PGR CONNECTED

Monthly Newsletter 2014-November

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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Newsletter Highlights

• WesternCycleandPGRKick-OffParty• GuestPost:UpperBodyWorkout• LivGiantNightatWesternCycle• FromGrassyHillstoRockyMapleValleys• PGRHalloweenRide

Sponsored By:

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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partners

PrairieGirlsRacingisexcitedtopartnerwithWesternCycleLtd.Thishistoricbikestore,establishedin1934,ismakingahugeefforttobringbikingtowomen.Theyofferawiderangeofwomen’sspecificbikes,productsandapparel.Theirextremelyfriendlystaffisalsoalwaysonhandtoanswerthosehardquestionsorprovideinsighttoanyonenotsurewithwhattheyneed.Aspartofkickingoffthe2015season,WesterngenerouslyhostedanightoutwiththePGRteamandWesternstaff.ThestaffatWesternhaveamazingstoriesandgenuine,thoughtfulpersonalities.StopbyWesterntomeetsomefantasticpeoplethat lovebikesandloveto laughevenmore!

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

GUEST POST: UPPER BODY WORKOUTbyJilleneBradshaw(JMBFitness)

Pressedfortime?Wanttogetinaquickupperbodyworkoutthatisgreatforriding?Trythisupperbodyresistance-trainingworkoutthatwillhelpkeepyouinshapefortheridingseason!

30Pushups10-12Shoulderpresses12Chestflys(Tip:Usethestabilityballinsteadofthebenchtomakeitmorechallenging)

20Backlifts(Stabilityball)(Tip:positionyourpelvisontheball,withyourfeetagainstthewall.Liftuntilyouarefeelingaslightpullinyourlowerback.Becarefulnottoarchyourlowerback.)

15Straight-armlifts(Dumbbells)(Tip:usealighterweightforthisexerscise,makesuretonotgopastyourshoulders.)

15Tricepdips(Tip:putyourlegsstraightoutinfrontofyoutomakethismorechallenging)

30Standingbentoverrows(Tip:pullyourarmsbackwiththedumbbellsatthesametimetoreallyfeelthisexerciseintheupperback.Picturesqueezingapencilbetweenyourshoulderblades.)

Dependingonhowbusyyouareaimtodobetweenoneandfoursets. Ihopeyouenjoythisquickyeteffectiveworkout!Pleasee-mailmeifyouhaveanyquestions.Jillene.bradshaw@gmail.comFollowmeonInstagramandTwitterforfitnessmotivation!@JMB_fitness–Twitter@Jmb_fitness–Instagram

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PGR’s Christmas shenanigants... coming soon!

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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Liv Giant Night hosted at Western Cycle was a great night to learn bike maintenance, tools and more! Stay tuned for more Western events!

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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From grassy hills to rocky maple valleysByAineMcKenna(DHRacer)

Hi,mynameisÁineMcKenna,oneofPGR’snewestmemberstotheracingteamfor2015.I’vecomefromIrelandtoliveandworkinCalgarywithmyBoyfriendPaul,whofirstintroducedmetomountainbikingin2010.HehastaughtmeeverythingIknowaboutbiking

Sincemoving to Canada andmeetingmany bikers,we always get asked the questions; “What’s the biking like inIreland?”and“HaveyoueverbeenbikinginFranceorItaly?”SoIthoughtformyfirstblogIwouldaddsomephotostoshowthedifferentterrainandstyleofbikingweareinto…andalsotoshowoffhowbeautifulourweeislandis!!haThestyleofbikingIaminto,asidefromracingdownhill,isAllMountainorBackcountrybiking.Sincestartingmountainbikingthesehavealwaysbeenmyfavouritespins.It’slikehillwalkingtoasummitbutonabike.InIrelandwehavelotsofoptionsfortrailridingwithshortclimbsfollowedbyroot-yandrockydescents.IlovethosetrailsbutifIwastogiveareasonwhyIhavegottenalittlefaster,it’sdefinitelyduetothespeedyoupickupontheopenmountainandthenallowingyourselfgetusedtothatspeed.ILOVEit!!

It’s no Whistler or Fernie and the open mountain trails don’t have any man made features. We just follow walker’s paths and sheep’s trails, but all the while trying to pick the best lines between rocks and boulders whilst riding at 30-40km/h.

Camaderrie Mountain, Wicklow

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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PaulandImovedtoCalgaryforemploymentreasons,likemostpeopledo!I’maPEteacherinDublinandhereoncareerbreak.Paulisanoutdooradventureinstructorwhohadhisownbusiness“TrackandTrail”guidingpeoplearoundthebeautifulhillsofWicklowandournationalpark,aswellashillwalking,rockclimbingandgorgewalkingactivities.Unfortunatelydueto‘redtape’fromstatebodiesandbackstabbers(everycountryhasthem)hehadtoclosethebusinessandlooktonewadventuresinCanada.Luckilyforhimheisalsoanelectricianandthoseskillsarewhatbroughtushere.JoJo,ourdog,alsolikedtojoininwhenweguidedourgroupsaround!!

But,Wicklow(wherewelived-45minutesfromDublincity),isn’talwaysdryandsunny-farfromit!!Sometimesthegroundyoumightthinkyoucantrustmaycauseyourbiketosinkandyoutoswim!!However,Idolovebikingintherain!!

AsforbikinginItalyandFrance,IhavebeentoLesDeuxAlpsandLesArcsinFrance.AlsotoSauzeD’OulxinItaly,homeoftheSuperEnduro.IfyoulikebrakingbumpsyouwillloveLesDeuxAlps!!Ithasareallygreatblackrunfrom3200metresthoughwhichiswellworthdoing.ThemostfunIhaveeverhadonabikewasinSauzeD’Oulx,it’slikeahugefreeridebikeparksculptedbyamountainbikerartist…ifaprofessionlikethatevenexists?!It’samazing.AlthoughifIwastopickafavouriteplacetorideitwouldhavetobeLesArcs,inthevalleytownofBourg-Saint-Maurice.Thebikeparkstuffissomuchfunbutitalsohasanetworkoffantastictrailsfullofallthingstechnical,rocks,roots,flatoutbumpysectionsandatightswitchback,flatoutagaintoanotherswitchbackandsoon.IlearnedsomuchthereandI’mverygratefultomyfriendNathalieJeddaforshowingmearoundthereandtryingtomakemekeepupwithher.She’sFAST!!!!Switchbacksweremynemesisuntilshetaughtmehowtomasterthemwhilestillmaintainingareasonablespeed.

Lugnaquilla Mt., Wicklow’s highest peak

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November

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Andsoallthosemountainbikeadventureshavebroughtmehere.SincecomingtoCanadaIhavebikedinKananaskis,Fernie,Whistler,RevelstokeandInvermere.Ihavefoundeachplacetobetotallydifferent.InvermereismostdefinitelytheprettiestplaceIhaveriddenheresofar,IfeltlikeIwasinaminiUtah,allthankstoMichelleWright(ourotherPGRnewbie)andherboyfriendMikeandmateBrianfortakingmeawayfortheday!!Revelstokeisalsosomuchfun,FrisbyRidgebeingthelongest,fastest,andfuntrailI’vedoneallsummer!Revyremindedmeofhomeasoneofourtrailnetworks,DjouceWoodsinWicklow,waslikeMacPhearson-wehadfunthere,FlowDownandBermDonorbeingmyfavoritetrails.IlikeWhistler,IdefinitelyhadlotsofsmilesonmyfacewhileridingthebikeparkbutIfeltthereareonlysomanytabletopsandbermsthatonecanrideinaday,theyrenotreallymything.WhenIgobacktoWhistlerIwillstayawayfromthebikeparkanddothenaturaltrails,they’resupposedtobemuchbetter?!FerniehastobethebestplaceIhaveriddenoverhere,ithasalltherocks,roots,steepnessandtechnicalbikingthatIlike.It’salsowhereImetsomeofthegreatPGRgirlsattheFernieBCCupFinalRaceinAugust2014.ForthatreasonIhaveasoftspotforFernieforputtingmeintouchwiththePGRgirlsandforstartingmeoffonmynextbikingadventurewiththePGRRacingTeaminwhichIwillbecompetinginallthingsdownhillin2015.Thanksgirlsforvotingmeinandsigningmeup.I’mannoyednowthatIhavetowaituntilthesnowtocleartostartreachingmygoalsforracingin2015!!Goawaypowder,comebackbackdust!!!Grr!!

PGR CONNECTEDMonthly Newsletter 2014-November.

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HighlightsfromPGR’sHalloweenride!OurcostumecontestwinnersweretheGangstaWizardandthehomemadeShark!Greatrideladiesandgents!