PERFORMANCE AND BLOOD LACTATE ON GJESSING AND CONCEPT-II ROWING ERGOMETERS

The Gjessing (GE) and the wind resistance (Concept II, CII) rowing erg ometers were compared in 11 trained subjects during incremental exerci se. Maximum power was 255 (200-370) W on GE, but 294 (204-393) W in CI I (median and range, p < 0.05). If power was directly measured by a st rain gauge and a displacement transducer in the CH, a 5.1% (3.2%-7.8%) higher maximum performance was obtained (314 [223-413] W, p < 0.05). Maximum stroke rates were higher in GE (33 [27-37]/min) than in CII (2 9 [24-35]/min, NS). Blood lactate increased faster with work rate and lactic anaerobic threshold was therefore lower in GE. Blood lactate wa s higher for every heart rate for GE compared to CII. This suggests hi gher anaerobic effort in GE rowing.