oar inspired is back on kickstarter

[James HS]

Based on the premise that you can't improve what you can't measure (ok not strictly true .........)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1771876920/oar-inspired-performance-measurement-solution/backers

I am a backer - otherwise no affiliation.

Since they failed to get funding in the last round they have realised (been persuaded) that scullers may be the early adopters so the sculling package is the most interesting one at the moment.

Being able to record and compare things like catch angle, depth and pressure is particularly interesting for me as a largely self coached single sculler and this kit should provide that.

James

[Charles Carroll]

> Being able to record and compare things like catch angle,
> depth and pressure is particularly interesting for me as
> a largely self coached single sculler and this kit should
> provide that.

James,

Many thanks. I just became a backer.

When I had my epiphany last Thursday about how to scull Carl’s shell it was
accompanied with the realization that subjective perception unsupported by
measurement can be very misleading.

When I thought I was sculling fast, the SpeedCoach said I wasn’t. And when I
thought I was sculling slow, the SpeedCoach also said I wasn’t. My
perception of how I was sculling was just simply wrong on both counts.

I would be nice to have some objective measurement of how I am sculling.

Warmest regards,

Charles


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[Jonny]

I have been considering becoming a backer to get a set up for a 1x, but AUD$1000 isn't a small sum even if it is a fair price.

Not sure I'd get enough use out of it personally, nor would I be necessarily able to recover any cost via payments for coaching or hire of the kit.

[James HS]

On Wednesday, 3 September 2014 05:58:35 UTC+1, Jonny wrote:
> I have been considering becoming a backer to get a set up for a 1x, but AUD$1000 isn't a small sum even if it is a fair price.
>
>
>
> Not sure I'd get enough use out of it personally, nor would I be necessarily able to recover any cost via payments for coaching or hire of the kit.

I agree that it is not a cheap piece of kit - I guess I am comparing it to the GPS or XL2 NK products - both of which I have and have used extensively - for coaching and post race analysis.

This set up is roughly twice the price (without the footplates) but gives such a wealth of data that can help the sculler.

I hope to use my rig to coach individual athletes (yes we are low level masters who stand no chance of winning anything, but this low level of tight night masters have helped a lightweight female athlete through our learn to row scheme and with time and financial sponsorship (personal donations)into the British squad where she is already winning medals :)

So the kit keeps us around and our learning filters down into the real club and national sport.

With a reference to some of the other threads - the masters section is the only one that actively teaches boatmanship, steering and basic boat handling skills to the younger members of the club so they can stop in short order, spin their boats on a dime and take care of the kit.

But I also just love this stuff and the more I measure and assess, strangely the more fluid and natural I can become :)

I am lucky though - I don't charge for coaching and am just naturally curious about measuring the world around me.

James

[thomas....@googlemail.com]

To add my 2p's worth, I am also a backer and am very keen to see this come onto the market since I believe having access to a reasonably priced power meter could really shake up how we train and row, in particular what is I think is good about the Oarinspired system

1) It offers a touchscreen monitor that should be easy to view in sunlight. For me this is key as often rowers are at the mercy of how their coaches ability to explain and describe how the stroke should be taken and how it should feel, with this screen both the rower (and the coach if you get a second "coaches" rowcom monitor) can instantly see changes to the stroke as they happen, and the rower can see what the coaches advised changes to their stroke does to their force curve. The study linked below shows an example of how viual feedback can benefit rowers looking to improve

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/scni19a4.htm

2) Measurements of force are more reliable than measurements of boat velocity taken from GPS/impeller as velocity can be affected by more environmental factors like wind/stream, where as the force you apply to the gate per stroke would not be affected by these factors, making it much easier to review training over time and see improvements

3) Training and conditioning techniques can be better investigated/improved with access to power meters, as they have in cycling now that power meters for bikes have become more accessible

http://breakingmuscle.com/endurance-sports/the-advantage-of-training-with-a-power-meter

That's just the start of my thoughts on why kit like this would be so useful for people looking to improve and enjoy their rowing/sculling, im really hoping they complete the funding and are able to get to the market soon

[marko....@gmail.com]

Rowinginmotion are putting together a gate sensor which was on display at the worlds. Not sure what the price tag might be. For my uses their 56euro/yr app is enough though!

[thomas....@googlemail.com]

Just a heads up that their Kickstarter is now into the last 4 days, so its the last chance to pick up one of the offered discounted devices before they look to launch properly next year

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1771876920/oar-inspired-performance-measurement-solution

Its worth noting as well that although a lot has been said about the full telemetry system they offer, due to the modular nature of the product you dont have to have the full system for it to be useful, for example the RowCom4 (which is offered in kickstarter for $240 AUD/£129) is a nice little alternative to the wireless NK Strokecoach, or the RowCom4 and speed sensor (440AUD or £237) is the equivalent to the NK GP, but with the following additional features:

http://www.oarinspired.com.au/rowcom-top10/

As an aside , it'll be interesting to see how peoples understanding of how to best row a boat changes now that devices like this becomes more available and maybe more people will think more about the basics of how the rower and boat interact rather than just repeating old Matra's (i.e. talking about how the rower moves in relation to the boat rather than how the boat moves in relation to the rower)