fall 2015
PATAGONIA It is that time of the year when lots of great new products start rolling through the doors at Wild Rock. We love when Patagonia arrives as it signals that fall is officially here! This year we have added some great new pieces as well as our tried and true favourites from Patagonia. Bring on fall.
Nano Air Hoody
Down Sweater Jacket
Mix the warmth of your favourite puffy and add the breathability of fleece and you end up with the Nano Air. A favourite with our staff $349 M’s & W’s.
If we had to put just one “must have” for fall on our list it would be the Down Sweater. A brilliant bit of insulation for chilly fall days. $269. M’s & W’s.
Better Sweater Jacket On its own at the office, or under a shell in the woods, the Better Sweater is a wear everyday and love it jacket. $169 in M’s and W’s.
Fjord Flannel It’s fall. It’s flannel season. Simple as that. Warm and cozy with great colours. For the urban woodsman and woodswoman at $99.
Micro D Fleece jacket Fleece has been the go-to in insulation and with the Micro D it keeps getting better. Great fit, and it’s 85% recycled material too. $99.
Down Sweater Vest Layer it, wear it on its own, a vest in fall just makes sense. Give your core some warmth for $209. M’s and W’s available in a range of colours.
#LeaveItOn
#GoOutandPlay
Put it on, leave it on …’til laundry do you part. The atagonia® Nano-Air™ Hoody puts an end to layering spats once and for all. It’s warm, incredibly breathable, and stretchy— an all-in, committed partner for every moment of high-output, stop-and-go missions in the Kawarthas or across the globe.
FIELD TEST It’s easy to get caught up in new, fancy gear. A new backpack, the ultralight stove, a shiny knife…… but often it is the simplest bits that, while we may take them for granted, are reliable day in and day out. So that brings me to talking about pants. Not the most romantic piece of gear in the closet, but they can be a dealbreaker when headed to the outdoors. I have relied on my old faithful camp pants for the better part of 10 years, they are light, dry quickly and have plenty of handy pockets. Good right? Well they kinda fit like a pair of MC Hammer pants from the 90’s and always fall down at the waist. Not so good. Enter the Patagonia RPS Pant. While a scan through the website description brings a good chunk of pre rock wall climbing stoke, these pants are by no means limited to sending it up a pitch, which was not (possibly ever) going to happen with me this summer. Instead the RPS joined me on 10 hour road trips, long scrambling hikes, fly fishing in Vermont, and slithering under rocks at local caves. And they did a damn fine job of it. The RPS features a DWR finish, just the right amount of stretch, and most important to me – a fit that allowed for ease of movement and style to not look like I just strolled out of the bush. Really all the feature that make the RPS a great climbing pant make it a fantastic choice for your less vertical weekend adventures. And while adding a pair of pants to the gear closet may not be the most exciting purchase, it just might be the one that you appreciate the most. $99. j.elcombe
Patagonia RPS Pant
REINVENTING A CLASSIC THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PATAGONIA CAPILENE IN YOUR CLOSET. MAYBE YOU HAVE HAD IN FOR A LONG TIME. WHY REFRESH A CLASSIC IN THE OUTDOOR WORLD?
What’s the same? Well, Patagonia still offers the great quality moisture wicking, breathable, and quick drying capilene baselayer that will take you from the emotional depths of winter camping to the soaring heights of climbing mountains! Still Blue Sign approved, still made from recycled content, still has Polygiene permanent odor control. In short, still awesome. So… What’s new? The first thing you will notice is the packaging – instead of the classic Patagonia “sushi roll,” each piece comes in a 100% post-consumer recycled cardboard box. This is actually more environmentally friendly than the plastic it used to be shipped in. Awesome. Also, Patagonia is categorizing things a little bit differently this year, and dropping the old designations of Cap1 to Cap4. Instead, they have 3 ranges, called Lightweight, Midweight, and Thermal weight. Lightweight: 100% recycled content, this weight is the lightest and fastest drying baselayer with the best wicking capabilities. The slick outer fabric and subtle grid pattern make it easy to layer and is super comfortable next to skin. Ideal for high output activities in warm environments. 35 UPF.
Midweight: this weight is a fusion of the old Cap2 and Cap3 which has created the most verREAD ON . satile baselayer yet! This is the weight that does it all; wear it in warm or cold weather, alone or with layers, this weight makes life easy. Polartec Power Grid fabric gives it the uber comfort JESS M. factor and allows for outstanding breathability. Thermal weight: this weight is made for winter and is the warmest baselayer in the range. Surprisingly toasty with minimal bulk, this weight is still easy to layer. It is, by far, the coziest of them all with Polartec Power Grid fleeciness, which also makes it unrivalled in breathability.
MIDWEIGHT Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric has a smooth face for easy layering; fabric’s brushed grid pattern next to skin provides superior warmth, breathability and moisture-wicking performance
Flatlock seams to minimize chafing; drop tail for more coverage
Long center-front zipper vents body heat and is backed by kissing welts for low-bulk comfort next to skin
Elastic thumb loops for secure hand coverage
WINTER WILL COME
CANADA GOOSE As far off as winter seems to be, it will come with a vengeance. Be prepared for the worst with the legendary series of winter jackets from Canada Goose. Warm, comfortable and stylish, have a look at our top picks when the winter winds blow. Just so we are clear they will sell out by December.
Women’s Trillium Mid-thigh length with heavy duty rib knit cuffs and a removable hood as well.
Women’s Shelburne Wide quilting and a longer thigh length cut with great style sets the Shelburne apart.
Women’s Victoria Slim fit and a clean silhouette. The Victoria is a standout for the winter battle ahead.
Black, Red, Graphite, and Bordeaux $745
Black and Redwood $775
Women’s Kensington
Men’s Carson
Always in high demand, the longer cut and slim profile offers a flattering fit.
Classic look and warmth. The Carson will be available this October.
Black and graphite in stock $775
Longer mid-thigh cut, with military inspired buttons and a clean asthetic. Coming Oct.
Black and graphite, $825
Black and graphite, $825
Black, graphite, bordeaux $745
Men’s Chateau
Fall Collection now available
FALL CYCLING With fall comes great cycling weather. But with less daylight a little extra visibility is essential for those scenic rides ahead. Our favourite cycling gear for fall will help you be seen, and protect you from cooler temperatures and rainy rides to keep you on the bike until winter comes around.
Bontrager Flare R
Bontrager Ion 700
Visibility at night, and in the day. The Flare R blasts out 65 lumens in daylight mode for visibility for up to 2km. $69.99.
Our best selling light. The slim profile and usb rechargeability make this $159 light a winner. Super bright and multiple modes of illumination.
Pearl Izumi WxB Jacket For windy, rainy, chilly days the new women’s WxB fits the bill. Contoured fit and nice, bright colours. $199.
Bontrager Race Stormshell Well, it’s going to rain this fall. The Stormshell provides lightweight, breathable protection for those wet rides. In black and hi-vis. $149.99.
Specialized RBX Sport It is not always chilly in the fall, and the RBX Sport jersey is perfect for those last long rides of the season. $79.99.
Bontrager RXL 180 The softshell fabric of the 180 won’t back down when the temperature drops. Made for chilly, windy days ahead. $185.
FAT BIKES NOW IN STOCK Fat bikes. Big tires and all kinds of fun. New Fat Bikes are in stock and ready to ride.
SPECIALIZED FATBOY
SPECIALIZED HELLGA
SPECIALIZED FATBOY COMP
TREK STACHE 5
2016 CYCLING
G TRIP LAUNCH Sun Nov 22nd 7pm @ Brio Gusto Learn about our new cycling trips coming in 2016. Enjoy food, drink and good company. Cycling vacations made simple View our 2016 trips at wildrock.net/cyclingtrips
SEA TO SEA Barcelona to San Sebastian 900+km / 75,000+ ft of climbing / tourmalet / aubisque / aspin / hautacam / col de jou / col de canto / col de portillion / col de bagargui
T RA N S PY R E N EES E X P LOR E R S T R IP In our quest to explore amazing new places on our bikes, we sometimes come up with an idea for a trip that pushes the boundary of what a “vacation� is. Luckily for us, there are a few like-minded folks out there that love a challenge.
story: Scott Murison
This trip will remain crystal clear in my mind for some
The route would re-trace some epic battlegrounds of past
time. Some who know me might not describe me as
Vueltas and Tour de Frances including Stage 15 of this
emotional right away but this trip was packed with emo-
year’s TDF..
tions for myself and the others in our merry little clan of cyclists.
With a route laid out before me on a Michelin map that encompassed almost 900km of riding with 75,000 ft. of
I hatched the idea last summer in response to a question
climbing I just needed to organize where we might sleep,
I often am asked at work “What cool trips are you guys
who would feed and water us, how our luggage might
doing next year?” A fair question posed to a guy who
move and a few other minor details.
dreams up and organizes cycling trips. My gears grinding, I thought why not offer something a little epic and see
After another few months of tracking down hotels etc.
if anybody signs up. 50% of me thought we would offer
the plan was set. Now we just needed a few fit and brave
it and nobody would sign up. I looked for a location with
souls to join us. We launched the trip at Brio Gusto eve-
direct flights and quickly zoned in on Barcelona.
ning where we present our trips to the public. (Coming November 22nd this year!).
Although I had ridden in the area, I certainly did not know it intimately. I spent 2-3 months researching, scour-
Cutting to the point it seems Peterborough has an ample
ing maps, pouring over descriptions of climbs, mapping
supply of bold, fit, cyclists willing to embark on a bit of an
things on Map My Ride, going cross eyed on Google
audacious journey. The trip quickly sold out.
Street view when a route gelled that would take us from sea to sea.
Fast forward to this August where Kieran, Zac Wheeler (Electrician, ex-Wild Rock employee, driver and mechanic extraordinaire), Brayden Macgregor (Wild Rock employee, driver, bike mechanic extraordinaire) and I strapped our-
ourselves into plane seats and set off to actually do the trip. I was actually a little gripped. The logistics were daunting, the riding was daunting and the heatwave we were entering was daunting. With our jet lagged clan of 17 assembled just outside of Barcelona we thought we would begin with a “warm up” ride. A smidge over 50km long; how hard could it be? Well our route took us up the Rat Penat climb. This has been used in several Vueltas and most recently it is where Chris Horner stamped his authority on the Vuelta and won it. In hindsight, as a leader, I am not sure I should have put a climb this hard on a warm up day as it had at least 3 folks, who shall remain nameless, walking. This was not the confidence booster we needed. But our group is made of tough stuff so the next morning we all woke up and headed inland towards the real mountains and eventually San Sebastian on the far coast. No escape plans, no easy ways out, nothing to do but ride to the next town because that was the only place we were going to get food and shelter. We were working pretty low down on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. At this point I could sense real fear in some of the group. This included Zac and Brayden who needed to navigate giant vans on
on tiny alpine roads, in a strange land with little to no
the main square and all wounds emotional and physical
Spanish.
were healed.
Day 1 the riding was far less severe and moral was rising
Our third day on the road I knew was a wolf in sheep’s
all the way until lunch. At lunch I got a call from Zac that
clothing and it did not disappoint. On paper it had the Col
our hotel had “no space for us”. Hmmmm. After a fran-
de Jou (16km) and the Col de Canto (25km. Both climbs
tic hour I had us fixed up and a modified afternoon ride
few people have heard of so hard could they possible
sussed out. I was hoping this was not a sign of things to
be? The Col de Jou proved to be scenic, modest in pitch
come. The afternoon’s new and un-researched route took
and generally a really nice way to spend time on a bike. It
us to a beautiful dead end before we found our way to the
lulled us into complacency.
quaint Hotel Robert in La Pobla de Claramount. In the end I was not made out be an ass and it all worked out.
After lunch we travelled next to a river as we approached the Col de Canto. The heat was scorching, the troops
Day 2 went off without a hitch if you don’t mind secret
were parched but heck we only had one climb left to
climbs with 12% for 2-3km thrown at you. A couple of
do. Well it had almost all of us on the ropes within the
hours before we were to descend into Solsona we came
first 5km. It rears its ugly head right from the riverbed at
around the corner and bam, in the face, the road kicked
10+% for 5km. This had many of us groveling and we still
up. The climb to Pinos appeared nowhere on Map My
had 20km to go. You could see the road the whole way
Ride or any reading I had done. Ouch. At the top there
up the valley as it basically only did one giant switchback
was a luckily a lovely church and a great view that dis-
as it traversed up the slope. The heat was infernal and
tracted folks from punching me in the nose over not
progress was achingly slow. I think maybe Scott P. and Bill
warming them about this doozy.
were thinking of killing me and heading home on this one. Calmer heads prevailed after a dip in the pool at the hotel
In Solsona we stayed in the fabulous Hotel Sant Roc right
in Sort, Spain. My life was spared. Sort was an action
at the doorstep of the old city. A glass of wine in the
packed sports town. There were kayakers downtown on
the lit whitewater park, there were mountain bikers, para-
dramatic fashion. The descent of the Portillion was tech-
penters and hikers everywhere. Very cool place. Like
nical, twisty and kept you on your toes. It seemed like we
Peterborough except different.
just got off the brakes when we zoomed into a rocking downtown Bagneres-de-Luchon. This was another great
After a lovely nights rest in Sort we were riding into France
mountain town. Sitting having a drink in a café guys with
today. We were seriously getting into the mountains.
backpacks full of parachutes strolled past and downhill
Today we merely had to hop up the Port de Bonaigua and
mountain bikers rolled in for a beer. I could spend some
the Col de Portillion. These climbs had vastly different
time in a place like this. A gondola rose up out of town
feels. We left the arid Spanish country side on one side
50m from the bar and café district. I might have to get
of the Bonaigua and climbed into deciduous forest on the
back in winter or summer!
Portillon. Rob B, Dean, Rudy, Dave G., Dan, Jeff M., Doug S. and Greg had been climbing like champs all week. Bill,
Ok now we are down to the business end of things. On
Scott P, Bob and I had been climbing more tentatively.
the menu for today is the Col de Peyresourde, Col d’Aspin and the Tourmalet. That is over 45km of climbing in a day.
I was hoping nobody was going to come unglued today.
I don’t think anybody was laughing in the morning as we
On a trip like this people’s energy ebbs and flows. Some
packed the support van with snacks, warm clothing and
are strong and brash on one day and retreat into quite
good wishes.
suffering the next. I was lucky to have Bill’s company on
day gave everyone a boost but our group proceeded to
the Bonaigua. We were just making sure everybody felt
crush the Tourmalet, the epic 70+km/h descent and 30km
strong by letting them ride ahead. Bill is like a Phoenix.
headwind flat ride into Argeles Gazost. I was no longer
He was digging deep into his suitcase of courage on the
worried about surviving.
Maybe the promise of a rest day the next
lower slopes just to keep some forward progress happening. As we hit the switchbacks further up Bill stood up
After 6 days of riding in the mountains we were all climb-
emotionally and physically and took flight. It was an awe-
ers now.
some sight to see someone get their second wind in such
We could not have picked a quainter little Inn to stay at
On went every speck of clothing had for the long descent.
for our rest day. We had Mom and Dad looking after their
In the wet conditions, sharp switchbacks took their toll on
little Canadian kids. Mom was Italian and met her Chinese
nerves especially as they were dotted with cow patties,
husband of Malaysian descent in England where they fell
sand and rocks. People noticed upon making to the hotel
in love and moved to France to purchase Hotel Beau Site
in Montory that they had blasted through 50% of their
in 1962. They have been in love ever since and running
brake pads. All stayed upright and were greeted by the
this little gem of an inn. We did cause them a little grief
first of our all night Basque celebrations. Sadly we were
as we drank all their wine on night 1 so they had to go
too tired to take part in this one. We knew it would be a
shopping next day. While most slept in a bit, did some
doozy when the hotel owner walked around and handed
shopping, napping and relaxing a few keeners headed off
out free earplugs.
to romp up the Hautacam. Not my idea of a rest day but they were all smiles on their return.
The next day rose sunny which was a relief as we needed a little cheer after enduring a Basque party right outside
How a day changes everything in cycling and life. After
our hotel room windows. Today looked easy on paper.
our rest day we were headed up the Aubisque. For sev-
It was only 67km long! How wrong Mapmyride can be!
eral days we had been bathing in our own sweat as the
From my research I knew we had a hard climb in for us.
heatwave tried it’s best to parboil our skulls and sear our
It looks like a climb that is 25km long and rises at a very
flesh. Today we headed up into the alpine region under
modest 3.8%. The true savagery comes in the first 7km
dark skies. The colours were intense in the meadows and
there are 6km of 12+%. Ouch!!!!!!!
provided a dramatic backdrop to some great climbing. As we summited after several hours of climbing thank good-
It was stunningly scenic which took your mind off the
ness Zac was there. He had his toque on, down vest and
searing pain in your quads. We also had out heads up as
shell. Our Garmin’s were telling us it was 6-7 degrees and
we were sharing the road with 400 people from the Haut
it was beginning to rain.
Route Fondo.
I was incredibly impressed with everyone’s performance on this brute. All the Canadians brought their A-Game. As we cruised into Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port we noticed things looked a little festive. Little did we know we were in store for a fantastic celebration that included live music, wine and beer in the street and thousands of our closest Basque friends and Camino trail fans. Tonight our Canadians did participate. I think everybody knew we only had one day left to ride so why not have a drink or 2. The son gods shone on us again in the morning as we made the final push to the sea. We had 127km of riding between us and San Sebastian. The mood was super positive all day. As we descended into San Sebastian and we caught out first glimpse of the sea I have to admit I got a bit choked up. We had actual done it. We had ridden sea to sea and were finishing in style and with smiles. After tearing down the bikes and packing those up we were treated to an incredible night of celebrations as we hit San Sebastian night at peak party time. We fed on Pintxos and drank in the streets. What a way to cap off the trip.
ONLY TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS GREAT TRIP CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRIP DETAILS
NORDIC SKI AND SNOWBOARD SWAP Sat Nov 14th 10am Looking for new nordic ski or snowboard gear? Want to sell some of your old gear for 80% cash back or 100% store credit? Bring in your used gear from Mon Nov 9 - Fri Nov 13 and get ready to shop for great deals Sat Nov 14 at 10am in our back parking lot! Great deals for the entire family
JANUARY 14
TICKETS ON SAL
4 & 15 2016
LE SAT NOV 7th
NEW MERRELL IN STOCK Here at Wild Rock we love Merrell Footwear. A progressive company, Merrell strives to bring comfort and style to active feet here in Peterborough and around the world. This fall we are featuring a selection of new casual styles for both men and women. This season’s favorites include the Freewheel Lace and Chukka for men and the classic Eventyr and Emery Ankle boots for women. All these great styles do duty at work, on the sidewalk or your nightlife. Best of all they are in stock right now! Classic chukka style, with a grippy sole that is perfect for your bike commute or Friday night stroll around town. Freewheel Chukka $149
Perfect for fall and heading into winter, the women’s Emery Ankle boot is just the right height and cut. $139.
Leather construction, lace-up and a classic mountain inspired look. The Eventyr is great for fall and ready for winter too. $219.
Osprey Atmos AG 50L $260 SALE $199
The women’s specific Aura AG™ 65 and the men’s Atmos AG 50 introduce the Anti-Gravity™ suspension* system to a new line of ventilated backpacks. This 3D suspension system contours your body providing seamless comfort allowing the user mobility with ease on any multi-day backpacking trip. *Osprey Anti-Gravity™ [AG™] is a continuous panel of lightweight mesh extends from the top of the backpanel to the hipbelt. The seamless structure contours automatically to the body, providing outstanding fit and unrestricted movement when wearing the pack.
Osprey Aura AG 65L $290 SALE $219
ON S
STS Trek TKII -8’c 650 fill down bag $329 SALE $299 With its classic tapered rectangular shape, the Trek II is a great all-arounder and one of our most popular sleeping bags. With room to move around inside and the option to completely open this bag up into a blanket, this is a true 3 season winner. Constructed with a water resistant membrane fabric and ULTRA-DRYDown™ 650+ Loft fill this bag further sets itself apart from the rest. Next time you’re at the shop come back to Camping and
have a look for yourself!
TNF Aleutian -7’c Heatseeker™ synthetic bag $129 SALE $99 Great three season usability at our most economic price. A classic constructed mummy bag to take you spring through fall. Although the Aleutian doesn’t pack as small as some of our other bags at the shop it certainly offers the same thermal benefits. A nice touch is the zippered foot box and an extra short second zipper to help vent the upper of the bag in warmer climate. This one’s hard to best for $99!
SALE
GEAR
TEST
GARMIN EDGE 520
The Garmin Edge 520 has found a place on my bike and in my heart. The newest edition to the Garmin line up is finally here. Loaded with features and one in particular that motivates me, is the Strava Live Segment challenger. For those already initiated into the Strava Segment cult, this new feature allows the user ride a particular segment in real time. Other features like the Smartphone Connectivity are also a user friendly benefit. Connect with a compatible phone and one can use the Live Tracking, smartphone alerts, social media sharing, weather and wireless uploads. When done a ride, easily send the data from your ride wireless to your phone and other social media outlets. The list of features and benefits goes on and on. Including compatibility with ANT+, speed, cadence, heart rate, Edge and VIRB remotes and compatible weight scales. It also integrates with Shimano Di2 electronic shifting systems to display your current gear on the screen. Edge 520 is also compatible with ANT+ power meters, including the Vector series. Trust me, there is more. In fact, the Edge 520 is also useful for the off road user with more satellite compatibility incorporating GPS/GLONASS giving you more signal options. Greater battery life as well with up to 15 plus hours before recharging. I have thoroughly enjoyed using my new Garmin and with all the features, I am still learning what the device is capable off. All of this in a moderate size computer that is built to take riding on road or trail. Edge 520 $389 Edge 520 Bundle $519
- JON M
#GoOutandPlay
Kieran, Jamie and Scott practicing what they preach with a little local cyclocross action.