To a rower engaged in winter dryland training they are the source of all evil. The makers of the CII rowing ergometer, which is the primary lactic acid generator during the months when the river is frozen.
The CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships, held in Boston, Massachusetts each February, uses the Concept II erg. The world record on a CII is 5:37 for 2000m, set by Rob Waddell of New Zealand, who won a gold medal in the single sculls at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.