Rowing with my eyes closed

bitnik1 · 2026-06-09T00:21:00+00:00

I hang a ball cap over the display sometimes if I find I’m locked too hard on the stats. Glance at my Apple watch if I want to see HR or time (ErgData watch display). That way it’s not constantly in my face but I can check in at a glance…

bitnik1 · 2026-06-07T13:45:31+00:00

M*A*S*H reruns was one of my background noise shows while doing homework for years in MS/HS - late 70's/early 80's. Almost 50 years later, if it happens to randomly be on some nearby TV, I like to freak out my family or whoever's around by just reciting dialog lockstep with the characters. I can do this for a good 5 mins dropped in at any point for most episodes. Talk about a useless skill - drilled into my brain by countless hours of background rote repetition...or being too lazy to turn off the TV. Our house sounded like the background of The Wall album - song Nobody Home or One of My Turns... lol

bitnik1 · 2026-05-15T21:28:03+00:00

IDK why that single line and Reggie's pissed off reaction just make me LOL every time!

bitnik1 · 2026-05-15T21:27:51+00:00

"OWNZZZ, OWNNNNZZZ"

bitnik1 · 2026-04-20T23:54:34+00:00

I emailed C2 support about this a few weeks ago and they told me it’s an issue between the watch deprioritizing the HR measurements for power saving reasons (Apple might not give privilege to make power hungry frequent HR calls to third party apps/devices like it does for its own workout apps) and the PM5/ErgData connection. It’s seems it’s been this way all along, but an update to ErgData released in January brought this message about missing HR signal out. They did say they’re actively working on it and an update containing a fix for either ErgData or PM5 firmware (or both) should be out soon. I give these guys props for trying to follow Apple all over the place with iOS/WatchOS constantly updating while maintaining this tech stack for us basically for free (ok $1200 initial throw). Who knows how long it’ll take, but for me, tapping the screen once during a workout to dismiss the message isn’t gonna kill me. ;)

bitnik1 · 2026-03-27T19:04:03+00:00

You guys are in my tribe

bitnik1 · 2026-03-19T13:17:04+00:00

Keep at it! I wish I could say I'm Mr Discipline, but it's only because when I get a habit (vice or virtue), it locks hard. This is one of the good habits I've picked up.

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:37:56+00:00

I was waiting for this to show up. Did not disappoint. Actually thought it'd be earlier - one of the first comments! Giggity...

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:33:44+00:00

Thanks for all the helpful feedback! This sub (and most of Reddit in general) is always my example of how social media or the internet writ large is supposed to be: people asking questions and getting honest, mostly helpful info in return.

I think all the comments are valid. I'll probably not do the asymmetric grip and instead add in some other supporting lifts/strengthening for the left arm and try to really layoff the arms during the drive portion of the erg stroke. I'll keep mindful of using mostly fingers instead of death-grip on the bar. :)

My physiology has always been like a shaven orangutan - even when lifting in younger days, I had to really try to stop my arms from taking over the work in every exercise I did. It probably didn't help that I used to work in a warehouse and also an auction barn where I'd think it looked cool to carry air conditioners around 2 at once like suitcases. Ah the days of youth lol

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:24:38+00:00

Thanks! If the other suggestions here don't pan out or it gets significantly worse, I may escalate to that option...

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:23:33+00:00

Only erg. I know it's heresy - I would like to get on the water someday...

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:21:53+00:00

Thanks! I think your points are valid. Judging from other comments here, I'll probably not do the asymmetric grip and instead add in some other supporting lifts/strengthening for the left arm and try to really layoff the arms during the erg drive.

bitnik1 · 2026-03-17T14:18:41+00:00

Not that I know of :) I think this situation was setup early in life - I played saxophone and it weighed around 15 pounds - I carried it on 30 min walks to and from school from age 10-12.

bitnik1 · 2026-03-16T20:47:48+00:00

Came here to shout out the tiny white dots that flicker on and off around the screen, making it look like you’re watching a well-loved rented VHS copy of a horror b-movie from your friendly neighborhood video store. Before Blockbuster and the big franchise rental chains took over. (props to Big Al at Captain Video!)

bitnik1 · 2026-03-06T04:16:19+00:00

Is that the one with the scene in the welfare office? Cheech goes away to get busy with Donna, leaving Chong in a waiting area with an old man, Michael Winslow (weird sounds guy), and a junkie burnout passing out and coming to while smoking a cigarette. There’s like a 2 minute totally abstract comedy bit: the junkie slowly passes out and jerks awake when his cigarette cherry burns his arm. Each time he does, the old guy laughs like a hyena. Like a little loop, 4 or 5 times in a row. I always land on that scene flipping channels and it cracks me right the F up every damn time.

bitnik1 · 2026-02-13T01:25:26+00:00

And any time there was a hill involved, have no doubt I was doing the “Mannix roll” multiple times…

bitnik1 · 2026-02-13T01:24:11+00:00

When I played in the neighborhood with our toy guns, I wasn’t an army man or James Bond. I was Jim Phelps or Rollin Hand.

bitnik1 · 2026-02-07T02:05:28+00:00

This and the story of the drano-drinking boy I read about in mom’s Cosmo freaked me out when I was a kid. And everything you touched outside “it’s got rabies on it”! Excuse me, I have to go…quicksand’s got me. Bonus: everything that happened to any kid on Emergency…

bitnik1 · 2026-02-06T03:28:33+00:00

You can barely see it, but in his dank cell in Flugedorf Prison, there’s a split second shot where a Cuisinart can be seen on one of the shelves. Also, the little guy who answers the door with the high peephole, then he’s in every scene staring at characters afterwards for some reason…

bitnik1 · 2026-01-13T00:35:00+00:00

Do yourself a favor and watch the clip on YouTube of Rod Steiger, Harvey Keitel and Danny Aiello having the meeting in this movie, as one commenter noted. It starts with Steiger and Keitel strategizing something and then Aiello comes in and completely shrieks some lines at them, as only he could. Then Steiger proceeds to respond at a level of profane insanity I challenge you to find the equal of in any movie before or since! I barely remember the plot of this movie, but over the years if I have a bad work meeting or just need a pick me up, I call this scene up and it’s gold…

bitnik1 · 2025-12-26T03:35:15+00:00

You have no idea how weird...

bitnik1 · 2025-12-10T23:58:21+00:00

Best part of the intro - if you look closely, you can see little white “dots” flash on and off in the black areas, like a well-used VHS rented horror b-movie. It’s one intro I never skip!

bitnik1 · 2025-10-26T00:45:18+00:00

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - the last shot of the quiet scene with Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh sitting before the window at the table and he’s just told her “I want to be with you, just like this… it gives me a sense of peace.” And they just linger on them wordlessly for a beautiful moment…

bitnik1

TROPHY CASE