I can remember a time when transporting a bicycle meant popping your trunk, shoving in as much of it as you could and praying for the best. (I remember because mine flew out and landed under a pick up truck) A time when packing for a road trip required a degree in Tetris. A time when active lifestyles clashed with vehicular constraints. I checked out this contest that got me thinking about buying one.
One may underestimate the capacity of the cargo carrier, and wonder, “I mean really, how much can you really fit in one of those things?” That’s a bunch of malarkey! You should live your life by the golden rule: Thou shall not question the capability of the cargo carrier. Well, maybe that's a little drastic, but they can fit golf club bags, kayak paddles, skis, snowboards, hockey sticks—basically any awkward items you wouldn’t want scratching up your car’s interior. I can sympathize with your skepticism because I used to be you. I even used to have a deep rooted fear of carriers; dating back to my childhood, when my brother thought it would be funny to lock me in one and surf it down our front lawn; but that’s a whole different set of issues.
Anyway, the other day I was at a local sporting shop and they were hosting this a promotional event. All the big names in the rack business were there—Thule, Surco, Swagman, Allen—and they were hosting a contest called “You Couldn’t Pack this Car if Your Life Depended on it!” The idea behind it was simple. The companies selected an array of couples who live active lifestyles and enjoy the outdoors. The couples were then given twenty minutes to shop through the store and pick out whatever they wanted. Here’s the catch- they could only keep what they could pack into a mystery car; and they had to do it in 10 minutes! The couples rushed the store, grabbing fishing rods, pool sticks, snowboards, mountain bikes, and whatever else they could get their hands on. When their time was up, the officials unveiled the mystery mobile: a 2007 Subaru Impreza. It was hilarious watching couple after couple attempt to stuff this small sedan. In the end, I think the couple that won fit 2 pairs of skis, a snowboard along with some basketballs and footballs. Then the companies got to give their 10 minutes demo, which consisted of a sponsor rolling up in a similar Subaru; except his was decked out to the max with racks. It had a rooftop cargo carrier packed with 6 pairs of skis and poles, a hitch mounted bike rack, and to top it all off—plenty of interior room! The power of the rack is one to be considered. -Mike Rosania
Max Energy – Boy Superhero
The name’s Energy, Max Energy. Maybe his mom threw back a few too many Redbulls during the third trimester. Maybe it’s his uncontrollable A.D.D. Either way, Max Energy is a hyperactive, constantly moving force to be reckoned with.
Performance Exhausts Cure Those Hump Day Blues
It’s another Wednesday at East Brockton High School. Hump Day, the kids called it; the halfway point between stories of last weekend and the excitement of upcoming festivities.
Add Floor Liners And A Cold Air Intake To Your Christmas List This Year
Don’t know what to ask for this Christmas? Why not ask for something you can actually use – durable floor mats.
