I’ve been hoping for a product like MyRow to come to market for as long as I can remember. I love rowing and own a Concept2 Model D, one of the most popular rowing machines in the world. Concept2’s ergometer (a fancy word for “rowing machine”) is a workhorse in gyms around the world. But the Vermont-based company has been slow when it comes to implementing the smart fitness revolution. The best thing it offers is some clips from modern machines that can be used to hold third-party tablets in place.
Inspired by Peloton, many other companies are installing HD screens in their gym equipment that display live classes. But the Concept2 still stands alongside the PM5. The PM5 debuted in 2014 and is a small black box with an LCD display that shows stats like split time and stroke rate. For those of you who can’t quite imagine how I feel, it’s like if you owned a Game Boy and everyone in the world was enjoying Steam Decks. I bought a small 3D printed smartphone holder on eBay to remedy the problem, but I still can’t help but feel like I’m missing something different.
Advance MyRow, the brainchild of Transit Wireless founder Gary Simpson, who brought cell phone service to New York City’s subways. While sheltering in place from COVID-19, he had a Concept2 and a Peloton bike at home to stay in shape. Back at CES, he said that despite his love of rowing, he often defaults to bikes with glossy screens and video classes. Inspired, he founded MyRow with the spirit of offering something similar to Concept2.
The final product is an internet-connected display that can be retrofitted to a Concept2 Model C, D, E, or RowErg as long as it is equipped with a PM5. The package includes a 22-inch display, a power adapter, and a mounting arm that must be bolted onto the rower. Once installed, you’ll not only have access to on-demand video classes and digital workout guides, but you’ll also have a better way to see your rowing stats compared to the secondary Game Boy display you’re used to.
Installation took less than 30 minutes, most of which involved bolting the mounting arm onto the rower. Please note that you will need to connect a data cable from PM5 to MyRow as the tablet cannot be connected directly to the machine. We hope you’re good at cable management, because you’ll need to find a way to elegantly route your data and power cables along the rower’s body.
Photo by Daniel Cooper/Engadget
Under the hood, MyRow is a skinned Android tablet that takes a minute to boot up and an additional minute for software updates. Since the device is so new, there have been a lot of updates, including adding plans and features. The UI is very simple, with large target boxes and clean lines, which is great if you need to change settings mid-line.
This product also has a surprising amount of connectivity, with ports for Ethernet, USB-C, micro USB, USB-A, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Plus, it’s Bluetooth and ANT+ compatible, making it compatible with any wireless headphones or heart rate monitors you use. The device has a forward-facing webcam, but it’s currently not being used for anything. The company is looking to eventually build a form analysis tool that leverages it, and may also use cameras to enhance group rows.
With your feet fixed and one hand on the grab, choose your workout. Users can choose from video workouts as well as preset and custom training plans that simply display the intervals on screen. The stats are laid out much like any other on-demand fitness class, with important vitals listed at the bottom. This includes calories burned, distance rowed, number of strokes, pace per 500 meters, average pace, length of stroke, power, and average power.
On the left side of the display, you’ll see a timeline showing when the next internal will take place, and on the right side you’ll see a leaderboard for the video classes you’re participating in. I don’t consider myself a very competitive person, but leaderboards brought out something in me. I’m sure MyRow’s currently small user base is what helped me break into the top 10 in many classes. But a win is a win.
Photo by Daniel Cooper/Engadget
While I enjoy using MyRow, I do have one complaint given the custom nature of the product. The Concept2 rowing machine uses air resistance, so when you pull the chain, it powers the fan. This fan makes so much noise that it drowns out the instructor’s voice and music even at maximum volume. Probably wouldn’t be a problem for a keen-eared rower, but I wish more effort had been made to compensate for the general rower noise.
Well, 2024 has been a year of intense self-examination and a year of humbly admitting my shortcomings. I’m almost 40 years old, and I’m not going to magically evolve into a person who cares about my own meager gains. I’m not going to look at a countdown timer and compare it to my previous lap’s best time and try to beat it regularly. I love rowing, but I get bored of it. If you can watch your favorite streaming service while rowing, a big screen will make that hassle less of a hassle.
That’s why we’re excited to learn that MyRow has committed to integrating streaming video into its platform by spring 2025. Because when you’re not taking on-demand video lessons, you’re just staring at a well-designed statistics screen. . The sooner you can add all kinds of entertainment to it, even if it’s just a clip of people paddling on a beautiful river, the better.
Photo by Daniel Cooper/Engadget
I’m optimistic about MyRow’s potential to help turn the Concept2 into a machine that’s a little more friendly to enthusiasts. Available now, you’ll save $500 on tablets, and membership costs $36 per month or $359.88 if paid annually, a 20 percent discount. However, if you buy the tablet separately, you can still use the Just Row feature, but you’re essentially paying more for better data visualization.
