Ditch Those Training Wheels

Tots, rejoice, for we have entered into an enlightened era with respect to your imminent bike riding lessons. Never again will you suffer the false security of training wheels, only to have balance ripped out from under you once you have learned to pedal. For today, we have come to the magnificent revelation that we ought to teach balance first.

We are discussing of course, balance bikes, small pedalless bicycles designed for older tots (think 2+). Here's the idea. You give a tot a little bike with enough clearance for him or her to sit on and walk with. She will walk herself around holding the handle bars and pushing the bike along. Next she will get a little braver and start to move a bit more quickly. Now for the kicker. She will start lifting her feet up and resting them on the small foot ledge that replaces a standard pedal. Ta daaa your toddler has just learned how to balance herself on a bicycle.

This makes for a seamless transition to a trainingwheel-less bike with pedals. Less of those traumatic crashes following "Mommy, promise you won't let go!" Learning the motor skills necessary for balance, that was the hard part. Learning to incorporate pedaling to these skills, not as tough.

Now, I sound like we have discovered some newfangled concept, but in reality this wave in kids bikes has its roots in the 19th century, in a contraption known as the Draisine. This early bicycle-esque machine was intended to move a pedestrian along faster than walking could carry them. It is one of many early designs that were the forefathers of our modern bikes. The Draisine however was unique in its reliance on balance, rather than a set of tricycle like double wheels.

The history and evolution of bicycles is really fascinating, especially in regards to children's bikes. If you would like to learn more, I really enjoyed the article "Down with Training Wheels" by Nicholas Day.

Winter Kayak Storage

So your Christmas tree is propped up on the porch awaiting preparations for its grandiose welcome into your living room. A few flakes were falling Saturday morning while you drank your morning cup of coffee. If you, like most of us, are a fair weather friend of paddling, sorting out winter kayak storage is probably on one of your upcoming weekend to-do lists. Maybe you just bought a kayak or SUP board this past summer, or maybe you just need some new tips on storage.

Before you hoist that fifty pound toy on your shoulders, make sure you know where you are going with it. Is the garage or basement really big enough? I recommend actually measuring. I know from personal experience that my perception of spaces and the truth are often dissimilar. If an indoor space is not available to you, how about a shed or overhang? No indoor space to speak of? Later on we will go over the best way to store it outdoors.

 

So, you have sufficient space indoors. What will you do? It is best to plan to store the kayak on some sort of rack or hanging strap system, or standing vertically on end, rather than simply laying it on the floor. There are many sorts of racks and strap kits available, but if you are crafty you can probably rig something yourself. Here we use a combination of homemade racks and strap systems. Also available are j style cradles (not unlike the ones you keep forgetting to take off your car), and hoist systems.

Alright, now we can get back to your boat or board. In either case, you probably want to wash your boat/board with fresh water and a nice sponge, to rid it of any salt, grit, or insects. Make sure you dry your kayak out completely, especially if you will be using a cockpit cover (which I recommend). Bring your boat or board inside and place/hoist/strap on rack etc... Now is the time to put the cockpit cover on to keep out any unwanted winter residents, leaving the kayak ready to go come spring.

In the event that you lack indoor storage, it is still a good idea to plan out your storage. Pick a shady area or overhang next to a shed. You could build a similar rack or use the same j cradles or straps on the side of a shed. Again it is a must to clean your boat or board. In this case you may want to retreat your boat/board with some 303 UV protectant spray. The cockpit cover in this case is highly recommended. Also you want to make sure the boat is upside down so that it cannot accumulate a large quantity of water. Water sitting and/or freezing inside a plastic kayak could severely damage the integrity of the hull, in terms of both its performance and appearance. Now you may want to use a tarp to create a shaded covering (though not too tight fitting) over your watercraft. This will help protect it from the elements and winter residents.

What about your accessories? Again, I recommend washing your pfd and paddle with fresh water. Spray the inside of the paddle shaft with a bit of WD-40 to keep it lubricated. Store the paddle pieces apart! Ideally store these inside a shed, basement, garage, or even spare closet.

 

Finally I suggest you take your skis, snowshoes, sleds, and skates out of deep storage in preparation for this season's adventures!

How to Dress for Cold Weather Paddling

Are you tempted by those blue skies but intimidated by that zippy bite to the air? For those of us clutching at the memories of our mild autumn, we can still squeeze the last drops out the paddling season (or even plow right through to spring), provided we know just how to dress for it.

Before the snow starts to fall and the ice sheets begin to form, get yourself geared up for a last hurrah on your kayak or sup board. A five millimeter farmer john style wetsuit with jacket will do nicely. Add a splash top, skirt, neoprene boots, gloves and a hood and you will find yourself perfectly toasty and not too bulky under that p.f.d. Once you have discovered the joys of paddling in the cool, quiet months of the off season, invest in year round adventuring with a paddling specific dry suit. Layered over fleece undergarments, these provide the ultimate in dry warmth. Neoprene keeps you warm by warming a thin layer of water between the fabric and your skin. The dry suit relies on strong seals to keep the water out altogether.

Always remember, the risk of hypothermia is very real, and anyone can succumb quickly. Never test the bounds of your paddling capabilities, your preparedness, or the conditions. It is crucial to use the utmost caution this time of year. That being said, it is very possible to (smartly) enjoy paddling on the outskirts of the season, or even year round, here on the Cape. Feel free to contact us for more information. All of the gear mentioned is, of course, available at the store!


Note Santa's lack of kayak skirt, gloves, and p.f.d. He is unprepared for the conditions!

Specialized Bicycles at Cape Cod Sea Sports

Jeff Craddock and the Sea Sports team are pleased to announce Sea Sports as the new Mid Cape Specialized Bicycle retailer.



 We offer the complete line from kids' balance bikes to top shelf S-Works road and mountain bikes. The store also has an extensive selection of Specialized accessories including saddles, saddle bags, helmets, clothing, tires, tubes, tape, grips, water bottles, cages etc... You can see some of our showrooms above and to the left. Check out the previous blog post for some pictures of the renovations and additions to our bike department.  

We offer full service including sales, service, and bike fittings. Every bike comes professionally fit with a 30 day bike fit guarantee. Check us out for Specialized or our other great brands, Cannondale and Fuji.

Let's Talk about Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We hope you all have a wonderful week with your families. Here are a few reasons why the Sea Sports family is thankful this autumn.

1. Our Customers: We have enjoyed a busy fall here at the store, and we have all of you to thank for that! We are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. through Christmas.

2. Our Team: Special thanks to Tom Craddock for his beautiful rennovation work in our showroom. Also we are thankful for the new addition of Dusty Adams, a former professional athlete with forty years of experience in the bike industry.

3. Our Brands: We are pleased to announce the addition of Specialized Bicycles to our product line. We have a selection of everything, from children's balance bikes to top of the line S-Works road and mountain bikes.

 4. Small Business Saturday November 24: We are excited by the widespread support for the Shop Small movement, especially during the holiday season. We encourage all of you to support your favorite local Cape merchants this Small Business Saturday, holiday season, and all year long. We will have some special offers as well as holiday goodies to get you in the spirit!

5. Cape Cod: We are happy to live in such a beautiful place where we can enjoy paddling, cycling, and scuba right out our back doors. Here is Kelly trying out one of the original style kayaks at Plimoth Plantation.

June Happenings 2012

June Happenings at Sea Sports!
 It is a beautiful day here in Hyannis. We have been spending our days off riding, kayaking, and playing on the stand up paddle boards. We hope you have been getting out there too! Things are picking up quickly, so we would like to let you know some of the news around the shop.

 June 13th Stand Up Clinic: Jeff will be hosting a Stand Up Clinic at 5:00 p.m.to introduce newcomers to the sport. Clinic is free.

 June 16th Kayak and Stand Up Demo: We will be hosting our second and biggest kayak demo of the season on Saturday, June 16th, at Hathaway's Pond on Phinney's Lane. The Demo runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Representatives from the different kayak and stand up companies will be on hand with their fleets of boats and boards, as well as the Sea Sports crew. Event is free, with an optional five dollar donation to a local charity. Please give us a call if you are interested or have any questions, or just show up! We hope to see you there!  

June 27th Kayak Forward Stroke Clinic: Kayak instructor Larry will be hosting a clinic on the essentials of the forward kayak stroke at 5:00 p.m. Clinic is free.  

Kayak Tours and Lessons: This year kayak tours and lessons will be held weekly on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:00 and 2:00. Please call for reservations. Tours and lessons are also available Saturday through Wednesday upon request.

 Stand up Paddling: Lessons to begin in a few weeks. Stay posted!  

Wednesday Evening Group Rides: Leaving Sea Sports at 5:30 p.m. Free. Please call to sign up and for more information.  

Keep us in mind... For all of your scuba, cycling, kayaking, and stand up paddling needs. We are a full service store, offering repairs, lessons, tours, and rentals. Give us a call or come on in today!