PULSE.Pedaling a Townie in the city A bike made for your legs (and your latte, too) Do you have trouble balancing on a traditional bike because your feet don't touch the ground? Problem solved with the Electra Bicycle Townie model, which features a comfy com·fy adj. com·fi·er, com·fi·est Informal Comfortable. comfy Adjective [-fier, -fiest] Informal comfortable Adj. 1. lower seat and pedals that are moved forward. This allows proper leg extension and eliminates stress and pain to the back and knees. ``It's made cycling easier for people,'' says Electra spokeswoman Barbara Mizuno. ``With our bikes, you can put your feet on the ground before you start and after you stop,'' she says. ``And it's a really fun ride because you're sitting straight up and you have a great view of the road ahead.'' The stylish retro-design bikes can be accessorized with baskets and even latte holders. Models range from three to 21 speeds and come with adjustable seats and handlebars. Prices range from $300 to $700. Mizuno says customers include everyone from hard-core bikers to more sedentary types who haven't ridden in years and just want a fun and easy way to exercise. ``It isn't just a geeky bike,'' she says. ``The guys at Bicycling magazine all have them and ride them around at work.'' New this year: Townie models for children. ``It's great for kids starting out because they have balance issues,'' Mizuno says. ``It doesn't eliminate the need for training wheels training wheels pl.n. A pair of small wheels attached to the rear axle of a bicycle so that beginning riders can ride without falling over. , but it's a great first bike for a 5-year-old.'' For more information about the bikes and where to purchase them, visit www.electrabike.com, or call (760) 607-2453. - Diana McKeon Charkalis REST AND RELAXATION: Whether you want to rev up Verb 1. rev up - speed up; "let's rev up production" step up increase - make bigger or more; "The boss finally increased her salary"; "The university increased the number of students it admitted" 2. or wind down, there's a yoga program out there for you. Razor Digital Entertainment's ``Spirit Flow: Dance Inspired Yoga'' series features three workout DVDs ($14.99 each) designed to relieve tension, restore energy and calm the mind with gentle, simple movements. Viewers can do a 35-minute ``Rejuvenating Core Stretch,'' practice ``The Seven Essential Stress Relievers'' or undertake a 60-minute total-body workout in ``Alive in Your Body,'' under the guidance of fitness expert Michelle LeMay. For those who prefer rest to exercise, Kristen Rentz's `'YogaNap'' (Marlowe and Co.; $15.95) offers just that. The book provides an easy-to-follow guide to restorative re·stor·a·tive adj. 1. Of or relating to restoration. 2. Tending or having the power to restore. n. A medicine or other agent that helps to restore health, strength, or consciousness. yoga, which uses props such as pillows and blankets to support poses designed to maximize relaxation. If you're feeling overworked, under-rested or just plain overwhelmed, the ``YogaNap'' poses can provide more relief than an afternoon snooze. The book lays out movements to boost the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , cure insomnia insomnia, abnormal wakefulness or inability to sleep. The condition may result from illness or physical discomfort, or it may be caused by stimulants such as coffee or drugs. However, frequently some psychological factor, such as worry or tension, is the cause. , ease back pain and just plain relax. The ``Spirit Flow'' videos are available through www.razorfitness.com. ``YogaNap'' is available through Amazon.com and major book retailers. - Kate Zuparko TAKE A NUMBER: When it comes to calories, getting an accurate count can be tricky, especially at a restaurant. So grab the Calorie King's 2006 ``Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter'' and banish ban·ish tr.v. ban·ished, ban·ish·ing, ban·ish·es 1. To force to leave a country or place by official decree; exile. 2. To drive away; expel: We banished all our doubts and fears. diet uncertainty. The 304-page pocket guide contains the nutritional information for 17,000 foods, from generic and brand-name offerings to culinary oddities The Oddities were a professional wrestling stable in the WWF. History The Jackyl formed the group in 1998 and called them "The Parade of Human Oddities." The group consisted of "freakish" wrestlers, including the masked Golga (formerly Earthquake, whose mask had (deep-fried Twinkie A deep fried Twinkie is a relatively recent invention, taking the popular Hostess Twinkie cake, freezing it, dipping it into batter and deep frying it to create a variation on the traditional snack cake. , anyone?). The book is divided into 19 specific categories, including an entry on fast-food chains and restaurants. Readers can find out the good and bad news for more than 6,000 food offerings at more than 200 eateries, be they fast food (McDonald's), coffee (Starbucks) or just the mall food-court stand (Mrs. Fields Mrs. Fields Cookies is a chain of bakeries, located mostly in the United States, founded by Debbi Fields (b. 1956, Park City, Utah). Mrs. Fields and her husband started their business in the late 1970s, opening the first of many retail bakeries in Palo Alto, California, selling Cookies). The book also features 40 pages of diet guides and counters to help with weight control, diabetes and more. Information on those foodstuffs foodstuffs npl → comestibles mpl foodstuffs npl → denrées fpl alimentaires foodstuffs food npl → not in the guide may be available on the companion Web site, www.calorieking.com, which includes information for 40,000 foods and is updated daily. The ``Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter'' retails for $7.99, and is on sale at major book retailers. - K.Z. CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) no caption (Electra Bicycle Townie) (3) no caption (``Spirit Flow: Dance Inspired Yoga'') (4) no caption (book: `Yoganap'') (5) no caption (book: ``Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter'') |
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