b'Matters heart of thematter Thingsthat Matter Since 1990 Smarter CyclingFeaturing Local People, Places and PUBLISHER& EDITOR IN CHIEFEllen Donker Its getting me through MarchASSOCIATEEDITOR BY ELLEN DONKERCheryl SilverSOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER My avatar is with me at Rachael Entine every turn of the wheel as I cycle indoors.ADVERTISING CONSULTANTSRene ConlonH. Leslie GilmanCOPY EDITORS Ifa- even play with my new present. likestohelpmeput Nick HumezTia Swanson hate to be nega-CONTRIBUTORS tive, but Marchthings togetherI de-Kelly Brown, Adrianna Donat, ismyleastterminedthatmyold Maya Haynie, Malia Rulon Herman,voritemonth.bikewasntcompat-Carla Labianca, Ilene Moreno, Except for the fact that I got married in March, Iveible with the trainer. It had the wrong kind of cassette. Of Cassandra Ratkevitch, Tia Swanson, learned to go into the season with low expectations.course, this took hours to figure out as I first had to become Julia Maloof Verderosa True, it does mark the beginning of spring, but thatsliterate on the parts of a bike. What a downer. I couldnt the precise reason why I dislike it so much. It brings a false sense of hope that better weather is here. I havent looked atDuring the next few weeks, I sought out help from three it from a scientific standpoint but it seems to me that Marchbike specialists and all of them agreed that I needed a new has the worst weather of any month, with its noreasters,or newish used bike. So not only had I gotten a pricey smart wind-driven rains and cloudy skies. trainer but now I had to invest in a new bike just so I could What I struggle with during the winter is getting goodride indoors. It didnt seem right or easy. Remember: theres exercisethe kind that really gets your heart pumping.a bike shortage these days.When the temperature rises above 40 degrees, I take myStill believing there must be another way, I tried one last bike out, but lately those days are few and far between. Mybike shop and finally got a different solution: They could friend, Beth, who lives in Syracuse, an excessively snowyput a new cassette on the trainer and calibrate it to my bike. Please address all correspondence to: and cold locale, put an idea in my head that has helpedTotal cost? $52, and problem solved. Visual Impact Advertising, Inc. her: she got a smart bike trainer.Its now been a few weeks since I started using my trainer P.O. Box 198 I had heard of stationary bikes from the most basic toand I feel great that I can get some serious exercise indoors. Maplewood, NJ 07040 the upscale likes of Peloton. And, of course, you can get aI had to find the right place for it and decided that my very 973-763-4900 dumb trainer onto which you plop an ordinary bike. Butcold family room was perfect. Pedaling a bike indoors is a mattersmagazine.coma smart trainer was new to me. Beth, a triathlete who hassweaty endeavor, so the colder the better! Thats why a fan info@mattersmagazine.com finished many Ironman competitions, told me that youis recommended. Matters Magazine is owned and publishedcan connect one to an app that allows you to cycle withI also needed a screen to use the biking appin this by Visual Impact Advertising, Inc., P.O.other like-minded people in virtual worlds while track- case, Zwiftso I could see my avatar pedaling alongside Box 198, Maplewood, NJ 07040. Mattersing everything from your heart rate to your speed to yourother bikers through the likes of Innsbruck, Richmond, Magazine is free, with editions direct mailedpower output. It even increases the resistance when youNew York City or Zwifts virtual city of Watopia. There are 7 times a year to the residents of Maplewood and South Orange and distributed to busi- pedal uphill. She claimed it was the best Christmas gift herlots of bike races to join, rewards for milestones and a com-nesses and surrounding communities total- husband had ever given her. Since Beth isnt given to hype,panion app so you can message other bikers or give them ing 16,000. Subscriptions are available to non-residents for $30 (U.S.), $40 (Foreign)I counted this as a strong recommendation and asked mya thumbs up. Yes, texting while cycling. At least Im not annually. No part of the publication may behusband for a trainer this past Christmas. steering or facing any road hazards but I did need to buy a reprinted or otherwise reproduced withoutAlthough the videos I had watched promised the train- phone holder for my bike to keep it in easy reach.writtenpermissionfromVisualImpact Advertising, Inc. er to be a snap to pair with my bikewhat could be easierSo March just got a tad more bearable. Come April I than taking off the back wheel and situating the chain onmight even invest in a new bike. The truth is, I had started CIRCULATION VERIFIED BYU.S. POSTAL RECEIPTS. the trainers cassette (the thingy with the speeds)it didntgetting used to the idea of some new wheels. I think it READ & RECYCLE turn out that way. On Christmas Day with the help ofmight be the perfect way to welcome a new season of out-my daughter Madelinethe only one in the family whodoor riding. 8/ matters magazine / hearth & home 2021'