Many who have been part of the club for a few years now will remember the club’s association with the town of Beverley, and the historic Beverley Race that dates back over a century. In particular, club member Toby H ran The Beverley Heroic for 7 years and the club running a re-invention of the classic race in the town each October.
For a range of reasons in the current climate we have been unable to continue with these events (SPR is this year running a team time trial closer to home in Jarrahdale in October) but still love to maintain a link with this history.
So a little closer to home, and in commemoration of the finish of the classic race, the WA Historical Cycle Club is holding an exhibition celebrating this part of the rich history or cycling in Western Australia.
A little history on the race:
Western Australia’s premier one day endurance race, first ridden in 1897, was contemporary with the Liège–Bastogne–Liège Classic (1892) and the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic (1895). Originating on roads made for horse drawn carts, ‘The Beverley’ was founded by WA cycling legend Percy Armstrong. The 185km (116 mile) route followed the Avon Valley between Beverley and Toodyay before encountering the punishing hills and washed out culverts of the Darling Ranges, finishing more than 30 times at the historic Peninsular Hotel in Maylands.
Credit: WA Historical Cycle Club
Check out all the details on Facebook and on the historical society’s web page.
It will be worth visiting.
SPR Water Tower Challenge – We are back for the SPR Water Tower Challenge 2021 Edition after a great event last year.
Ride against the clock in teams of 3, through the Perth suburbs in search of water towers. You will likely find water towers that you never knew existed and visit suburbs you do not usually ride through.
And remembering that water towers are built on the top of hills, you will have the opportunity to do some climbing as well – choose either the Imperial (170km and 1,800m of climbing) or the Metric tonne (103km and 1,300m of climbing).
This is a fundraiser for the club and helps support the Rider Leaders Programme that both members and non-members enjoy 365 days a year.
The event is open members and non-members.
All of the details are on the EntryBoss event page, which is where you sign up!
Find a team and get involved.
From the Ride Coordinator – Wasn’t it great to feel that sunshine last weekend and judging by the turn out of numbers in the car park on Saturday and Sunday it looks like quite a few of those who prefer to hibernate during the the cold have awoken from their winter slumber. We had great numbers across all groups and even had 3 main 2 groups last weekend. We also had quite a number of riders identify themselves as new riders and we hope they enjoyed themselves to give it another crack this weekend.
So it’s probably a good time for everyone to (re)familiarise themselves with the clubs expectations around riding etiquette which can be found here. Doesn’t matter if you are new to the club or been with us since the start, it’s always good to give this article a read as it sets out the expectations of riding on the club rides and reminds us all of things like good bike preparation, signalling and calling, not to half wheel whilst riding etc. Well worth another read and essential if you’ve never read it before. Ultimately it sets expectations on each rider who wants to ride with SPR not only for safety but also your enjoyment.
Saturday 11th September
- Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
- Early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special
- Hills ride starts at Coode st carpark at 6:30am
- Short Hills – <not this week>
- All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
- Development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday
- Transitional 1/2 – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday
- Fast, Main – canning vale & welshpool 49.74km spr saturday
Sunday 12th September
- Rides start at Coode st carpark at 7:00am
- Development group – coffee ride
- “Happy Hills” – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday
- Short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday
- Long – darl weir 100.09km spr sunday
- Ride start at car park opposite the Darlington Post Office at 7:30am
- [NEW] Gravel – <not this week>
Monday 13th September
- Ride starts under the Narrows (Sth Perth side) at 5:30am
Tuesday 14th September
- Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
- Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
- Development group – interval training kings park
Wednesday 15th September
- Ride starts Raffles bike path at 5:30am
- Interval training – stock road repeats
Thursday 16th September
- Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
- Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
- Development group – interval training kings park
Friday 17th September
- Ride starts under the Narrows (Sth Perth side) at 5:30am