What is it? That thing at your gym, with a pulley rope and a seat, that you never see anyone on.

How much does it cost? They’re at your local gym. Don’t buy one, because they cost hundreds of pounds and that’s a lot of money for somewhere to put your clothes instead of the floor.

What does it promise? One of the most efficient workouts around. When you row, you’re using your whole body – upper, lower, core – simultaneously. Plus your heart rate stays elevated throughout the entire session, so think of it as a spin class complete with leg-presses and pull-downs. People should row constantly.

What’s it actually like? In fact, people are barely rowing at all. At the last three gyms I’ve joined, the rowing machines have been little more than dusty old ornaments; relics of a bygone age that exist purely to remind people that Andrew Marr had a stroke after using one. So here’s where I attempt to initiate a rowing revival: I’ve started to row a couple of times a week again, and I can’t remember why I stopped. Every time I kick backwards and the flywheel roars, I feel I’m achieving something (though you need to spend some time checking that your form and posture are good). It’s much more exhausting than a treadmill or cross-trainer, too. In fact, three or four relatively vigorous 1,000-metre bursts makes for a sturdy, compact workout. Everyone should be rowing. Next time I’m at the gym, I don’t want to see a single empty machine.

Best and worst bit It can get boring. Try mixing up sprint sections, or beating your previous time to row 500m. The plus side? The machines are always available in the gym.

Is it worth it? Yes.