Huge respect to everyone doing 2k tests when you dont absolutely have to - they're awful, awful things that leave me wanting to vomit, unable to breathe and on the verge of soiling myself every bloody time. For what it's worth, I normally have the damper on about 5, rate about 28/30 strokes a minute for most of it and I'm 6'2" and 100[ish]kgs.
Getting better at using the machine is a good way to 'cheat' some time off your PB without actually working any harder, so if anyone wants some coaching and you're coming past cambridge, let me know!
I did a 5k last week so my new rowing club can see how fit* I am, it was my first 'flat out' 5k for about 15 years and I'd forgotten just how much it hurts, but also how much you can push even when it does hurt. I didnt die!
* - not very.