so i thought that after the water tower challenge was over, things would settle down a bit, but no. not a chance. this week has been just as hectic as the last. work has been over the top, bike riding has been crap and there is the looming sickness on the horizon. kate has lost her voice for most of this week, and while this has it’s benefits, it also means a potential for the next round of colds to flow through the house. probably next week, when i have the week off work.
stu, i have this posted before home and away this week.
state team time trial – this is on next weekend and there are people on the hunt for teams. see the previous blog post here and add to the comments if you want to play.
water tower challenge – thanks to all those that took part and especially to those that volunteered. besides gnangara rd, everything else seemed to go well. thank you also for the feedback as it gives us an idea of how we can improve it to make it bigger next year.
ride to conquer cancer – there are a few people in the club doing this event mid october for various reasons. get on board and help them out with a donation. more info here and here.
cycling wa agm – this is coming up at the end of october. if you want to see behind the scenes of cycling wa, come along. there is a members forum afterwards if you want to ask any questions. more info here.
ride routes – public holiday ride this weekend but we will split into a fast/main1 and a main2/3/trans group to minimise out impact on the road.
saturday 29th september
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
early lap – spr earlybird ride
all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am
development group – spr saturday 35.48km (novice shelley)
transitional – spr saturday 40.72km (mosman park)
fast & main groups – spr saturday 50.47km (south st)
sunday 30th september
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
early lap – spr earlybird ride
all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am
short – spr sunday 82.79km (brookton & weir rd)
long – spr sunday 97.99km (carradine & peet & observatory)
monday 1st october
ride starts under the narrows (south perth side) at 5:30am
early lap – spr monday 33.72km (south & freo)
all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am
fast/main – spr public holiday 59.35km (shelley & freo)
main/trans – spr public holiday 59.35km (shelley & freo)
Thanks for the <7pm post Pete!! Another Dome hot choc I owe you!
Sadly, I can't make the Monday PH ride – I gotta work ;-(
Hoping to do lots of k's on Saturday and Sunday though.
Water Tower Challenge was awesome and it will get great support next year whether it remains a purely club event or if it's sold to a wider audience.
I can't make it to the TTT as a participant but I'll try to get there to cheer on everyone taking part.
I would like to ramble on for another 15 minutes or so……but I wouldn't want to "hog the blog" just because of a tv show.
Safe riding everyone!
shame you can’t make it on monday. we’re in for a real proper summery day, plus it looks like someone else will have to step up for the long weekend triple-double.
Who’s doing the Ride to Conquer Cancer in Oct? I’m registered (my page http://pr12.conquercancer.org.au/site/TR/Events/Perth2012?px=1071513&pg=personal&fr_id=1080 ) on my own but happy to ride as a group.
there are at least four SPR riders going (Jason, Brett yourself and myself) and I think there may be at least a couple more.
Marcel and I are also doing this ride.
Thanks to everyone in Main 1 today. It was one of the better group rides I’ve been on in a long time…
Agreed. Main 1 (the first group) today was the best Main 1 ride I’ve been on in the last year.
Agree too Tom…thanks Dr J for leading the ride.
Hi all, Just wanted to say a thank you to the guys who helped out in crash (M1.5) today. Especially to the guy who picked up the bikes & waited for my sis, sorry I can’t remember your name, must be the drugs.!Regards.
It’s always sad to hear of riders crashing – especially when injuries result. I wish those injured a speedy recovery. Obviously no-one deliberately crashes – the effects are often quite considerable with health, work, and other impacts.
Interestingly, the 1st Main 1 Group report having a “great ride”and yet the 2nd Main 1 Group had disjointed roll-thru’s and a nasty multiple crash. Supposedly same ride on the same roads at the same speed. So why the difference?
And why is it that SPR have sooooo many crashes with such regular frequency? Does it concern anyone else as much as it concerns me?
I think you need a few less “o”s on your “so”, Bill. We don’t have any more than most groups and a lot less than others (eg. Barrack St, some Papas).
Keep in mind we are one of the few club/groups that have a ride every day. We also have relatively large groups, and we encourage relatively new riders (who often don’t know the routes) to ride with us, so more chances of mishaps.
It may be something to do with the middle groups of the club. Main 1.5 – 2.5 seem to be fairly uneven groups in terms of both ability and experience, which makes them very hard to control in terms of keeping the pace even and avoiding gaps or any sharp braking.
The SPR fast group has very few contacts with the ground in any one year, despite faster average speeds.
+1 bonner.
I’m with you Mr Bonner.
Mike, when was the last crash on Papas?
Justin: That was me. Glad I could help. Hope your’re ok.
Bill: I was on the M1. Wasn’t an M1 level ride in any way shape or form.
I was riding in M1 yesterday (second group) and it was not M1 standard. Speed was very erratic and the roll through was variable to the extent that I felt unsafe. I think given the uneven speed there was some frustration in the group, with a “few” jumping between lanes. I didn’t see what happened to cause the crash as I was too far forward and on the outside, but it highlights how vulnerable riders are when in a tight group. Smaller groups, maybe a 1.5 as a transition between M2 and M1, to keep the numbers down, I don’t know, but feel a smaller group to build trust and understand each other’s style may help. You can’t ride well if you don’t have confidence in the ability of other riders around you. In future, if the ride is developing like it did yesterday I would happily pull back and sit on the back, however evidence shows that is not the safest place to be. Hope Sam and Justin recover quickly, see you out there.
Same points apply to main 2 – roll through was variable, plenty of new riders, plenty of riders who should/ could have been in a slower main 1, etc.
It’s time the groups start getting split into smaller sizes, and everyone starts being honest with themselves – ie can I realistically keep up with the group, and/ or am I experienced enough to ride with the group? If not let the leaders know, hang in there as long as possible and get picked up by the slower groups…
Cheers all – speedy recovery Justin and Sam.
C
There were clearly many people with different ambitions on the weekend to go with the various abilities. 1 guy in particular trying to smash the group apart and some not quite ready for main 1 meant riders fatiguing at different rates and speeds and decisions correlating with the level of fatigue. Made for an uncomfortable day in the saddle.
Could it be so simple as breaking Main 1 on ability rather numbers????
Those just shy of Fast hit Main 1/fast 2 and those after a solid slightly more social hit out take on Main 1.53.
a few comments there about splitting main 1 based on ability. i understand what you mean but it just doesn’t work. if i try to put the faster main 1 group off first, then everyone leaves first because people don’t like to think that they are not fast enough. that is why i just split it down the middle. you should get a mix of abilities and therefore the stronger ones can help the weaker ones.
however, it doesn’t work either, as the stronger ones have to prove just how strong they are by smashing the group and the weaker ones have to prove that they should be there by rolling through when they can’t.
it is a group ride. ride as a group. look after each other. there are no podium girls waiting at the cafe (no offence to the DOME staff).
Mike, Mitchell, Craig, Pete – you all make valid comments and I agree. However, My personal opinion is that is simply is just not good enough to say ÿes we keep getting people do unsafe stuff on our rides”but not actually do anything about it as a club.
I say that with the greatest respect for the SPR Club, The President and Committee – I believe in the Club’;s ideals and way you go about your business.
However, I believe it’s not about strength or experience of the rider – it’s about their ability to ride safely in the conditions (both technically and psychologically). Not all experienced or strong cyclists can ride a bike well or safely in a group, and not all relatively inexperienced riders are inherently unsafe.
It is the responsibility of senior riders and other group members to pull erratic, unsafe or struggling riders aside, educate them or remove them from the ride for the safety of the group. This may be new riders unfamiliar with the group, it may be people who simply are not strong / fit enough to ride at the correct tempo or it may be regular SPR riders who just have bad habits.
I think it’s important for this Club to talk about this and develop an effective way of dealing with it. There is a reason why this club has grown so much and has such a good reputation – it is a good club with a great attitude. I believe this may be tarnished as it continues to grow if measures are not put into place to ensure the riders are safe.
I am happy to discuss my ideas for positive change if anyone wants to listen.
bill, i haven’t said that we aren’t going to do anything. i just haven’t worked out exactly what it is or feel that putting it here in the comments would be the most effective way to do it.
Thanks Pete. I agree this is not the right forum. I will follow it up with you privately. Ta.
Hi Pete – nice work today.
The group seemed to take heed of the pre ride advice. Thought it was one of the smoother PHR’s I’ve been on.
Might be worth reiterating for next week’s Saturday crew.