Why did you design the gamut2, after 40 years no less?
What is the difference between the original Gamut and the new gamut2?
Does gamut2 come as a double-sided erg?
Does the gamut2 have a return spring or a bungie chord?
Why do you use a mechanical oar pull meter rather than an electronic one?
Is the score of the gamut2 the same as the Concept2?
Why did you use the Concept2 fan and readout on the gamut2?
The need for a sweep oar ergometer still exists 40 years after introducing the original Gamut. This is why many original Gamut ergs are still kept in service. However, neither the original Gamut or the Concept2 truly feel like rowing a shell. Both machines have drawbacks. The Concept2 has a late catch. Gamuts have a better catch but a weak finish. Both machines encourage rowing styles that maximize erg scores but do not move a boat. The challenge is to design a simple and rugged mechanism that overcomes these deficiencies. Once I came up with the idea of the X-drive I had to try it. Hence, the gamut2.
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gamut2 has the X-drive for better feel, a pull meter for the oar, and a Concept2 fan and display.
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No. Experience with the original Gamut showed that virtually all schools who ordered double-sided machines in the early years later converted them to two singe-sided machines. Coaches discovered that it took too long to get the entire port and starboard crew through one machine.
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The gamut2 doesn't need a return spring or a bungie chord. There is no need to rewind a chain drive or a cable drive.
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We learned from 40 years of use with the original Gamut that the electronics is always the least reliable part of the machine. Mechanical devices are simple and rugged. We decided to trade sophistication for reliability.
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The catch on a gamut2 comes significantly earlier in the stroke than on a Concept2. We do not know how this improvement in feel will impact scores. Only experience will answer this question.
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The X-drive, located inside the gamut2, duplicates the geometry of an oar as it sweeps through the water. The X-drive is animated on the web site.
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Huge production volumes make the Concept2 parts an exceptional value for the money. An extremely large customer base makes repair and maintenance knowledge widespread. Concept2 provides excellent customer service. Concept2 scores are accepted and compared worldwide. The Concept2 has become a defacto international standard. Concept2 continuously upgrades and improves their product. The heart of the gamut2 is the X-drive. The Concept2 components on the gamut2 simply absorb power and display results. Why should I re-invent the wheel when I can buy a proven and perfectly good one from Concept2?
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