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Introducing ErgBuddy: Your Smarter Training Partner

April 16, 20263 min read

Why we built ErgBuddy

Most rowing training knowledge lives in college boathouses and behind expensive coaching subscriptions. If you're a self-coached masters rower, a walk-on learning to train, or someone who just bought their first Concept2 — the best advice you'll find is scattered across Reddit threads, aging forum posts, and paywalled coaching platforms.

We thought that was wrong.

ErgBuddy codifies sports science into software so that every rower gets quality programming — not just those who can afford a personal coach or a $44/month subscription tied to proprietary hardware.

What ErgBuddy does

At its core, ErgBuddy is simple:

  1. Enter your benchmarks — your 2k, 6k, or 60-minute personal best
  2. Get a periodized program — phased from base building through race sharpening
  3. Row today's workout — target split, duration, and reasoning, every day

Every pace zone and training phase comes from published rowing physiology research. Your benchmarks drive the entire program. No guessing — calculating.

Built for real rowers

ErgBuddy isn't a gamified fitness app. It's not an entertainment platform bundled with expensive hardware. It's a focused training tool built by rowers, for rowers:

  • The 40-year-old on a home erg who wants structure but doesn't know where to start
  • The college walk-on learning how to train properly for the first time
  • The competitive masters athlete chasing a PB at Crash-Bs
  • The coach managing a team and looking for affordable per-athlete tools

What's free, what's Pro

ErgBuddy is free to start with no credit card required. The free tier includes:

  • Benchmark tracking and pace zone calculation
  • Goal-specific training programs
  • Daily workout with target split and reasoning
  • 90-day workout history
  • Offline demo mode with sample data

Pro unlocks the full toolkit for $2/month (or $9.99/year — that's less than a single race entry):

  • Unlimited workout history
  • Progress charts and split trend visualization
  • Training load analytics
  • CSV and PDF export
  • No ads and priority support

Teams get even better pricing at $1.99/user/year through our Partnership plan.

Every erg. Every browser.

ErgBuddy is a web app — no app store required. It works on any device with a browser. Concept2, WaterRower, RP3, or that old Hydrow collecting dust in the garage — it all works.

It's also a PWA, so you can install it on your phone's home screen for a native-app feel.

What's next

This is just the beginning. Here's what's on the roadmap:

  • Concept2 Logbook integration — auto-import your existing workout data
  • Progress charts — visualize your split trends and volume over time
  • Team dashboards — coaches can manage rosters and view aggregate training data
  • On-water support — log on-water sessions alongside your erg training

We're building ErgBuddy in the open. If you have feedback, feature requests, or just want to say hi, reach out at hello@ergbuddy.com.

Try it now

Head to ergbuddy.com to start training. No sign-up required — demo mode lets you explore the full app with sample data.

Your smarter training partner is ready when you are.