Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Adding Excitement to Your Yard: The Magic of Slides!


Are you turning your backyard into the ultimate playground? Or maybe you're planning the perfect slide setup for a school or park. Either way, one thing’s for sure: kids and slides are a match made in playground heaven. For weekend fun or an everyday recess boost, slides bring a thrill that keeps them climbing back up for more. Here's what makes them a playground classic and how to choose the right backyard slide for your space.

Friday, December 27, 2024

The Complete Hunting Gear Checklist for Beginners

 


Hunting is a thrilling outdoor activity that combines skill, patience, and preparation. For beginners, having the right gear is critical for a safe and successful experience. The proper gear for hunters ensures comfort and safety and significantly enhances efficiency and outcomes in the field. From basic essentials to specialised tools, this let’s cover everything you need to start your hunting journey with confidence.

Monday, September 30, 2024

The Ultimate Guide to Road Running Shoes

road running shoes

 If you are someone who enjoys hitting the pavement, whether you're a seasoned marathoner or simply a casual jogger, you need good running shoes. The right pair of shoes can greatly enhance your running experience, providing the comfort and support needed for longer, smoother runs. 


Beyond just performance, the right shoes play a critical role in preventing injuries by offering proper cushioning and stability. With so many options available, you can choose the right pair of road running shoes and find the best fit for your needs, which can make all the difference in keeping you running comfortably and safely.

Friday, August 23, 2024

Push and Pull Carts: A Beneficial Solution for a Happy Golfer

 

person pushing a golf buggy
source: facebook.com/thehouseofgolf

When one thinks of a good exercise, golf isn’t the typical sport that comes to mind. And yet it should be, especially if you choose to walk instead of ride in a motorised cart. A walk around the course for a round of golf can provide you with the endurance workout you require to keep your heart health, and overall health and well-being in top condition.

Which calls for the help of a convenient push and pull cart to avoid the heavy lifting. If you compare it to the traditional choice, i.e. the motorised cart, it’s a much more practical, health beneficial, and eco-friendly solution, which would explain its growing popularity over the years. In broader terms, this investment offers you: 

Thursday, June 13, 2024

Sitka Hunting Gear: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

Hunting is an unpredictable adventure that requires focus, attention and of course the proper gear. What's important is that you choose your clothing not only based on size and fit but also according to the fabrics and who makes it. Sitka hunting gear is known for its top-notch camo clothing items. Not only it keep you protected from rain and snow, but will also give you the camouflage you so much need.

Monday, March 13, 2023

4 Summer Toys Your Kids Will Love

Summer is the time to have a lot of fun. Everyone loves the long summer days filled with sun, hanging by the pool, and enjoying some games with their friends and family. It's especially good for children. This is their time to explore the world, try new things and meet new friends. To make their time at the pool, in the park or at the beach fun, give them some outdoor toys such as a foam plane or a snorkel set and see them go.

Foam Planes

Five foam planes in different colour
source: shopee.com.my


If you and your kids are fans of the beach and the outdoors, there are plenty of things you can do to entertain yourself. One of the best things you could do is fly a high-performance, colourful foam glider plane. They've been around for a while now and are a favourite among children. The best thing about these planes is that they don’t need batteries or any kind of charging to fly.

Their simple, yet clever design, is what makes them so special. They come in many different sizes, colours and patterns. Some of them are in a basic colour, some of them are made to look like a real plane, some have a mouth drawn in the front, and some have funny faces, geometrical shapes and all sorts of fun patterns.

They have the ability to fly for over 25m. Their wingspan varies as well. It can go from 30-50cm or even more. Their nose and tail are specifically designed to be aerodynamic and fly to far distances. These planes can also perform some aerial stunts with just a simple launch with your hand. They're made of foam and are easy to assemble. There are no tiny parts you can lose or be a safety hazard for your kid.

Just grab the shaft between your thumb and pointer, run for a short distance, toss it into the air and see the magic happen. Besides being fun, these plains can be very beneficial for your child’s development. They help with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The precise movements engage smaller muscle groups in the hands and the fingers. This way they get muscle memory for the next similar task they need to perform.

Hand-to-eye coordination is very important for independence and doing everyday tasks such as brushing their teeth, eating, and buttoning shirts and pants. These planes also boost their imagination because the child can pretend it’s a pilot navigating the plain through some scenarios. It helps them create stories, characters and sceneries that may have never been a part of their life. Plus, they’ll be physically active and learn language skills and communication by sharing their toy with other kids.

Trampoline

kids jumping on trampoline
source: luckstein.com


Trampolines are not just made to entertain the kids. They can be a great pastime for adults as well. You and your kids can spend hours outdoors jumping, doing stunts and having fun together. You can never actually outgrow them. But make sure you have enough space in your backyard for it before considering buying one. It can take up a lot of room and get in the way of the moving space.

Level and clear the surface from any obstacles and debris. This way you’ll get a safe environment to dwell in. One of the most common and classical choices is the round trampoline. They come in many sizes and are budget-friendly. But sometimes, you can’t fit more than 3 people at once (which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage).

Square trampolines are bigger and can fit more people at once. They're perfect if you want to practice some flips, twists and turns, or even fly your foam glider plane. But they can be a bit difficult to assemble. Some people consider the oval-shaped ones to be the safest because there are no edges or exposed coils.

If space is a problem, octagonal ones are perfect. They're very sturdy and have a bigger weight capacity. Always make sure you check for the weight capacity, maintenance and safety nets. The answers to these questions will help you make the right decision.

Floats

Kids on inflatable float in swimming pool.
source: dreamstime.com


When summertime comes, everyone likes to hang by the water, sunbathe and chill by the pool or the ocean. One of the best ways to do this is to invest in floats. They will help your kids relax after a long swimming lesson or when they’re just feeling lazy. These floats should always be strong and constructed from premium materials. PVC is the most popular material since it can tolerate scratches from sharp things and scrapes from pebbles.

Always check the seams on the floats. They should be sturdy and able to handle the weight of the person laying on them. Asking the seller how long it takes for the float to fill up with air is a wise decision. Sometimes it takes a long time, so you have to prepare in advance. Also, check if you’ll need a machine or if you can do it with your lips. Knowing how long it takes for the float to deflate is also useful information.

You can find them in many different shapes, sizes and colours. Flat, bumpy, with pillows and without, with leg holes and cup holders. You can find them printed with every Marvel and DC superhero, all of the popular cartoon characters, shaped like fruits, vegetables and even animals. The choices are basically endless.

Snorkel Set

Girl is wearing snorkel set
source: ourglobetrotters.com


No summer is complete without some snorkelling and discovering the beauties of the underworld. Besides being fun, snorkelling is also educational and helps children develop some new skills. But to do this, you’ll need to get your kids a snorkelling set. It consists of a mask, snorkel tube and swimming fins. As you know, being safe is the most important thing. So getting the right fit is a must.

The mask should fit the kid perfectly and not have any small spaces where the water can enter and be a choking hazard. The wrong fit will also make the kid feel uncomfortable and ruin the experience. Make sure the materials are sturdy, comfortable and hypoallergenic. Never compromise on quality and always buy the best you can afford. Get them fins that are adjustable and have an open heel. Most of the time these sets come in bags so you can store them properly and carry them with you wherever you go.


Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Bike Disc Brakes 101

 Braking is one of the most important safety measures you can do, be it when driving your car or riding your bicycle. Without the necessary movement of linkages and fluids, you'd have to use your foot to slow down or stop. This could easily make you crash. Hence why using your brakes is not only common sense but ideal too. 

Especially if you have disc brakes as these are not only more effective but also safer than the old rim brakes. The former are not as likely to lock up thanks to their longer braking range which also reduces the chances of skidding. Overall, disc brakes are a better option since they have pads acting on a metal bike disc rotor and not the rim of the wheel.

Anatomy of Disc Brakes

Rotor

A bicycle disc rotor is a strong yet lightweight metal component that is attached to both the front and rear wheels. The pads rub on it, and as a result, the rotation of this metal piece is slowed down or stopped completely. The design of bike disc rotors allows you to do both of these actions in a controlled manner without the braking action being uneven.

Calliper

The calliper, although being the exact same component on both the front and rear wheel, it's mounted in different places. When it comes to the calliper on the rear, it's mounted to the frame, while the one on the front is mounted on the fork. Callipers are the main component between a bicycle disc rotor and pads, as they house pistons that push the pads towards the rotors. 

Pads

As you'd expect the pads are the ones that transfer all that stopping power against the rotors. They are the components exposed to the most amount of wear. Although the rotors are getting worn too, pads are made of more malleable materials hence why they wear out faster.

Maintenance of Disc Brakes

Rotors

Since the rotors of a disc brake are the central component, they are prone to heating up quite a lot. All that friction, especially when braking at high speeds, can slowly but surely reduce the efficiency of the bicycle disc rotor. The heat can easily warp your rotors, but you can easily fix that by using an adjustable wrench or a dedicated rotor-truing tool. 

The latter is going to make it a lot easier to tweak your bike disc rotors in place. Truing the rotors is done by turning the wheel to straighten the warped area as it will otherwise rub against the pads. Use the truing tool or adjustable wrench to bend the bike disc rotor into place. Makes sure to do so lightly.

Pads

Sometimes dirt and oils can stick to the pads and they can be transferred to the rotors. When this happens you will feel a major loss of braking power. To get rid of this mess, you should use isopropyl alcohol also known as rubbing alcohol. Using a clean cloth, apply some rubbing alcohol on the cloth and wipe away both the pads and rotors.

If squealing persists after doing so, you'll want to check the alignment of the callipers over the rotors. You might need to centre the callipers to stop this. Also, as you know, the pads can get worn out and start to squeal too. So you might want to check if they need to be replaced, before dealing with the callipers.

Levers

Poor braking performance can also be due to the brake levers not being lubricated well. Lubricating the levers is done by pouring a little bit of lubricating oil into all its pivot points. It would be best if you did this while you're squeezing the levers so they open and close as you leave a drop or two. Sometimes brake levers will require you to reposition brake pads or even bleed the brakes in order for the maintenance to be complete.

Hoses

This goes if you have hydraulic disc breaks. The hoses of such a system should be inspected for any leaks as sometimes they can be present yet it can be hard to detect them. But if you can't see them, are they even an issue? While not straight away, leaks can become a major issue as dirt can build up where the leak is. This can quickly seize the brake lines and thus your brakes. But maybe the build-up of dirt can help you find the leak. Although that sounds like a bright idea, it's already too late if it has happened. Therefore you'll need to take your bike to a shop.

Types of Brake Pads

Organic

Just like there are different types of disc brakes, there are different types of brake pads, such as organic ones. Organic brake pads are, as you'd expect, made of organic materials which makes them the most powerful pads. But it's exactly because of that, that organic pads wear out the quickest.

Semi-Organic

A semi-organic set of pads will last you longer than organic brake pads but they won't provide the same stopping power. Semi-organic pads are a great middle-ground option between organic and sintered pads.

Sintered

The most durable and most popular disc brake pads nowadays are sintered pads.  They are not that powerful but they will last you the longest, especially if you're using your bicycle for everyday riding.

Adding Excitement to Your Yard: The Magic of Slides!

Are you turning your backyard into the ultimate playground? Or maybe you're planning the perfect slide setup for a school or park. Eithe...