by Jim
on September 28, 2012
With the social media contagion, we often get a sense of competition in “you’re not telling me anything new” comments. But further thought reveals many more relevant meanings to these two words.
Many folks add a question mark to the phrase, and expect us to remain on the forefront with innovative products to have in the showroom for them to inspect. New bikes, new kayaks and new accessories are fun to consider by almost everyone!
Some customers preface the phrase, it seems, with “not”, as in not anything new for me . . . I am happy with what I have. That’s ok, too. If it works, it doesn’t need fixing.
On the other hand, many of our good customers like the change provided by anything new. Multiple purchases are common, and encouraged, providing a continual sense of joy and entertainment. Heck, I feel I have single handily kept Apple Computer in business over the last fourteen years!
A desired by-product from many purchases, has been something else new. We have seen new bodies develop, new relationships occur and new experiences happen. Many of our customers have stopped taking meds and started whole new lives, with new awareness of the world around them.
Now, who’s to say whether that chicken just wandered up to RideSouth, or the new awareness was hatched elsewhere? There is no right or wrong way to use these two words, whether in a question, a statement, or a way of life. The Chinese say there is nothing new under the sun! Thank goodness we Americans embrace innovation! So come by our shop and see what’s new, or rediscover that we have remained the same. We still care about our customers . . . more than anything. That’s not new!
by Jim
on September 17, 2012
Safety comes first . . . always. In our shop, by the main entrance, is a white board. The topics are Safety, Speed, Fun and Comfort. We discuss these topics with customers everyday. None of them are more important than Safety.
Riding a bicycle can be dangerous to you and people around you. This is true of any physical sport. There are ways of minimizing the risks to yourself and others. Here is a short list:
Wear a properly fitted helmet. This is a requirement for all of our rides.
Leave the headphones at home. Another requirement for our rides.
Wear bright shirts or jerseys. Red is not bright. This is your best defense.
Have a working rear view mirror on your bike, helmet or glasses.
A bright red, rear blinking light makes you more visible in bright sun and shadows.
A bright white, front blinking light alerts traffic, people and dogs that you are coming.
Talk to people on the trail and road to let them know you are passing. Be courteous.
Knowing how, where and when to ride always relates to Safety. Your bike choice and it’s maintenance play a huge part in your safety. Your attitude, fitness level and general state of mind can be crucial to return home safe. Of course we like Speed, Fun and Comfort. But nothing trumps Safety!
We are now a Contour Camera dealer! Ask us how you can use this cool camera on you bike!
by Jim
on September 7, 2012
The RideSouth shop will be closed on Saturday, September 8, for the Trike Challenge Ride in Prentiss, Mississippi at 9:00 AM. This ride is a benefit event for our friends Johnny and Beth Rawls. We hope you will come and join us! There will be food, music and great fellowship all morning in Prentiss! Everyone is invited!
by Jim
on August 31, 2012
RideSouth will have a huge sale on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1! Many bikes and kayaks that have been in the shop a year or more are priced to move! Sale ends Saturday at 5:00 PM. The shop will be closed on Monday.
by Jim
on August 14, 2012
With the “official” end of the summer approaching, now is the time to consider the fun and excitement of kayaking on our many lakes and streams around Mississippi. We have models that excel in fishing, recreation, touring, sailing and hunting.
Consider the Hobie kayaks for hands-free operation if you want the ultimate in versatility. The new, award winning Pro Angler 12 is the best fishing boat we have ever seen, bar none! We have personally tried it out and made lots of believers in it’s stability and maneuverability. With the sail kit, it does it all! The all time favorite Outback model still remains the best selling SUV, or sports utility vehicle on the water. The capacity of the Outback is amazing for a lightweight kayak that anyone can easily car top! We especially like the Revolution 13 and 11 for fast, light kayaking with the stability of much bigger kayaks. The Sport is great for smaller folks, including kids! To go really fast, or tour, the Adventure series cannot be beat! Of course the ultimate adventure is walking around on your own island . . . The Tandem Adventure Island! This is a seaworthy kayak that could tour the planet, or slip up Pelahatchie Creek!
We have the popular Wilderness brands and Liquid Logic kayaks for you to consider, as well. They are all great kayaks that allow anyone to experience our Southern waterways in style and comfort. We also have paddles, personal flotation devices and other kayaking accessories to help make your next adventure a safe and memorable experience. We always provide the best kayaks and accessories we can find, because we know that quality remains long after every other consideration!
So, find our shop and buy your special kayak before the inflation takes hold and prices begin to go up even more. The weather is beginning to break a bit and the water is calling! Or if you already know us, rediscover why RideSouth is not only The Way to Ride, but also The Way to Kayak!
In spite of the playful sound of the subject, “Tumble-Texting” relates to two deadly serious activities that require your immediate and full attention! Perhaps you have read our views on rumble stripes, rumble strips, or tumble strips, as we cyclists call them. Daily investigation into how they invaded our cycling roadways reveals, at least one “justification” was to alert distracted drivers to get back on the road. Of course, as we know, texting while driving is the single biggest distraction causing this deadly wandering with a motor vehicle. Our investigation continues, but here is a call to arms that WE MUST ALL ANSWER!!
First of all, USING A HANDHELD DEVICE WHILE DRIVING SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW! We should lobby our lawmakers immediately and make this happen! We have all seen or been involved with accidents that are a direct result of this deadly activity! Lately, every time I drive my car I have been hit or almost hit by a distracted driver! This is a no-brainier folks, so politicians can do it easily! It is easy to implement, easy to enforce and very effective. Impose a $10,000 fine and use some of the revenue for an insurance policy for victims. This will stop this activity in a month because nobody will want their phone records collected by the police!
OK, that problem solved, let’s move on to rumble strips. RUMBLE STRIPS HAVE NO PLACE OTHER THAN CONTROLLED ACCESS INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, where they can help drowsy truckers stay on the roadway. They have no place on rural highways that are used by folks to go to work, go shopping, or ride their bicycles on! RUMBLE STRIPS SHOULD NOT BE USED TO COMBAT TEXTING WHILE DRIVING! TEXTING WHILE DRIVING SHOULD BE BANNED! Can you see the problem?? We are condoning and catering to an activity that should not be allowed! (Try that with your kids and they are also out of control!) Also, RUMBLE STRIPS CAUSE BICYCLE ACCIDENTS! Again, we are victims of a situation that should not exist! Our investigation has revealed that the people who have influenced the addition of deadly-to-cyclists rumble strips on ALL NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION have never ridden a road bike on the road!! THERE ARE CYCLIST FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES! Singing paint, intermittent reflectors and other systems exist and should be used.
Each day that goes by brings you and me closer to being a victim of these situations, whether cycling or driving on our roads. WE HAVE A RIGHT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, A RESPONSIBILITY to make a change in the, what is now, it seems, status quo! Please call or write us to get a list of phone numbers and contacts you should act on. We continue to converse with officials on the state and federal level, and you should too. Green-minded cyclists want to make Mississippi and America better, but all cyclists and drivers alike have a more compelling argument to make these changes . . . TO STAY ALIVE!
The oxymoronic term “New Age” has always intrigued me. This past Monday morning, I celebrated my birthday with a good friend, by riding my new age in miles. Although not new to me, it is always a treat to enjoy the Natchez Trace in the cool morning air . . . even as that age marker advances!
Age happens to almost everyone. With age, a lot of new things become available. Although more “individual” than “social”, and certainly less secure than we would like, that regular government check is not far off. On a more positive note, consider the seventy year old, four-man cycling team that almost beat the younger Bacchetta team in the recent Race Across America! The time difference was only thirty minutes in six and a half days of continuous racing . . . 3000 miles! Inspiring!
If you are about to experience some new age, we encourage participation in some upcoming events to help keep you feeling young. We have continued to sponsor our RideSouth Rise & Shine Bread Rides from the shop almost every Saturday for over ten years! There is a route and speed for everyone! The popular Natchez or Bust Ride is coming up in October, usually the same weekend as the Balloon Fest in Natchez. Many folks are going to Greenwood, Arkansas, or Alabama to ride in the coming months. Please comment on our Discussions Page if you are interested in those events, or if you want to plan your own event.
We are excited ( in our new age :-)) to conceive a new event! We are calling it the RideSouth Trike Challenge. We are challenging you young folks to beat up this rider on a thirty mile ride on the Longleaf Trace. The date is September 8 and the place is Hattiesburg, MS. RideSouth will make a big donation to the Johnny & Beth Rawls Cancer Fund if you can! You can read more about the event as it develops, and also offer to help to pull it off, on our Discussions Page. OK, we know it’s not just you young folks but especially you “more experienced” seniors on tricycles that we have to worry about!
In addition to participating in these cool events, we hope you will visit our shop soon to check out our new age bicycles and kayaks! We have lots of trikes, including some very fast machines that will leave your riding buddies of all ages, gasping! For your water sports fun, we have almost every Hobie Mirage kayak in stock now, including the award winning Pro Angler 12. A great way to move on the water, hands free! We love new things . . . even at our age!
It is ironic that the Mississippi department of transportation puts out the “Share the Road” signs on rural state roads, for cyclists, yet approve a mandate to groove and mangle the asphalt with “rumble strips” to make it impossible for us to ride our bicycles on!
Note from the photo above that the two feet of new pavement on one of our most used bike routes here in Rankin County is unusable . . . by bikes, or cars!! In fact, the “unimproved” section in the back of the photo actually allowed MORE room for us to ride safely! Now, we must try to avoid this bike-eating, tire-flating, spoke-breaking, accident-making, no-go zone, “tumble strip” shown below!!
One dot official characterized this tragedy as “an inconvenience” for us. That’s like saying it is inconvenient for our troops to walk through a mine field! The real tragedy is that if we do nothing, ALL of our roads will be a death trap for our bicycles . . . and maybe some of our riders! We already have reports of near misses along the stretch of road pictured here! And, of course, bikes are already coming in injured by the strips.
There are safer alternatives. Just imagine the white line slightly raised with “singing paint” and maybe a reflector every hundred feet, or so. The paint causes an alerting, high-pitched tone for the motorist without the startling effect of the violent shaking envolked by rumble strips. Cyclists can navigate the reflective line to utilize the entire roadway, if needed. The bit of extra pavement reduces “ror” (dot term for run off road) incidents and helps prevent shoulder erosion. What a perfect world for everyone!
The rumble strip dragon doesn’t have to be retired completely. Just park it near an interstate where it can keep big trucks alerted to stay on the road. There is no place for it on our roads, otherwise! Come on dot! You work for us, right? We really want to respect you, but in this case, you have to earn that respect by changing this mandate and repairing the damage done . . . please!
Lately, we have seen a trend toward folks “living” in a virtual world . . . more than “doing” in a real world. Social media is rampant and perhaps even necessary. However, there is not an app for feeling the wind in your face, the burning in your legs, the pounding in your chest and the exhilaration of going somewhere on your bike! No amount of button pushing or iPad shaking will burn the calories of a short bicycle ride or kayak trip! As we have posted before, more folks die from sedentary lifestyles than from riding a bike in hot weather, by a long shot.
Yes, we have delved into the virtual world a moment to write this and we watched a bit of Wimbledon yesterday, on TV. Join us now in the real world. We have new kayaks and bicycles on the floor and in the warehouse to assemble. Try a new model or get out your old model and go somewhere. You will be glad you did! Besides, our real world is heating up and we had better get used to it! Why not make it a better place in the doing?
The RideSouth shop will be closed this week until Friday! Happy 4th of July!
