Drag Factor

Drag Factor: Drag factor is a numerical value (typically 80-220) that represents the resistance or air resistance experienced during each stroke on a rowing ergometer.

What is Drag Factor?

Drag factor quantifies how much air resistance the flywheel encounters during each stroke. It is influenced by the damper setting but also by factors like air temperature, humidity, dust in the fan cage, and altitude. A higher drag factor means more resistance per stroke, simulating a heavier boat or rougher water conditions. Most rowers train at a drag factor between 105-135, with Concept2 recommending 120-140 for general training. The PM5 monitor can display your current drag factor, allowing you to set consistent resistance regardless of which machine you use. This is more reliable than using the damper setting alone, as two machines at damper 5 can have different drag factors.

How Watta Uses Drag Factor

Watta reads the drag factor from your erg screen when available, helping you maintain training consistency across sessions and machines. It provides context for your Effort Score — the same split at different drag factors represents different physiological demands.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Content

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.Force CurveThe force curve is a graph displayed on the PM5 monitor showing the force applied to the erg handle throughout each stroke, used to analyse rowing technique.Split to Watts ConverterErg Technique GuideFor Concept2 Users
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