When you saunter into the erg room at the rowing club it’s so cold you may as well be outdoors on the near frozen Schuykill River. Strapping into the erg, it’s not long before your circulation revives and you’re peeling off layers.You may even be moved to crack open the door to let that frozen oxygen seep in from outdoors.

Let’s face it, there’s absolutely nothing to like about the erg.

It’s a glorified, modern day torture rack with a flywheel. Mind-numbing. Yet it is probably the single best conditioning method for the new rowing season ahead. If you skip the erg you’ll never catch up. No matter how many miles you row on those beautiful, sunny, warm days you’ll feel that missing aerobic edge. To erg or not to erg, that is the question.