Looking for security

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 11/10/02

		Destinations  Where they went  Travel gear  Student travel  Sensible traveler

You can take it with you

Cyclists who have balked at the idea of taking their bike apart in order to take it with them will welcome the Slingshot Bicycle Co.’s latest offering: the Single Shot. This high-performance one-speed bike allows riders to get the most energy out of their pedal pushing, turning a single gear that is larger than those on other single-gear bikes, resulting in greater speed. What’s more, the Single Shot folds, so you can put it into its own travel case (sold separately) and take it on a plane or train or slip it into the trunk of your car. It costs $1,695 or $2,450, depending upon specifications (the frame and fork alone cost $1,100), and is packed and shipped completely assembled. To order, call 888-530-5556 or go to www.slingshotbikes.com.

Room for a little more security

Slip this door-stop wedge into the crack at the bottom of your hotel room door, and anyone who tries to get in will trigger a shrill alarm that will surely wake you – and everyone nearby. The Door Stop Alarm has an on-off switch and runs on two AA batteries. The 6.-by-1.-by-1.-inch wedge weighs only 5 ounces; it costs $11.85 through the Magellan’s catalog (800-962-4943) or online at www.magellans.com.

Take a broader view of things

Regular binoculars have a 35- to 250-foot field of view at a distance of 1,000 yards. But the Bushnell Xtrawide has 4.·.21 magnification and a 900-foot field of view, giving you a panoramic look at your surroundings. They are fixed-focus, so they eliminate the need for constant fine-tuning, and are compact and lightweight enough to work well at football games or at the opera. Light-blocking contoured eye cups increase the comfort level, and a special rubberized casing provides extra protection. The binoculars come with a neck strap and carrying pack. The list price is about $150, and they’re available through the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog (800-543-3366, or online at www.hammacher.com), but can occasionally be found for $90 or less on sale at www.outdoorelectronics.com ($79; telephone 800-470-1477); or www.wholesalehunter.net ($60; telephone 888-900-4868).