting to compet as a master rower , and I am very interested by these informations ! Would it make sens to buy my own oars and put Randall foils in it as well as these aero elements ? Even if I have to change scull because I dont have my own. In that case what kind of blades should I buy ? And were can I buy these aero elements ? Thanks a lot for your help and advices And Thanks Aram for your great vidéos !!

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

Your own equipment is always better, just because you can set it up exactly as you need it. The best oars on the market are (in my humble opinion) Braca nanos with Randallfoils pre-installed ex factory. These areodots are available in every hardware store. It is sold as floor protection for furniture. And thank you for your great feedback!

@axellemikaeloff7357

4 ай бұрын

@@AramTrainingThanks a lot, thats very helpfull !!

can I get a link where to get these? I only get headpohnes in my search results

@ianjosephrandall

3 ай бұрын

Can't post a link. Look up self adhesive door stopper.

All the novices at clubs will be using this…..imagine the improvement in J14 times let alone G category Masters!!!

Wouldn't the Olympics have used this already? Or people in World rowing would have found this? Also, when are you going to Henley?

@stanlivy

4 ай бұрын

used already 2000 olympics, slightly different method but same principle

@AramTraining

2 ай бұрын

Will be there for Henley Royal 24, first week of July

Aero elements were last documented used at 2000 Oly by GB VIII. Yes, rowing has an innovation adoption problem.

@ianjosephrandall

4 ай бұрын

100pcs-clear-adhesive-bumper-pads-sound-dampening-transparent-rubber-feet-for-cabinet-doors-drawers-glass-tops-picture-frames-cutting-boards

In rowing, 0.1% improvement is enough

This is not new- see rip strips used by the GB 2000 8+ and also by CUBC subsequently

@AramTraining

4 ай бұрын

I think Ian mentioned that

This would add more plastic to our oceans. Please don't use these.

@ianjosephrandall

4 ай бұрын

The entire oar and boat is plastic. The energy drink packaging the rower consumers contains more plastic than this. Pots and kettles. Solution... the tech is proven. It is now up to manufacturers to apply the design concept to the initial mold. Better still make oar shafts considerate of aerodynamics 101 ... tear drop profile. This is a design concept to demonstrate a design innovation principle.