Thursday, March 11, 2010
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April Newsletter
Wild Rock Source for Adventure Newsletter
Go Out and Play | |
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| Gear Swap! |
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 If you are looking to get rid of some well loved gear or to pick up something at a great price...
Saturday April 18th from 10 until 6 is our annual spring Gear Swap. If you have bikes, camping gear, canoe or kayaks or paddling gear to sell bring it down Monday April 13th until Friday the 17th to register it. Get 100% store credit or 80% cash back. If you are looking to purchase used gear drop by Saturday April 18th to check out the deals. |
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Events |
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Basic Bike Maintenance Clinic
This is great for anyone who doesn't want to get stuck somewhere with a flat tire. Tuesday Aprill 14th from 6:00 pm until 7:45 pm.
Intermediate Bike Maintenance Clinic
If you have mastered the basics and are interested in keeping your bike in great shape between tune-ups, join us for this clinic. Tuesday April 21st from 6:00 pm until 7:45 pm.
Map and Compass Clinic
Wild Rock will be hosting a Map and Compass clinic, Wednesday, April 8 at 6pm. Cost is $12 and will cover reading a topographical map, setting your compass' declination and general navigational tips and tricks. Sign up at the front cash. Spaces are limited. Participants are encouraged to bring their own compass, pencil, note pad or topographic map, but supplies will be provided. Unique or especially complicated questions are warmly invited. |
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Lole Bike Giveaway |
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From April 1 to April 30, 2009, when you buy Lolė garments, obtain an entry form to win a special edition Urban Cruiser Marin/Lolė bike! Come and check it out in our window display.
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| Big Agnes - The Mother of Comfort! |
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 Over the years we here at Wild Rock have continued to scour our industry for innovative products that add to your outdoor experience. There are many qualities that we are looking for but the most important is comfort. A product that manages to be more comfortable to use in the backcountry but does not add weight or bulk is an innovation worth getting excited about. And so, Wild Rock is very happy to announce that Big Agnes sleeping bags and pads will be here any day!
Spend a night with Big Agnes and you'll look forward to sleeping in the backcountry. The Big Agnes System is different than the traditional sleeping bag on top of a sleeping pad. Instead, they unite the two.
Integrated Bag & Pad System
· Smaller pack size · Less weight to carry · Increased comfort · No more rolling off  With Big Agnes, the pad slides into an integrated sleeve on the bottom of the bag, and the top two-thirds of the bag is insulated in the traditional style. When insulation material is compressed under your body, it loses most of its ability to insulate. We eliminate the unnecessary bottom insulation and replace it with a sleeve to accommodate the pad, which provides the insulation. This design provides a secure foundation and keeps you on the pad all night. Benefits of the system include: weight savings, reduced packed size, increased girth and comfort and the ability to roll and twist without rolling off your pad or waking to the feel of a zipper across your face. Whether your plans call for lightweight backpacking, bike or motorcycle touring, car camping, mountaineering, hunting or just couch surfing, Big Agnes will offer you the best possible night's sleep. Sleeping in the Big Agnes system is similar to sleeping in your bed at home with a mattress under you for comfort and the covers on top for insulation. With the sleeping system you won't long for your own bed next time you sleep outside. Although BA makes very small, compact bags I have selected their roomier models for Wild Rock. The Lost Ranger (-9, down), Encampment (-9, synthetic) and women's Lulu (-9, down) all have approximately 6" more girth than comparable mummy bags. Add this to the facts that there is no weight penalty and you will not roll off your mattress and you can see why I am excited about these bags. I had the pleasure of using a Big Agnes Lost Ranger
(-9, down fill) bag last fall for a week. It was by far the most comfortable bag I have ever slept in. The only disadvantage was that I had to spend a minute or two fitting the pad into the sleeping bag sleeve each night. Believe me, the time was worth it. Also, although the sleeping bags and pads are meant to work together you can save a bit of cash by using your existing sleeping pad. Most Thermarest, Pacific Outdoor and Ex-Ped pads will work well with most Big Agnes styles.
...Now, if I could just find a backpacking hot-tub that weighed in at less than 4lbs...
See you in the woods,
Kieran
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| Wild Rock Bike Fit Studio - Cycling Comfort |
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 Riding a bike should be a fun enjoyable way to spend time. If you have a sore bottom, hands, wrists or neck there is a problem and it should be addressed by a bike fit expert. Cycling should not leave your joints or flesh aching Most bicycles are purchased; the seat raised to an appropriate height and the client is pushed out the door. No wonder people have aches and pains. Not only do bikes come in different sizes to match different sizes of people but so do seats, handlebars, cranks and stems. A bike should fit like a tailored suit and take into consideration your inseam, arm length, shoulder width and height. When all of this is taken into consideration you end up with an enjoyable cycling experience without wrist pain, hand numbness, sore neck or aching bottom. To add increased comfort for rides over 30 minutes the addition of padded cycling gloves and shorts can make a huge difference. You don't need to be a Lycra clad gazelle either, cycling shorts come in conservative baggier fits these days. Wild Rock offers complete bike fitting at several different price levels. At $50 we make sure the bike you have fits as well as possible. For $100 we will make sure you have the correct bar width, stem length and go into a detailed analysis of your fit. For $200 we will analyze your fit using power and heart rate to make sure you are in your most efficient position. When spending hundreds of $$$ on a new bike it behooves you spend a little extra and make sure you love riding it. If you don't ride as much as you wish due to pain, drop by Wild Rock and ask for a fit expert. They can help you make the best of the bike you have or help fit you on a new bike. Happy trails.
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| Scott's Rant |
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Go Out and Play vs. Technology
Are we better off having developed and adopted cell phones, text messaging, Blackberries, MSN and Twitter? These days I seriously ponder where this is all going and if we actually want to arrive at the destination it is taking us to.
These are tools that "might" allow us to pack more into our busy days. Sending an e-mail is faster than a phone call or writing a letter. Twittering is faster than catching up with friends at a local pub, texting is immediate and "cheap". These all seem like good things on the surface. On closer inspection I am not sure any of us are getting much more done in a shorter amount of time. Not to say we are not getting more done as many of us are but work now spills over into "off" times and the constant chatter on the "friend" side of the equation ends up being short on content and depth and long on the keyboard.
Watching teens tap endless text messages makes me think our immediate gratification society has really taken root in the new technology. Our young folks are making up for the lack of 1-5 close friends with dozens of friends at electronic arms length. These relationships are easily started and ended and don't require the efforts or reap the rewards of a close personal relationship. Immediate gratification is appealing but leaves us feeling empty and discontented. If you reflect on the most satisfying things in your life I am willing to bet they did not come easily or immediately. Maybe it was finally mastering a song on the guitar, reaching your goal in a 10K race after training hard, completing the week long canoe trip, sitting still somewhere after a long hike or enjoying a moment of comfortable silence with a close friend. These are all things that are built through consistent effort, interest and care.
Knowing this, why do we pursue dozens of shallow electronic relationships? I think there are a number of reasons:
1. To experience cause and effect in a world that seems ambivalent to our presence. It can take a lot of effort and time to change the world in a small way. But in the electronic world you can text, twitter, MSN or Blog and be heard immediately and maybe even get a response. What a calamity that we have come to this to make our existence known. Art, volunteering or any sort of concrete action seems to take a back seat to the gratifying blog post where you have really only re-arranged a bunch of 0's and 1's.
2. Self-esteem. I don't think deep rooted durable self-esteem comes from the # of friends on Facebook, Twitter pals or number of texts received in a day but somehow this has become a goal. Self-esteem comes from kind words from friends/family/co-workers we respect and accomplishing tasks we thought difficult.
3. Lack of focus and commitment. People no longer agree to meet at a time and place. This would require planning, prioritizing and commitment. What I hear now if often " I am not sure I will call your cell or text you later" instead of "Yes (or No) I will meet you at 7:00pm at the Ritz Deli North". This avoids making decisions and having to follow through.
4. Deep, meaningful relationships take time and effort. With all these "other" relationships cluttering our "networks" we are not taking the time to develop intricate relationships and are rapidly losing the skills to do so.
I know this has been a strange rant but there is a method to my madness. The outdoors gets you away from the cluttered airwaves. Thankfully you can sign out and get out of range by foot, bike, canoe or kayak in minutes if you live in Peterborough. I urge you to call friend, scoop up a family member and go out and play. Look danger in the eye and leave the cell behind.
Scott
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| Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre |
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Many of you will know about the Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre. Find out more at their website:
They have an e-newsletter and a blog if you are interested in keeping up on what they are up to! |
| Hike for Hospice |
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 Where: Millenium Park When: Sunday May 3rd, 2009. (Rain or shine)
Registration: 10 am
Opening Ceremony: 11 am
Hiker's Picnic Lunch 12 noon until 2 pm provided by Montana's Cookhouse.
Fun for all: face painting, dog friendly, Music | | |
Send an e-card! Wild Rock has e-cards that you can send to anyone with an email address. Send a card! They have been recently updated so check out the new ones!
Wild Rock is bullfrogpowered (TM) with 100% green electricity. Find out what this means at www.bullfrogpower.com
Anne Leavens
Wild Rock Source for Adventure
169 Charlotte Street
Peterborough, ON K9J 2T7
ph 705 745 9133 fax 705 745 9133 | | |
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