Saturday April 14th from 10 until 6 is our annual summer Gear Swap. If you have bikes, camping gear, canoe or kayaks or paddling gear to sell bring it down Tues. April 10th to Friday April 13th to register it. Get 100% store credit or 80% cash back. If you are looking to purchase used gear drop by Saturday April 14th to check out the deals.

Starting the same day and continuing until Sunday the 22nd is the Yakima rack sale. You can get free installation by appointment on all Yakima car racks this week. Save 20% on all rack accessories like bike racks, canoe cradles, ski racks etc. If you want to carry your toys on your car or truck this is the week to drop by Wild Rock.

The snow has all but completely melted, and spring rains are upon us. With the end of skiing season, always comes creeking season, and the beginning of the cycling, running and summer camping season. LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Plans for this month include: the Reel Paddling Film Festival and Bike Clinics. This summer will also be full of exciting adventure opportunities like the weekly Beaver Mead Boat Demo Nights. Have some suggestions for new event ideas, or ways to improve upon old events? Contact us via our website and let us know.

All of us (me) here in the Events department would like to thank everyone who came out, or at least signed up to come out, to our many (cancelled) events this winter. Skijøring, ski trips, snow shoe hikes and many other great events just couldn’t get off the ground – mainly because we missed our fluffy blanket of snow. The success of the season however, was most definitely the annual pool sessions; a big thanks to everyone at the Kawartha Whitewater Paddling Club – Pete, Cale and Stephanie especially – for ensuring such a high turn out. Don’t forget to come out to our events this summer and next winter – there are plenty of great times still to be had!

Reel Paddling Film FestivalSaturday, April 14, 7pm at Trent University’s Wenjack Theater, come get your appetite for water sports as Rapid Media and Wild Rock Outfitters bring you some of this year’s best short paddling films. Join us as we follow gutsy White Water Paddlers on some of the world’s best rivers, intrepid Canoeists in remote wilderness, and adventuresome Sea Kayakers as they explore some of Canada’s most intriguing coastlines. There will be a free draw at intermission for prizes from Wild Rock and Rapid Media. Tickets are $10 after taxes, available at Wild Rock. As an added bonus, your ticket stub gets you half price on a year’s subscription to Rapid Magazine. A full list of this year’s films can be found at www.rapidmedia.com. While we can’t show every film, if you have any requests to graham@wildrock.net, we’ll do our best to include your recommendations in the show.

Bike ClinicsThe guys in the bike shop are gearing up for a busy spring and summer, and as always are offering Bike Maintenance Clinics. For the summer of 2007, Wild Rock will be unveiling a new format for all of their Bike Clinics starting May 2007.Beginner classes, $10, single-night, will focus on assessing and repairing flat tires. Intermediate and Advanced clinics will be limited to 4 people each, have a much larger focus on hands-on learning, be 3-4 nights long, and cost $75-100 per student. Scheduled classes will start in May, but sign up 2-4 friends for an Intermediate or Advanced clinic, and we’ll book you in for a private lesson. Intermediate clinics (3 nights, $75) will teach minor adjustments that can be done at home with minimal tools. Tighten your brake cables, tweak your shifting and set up your saddle for that next ride –reduce wear and tear on your bike, and improve the efficiency and enjoyment of your riding.Advanced clinics (3-4 nights, $75-100) get into a full overhaul of major components and will require a committed workshop in your basement or garage. Learn to pull apart, clean, re-grease and re-assemble your hubs and headset; and learn the basics of the fine art of wheel truing.

Beaver Mead Boat Demo NightsRunning weekly for the months of June, July and August, Wild Rock Outfitters, and Cale and Stephanie of K.A.Y.A.K., will be offering introductory kayak clinics and free boat demos at Beaver Mead Park. Full details of dates, times and instruction rates will be announced as summer draws nearer.

Map and CompassBart, our resident expert on Orienteering, will lead you through the basics so you can get out there with confidence. Wednesday April 11th starting at 6. Be sure to be at the store a few minutes early as we close at 6. Cost is $5 when you sign up.

Come and join us for some wine, cheese and fashion
on Thursday April 5th at 7 pm. There will be a short
showing of the line and great discounts!

Lolë is obsessively focused on creating and providing the ultimate infabulously feminine active wear for today's fashion-minded,forward-thinking woman.

Ok, I admit it. I have sweaty feet - really sweaty feet. In my younger days, before I learned anything about good socks, I could turn a pair of cotton socks into compost in no time. I breathed a sigh of relief when sports sandals came into fashion a few years back. Now I jump into my sandals as soon as it starts to get warm and don’t take ‘em off until just before the snow flies. I have always struggled to find the perfect shoe for hiking and kicking around town. Most “water repellent” shoes are far too hot for me to wear on a day-to-day basis without, yes, composting my socks. The option of vented shoes, although appealing, does not make sense for real trail use. So until now I have found that perfect shoe elusive.

Salomon, a company that has never been shy to buck a trend, released their “softshell” Fusion (men’s) and Symbio (women’s) about a year ago and I have been wearing them almost daily since. To me, softshell makes loads of sense for many applications. If you read our newsletter regularly you will know that I rave about this tough, stretchy, water repellent and highly breathable fabric. As soon as I saw it in a shoe I new it was for me. I bought a pair just before going to Peru last spring and have worn them almost daily since. Last summer was the first time in years that I have worn a shoe with any consistency in the summer. The best part is that, after I beat them up trekking in Peru and wore them all summer, I hiked in them all fall and wore them in all but the snowiest days this winter as well.

Although probably the most versatile shoes that we sell, the Fusion/Symbio’s are a bit light for very rough terrain or carrying a heavy pack. That being said, they are still the shoe of choice for me. If I need more support I will pull on my hiking boots.

My Fusion’s look a bit beat up now but still have all of their water repellency and support that they had the day I bought them. Lightweight and supportive with the best balance of breathability and water-repellency that I have ever found. Need I say more?

There will be a weekly mountain bike race series presented by Wild Rock at the Ganaraska Forest. Each week we will offer a different loop ranging from 4-7kms in length, loaded with fast, twisty single-track. This fun filled event will offer a challenge to people with all ability levels, whether you want to race your friends week after week for bragging rights or simply improve your riding skills while enjoying the company of other like-minded cyclists. Each month we will have BBQ nights with great draw prizes and regularly scheduled demo nights from Brodie, Cannondale and Trek. Dates to be announced.

The Shifting Gears Workplace Transportation Challenge is a month-long competition and campaign to engage Peterborough area employees in healthy, stress-reducing, money-saving commuting activities.

Challenge your co-workers to be healthier and more environmentally friendly.

The dates for this year are April 30th until May 25th.

Green EXPO 2007, April 28th. 10 am until 4 pm Evinrude Centre. Over 75 exhibitors showcasing products and services that are eco-friendly (organic, all natural, sustainable, fair trade or recycled). Building techniques & products, renewable energies, clothing, vehicles and much much more representing many facets of everyday life. Presentations throughout the day. Food & drink area. Children's area. Free parking. Visit www.greenexpo.ca or 705-652-5159 / info@greenexpo.ca