PGR Connected December 2014

PGR CONNECTED

Monthly Newsletter 2014-December

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-December

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Newsletter Highlights

• ChainingtheChange• APGRChristmas• TheOneUpOneDownConcept• RacerSpotlight:AllisonOliver

Sponsored By:CHAINING THE CHANGE

byVanessaMertz,PGRRacer

Ourworldisfullofbuzz;wehaveendlesschoicesandthousandsofdecisionstobemadedaily.Ashumanbeingsweneedtostepbackandreflectonwhatisimportantinourlifepresentlyandaskourselveshowourchoiceswillaffectourfuture.

Choices facilitate change, and change canbe awonderful thing.We eachhave theabilitytobegreatleaderswithinourselves;knowwhoyouareandwhatyourdesirein life.Ourchoicesare likeachainring,everysprocket isseparate;everychoice isdifferent.Additionally,thesprocketsarejoinedtogethertomakethechainring,justlikehowacombinationofourchoiceshelpcompleteagreaterpurpose;thechainringisthedrivertomoveyouforward.

Inordertobuildawinningenvironmentforyourself,therearesixaspectstoconsider.Fiveofthemyoucontrolandoneisagiftthatyouaregiven.

1.Attitude

2.Commitment

3.Discipline

4.HardWork

5.Teamwork

6.Talent

Partners:


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Thefirstfivefactorsarecontrolledbyyou.Youdetermineyourattitudetowardschange,youmeasurehowmuchcommitmentyouwanttodeliver,youdecidehowtodisciplineyourself,yougagewhathardworkforyoulookslike,youanalyzehowteamworkisviewedandhowyoucanbeasuccessfulsupporterwithinateam,butyouwillalwayshaveaspecialtalentthatisnotquantifiable,ratheritwillbeanassettoyou.Thewayyouseechangeisthewayyouviewyourself.

Effectivechangeiscreatedwhenyouchangeyourbehavior.Yourbehaviouristhedriverforsuccess.Imageyouarethechainring,youareinterconnectedinordertohelppropelthebikeforward.Iencourageyoutoreflectonyourchoicesandaskyourselfhowtheywillpositivelypropelchange.

Special thanks to our 2014 sponsors and supporters. Its been a fantastic FIRST year for PGR and we can’t wait to celebrate many more!


A PGR CHRISTMAS

PGRcelebratesitsfirstChristmaswiththegirlsandourbehind-the-scenesPrairieBoys.

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The One Up One Down Concept

by Michelle Wright, PGR Racer

Lets face it, cross country mountain biking is no easy feat. Very few can say they hopped on a bike, rode up a trail and loved it the first time. As a matter of fact I can recall falling off my bike while going uphill so many times that I wondered why I didn’t just stick with downhill. Beers and adrenaline? Yes please. I reminded myself repeatedly that this is what I wanted, a cardiovascular workout and a good one at that. Plus, I forked out the four grand for the xc specific bike before deciding if I even enjoyed it. After much trials and tribulation I am glad I stuck with it.

Nothing in life comes easily, especially with sports. This is why when all else fails perseverance is key. When I started out in XC I couldn’t even make it up most climbs. It was either inefficient gear choosing or huge roots stopping me dead and driving me mad. Often by the crest of the first climb my flight mode had kicked in and I wanted nothing more than to call it a day.This is where the magic is. The first downhill after a climb from hell is better than cake.

The first down is where the pay off happens, the trade off for your frustration and sweat.It may be short and sweet but its not uphill, and the burst of endorphins that follows is what will carry you through the rest of your ride. The next uphill will come, but it won’t be nearly as bad as the first. The next up you will tackle with more confidence and more enthusiasm because your body now knows what it is working for. I compare this feeling to runners high. Some people run and some people don’t. I am 100% convinced that people who don’t run only hate it because they haven’t yet experienced that sensation. It works the same with biking.

Cross country isn’t for the faint of heart, and it isn’t just for people too wimpy to do downhill. It is fantastic cardio and makes for a great set of legs. It also served to make me a way better downhill rider and choose smoother lines. It’s less hectic than shuttling and there are more than enough trails to make a group day trip out of it. Almost anywhere you go there are going to be more cross country than downhill options anyways.


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The more difficult something is the greater the accomplished feeling will be when you finally get good. I have by no means mastered cross country riding but I am no longer the wheezing mess at the back of the pack cursing the fitter ones. If you are just starting out in cross country I encourage you to ride a lot more than you want to. The learning curve will drastically shorten with more hours on the seat. Even if it’s just city pathways and parkways, any time on the saddle is building your skill set, stamina, and confidence.

If you love biking but hate xc as a particular medium its all the more reason to get out there and challenge yourself. The athletics will follow and the brain will eventually stop resisting the struggle more with each ride. Before you know it the dreaded climb will be your daily stress reliever.


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Racer Spotlight: Allison Oliver

MeetPrairieGirlsRacinginternationalteammember,AllisonOliver!AllisonhailsfromCalifornia,USA,whereshestartedracingdownhillbikesabouttwoyearsago.WhenshedecidedtotakeasciencejobbasedoutofEdmonton,sheconnectedwithPrairieGirlsRacingasawaytomeetotherwomenwhoride.“ThewomenofPrairieGirlsRacinghavebeensoamazingandwelcoming,IfeellikeIhavearealfamilyinAlbertanow!Ohandbytheway,familythattotallyshreds….”AllisoncurrentlysplitshertimebetweenaremoteislandinBritishColumbia(really),theNorthShoreofVancouver,andEdmonton.AlthoughAllisonhasbeenridingbikesforalongtime,mostofherpastracingexperienceinvolvedcross-countryandroadbikes.Nowshelovesridingandracingdownhillanddualslalom.AfterasolidseasonracingMasters,AllisonplansonupgradingtoElitein2015andtoupherracinggamebyimprovinghermentalskillsandlineselection.Inhersparetimeshecanbefounddoingresearchonaquaticecologyandbiogeochemistry,flyfishing,orlearningnewCanadianlingo,like“bonspiel”.

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PGR Connected December 2014