The Journal
Whether you're looking for helpful tips, expert product advice, or hoping to live viariously through the adventures of the Wild Rock crew, you'll find it on The Journal.
Hit the Trail: Exploring KLT's Diverse Nature Trails
Are you looking for a change of scenery? Why not explore one of the trails of the Kawartha Land Trust?Kawartha Land Trust (KLT) is the only non-government charitable organization committed to protecting land, conserving the natural environment and enhancing the quality of life in the Kawarthas. They currently protect 22 properties...
Join the Club: Two Local Cycling Groups
Cycling clubs are a great way to stay updated, find new routes, connect with fellow riders, and support the growth of the sport. In this post we spotlight two local groups who can help you on all those fronts and more.
On Da Couch 2.0
It's 2021, things are looking much the same as 2020, so we thought it was about time for our second edition of the "On Da Couch" Film Festival. It's jammed with hand selected films from all over the outdoor sports world, from mountain biking to outdoor culture -...
We're looking for a new member of our bicycle sales team!
Workplace Overview: Wild Rock strives to be a community hub that encourages, educates, and equips our local outdoors community. Our team values outdoor sport and being in nature, and we are focused on engaging customers in their adventure preparation while providing them with informative, inspiring experiences in our shop and...
Bike Swap is Back
NOTE: With the current Stay at Home order in effect, we have cancelled the dates for our spring Bike Swap. Due to the uncertainty around reopening dates, we are postponing making any decisions on new dates right away. Rest assured we will notify our customers once we are able to...
Learn To Love The Bike You Have
by Justin Ross The year is now 2021 and the great pandemic bike shortage is in full swing. As folks rediscover and take to the great outdoors, the demand for solid gear continues to skyrocket. If you were fortunate enough to score a new bike in the early stages of...
Mind Your Manners: Trail Ethics Basics
Mom was right - be kind and pick up after yourself. Here’s a quick primer on how to play nice in the great outdoors. As interest in outdoor recreation grows (especially when people are looking for fun things to do without the crowds), the impacts on our natural spaces grow...
Winter Bike Maintenance Basics
Whether you're riding for fun or continuing your daily commute to work by bike this winter, salt, sand, and lots of moisture results in more wear on your bike than at other times of the year. While maintaining your bike is important always, it's extra important in the winter with...
Winter Bike Commuting: Everything You Need To Know
Whether you're riding for fun, fitness, or continuing your daily commute to work, biking in the winter is much easier than you think! In this post, you’ll learn: what to wear to stay warm while biking in the winter Safety essentials to keep you riding safe on winter roads Special...
Cross Country Skiing 101
Ask a seasoned cross-country skier about the sport and you’ll see a glint in their eye. It doesn’t take much to get a skier to rhapsodize about favourite trails, gear, and the many health benefits. Skiing provides an excellent whole-body workout that’s easy on the joints, all for a cost...
Preserving Places to Play: Our Work With Otonabee Region Conservation Authority
It’s no secret that Peterborough and the surrounding Kawarthas offer a wealth of places to go out and play. From waterways to paddle in, to diverse tracts of land for hiking, snowshoeing or skiing, to endless roads and trails to ride a bike; whatever your thing, if you can do...
Thank You, Peterborough: Thoughts on Community Support
This one’s about gratitude. No one needs another article telling them 2020 was a dismal year, but in the rush to put it behind us and find our way through a second lockdown, we can’t forget to say thank you.
The Bike Story for 2021
Like many other industries, the bike industry is struggling with increased demand and supply chain issues. Bikes, as the most efficient vehicle to move a human, seem to be simple but are made of hundreds of small parts. If any of these small parts are missing or late, the bicycle can’t...
How To Wax Your Nordic Skis
by Scott Murison To wax or not to wax; this is the question. Read on to find out if, and how, to wax your nordic skis. Non-Wax Skis These are the skis described as non wax, no wax, skin or fish scale. These skis will function with no additional wax but...
Online Shopping and Curb-side Pickup
With the Ontario stay at home order in place, we encourage you to shop online and choose home delivery. We are also open for curbside services. While our store may be closed to in-person shopping for now, we are still available to help you #GoOutAndPlay. You can order online 24 hours...
How to Layer for Winter Adventures
You know that saying about "no bad weather, just bad clothing"? The right foundation is key to staying warm and dry on your winter adventures. Layering for winter is an art form - but luckily it’s easy to learn. Whether you’re dressing for an urban walk, watching the kids practice...
Holiday Hours 2020
With the Ontario lockdown in place as of December 26, we are returning to our curbside pickup service. While our store may be closed to in-person shopping for now, we are still available to help you #GoOutAndPlay. You can order online 24 hours a day, and we are available for phone...
Winter Trail Running Essentials
by Justin Ross, Social Media Manager & Hard Goods and Aerobic Sales Let's face it, the weather is cold and the light is limited. The days of the post-work bike ride are fleeting. Like most, I crave the endorphins of a good workout and at this time of the year, the...
The Beginner's Guide to Indoor Bike Trainers
When the weather makes cycling cold, wet and uncomfortable, it’s time to take your ride indoors. Cycling indoors with a bike trainer is not just a substitute for the open road or single track - it’s actually a fantastic way to maintain (and even improve) your fitness during the off...
How To Clean & Re-Waterproof Your Rain Gear
That cold, soggy time of year is almost upon us. If your rain jacket has been in the back of your closet since last season, we suggest you pull it out now so you’re ready for the inevitable day when the skies open up and the rain comes down. It’s...
Deucing in the Woods: A guide on how to responsibly drop #2s
by Justin Ross Not to brag or anything, but as an avid outside adventurer, I’ve done my fair share of outdoor “poo work” all over North America. To me, it’s a natural part of the outdoor experience, and I take that understanding for granted. Right now there are more people...
How To Choose A Stand Up Paddle Board
Whether you live in the Kawarthas or have a cottage here, you probably spend a good part of your summer on, or near the region’s many lakes and rivers. A stand up paddle board is a great way to explore the water, giving you a full body workout and a...
All Roads Lead Back to Peterborough: Gravel Cycling in the Kawarthas
Pick up a current cycling magazine or visit a bike company website these days and riders can’t help but be overwhelmed by the buzz surrounding gravel cycling. The array of gravel bikes, tires, handlebars and shoes is dizzying. Throughout North America and in pockets of Europe, riders are venturing out...
Be Seen: How to Make Yourself More Visible When Cycling
Whether you’re hitting the best gravel roads around or navigating car traffic on your commute, you know you need to stand out for drivers to notice you. The sooner a driver sees you and recognizes that you’re a human on a bicycle, the more likely you’ll be to avoid a...
How To Choose Hiking Boots
Heading out to hit the trails this summer? No-one wants sore feet or boot soles that crush out after a few uses, but with so many hiking boot options out there, how do you know which ones to choose? Let us get you up to speed on the construction of...
Day Hiking: Our Top Product Picks for 2020
Hiking is a great way to escape the routine of everyday life while you explore new or familiar places. If a longer expedition isn’t in the cards, a day hike can offer everything you need to recharge and reset. Whether you want to check out stunning views of the Indian...
Our Favourite Trails in the Kawarthas
What's a person to do when you're craving new scenery but a trip somewhere far isn't in the cards? Go explore a new trail, of course! We're so lucky to have an abundance of excellent hiking trails in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Read on for some of our favourite family-friendly hikes...
No Rain: How To Choose Rainwear
Your rainwear can help you stay dry and happy on your spring adventures, or it can leave you a soggy and sweaty mess. But with so many options and products out there, how do you choose? Should you default to the most expensive GORE-TEX coat on the rack, or will...
Hometown Proud: Sustain Eco Store
Wild Rock has been committed to Peterborough’s downtown core for almost 30 years. Over these years we have had pressure and opportunity to move out of the downtown, but we believe strongly in the need for a community to have a healthy core, a heart. As people who live and...
Brands With Heart: Socially & Environmentally Conscious Companies We Love
As an outdoor retailer, our mission here at Wild Rock has always been to encourage more folks to get outdoors to enjoy our community and the natural playground that surrounds us. We take that mission seriously, and mitigating the environmental, social and cultural impact of our business is an essential...
First, You Have to Fail
You learn to miss the fear, but not at first.First, everything is confusing and intimidating.It takes me ten minutes just to figure out how to cross the street in Vietnam. I’m not exaggerating. I walk to the corner toward the street market, only three blocks away. Everything feels full. The...
Hometown Proud: Hunter Street Books
Wild Rock has been committed to Peterborough’s downtown core for almost 30 years. Over these years we have had pressure and opportunity to move out of the downtown, but we believe strongly in the need for a community to have a healthy core, a heart. As people who live and...
No Chairlift Required: Skiing at Kawartha Nordic
We recently had a chat with Wendi Reid from Kawartha Nordic Ski Club. It's one of our favourite places in the Kawarthas, and we wanted to give them a little shoutout just in time for the snow this weekend! WHAT’S KAWARTHA NORDIC? Kawartha Nordic is a ski club, situated right...
Books & Booze: Ideas For The Days You Can't Go Out And Play
Icy winter roads, stormy skies, or injuries can make it hard to get out and enjoy the outdoors. For those days you'd rather just stay in bed, here are our recommendations to make the most of the time indoors: with a good book and a good drink! IF YOU WANT...
Meet the Ptbo Locals Who Build the Trails You Love
One of the best ways to experience Peterborough’s natural beauty is from the trail. Whether you like a good challenge, or prefer a leisurely stroll, our backyard is loaded with trail options for anyone who wants to get outdoors. And who do we have to thank for that? In large...
Climate Strike in Peterborough and Wild Rock
Wild Rock is acting local on Friday September 27th to support the global #climatestrike. We will donate 5% of all sales this day to Peterborough GreenUP which will in turn use the funds for GreenUP’s Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program. This program works with local residents, the City of Peterborough, and...
Backpacking and Bikepacking: Mountains to the East and a Lake Twice
by Kieran Andrews, #ShimanoGravel Alliance Ambassador & Wild Rock Co-Pilot Note: While we love to inspire your adventures, we realize travel outside of Canada may not be possible at this time. Let this account of Kieran's travels in Vermont serve as motivation for a closer to home adventure, or dreaming...
Ethical Choices for Back-to-School Shopping
If you’re planning to stock up on a few back-to-school essentials for the new year, there’s plenty of opportunity to make ethical and sustainable choices. Whether you’re shopping for the littles, grabbing some hot fashions to make an impression at university, or just need a pick-me-up to make going back...
Day Hiking Products: Our Top Picks for 2019
Hiking is a great way to escape the routine of everyday life while you explore new or familiar places. If a longer expedition isn’t in the cards, a day hike can offer everything you need to recharge and reset. Whether you want to check out stunning views of the Indian...
Bike Initiatives Making Change in Peterborough
What’s not to love about a bike? It’s a great way to #GoOutAndPlay, a low-cost form of transportation powered by renewable energy, a low-impact exercise, and an essential part of creating healthier, cleaner and more sustainable cities. Peterborough and the Kawarthas has long been a favourite cycling destination and the...
DK200: Sometimes You're The Nail
by Kieran Andrews, #ShimanoGravel Alliance Ambassador & Wild Rock Co-Pilot There is a saying in cycling which simply states that sometimes you’re the hammer and sometimes you're the nail. Well, at Dirty Kanza 2019 I was the nail. Starting well, I was cruising in the second group on the road...
Back Yards
Back yards; we all have them and, if we are lucky, we all love them. These are the places that we have spent our lives exploring, the places that we have spent years riding while season after season passes by. I am not talking about the space behind our homes....
50 Years of Going Out To Play
by Scott Murison 50 years of having fun sure has gone by quickly. The strange thing with time, just like with a good book, is you are really only involved in the chapter you are in. My life, like most people’s, has several chapters. I was not born into an...
Rad Women in Peterborough
This year, to celebrate the No Man's Land Film Festival, we decided to highlight some rad women in our community. These women are fearless, change-makers, inspiring as all get-out, and we couldn't be more honoured to know them. Here's your chance to get to know them, too: ERIN FAULDS One...
Spring Paddle on the Indian River
by Jon Moreno We could not have asked for better weather for our first outing on the Indian River this year. The sun was shining and even the wind was in our favour, pushing us gently downstream with the current. The Indian River is the first paddle my paddling group...
The Canadian Ski Marathon
by John Hauser “Wait, is my tongue actually freezing?” This unique, and rather ridiculous thought entered my mind just after sun rise on day two of the Canadian Ski Marathon, or CSM for short. I was about 25 kilometres outside the quaint town of Montebello, Quebec, en route to La...
The Outside
I was walking with my head down when the dirt ended. It was raining. Not torrential, soaking rain, but the kind of rain that’s more like wet air; constant, light, and misty. Impenetrable. Cold. Eight degrees is lovely in the sun, or even just when your clothes are dry, but...
Why We Love Gravel
Gravel, Hardpack, Dirt, Chip Seal, Rail Trail, Groad- whatever you want to call it - riding a bike off the pavement opens you up to a whole new world of that many never thought was a possible on a bike. Riding gravel has been a long-time favourite of ours here...