News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 106

this issue Vol. VIII, No. 23 Published by The News-Press TROPICALIA NOSE on the cover Illustration by Lindi Daywalt-Feazel The News-Press what's inside Boating Estero Bay is rich with natural treasures 6 Yard Art for tropical propeller's takeoff ready, 9 Palm Books New James Patterson novel thrills kids, too 10 Planner Check out what's coming up 12 Travel There's more to South Padre than spring break 20 Field Notes 2 Wild File ...5 Celebrations 13 Puzzles .14 Cover Story 18 Travel 20 Social Scene ...22 tropicalia staff Executive Editor Terry Eberle Senior Managing Editor Cindy McCurry-Ross Custom Content Editor Wendy Fullerton Powell Tropicalia Editor Amy Williams Art Director Lindi Daywalt-Feazel southwest tropicalia a field guide to paradise sunday, march 27, 2011 the news- 3 Thrill list or bucket list, EA Bicycles brings it true Where: EA Bicycles, 15630 McGregor south Fort Myers; eabicycles.com; 415-6600 Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday What's in store: EA Bicycles sells and services top-flight family bikes, comfort bikes, road mountain accessories, and supplies.

include Jamis, Raleigh, Giro, SMP Garneau. Claim to seek what sells, says EA he EA he bikes, hybrid than two years ago, bikes, Herrera fits, builds, serbikes, gear, vices, sells and talks apparel bikes. A diverse cusBrands tomer base evolved Birias, Pinarello, from his work leading Niner, Lynskey, local bike retailers' serCrankinstein, vice staffs; and from and Louis what he learned at the bike shops he owned Colombia; in competifame: People tion on Colombia's BMX Al Herrera cycling team; and in and does. At training alongside its Bicycles, which road bike team, says and his wife, his website, eabicy-5 Edisney, cles.com. Customers opened less represent all walks of life, whether they are clueless or competitive, frugal or extravagant, like the retiree who stops by to purchase three safety accessories for the $20,000 bike he commissioned Herrera to build; or the young in mom who wants a Biria, "that great sherbetgreen bike you can take shopping and get on and off real fast and easy." The devotion comes down to one thing, says Herrera: "It's just love!" Photos and notes by Joanna Hogan, special to The News-Press THIS BAG HAS LEGS Any bicycle bag worth its Velcro and fast clips is only as good as it comes off with a "click." Case in point for the good: "The Beverly" pannier by Louis Garneau It's 19 inches long, 13 inches wide, 6 inches deep and won't make you feel like a triathlete when you need to switch gears and head indoors to buy shop, dine or spritz.

OH, JOY! BIRIA COMFORT, PINARELLO CLASS With Biria it's all about lifestyle, comfort and the ease of getting on and off. Even if you've not ridden a bike in years, German-made Biria easy boarding bicycles accommodate slackers, shoppers and multitasking girly girls in skirts. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the Pinarello "Dogma" bicycle, an important, ambitious, competitor that typically does not do random shopping or touristy crawls GIRO HEART THE HELMET, OR ELSE It's all about good venting, we supposed when we weighed several bike helmet options and decided we gotta go Giro. The are so light and airy, your head feels helmet Lightest of the light is Giro's. "Prolight" followed by "Atmos" ANNOUNCING 'YOU' Sounds and lights improve safety, especially on bicycles.

Sound generators include handlebar-fixated items such as the squeezable parrot or frog ($8 each) or the less tacky brass bell For light. defense, choose the clip-on SuperFlash warning light in clear for day or red for dayinto-night Off-road use for SuperFlash includes the dairy aisle at Publix on Thursdays: Clip it to your shirttail, where it effectively reduces incidences of grocery cart tailgating and (bruising, ankle-gashing) rearend collision..