Me and My Rower is a new feature for people to write about their relationship with the Indoor Rower. Whether it's about how you first came across the machine; why you row; what you like about the machine, or whatever, just send it in to [email protected]. That way there's less for us to do and we can try and complete Chucky Egg.Eric Duncan: I have a rowing room. It is a spare room in the basement that, besides being dedicated to my exercise space, contains my book storage area (i.e., three walls more or less floor to ceiling with books). The books serve the added function of hiding the walls, which are finished in cheap wood panelling c.1970. The room also contains a dehumidifier, a small TV, my oldest, cruddiest stereo system, and a small fireplace, with a non-functioning chimney. There is a cute picture of a fire in the fireplace, drawn for me by my 5-year old daughter (also cute). This contrasts sharply with the rough-finished concrete floor (I ripped out the original mildewy carpet when we moved in). I like to think the floor creates a Spartan atmosphere, which suits my rowing efforts - plus, the floor now has a really cool pattern of dried sweat drops.There is one erg in the room (a Model B) as well as a pull device for cross-country skiing. (The latter consists of a wooden frame about the size of the erg that allows a padded, wheeled board to roll up and down a ramp (much like a rowing seat). You lie on the board on your stomach, grab onto two ropes attached to the top of the frame (with ski pole grips on the ends of the ropes), and pull yourself up and down in a motion similar to that used to double-pole in cross-country skiing. Resistance depends on the angle of the ramp (and how much you weigh)).There is a mirror next to the erg. I don't look directly at myself much, but I find that having the image of another rower next to me (even if it is a reflection of me) has a positive effect. For some reason, my rowing seems much more efficient if someone is next to me, even if they haven't the vaguest notion of what they're doing.