Flywheel

Flywheel: The flywheel is the spinning air resistance mechanism inside a Concept2 ergometer that generates resistance during the drive phase of the rowing stroke.

What is Flywheel?

The flywheel is the core resistance mechanism of the Concept2 erg. It is a large fan-shaped wheel enclosed in a housing. During the drive, the chain wraps around the flywheel axle and spins it, generating air resistance. The faster the flywheel spins, the more air resistance it encounters. Between strokes (during the recovery), the flywheel decelerates due to air drag — this deceleration rate is what determines the drag factor. The damper setting controls vents on the flywheel housing: open vents allow more air in, increasing deceleration rate and creating a "heavier" feel. The flywheel provides the smooth, responsive resistance that makes the Concept2 feel natural. It is a passive system — there are no motors or magnets, just air physics.

How Watta Uses Flywheel

The flywheel generates the data that appears on the PM5 monitor — split time, watts, stroke rate, and distance are all calculated from the flywheel's rotation speed and deceleration. Watta captures these metrics from the PM5 display to calculate your Effort Score.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

Drag FactorDrag factor is a numerical value (typically 80-220) that represents the resistance or air resistance experienced during each stroke on a rowing ergometer.Damper SettingThe damper setting is the adjustable lever (1-10) on the side of a Concept2 rowing ergometer that controls airflow to the flywheel and affects resistance.Concept2 RowErgThe Concept2 RowErg (formerly Model D/E) is the industry-standard air-resistance rowing ergometer used by Olympic teams, universities, CrossFit boxes, and home gyms worldwide.Split to Watts ConverterErg Technique GuideFor Concept2 Users
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