Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Night Golf 4 days before Christmas...
Lining up for the shot
Yeah... firing through the ball
Sweet follow throughOn Winter Solstice most people are sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire and trying to keep warm while watching the snow fall. Here in the OC, we sip coldies and play golf - at night. Above is Riley Bullock (Regional Sales Manager) that works in our Park City office. The native Utahn had never experienced playing golf at night, and has surely never played golf in December.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Love this time of year...
Ahh - the Holiday Season at Serfas... It typically means plenty of Godiva, See's, Ghiradelli, Harry and David, Lindt, and plenty of homemade treats as well. Today we recieved a "custom" piece of Holiday cookie cheer from Mack Cycles of Miami, Florida (see picture above). It was very cool and actually quite tasty...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Drivers, cyclists share tips to stop deaths
By DAVID WHITINGOUTDOORS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Twenty-four hours after my column last week on driver-cyclist safety, Newport Beach police say Patricia Ann Izquieta veered into a bike lane, hit rider Donald Murphy and fled the scene.
Murphy, 49, was the 14th person this year to die riding a bike in our beautiful county. He left behind a wife, two children and a legacy of fitness and kindness.
Murphy, 49, was the 14th person this year to die riding a bike in our beautiful county. He left behind a wife, two children and a legacy of fitness and kindness.
I'm not sure what Izquieta, 37, left behind. But I know what's ahead: Legal bills, possible jail time and – if she was indeed the driver – a lifetime of waking up every day knowing she took someone else's life.
I've never met Izquieta. But I'm sure she's a good person. I'd also agree with the Murphy family, that she meant no malice, that she's a victim as well.
And that is what this column is about.
Victims.
We can argue until we run out of oil whether cyclists are crazy for riding the roads alongside two-ton hunks of steel barreling along at 25, 35, 45 miles an hour. We can label them a bunch of dangerous scofflaws because of the acts of a few. We can say they should stick to stationary bikes, trails or find empty roads.
Or we can get real.
The simple fact is the law says cyclists have the right to the road. Same as drivers.
So let's stop pointing fingers, being victims and figure this thing out: Drivers and cyclists working together.
I invited many of you to share your thoughts on reducing the number of cycling fatalities in 2010. (If you'd like to be on my e-mail list drop me a note, dwhting@ocregister.com.) Here is a sampling of e-mailed and online comments:
Howard Hull: "Have bike rodeos in elementary school; common sense is lacking with kids. Also, (stop) drivers with phones, texting etc."
I've never met Izquieta. But I'm sure she's a good person. I'd also agree with the Murphy family, that she meant no malice, that she's a victim as well.
And that is what this column is about.
Victims.
We can argue until we run out of oil whether cyclists are crazy for riding the roads alongside two-ton hunks of steel barreling along at 25, 35, 45 miles an hour. We can label them a bunch of dangerous scofflaws because of the acts of a few. We can say they should stick to stationary bikes, trails or find empty roads.
Or we can get real.
The simple fact is the law says cyclists have the right to the road. Same as drivers.
So let's stop pointing fingers, being victims and figure this thing out: Drivers and cyclists working together.
I invited many of you to share your thoughts on reducing the number of cycling fatalities in 2010. (If you'd like to be on my e-mail list drop me a note, dwhting@ocregister.com.) Here is a sampling of e-mailed and online comments:
Howard Hull: "Have bike rodeos in elementary school; common sense is lacking with kids. Also, (stop) drivers with phones, texting etc."
Gordon Pardee: Cyclists in bike lanes should "not ride two or three abreast as they often do. That is suicidal behavior – a split second distraction on the part of an otherwise safe and cautious driver could permanently end their cycling days."
Kathy Ulrich: "I see a lone bicyclist or groups of bicyclists blow through red lights and stop signs, also bicyclists who ride in the street facing traffic."
Larry Weisenthal: "Outlaw all wireless communication in automobiles – hands free or not. It's a jungle out there."
Opher Banarie: "More than half the cyclists I see on the road wear ear buds that I suspect are playing music loud enough to blot out all but police sirens."
Victor Ray: "I ride to work lit up like a Christmas tree with LEDs with a bright orange reflective vest."
Brianguy: "Practice riding in a straight line. It's not as easy as it sounds and not automatic. Start by following a straight line on flat ground, then do it on a curve, then do it uphill.
Jae2460: "Assume a car can't see you, unless you make eye contact with the driver. Ride / drive predictably."
Sdbrit68: If you are a cyclist, maintain a line. Don't blame me if you get side-swiped because you suddenly lose your line and swerve out. If the cops would just start ticketing them, maybe then cyclists would learn."
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Orange County Swap Meet Photos
Lots of new faces and some familiar faces in the crowd at the Orange County Swap Meet this past Saturday. In true Swap Meet tradition - I heard of folks trading a Starbucks Coffee for a brand new pair of Canari cycling shorts! Sounds like a good deal to me. Thank you to all those who participated: Haro, KHS, Profile Design, Rock N Road Cyclery, etc. and to the Serfas staff that helped make this event another big success...
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Night Saver Lights are in stock now...
The highly anticipated Serfas "Nightsaver" lights are instock now and shipping. Pictured above is how one retailer (Cadence 120) decided to merchandise the lights. Cadence 120 said that their sales have increased since displaying them this way... Available with white or red LED's and come in a variety of colored shells: Black, Grey, Blue, White, Yellow, Green, Orange, Red, and Pink.MSRP $15
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Here comes the Sun
While many of us would love to outfit our homes with massive, energy-saving solar panels, the cost can be somewhat of a deterrent. There are, however, small ways that you can harness the sun’s energy without making a huge financial investment.
With a little ingenuity, you can start a solar project and end up saving money in the long run. Even though the weather is starting to cool down, the sun is still out and about – so start soaking up some rays!
Outdoor solar lights: Whether you want to illuminate your garden or light up an entire backyard, you have plenty of options. Installation is often as easy as sticking a spike in the ground, so you can forget hiring a professional to uproot your garden for wiring. Small, outdoor solar lights sell for as low as $10. Not only are they practically effortless to install and maintain, but you also won’t spend a small fortune to replace them when necessary. Need some inspiration? Check out The Solar Garden at www.thesolargarden.com where you’ll find a variety of stylish lamps to light up your yard.
Chargers: Let’s face it: Most of us live our lives around cell phones, laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. While they take up our time, why let them use up extra energy? Solar chargers are available for most any gadget and come in a wide range of wattage. Many chargers are portable and start around $20 – roughly the same price as pesky plug-ins. Visit www.siliconsolar.com to see what’s out there. They even have automotive solar chargers that work in cloudy weather! There’s something for everyone; hikers, for instance, will greatly appreciate the solar backpacks.
Tubular skylights: If completely transforming your home into an eco-friendly habitat is not financially plausible, then consider the next best option – tubular skylights. Also known as solar tubes or tubular daylighting devices, these cylinders are usually about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and are installed in areas of your roof that receive many hours of direct sunlight per day. When the light collector is mounted, the sunlight is absorbed through the reflective tube and makes its way down to the diffuser lens on your ceiling. The result is instant light without taking a chunk out of your roof as with a traditional skylight. Many people insist you can mount a tubular skylight yourself, but homes with metal or tiled roofing may require a professional. While tubing starts from $150 to $600, it will save you much, much more on your monthly electric bill.
With a little imagination and motivation, going solar can be easy, affordable and extremely rewarding. The expense of heating and cooling, two big budget-breakers, can be alleviated with solar space heaters and solar attic fans. Forget about that pricey pool heater – how about a solar pool cover? Many solar panels and structures can be made by hand and are adaptable to countless tasks, from cooking to water purifying. Handyman Phil Heiple offers a guide for making your own solar-powered generator that can power a computer, TV and lights – for under $300! So roll up your sleeves and help Mother Nature out. You’ll be doing both the environment and yourself a big favor.
With a little ingenuity, you can start a solar project and end up saving money in the long run. Even though the weather is starting to cool down, the sun is still out and about – so start soaking up some rays!
Outdoor solar lights: Whether you want to illuminate your garden or light up an entire backyard, you have plenty of options. Installation is often as easy as sticking a spike in the ground, so you can forget hiring a professional to uproot your garden for wiring. Small, outdoor solar lights sell for as low as $10. Not only are they practically effortless to install and maintain, but you also won’t spend a small fortune to replace them when necessary. Need some inspiration? Check out The Solar Garden at www.thesolargarden.com where you’ll find a variety of stylish lamps to light up your yard.Chargers: Let’s face it: Most of us live our lives around cell phones, laptops, digital cameras and MP3 players. While they take up our time, why let them use up extra energy? Solar chargers are available for most any gadget and come in a wide range of wattage. Many chargers are portable and start around $20 – roughly the same price as pesky plug-ins. Visit www.siliconsolar.com to see what’s out there. They even have automotive solar chargers that work in cloudy weather! There’s something for everyone; hikers, for instance, will greatly appreciate the solar backpacks.Tubular skylights: If completely transforming your home into an eco-friendly habitat is not financially plausible, then consider the next best option – tubular skylights. Also known as solar tubes or tubular daylighting devices, these cylinders are usually about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and are installed in areas of your roof that receive many hours of direct sunlight per day. When the light collector is mounted, the sunlight is absorbed through the reflective tube and makes its way down to the diffuser lens on your ceiling. The result is instant light without taking a chunk out of your roof as with a traditional skylight. Many people insist you can mount a tubular skylight yourself, but homes with metal or tiled roofing may require a professional. While tubing starts from $150 to $600, it will save you much, much more on your monthly electric bill.
With a little imagination and motivation, going solar can be easy, affordable and extremely rewarding. The expense of heating and cooling, two big budget-breakers, can be alleviated with solar space heaters and solar attic fans. Forget about that pricey pool heater – how about a solar pool cover? Many solar panels and structures can be made by hand and are adaptable to countless tasks, from cooking to water purifying. Handyman Phil Heiple offers a guide for making your own solar-powered generator that can power a computer, TV and lights – for under $300! So roll up your sleeves and help Mother Nature out. You’ll be doing both the environment and yourself a big favor.
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