A Good Fit

     

     Maybe you've had this trip booked for months. Or perhaps, after being pummeled with snow over the last two weeks, you impulsively booked that Caribbean vacation. Believe me, we were just as tempted. Either way we know you want to make the most of it! Rather than renting masks that leak and snorkels that leave you breathless after clearing, opt instead for a professionally fitted mask and dual purge snorkel (that hasn't been in anyone else's mouth).

            Each person has a unique face, with a unique bone structure, including kids.  With a professional mask fitting, we guarantee a comfortable, watertight fit for the entire family. Everyone at the shop has experienced the benefits of a professionally fitted mask first hand, and we are trained to help you find the best fit as well. We stock dozens of different styles to accommodate nearly every face, in a variety of colors and designs. All masks are silicone with tempered glass. Silicone is super comfortable against the skin, and molds to the shape of your face for a great seal. We also offer a variety of top of the line snorkels, fins, and accessories, including optical lenses.

            We don't underestimate the importance of your comfort as a snorkeler. A precisely fitted mask and an easy breathing snorkel are essential, leaving you free to enjoy the warm water and colorful life around you, rather than worrying about clearing your mask and snorkel. We also provide thorough instructions on gear set up, maintenance, and useful accessories to optimize your snorkeling experience. Whether you are headed to the beach next week or dreaming of your summer adventures to come, stop by Sea Sports to experience a professional mask fitting today.

Update-New website

New website is live, be sure to check out www.capecodseasports.com.  Indoor trainer sessions continue this week on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00pm.  They have been very popular and if you can't ride ourside, they are the next best thing!  Join us! 

Autumn Notes

New Staff: Meet Sean Mullin, a new addition to our team. He is a Cape native and has been passionately riding bikes for almost twenty years. A talented mechanic, Sean has experience with everything from rebuilding suspension to tuning bikes new and old. He holds a full Shimano S-Tec certification so you can be sure his work is to factory specification. Sean is a mountain bike specialist who helped build and name many of the trails in the Trail of Tears. We are happy to have him. Stop by to say hi today!

 

Dressing for Cold Weather Cycling: Cycling is a great sport to keep you moving outdoors through

the winter. Whether biking off road or on it is increasingly important to dress appropriately for the weather as we enter these colder months. Like any form of exercise, your body heats up and creates sweat when you ride. Your goal is to hold onto that heat and to stay dry through appropriate layering of clothing. Besides temperature, it is important to consider factors such as rain and wind, as they have a significant impact on the gear that you need.

 

In terms of materials, wicking fabrics such as polyester, lycra, and wool are the best. Stay away from cotton, which does NOT keep you warm when it gets wet. When it first starts to get chilly, cyclists may add a light cap, arm warmers, knee or leg warmers, and thicker socks. As it gets increasingly colder, you might add a base layer, long tights, winter shoes or shoe covers, a balaclava, wind and rain resistant outer shell, and long finger gloves. We have a great selection of clothing here at the store. Feel free to come check it out and to find out more great information. We want to keep you going this winter! For more information check out http://www.bicycling.com/training-nutrition/winter-layering-done-right-how-dress-cycling-cold-weather.

 

Indoor Training: Some days a little too cold for you? Consider an indoor cycling trainer. There are three main types of indoor cycling trainers: fluid, magnetic, and wind. Fluid trainers are the all around best, quiet with a natural road like feel. Magnetic trainers are quiet, but the resistance isn't perfect. Wind trainers have good resistance but tend to be loud. Our trainer of choice is the fluid Kinetic Road Machine, pictured here. We have them in stock and available to demo. Don't let the cold weather keep you from training hard!

 

 

Etc... Fall hours are now in effect! We are here Monday through Saturday, 10-6, closed Sundays. We will be closing at 3:00 p.m. on Halloween for family festivities.

 

 

 

  

Cardboard: Innovative Material to be Used in the Production of Bikes and Kayaks

Wait...what?!


No, this is not an early April Fools post, and that was exactly our reaction when this was brought to our attention. A cardboard kayak. Hmm, sounds like a kid's weekend project that would meet very limited success, but a bike? Really?

Check out this article about the cardboard kayak building competition: http://www.canoekayak.com/canoe/cardboard/

And the bikes, somehow even more impressive: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/cardboard-bicycle-izhar-gafni-inventor_n_1966166.html


True, the kayaks seem to serve the purpose of a fun challenge rather than something you will soon be seeing in our showroom, but it sounds as though there may actually be plans for mass production of the bikes. Of all the high tech innovations we have witnessed this year, this is certainly the most interesting. Take a peak for yourself!

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!