Over the last few weeks I have been trying to ride with and chat with different sections of the SPR cycling community. Previous weeks I’ve spent a time chaperoning juniors within the main rides helping them gain confidence in group situations and learning about group dynamics. Last week I hung out with Main 3 before being split out into a small Main 4 as we got caught at some lights along South St. It was an interesting experience for me as I really felt different about the traffic we encountered. Not that there was anything different about the traffic, but being in a smaller, slower group than what I am used to made me feel a lot more exposed than normal. Chatting with the ladies after the ride, I was trying to understand their perspective on some of our ride routes and whether they are always appropriate across all abilities.
One of the key cornerstones of the club, and what it was founded on, was being inclusive. We don’t turn people away if they want to ride with us and across the history of the club, there have only been a handful that we have asked to not ride with the club any more. This has been for either being straight out dangerous and not taking on board any direction, or just being generally disruptive to the running of the club. But being inclusive is also about understanding what we need to offer those that are already riding in the club. For many, it is about some of the other club cornerstones, social and organised. Some people just want to ride with the people they know and in a safe organised manner. Not saying that they are not accepting of outsiders, but rather there is a comfort in already knowing the abilities of the people you are riding with.
One of the things I have discovered since being back on deck was that there are a few organically grown rides that have appeared outside the normal advertised ones. On Tuesday mornings 06:30, for example, some of the Main 2-4/Transitional riders meet at Koorak Kings Park Cafe Car Park and head into the park for some free ride efforts around Lovekin and Forrest. No planned route, no planned intervals, just come along, do some riding, then meet back at 07:30 for a coffee. Sessions like these form when there is a need that is currently not matched within the club structure. The right people organising sessions has slowly developed into something that we now advertise as part of the club weekly rides. This organic growth is usually the difference between a successful and unsuccessful attempt at change and why it is important to truly understand what the people want to see in a club.
Other Information
SPR Giro d’Italia Dinner Tuesday 19 May 2026
6.00pm for a 6.30pm start
The 109th edition of the classic grand tour Giro d’Italia starts on the 8 May in Bulgaria and finishes 31st May in Rome. The club is having a dinner at the Italian restaurant Bravo’s in East Vic Park to celebrate. – fabulous food and friendly staff make it special.
Bring family and join friends for a modern Italian meal. This year we have a new and expanded 3-course menu for $70 pp – fully licensed. Select your dietary requirements at checkout. Menu link
Tickets are available via the club shop.
2026 and 2027 international trips –
SPR is again looking to organise trips overseas after the success of ones to the Italian & Swiss Alps 2025 and The Grand Alps France 2024.
Please complete this brief EOI for either or both tours
Note: no SPR member nor the club benefit from the organising of these trips – it is intended to extend the cycling experience with fellow cyclists
Tour de Cowaramup 18th Oct –
The Tour de Cowaramup charity road bike event is on again this year on Sunday 18 th October. Three distances 60km (piccolo), 85km (medio) and 130km (gran) with funds going to assist men suffering from Prostate Cancer.
Start/ finish: Juniper Estate
Register for early bird $105 until 30 April 2026; normal entry $125 until 30th September, late registration $145-$180. If no SPR team already established when you go to register, please set up a SPR team based on the distance eg SPR-Gran, SPR-Medio or SPR-Piccolo so others can join you.
We will look to book accommodation for three nights at the Leeuwin Apartments as per last year, cost to be advised; in Friday 16 th October out Monday 19 th October; shorter stay if preferred for the same price. You can register your interest for accommodation via this EOI.
For further queries please contact Carol or Danielle via comdev@southperthrouleurs.com.au.
Upcoming Racing
- ATTA Season Close at Champion Lakes (10 May)
- seVen Gravel (17 May)
- WACX AusCycling National Series (23-24 May)
- WCMCC Road Race at Chidlow (24 May)
- WCMCC Road Race at Casuarina (7 June)
- WCMCC Road Race at Pickering Brook (14 June)
Juniors
Last weekend we enjoyed another fantastic day at Kings Park and the CX racing. Our new junior, Henry, is already showing great improvement, and it’s wonderful to see him getting involved in CX as well. Well done to all the children who gave the race a go! A special thank you to Adrian (pictured below in action) for his support in assisting the juniors on the day.
The training program for this week is as follows:
Saturday (9/5):Our U11 riders will meet again under the Mt Henry bridge
Apologies, due to a family emergency our Juniors coach, Giovanni, has had to fly back to Italy and will not be here for the next 3 weekends. The teenage juniors are invited to join the adult club ride, departing at 7:00am from the Coode Street car park in South Perth and will be chaperoned within the main rides by Peter, club president.
Please check the SPR Junior WhatsApp channel for any last-minute updates. If you’re not yet in the group chat and would like to be included, just let me know.
Events coming up
CX series. Check the calendar here: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
From the Ride Coordinator
Consistent communication (e.g. highlighting potholes) during the ride helps with group coordination and contributes to the safety of the group. Where two groups get caught together at a junction let the front group pull ahead and resist the temptation to jump across. This preserves the group size that was initiated at the start of the ride and reduces the chance of a larger group forming, which is difficult for other road users to navigate around.
Saturday 9th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special
All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Development group (*) – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday
Transition: Trans Benara 39.90km SPR Saturday
Fast & Main: Benara Rd 50.76km SPR Saturday
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 10th May
Rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Social River Loop – approx. 50km
Short Hills (Social): Khna Weir 68.66km SPR Sunday
Short Hills: Khna Weir 68.66km SPR Sunday
Long Hills: Khna Peet Can Mills MWR 90.55km SPR Sunday
Monday 11th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
south stock 33.76km SPR Monday
Tuesday 12th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Two groups – solid roll through vs relaxed pace
SPR Tuesday 36.37km (river ride)
Ride starts at 6:30am at Koorak Kings Park Cafe Car Park
Main 4/Transitional/Novice
Kings Park laps at own pace, coffee at 7:30am
Wednesday 13th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
No drop recovery ride
SPR Wednesday 35.3km (2023 Edition)
Thursday 14th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Three groups fast paced roll-throughs
SPR Thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)
Friday 15th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am