Ergometers have been used in rowing training since the 50s and 60s in many countries. The earliest examples were huge metal contraptions with a big sold fly-wheel, and were desperately hated by all oarsmen and oarswomen.
The 80s saw the development of some lighter, slightly more rower-friendly machines such as the Repco, which had a wheel which acted against air resistance. Some years later, the highly technical Gjessing, from Norway was designed and became the internationally accepted standard measuring tool which was used around the world. It was only later that the Dreissigackers came out with the Concept2 which had the great advantage of being light, relatively inexpensive, and consistent, so that wherever you were, and on whatever machine, you could compare your score with others.
In 1980 a group of Olympic and World Team Rowers, known as the Charles River All Star Has-Beens (“C.R.A.S.H.-B.”), created an erg race to add some excitement to winter training. The competition had humble beginnings in Harvard’s Newell Boathouse. From this the idea of ergometer racing developed, notably the CrashBs, in Boston, as it became possible to compare the scores from a large number of machines rowed at once.
Over the years the event moved to accommodate more rowers. The race length was shortened to its present 2000 meters in 1996 to meet FISA standards. That year the event became the World Indoor Rowing Championships. Today the winner of each division is presented with a hammer, in honor of the first commodore of the C.R.A.S.H.-B., Tiff Wood. Wood rowed for Harvard, was a member of three U.S. National Teams and won the bronze medal in the single sculls at the 1983 World Rowing Championships. He was known as a “hammer,” a rower who values brute strength over technique.
May I offer for you reading pleasure: I am still chunky, hefty; maybe even still obese
You may also enjoy reading: She seemed more involved in the act of rhinotillexomania
Stumble It!
web blog: Comics Legends and Lore
web blog: Time Less Images
web blog: Tom's Cats
web store: Time-Less-Image Ebay Store
MySpace Profile: Time-Less-Image on MySpace
Technorati Tags: C.R.A.S.H.-B
Blogs are ranked in various ways, and one of the more significant ones (besides linking or subscribing) happens via Technorati. In brief, Technorati tracks millions of blogs and lets users search them, tag them, and rank them. If you own a blog, or if you read them, I recommend signing up with Technorati (it's free and takes a couple minutes). And if you enjoy this blog, I encourage you, please, to "favorite" it. 
