diff --git a/rowers/middleware.py b/rowers/middleware.py
index e3284aed..db511b02 100644
--- a/rowers/middleware.py
+++ b/rowers/middleware.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 from django.utils import timezone
 from rowers.models import Workout, PowerTimeFitnessMetric, Rower
 import datetime
+from utils import myqueue
+import django_rq
+queue = django_rq.get_queue('default')
+from rowers.tasks import handle_updatefitnessmetric
 
 def getrower(user):
     try:
@@ -23,10 +27,11 @@ def do_update(user,mode='rower',days=42):
         workoutmode=mode)
 
     if len(ms) == 0:
-        return 0
-    
-    max_workout_id = max([m.last_workout for m in ms])
-    last_update_date = max([m.date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for m in ms])
+        max_workout_id = 0
+        last_update_date = '1972-01-01'
+    else:
+        max_workout_id = max([m.last_workout for m in ms])
+        last_update_date = max([m.date.strftime('%Y-%m-%d') for m in ms])
     
     if mode == 'rower':
         workouts = Workout.objects.filter(
@@ -40,14 +45,18 @@ def do_update(user,mode='rower',days=42):
             startdatetime__gte=startdate)
 
     theids = [int(w.id) for w in workouts]
-    max_id = max(theids)
+    try:
+        max_id = max(theids)
+    except ValueError:
+        max_id = 0
 
     if last_update_date < now_date and max_workout_id < max_id:
         job = myqueue(queue,
                       handle_updatefitnessmetric,
-                      request.user.id,mode,theids,
+                      user.id,mode,theids,
         )
 
+
     return 1
 
 class PowerTimeFitnessMetricMiddleWare(object):