2023-24 Race Erg Orders

Because our club hosts Chicagoland Shiver, Concept2 allows us to offer race ergs at a discounted price with shipping covered. This is a significant discount over purchaing a Concept2 RowErg at retail cost. The retail cost of a RowErg as of September 1, 2023 is $990 plus shipping (shipping is usually around $100).

Below is the information on how the race erg program works and what the dates and deadlines are if you would like to take advantage of this program...

What You Are Getting & How The Program Works
You are purchasing a brand new Concept2 RowErg. These are the same ergs that we use at the rowing center and the same ergs that are standard throughout the rowing community. By purchasing an erg through Sweeps & Sculls, you are getting a significant discount (overall around $200+ savings), but you are agreeing to 2 things...

1. Sweeps & Sculls will be using your erg one time for the Chicagoland Shiver Regatta. You will be able to pick up the erg and take it home after the regatta (if we get them early, you can take it home when we receive it, however, you will need to bring it back for us to use at the regatta).

2. If you should choose to sell your erg at any time down the road, you agree to contact Sweeps & Sculls to see if the club would like to purchase it.

Here are a few other details on how the program works:

• The ergs will arrive some time in January or early February.

• As mentioned above, if we get them early enough before the regatta, you can take your erg home, however, we will need it back at least a week before the regatta. We will make sure that it is labeled so you get your specific erg back. Otherwise, you can pick up your erg after the regatta on February 24, 2024.

• You must pay at least 50% by the order deadline and the other 50% before you pick up the erg.

Prices & Deadlines

• Black Model D Erg price: $890

• Gray Model D Erg price: $840 (Please Note: This year only, Concept2 is offering limited quantities of GRAY RowErgs at a discounted race price. These are the same Gray RowErgs Concept2 was producing pre-pandemic. They have the updated tablet mount, but do have old “Model D” graphics on the monorail.)

• Order & Payment Deadline: January 8, 2024 (a minimum of 50% of the cost is due at this time)

How To Order

To order your erg, all you need to do is email Coach Sue at sue@sweepsandsculls.org and let me know that you would like to purchase an erg and which one you would like to purchase. Once you do that, I will send you an invoice that you can pay against. I will place the order on January 9, 2024 and let you know what the approximate delivery date is as soon as I know.

Do I Have To Buy An Erg? Why Should I Buy An Erg?

I get asked these question a lot, so I just thought I would jot down what I always tell people.

First of all, you are not required to buy an erg. There are some reasons to have an erg of your own, but it really depends on where you are in your rowing journey (or where your rower is in their rowing journey).

• If your rower is on the Mentor or Juniors team, or is interested in being on the Mentor or Juniros team, having an erg at home makes some things much easier. Because we give rowers the flexibilty to do workouts at home, having the equipment available to be able to do that is extremely helpful.

• However if your rower is still very young or very new, having an erg at home might not be a great thing. Until rowers have enough technique to be able to self-correct some of the big technique issues when rowing, erging on their own can actually engrain some poor habits that would need to be addressed when they are trying to row in a team setting. It's never a bad idea to plan ahead if you are thinking your rower is heading toward the Mentor/Juniors team, but just know that I encourage erg use at home to start slowly.

• If you are a Masters Rower, you do have access to the machines at the Rowing Center, however, there are times when it is nice to have an erg of your own at home.

Again, it is not a requirement to have your own erg, but there are times when you will find that it definitley makes life much easier.

Second, if you decide to purchase an erg, I only recommend Concept2 for several reasons...

• Concept2 ergs are standard in the rowing world. If you go in to any boathouse, including collegiate boathouses, you will find Concept2 ergs, and you will find Concept2 ergs in our Rowing Center. What this means is that it makes it much easier to do the workouts and hit the targets that the coaches are giving. There will be some translation required with other rowing machines, and the calibration on the less expensive rowing machines is not good and just not worth it at all.

• Concept2 ergs hold their value and you WILL be able to sell it if you ever decide to. I have purchased a number of used Concept2 ergs and the model that you would be getting typically sell for about $100 less than retail, so you aren't going to lose much. They also sell very quickly. First of all, you have a built-in way to sell your erg because one of the requirements of participating in this program is that you agree to conact Sweeps & Sculls before selling. However, when Concept2 ergs are listed on Facebook Marketplace, you they are usually sold within 24 hours.

If you are interested in details on any of this, plesae feel free to give Coach Sue a call or talk to me about it before or after practice.