Thanksgiving is coming near. With the successful launch of the Mobo Mini, the World’s Smallest Luxury Three Wheeled Cruiser, and the ongoing popularity of the Mobo Cruisers, we have plenty to be thankful of. To top it off, we were featured in today’s edition of 3 local newspapers: The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, and Pasadena Star News. Be sure to check them out!  Click here to view the article from San Gabriel Valley Tribune’s Website.  This is definitely one of the highlights of this year’s Mobo Thanksgiving and a great way to kick off the Holiday Season.

Life can be really quite ironic.  Back in June, I wrote about the importance of bicycle helmets for all members of the family.  I had just suffered my first concussion while playing adult co-ed soccer when I choose that topic.  It never occurred to me just how dangerous soccer could be or how important protective head gear is to the safety of your brain.  It’s only a ball, right?

Soccer has made an enormous climb in popularity in the United States over the last 20 years. Women’s collegiate teams have grown by over 115%, the number of high school players has more than doubled to nearly one million, and men’s teams grew nearly 50% within the same time period. Last year’s soccer World Cup was even said to have had more fans watching than the average viewership for baseball’s World Series.  The name Beckham?  Just as recognizable as the name Jeter, right?

Unfortunately, the number of head injuries incurred has grown along with soccer’s growth in popularity. The CDC explains best what a concussion is:  “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Concussions can also occur from a fall or a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.”  Concussions can last for weeks, months, and can sometime have lifetime effects.  The symptoms can include: headaches, numbness, decreased coordination, nausea, slurred speech, convulsions, seizures, memory loss, etc.

This is your brain – not your knee or ankle or hamstring.  You can visibly recover from those injuries.  It’s much more difficult to “see” your brain heal which means you’ll likely be prescribed “brain rest” – no TV, no video games, no reading, getting lots of rest, and – in my case – someone else watching your children.

Here we are 4 months later, and I am just recovering from a second Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  In my last soccer game (final per doctor’s orders), I took a direct shot to the jaw which was dislocated, my chin bruised, and my brain rattled inside my skull.  After two weeks of “brain rest,” I am finally back to work – although it’s been a gradual return.  My memory is still sketchy, but one thing is very clear – soccer is in desperate need of making head injuries a less frequent occurrence.

Bicyclists wear helmets and the number of head injuries has greatly decreased over the last ten years.  The National Football League is constantly working on making certain hits grounds for suspension and looking to better the current protective gear.  Soccer has protective head gear, but it has yet to become mandatory.  Protect your brain now, not once the doctor has told you and certainly not once it comes into fashion.  It just may be too late.

Asa Products is ramping up for their biggest industry trade show in North America – The Interbike International Bicycle Expo taking place on September 12^th – 16^th.  Interbike is a five-day event consisting of an indoor and outdoor event held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada and is the perfect meeting place for bicycle manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and cycling fanatics looking for the latest and greatest in cycling products and technologies.

Interbike is also a huge media event for the entire bicycle industry as thousands of new products and technologies are launched each year.  There will be demos, test drives, and loads of information for all in attendance.  With an average of 700 companies exhibiting and nearly 24,000 in attendance each year, the show has expanded into the OutDoor Demo in Boulder City, Nevada to kick off the festivities on September 12^th & 13^th.

Asa Products will be there at booth # 1038 showing off their signature Mobo Cruiser, their highly touted Mobo Mini for children, high-tech helmets, 3-in-1 sunglasses, and other cycling accessories.  Want a sneak peek?  Check out the Mobo website and watch for updates on the show.  Be there for a “Wow, Wow, Wow Experience!”

The school year is starting, but that does not mean that you need to stop having fun.  When the LA County Fair kicks off this opening labor day weekend, be sure to visit the Mobo on Booth 1482 of Sycamore St.   After taking the Mobo for a test ride and cruise in style, you can spend the rest of the day in pure fun as the fair is loaded with food, snacks, concerts, games, exhibits, and countless attractions.

Undoubtedly, our good friend Victoria Justice is considered one of the main attractions at this year’s LA County Fair.  The Nickelodeon Star never ceases to amaze and her concert will heat up the stage on September 17.  Click here to see Victoria Justice along with Avan Jogia and Josh Hutcherson spending a little time with the Mobo at Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards VIP Lounge.

Back in April, The Street reported that they expected the Top 18 toys of year would include plastic dolls, action figures, and movie toys.  With the US economy hitting yet another major “road bump,” parents have responded less than enthusiastically and are asking themselves, “What is the true value of the toys we purchase for our children.”

Use the following equation when purchasing a toy:

Play Time + Quality/Durability + Time Endurance = THE TRUE VALUE OF A TOY

Play time:  How long will my child actually play with this toy?

The scenario:  Johnny begs for the “toy of the week” from an infomercial he saw.  Mom buys it and Johnny plays with it for a week.  Two months later, mom finds the “toy of the week” at the bottom of the toy box.  Mom is frustrated that she spent the $24.99 on a toy that provided about the same amount of fun as Johnny’s latest Happy Meal toy.

In the future:  Mom should wait it out.  Soon enough the “toy of the week” will pass.  Look for items that are versatile enough to encourage many levels of play (i.e. multiple players, other story lines, interchangeable pieces, etc.).

Quality & Durability:  Will it take the abuse of a child?

The scenario:  Mom buys 5 year old Susie the nail polish station.  Susie will play with it daily and for hours.  Sadly, within a couple of weeks the sticker appliqués are peeling at the corners and the glued trim is starting to separate.

In the future:  Read up before you purchase.  Read reviews from families just like yours to find out the pros and cons of the product.  Often times, you can find a similar item to compare Susie’s favorite to help you make an informed purchase.

Time Endurance: Can this toy be passed down to younger children or future generations?

The scenario:  Dad finds some really cool cars to buy for his children.  Some of the plastic ones have flashy sticker appliqués while some of the metal hot rods have been air brushed.  Dad purchases a combination of them.  Within a year, the plastic ones have had their doors snapped off, are missing tires, and you can clearly tell which ones have been left outside by the faded stickers.

In the future: Those metal cars will stand the test of time.  They may be bumped and scratched, but they survived “crash up derbies,” being buried in the sandbox, and run over by bikes.  The plastic cars will not likely have made it this far.  Keep in mind what your child’s new toy is made of and consider whether it will (a) quickly make it to the trash, (b) make it to a future yard sale or (c) be handed down to a cherished family member.

Be more conscious of the items you purchase: read up, search for the best price, and assess the quality of your children’s products.  Not only will you be teaching your child a “valuable” lesson, but someday you may still have the toys to show for it!

Cancer is a nasty disease that has taken countless lives. Undoubtedly, many families are looking for a glimmer of hope to cure their loved ones.  Ryan Hornstra, a high school senior from CA, is doing his best to keep that hope alive by forming “Pedal 4 Hope”. Since June 25, 2011 Ryan and the Pedal 4 Hope family have been riding their bikes coast to coast across the country. The journey started from Manhattan Beach Pier in Southern California with one mission in mind: to increase awareness of screenings, prevention, treatment, research, and the education of cancer. Funds raised from this charity event will be used to support City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading cancer research institutes.

Mobo is proud to sponsor Pedal 4 Hope in their fight against cancer by supplying riders with Mobo gears such as helmets, bells, and gloves.  Much respect also goes out to all the other companies who are sponsoring this great event. You can click here to find a list of all the sponsors.

We encourage you to make a difference in this fight against cancer by joining Pedal 4 Hope in their trip across the nation or by donation. Click here to Donate Now!

The AP this week reported that “Baby boomers say wrinkles aren’t so bad and they’re not that worried about dying. Just don’t call them old.”  Doctors are encouraging their healthy boomer patients to get out there and stay fit.  So they’re walking, attending fitness classes, dancing, etc.  And bicycle riding is making a comeback!

For many Baby Boomers though, there are some drawbacks to riding a bike.  You don’t have to be in any particular age group to know what those drawbacks are.  If you’ve ever taken the kids for a ride only to “feel the ride” in your back, shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees, and butt for days to come, you know EXACTLY why they don’t just hop on and go. As we age, stability and balance become issues as well.

What are the alternatives to the traditional bicycle?  Mobo Cruiser makes a sporty yet chic 3-wheeled cruiser that offers Baby Boomers a comfortable, maintenance-free, easy ride that doesn’t leave them sore and bed-ridden.  They’re left feeling energized, youthful, and wanting more.  And with a renewed interest in bicycling, there are more community trails, clubs, and organized rides than ever before across this country offering Boomers new venues and excursions outside of their current community.

Those with fixed incomes can also be assured that the price isn’t all that hefty either.  Mobo has created a line of specialty cruisers that range in price from $249 up to $599.

Here are some other options for Boomers to consider when thinking about purchasing a Mobo Cruiser:

• One Size Fits All – with an adjustable frame, Grandma and Grandpa can easily ride the same bike with one simple tool-less adjustment.
• No gears or shocks – the simple construction makes it virtually maintenance free.
• Comfortable wide tires – makes for a smooth ride over most pavement.
• Cushy wide seat – no worries…you will not acquire “bicycle butt” on a Mobo Cruiser.

There are lots of other reasons too, but don’t take my word for it. Ask your local dealer for more information or check the Mobo Cruiser website for all of the stats and cruiser comparisons.  Stay fit, enjoy the fresh air, and remember why bicycle riding was so much fun during your “first” stage of youth!

The latest cruiser, the Mobo Mini, to join the Mobo collection is off to a very exciting start. Celebrities such as Ricky Martin and Jennifer Hudson loved it and already got one for their kids.  We are excited to hear that Toy Book is featuring the Mobo Mini in their May/June 2011 issue. In the issue, they called the Mobo Mini an “attractive design” as well as mentioning key benefits such as “keeps kids active and having fun”, “help hand/eye coordination” and “muscle strength development”. We hope that this information is helpful for parents and other Toy Book readers who are looking to keep their children healthy and active for the summer vacation.

For the full article, go to page S68 of The Toy Book May/June 2011 Issue.

“I rode my bike without a helmet when I was a kid and look…I’m still alive!” Parents across the country struggle with their children to wear a helmet as they set off on an innocent bike ride. But times have changed – bikes are built to go faster and traffic has increased making bike riding without a helmet a recipe for disaster.

So why are bicycle helmets necessary? It is reported that young cyclists are more likely to die of head injuries than adult cyclists and that most of those fatalities were results of motor vehicle collisions. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute offers some sobering statistics:

“In 2009 alone, 630 bicyclists died in the United States. Of those, 74 victims were 14 years of age or younger. In 2000, it is reported that head injuries accounted for 62.6% of bicycle fatalities, collisions with motor vehicles accounted for 75.7% of bicycle fatalities, and 61.7% of motor vehicle collision deaths were due to head injury in children 0-19 years of age.”

How does a bicycle helmet work? Helmets are similar to lobsters – the hard shell on the outside protects its squishy, vulnerable center. But bicycle helmets have an additional safety feature that lobsters don’t have – an impact-absorbing center (usually a foam liner). The liner crushes inward to absorb most of the crash energy in the case of a head-on collision or even for a simple fall.

Simply put, it’s kind of like when Superman jumps on the train tracks to slow a passenger-laden train before arriving at the blown out bridge. The foam (Superman) crushes down and doesn’t bounce back – eventually your skull (the train) slows down and stops just prior to a “major catastrophe.” Without a helmet, the brain whips around in the skull causing serious damage or death.

What should you look for in a helmet? There are so many places to look, but these are the things you need to protect your child’s future:

1. Be sure the helmet has a safety certification seal from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
2. Let your child help you pick a helmet that he/she likes.
3. Make sure the helmet fits snugly, but not too tightly.
4. Adjust the chin strap so it’s snug and allows only two fingers between the chin and strap when buckled.
5. The triangle straps should be in front of and under your ears.
6. The brim should rest about an inch above your eyebrows.

We can’t tell you the right words to use with your child, but we encourage you to stand strong in your Helmet War fight.  Make them wear it or don’t let them ride at all. Be your child’s Superman!