represent. after the other weeks post showing a spr branded bike, i was looking at some other examples of people representing spr. i often get emails or facebook shows me lots of people showing the club colours away from perth. so sarah is in italy at lake como visiting the ghisallo da bellagio, katrina has moved to chile and is climbing mountains there, while matt is in las vegas checking out team tibco. with the club the size that it is, there was always people on the move riding in different locations. send in any good pics you have or post them to any of the spr facebook sites and you may end up as a blog header.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for may is Carton & Cowater. bringing you water in a more environmentally friendly packaging. Carton & Co is a Perth based company trying to lighten the load on our planet.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
The new kit…
spr kit – the latest shipment of kit will be available for pickup after the saturday main ride. there are a few minor items on back order (some gloves & socks) but the main kit has arrived. the one-off lycra socks will also be available. the weather may effect this, so contact andrew via kit@southperthrouleurs.com.au if you want to make other arrangements.
goldfields classic – entries have closed for this race but we are still organising the logistics behind getting people there and back. if you have already been in contact with the race committee about travelling with the club, then some payment is now due. please see the previous post for more details.
spr road race champs – the club road champs has been updated after the first pickering brook race. if you have raced in any of the 4 races listed, see how you are tracking in club points. the leaderboard can be found in the menu above or here.
ride routes – just to make things consistent for the month of may, it looks like they are again predicting heavy showers for saturday morning. not quite the stormy conditions from last week but it may be enough to thin the numbers significantly. it has been an above average month for rainfall, but still well short of the maximum for may so this weather should not be unexpected. however, it just seems to line up with when we want to ride.
saturday 28th may
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
had a very long busy week which still hasn’t finished. don’t have anything to talk about or the energy to think of an engaging topic. so, lets throw this back to you. what is bugging you at the moment??? the weather, riding, politics??? comments on the blog and facebook sites will be responded to.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for may is Carton & Cowater. bringing you water in a more environmentally friendly packaging. Carton & Co is a Perth based company trying to lighten the load on our planet.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
spr community guidelines and advertising policy – as the club has grown we tend to get more and more requests to advertise a business or event that may or may not be relevant to our membership. after a few difficult discussions, the committee has developed a policy regarding both how people can advertise on our sites and also what our expectations are for our own community. the community guidelines can be found above under the “about spr” tab. these cover how we expect you to behave when commenting our spr branded sites. these include this blog, the south perth rouleurs facebook page, the spr facebook page and the spr chicks facebook page. the promotions policy can also be found under the same tab. it covers how and what we will allow to be advertised on our sites. just do not assume that because it is bike related, it will be okay to post. since members of the committee have admin rights to all of the previously mentioned sites, you may find that your post gets removed. the committee has developed this policy to protect our club sponsors from other business conflicts and also our members from events or other promotions that may not offer an adequate level of coverage. please read the policies and ask a committee member before you post anything that you are unsure about.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
racing – both the 1st of the pickering brook series (sold out) and the first of the numbat cup cyclo-cross series (entries open till tonight) are on this sunday. hopefully we get a good representation across both races. the pickering brook race goes towards the road rider of the year award. maybe even a few hard core racers do both???
The new kit…
spr kit – the latest shipment of kit will be available for pickup after the saturday main ride. there are a few minor items on back order (some gloves & socks) but the main kit has arrived. the one-off lycra socks will also be available. the weather may effect this, so contact andrew via kit@southperthrouleurs.com.au if
goldfields classic – feel like racing across the vast expanse of the kalgoorlie area??? the goldfields classic handicap race is on again and we are looking at who wishes to head across for the long weekend of racing. as in previous years, spr will organise the logistics of transport, accommodation and transfers so you can just pay, turn up and race. please see the previous post if you are interested in racing or even in volunteering to help out.
spr road race champs – off the back of the crit championships will be the road race championships for 2016. there are a number of races identified that riders will accumulate point for. a change in the scoring system this year to try to allow those that have a go at ‘a’ grade a better chance of getting points. please see the previous post for more info.
ride routes – well another saturday in may and another predicted wet day. this week’s prediction is for a good one though. heavy rain and high winds always make for “awesome” riding conditions (note sarcasm). however, the predictions usually slip back a few hours over the next few days. there is a chance that it may stay clear until mid-morning. if not, and you are riding anyway, just be aware to ride to conditions and not to do anything risky. you are not the only one that can get hurt.
saturday 21st may
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
what does the club mean to you??? to some i guess it is just a place were the rides are organised and they turn up on a saturday. to others, it may be something that they have seen develop from it’s infancy and go from a handful of mismatched riders on a saturday to a living breathing entity. to me it is bigger than i ever imagined it would be. it can be a lot of things to a lot of different people and we are happy for people to get what they need out of it. for some, the way they show what the club means to them is to get a custom painted bike with spr green highlights and the “rouleurs” tag on the top tube. unfortunately, it is not my bike.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for may is Carton & Co water. bringing you water in a more environmentally friendly packaging. Carton & Co is a Perth based company trying to lighten the load on our planet.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
spr community guidelines and advertising policy – as the club has grown we tend to get more and more requests to advertise a business or event that may or may not be relevant to our membership. after a few difficult discussions, the committee has developed a policy regarding both how people can advertise on our sites and also what our expectations are for our own community. the community guidelines can be found above under the “about spr” tab. these cover how we expect you to behave when commenting our spr branded sites. these include this blog, the south perth rouleurs facebook page, the spr facebook page and the spr chicks facebook page. the promotions policy can also be found under the same tab. it covers how and what we will allow to be advertised on our sites. just do not assume that because it is bike related, it will be okay to post. since members of the committee have admin rights to all of the previously mentioned sites, you may find that your post gets removed. the committee has developed this policy to protect our club sponsors from other business conflicts and also our members from events or other promotions that may not offer an adequate level of coverage. please read the policies and ask a committee member before you post anything that you are unsure about.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
road racing – there are lots of races coming up over the next few months with the pickering brook series starting up next weekend. make sure you get on board as it often sells out fast. see the previous post for more information.
cyclocross – half road biking, half mountain biking. cross is here and there is lots of opportunity to get involved. read louise’s race report from supercross16 here. one of the few bike races where it is okay to wear a tutu, or supergirl outfit, or even bumblebee wings. the next cross race is also on the 22nd of may. if you are really good, you could race pickering brook in the morning and cyclocross in the afternoon.
spr socks – we hope to have the spr socks down at the coffee shop this saturday after the ride. last week was a bit of a washout and the socks stayed in their nice warm box.
gfws national kit – if you rode well at the any of the grand fondo qualifiers and have managed to secure a spot in the final in september, then hold off purchasing your national kit. we are currently investigating a spr version of the national kit so we can identify our members a bit easier. see the previous post for more details.
goldfields classic – feel like racing across the vast expanse of the kalgoorlie area??? the goldfields classic handicap race is on again and we are looking at who wishes to head across for the long weekend of racing. as in previous years, spr will organise the logistics of transport, accommodation and transfers so you can just pay, turn up and race. please see the previous post if you are interested in racing or even in volunteering to help out.
giro d’italia night – the first social night of the year is on next tuesday. come and spend an evening of italian flavour at bravos restaurant to celebrate the giro d’italia. organised by the spr social committee, this is open to all members/partners. please see the previous post for further details.
spr road race champs – off the back of the crit championships will be the road race championships for 2016. there are a number of races identified that riders will accumulate point for. a change in the scoring system this year to try to allow those that have a go at ‘a’ grade a better chance of getting points. please see the previous post for more info.
ride routes – great, they are predicting another wet saturday morning. hopefully, the schedule slides a few hours giving us a dry window to get the legs turning over first thing in the morning. on sunday, we will be heading south to avoid all the plane spotters trying to get a glimpse of a very big plane.
saturday 14th may
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
when we encounter other groups on the road, please be polite and accommodating when you are overtaking them. just because you are faster, doesn’t mean that you can bully your way past and expect them just to get off the road for you. if that was the case, we would not be able to complain about cars passing us. make sure that the group in front knows that you are coming. ring a bell or shout out that there are “bikes back”. don’t just cut straight in front of them and be aware that after the first few riders get in front, the rider you are overtaking will actually speed up a bit as they will start to get a draft. stay wide until you are sure that you are a bike length clear. also, if it is a group you are overtaking, make sure that you do it single file. no point putting everyone at risk, just so you can keep rolling through while you dodge bikes, traffic islands and oncoming traffic. we are not the only road users out there and i am pretty sure that we are not the only people that ride in groups around the river. i am sure that you have been on the receiving end of some bad overtaking in the past. make sure that you don’t do the same to others.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for may is Carton & Co water. bringing you water in a more environmentally friendly packaging. Carton & Co is a Perth based company trying to lighten the load on our planet.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
spr community guidelines and advertising policy – as the club has grown we tend to get more and more requests to advertise a business or event that may or may not be relevant to our membership. after a few difficult discussions, the committee has developed a policy regarding both how people can advertise on our sites and also what our expectations are for our own community. the community guidelines can be found above under the “about spr” tab. these cover how we expect you to behave when commenting our spr branded sites. these include this blog, the south perth rouleurs facebook page, the spr facebook page and the spr chicks facebook page. the promotions policy can also be found under the same tab. it covers how and what we will allow to be advertised on our sites. just do not assume that because it is bike related, it will be okay to post. since members of the committee have admin rights to all of the previously mentioned sites, you may find that your post gets removed. the committee has developed this policy to protect our club sponsors from other business conflicts and also our members from events or other promotions that may not offer an adequate level of coverage. please read the policies and ask a committee member before you post anything that you are unsure about.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
racing – there are lots of races coming up over the next few months with the tom lowry memorial in collie next weekend. please see the previous post for more details.
cyclocross – half road biking, half mountain biking. cross is here and there is lots of opportunity to get involved. read louise’s race report from supercross16 here. one of the few bike races where it is okay to wear a tutu, or supergirl outfit, or even bumblebee wings…
bike name stickers
stickers and socks – just to be clear about purchasing items through the club. we are not a commercial business. we do not chase you up to collect your goods. it is up to you to keep an eye on the blog and make an effort to collect items when they are hauled down to the coffee shop on a saturday morning. the stickers have been available to be collected for many weeks now. there are still about 15 people yet to collect, so we are going to snail mail them out to you. you may get them next week. the socks have arrived and we will endeavour to get them to the coffee shop this weekend. however, since it will probably be raining, numbers may be down anyway. please make the effort to collect your items. the people that are organising these things are left to run around and make themselves available to get you what you have already paid for.
gfws national kit – if you rode well at the any of the grand fondo qualifiers and have managed to secure a spot in the final in september, then hold off purchasing your national kit. we are currently investigating a spr version of the national kit so we can identify our members a bit easier. see the previous post for more details.
goldfields classic – feel like racing across the vast expanse of the kalgoorlie area??? he goldfields classic handicap race is on again and we are looking at who wishes to head across for the long weekend of racing. as in previous years, spr will organise the logistics of transport, accommodation and transfers so you can just pay, turn up and race. please see the previous post if you are interested in racing or even in volunteering to help out.
giro d’italia night – the first social night of the year is almost upon us. come and spend an evening of italian flavour at bravos restaurant to celebrate the giro d’italia. organised by the spr social committee, this is open to all members/partners. please see the previous post for further details.
spr road race champs – off the back of the crit championships will be the road race championships for 2016. there are a number of races identified that riders will accumulate point for. a change in the scoring system this year to try to allow those that have a go at ‘a’ grade a better chance of getting points. please see the previous post for more info.
uwct training ride – to allow those that have qualified to keep their toe in, and those that want a good solid limited stops hills ride, we will now run a 1st sunday of the month uwct training ride. this will replace the long hills ride once a month and follow the same format as the previous uwct training. as it is now a lot darker, we move the start to 7:00am. and as it is primarily for those that have qualified, we will only have 1 start time and see how it plays out. we can adjust as we move closer to the actual final.
women’s only ride – this saturday is the first of the month and as such we will have our women’s only rides in main 1, 2 & 3. take control of your own group and ride up front.
ride routes – it’s looking like it may be a bit soggy this saturday morning. hopefully it will clear up for all the mums on sunday whether they are riding or not…
saturday 7th may
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Cross, cross, cross! No I don’t have anger management issues, but that is all I have heard about in our household for the past few years as I am married to a cyclocross tragic.
I’ve been to plenty of cyclocross events over the last 2 years (he even manages to sneak in a couple when we go snowboarding in Japan), and whilst they look like fun, they always look too technical, too difficult and too physically challenging. My hubby has been at me for years to get out there and have a go – but I felt much more comfortable on my road bike, and left the mud, sweat and beers for him.
So along comes Supercross16! The first time a night cyclocross race has been attempted in Australia, styled on the US race CrossVegas to promote cyclocross to the people of Perth. (I actually think Stu and Greg just wanted to have cross race under lights for themselves). I’ve been watching this event develop from its conception (and know how much work and planning was involved), so with a few days to go until race night I signed up my name (well Stu actually signed me up) for no other reason than to support the event and have more females in the field.
In all honesty, I had a sleepless night that evening – questioning why I was putting myself in the race – so far out of my comfort zone! I would be doing the race on a not just a mountain bike but a fatbike (Ruze 650+), I had no idea how to get on and off the bike unless I came to a complete stop, wasn’t sure if I could lift the bike over the barriers, and while my fitness is ok, I have not been close to threshold levels on the bike in months. How embarrassing! But then I convinced a mate to sign up with me (thanks Leigh), and with a partner in crime I felt much more comfortable in what I was expecting to be total humiliation (these moments are much better shared).
So the event came around – the course looked amazing and the atmosphere was incredible. I didn’t do the warm up around the whole course (I was too busy chatting), deciding to fly by the seat of my pants instead come race time. At the start line, it was all very friendly and relaxed. The girls where all casually chatting and all but a few were in their first race, with some on cross bikes and lots on mountain bikes. The racers flew out from the start – I was slow out and left at the back still in warm up mode. Going past the crowd in the first lap was amazing – everyone was cheering loudly and full of support (thanks to my SPR buddies that came to cheer, giggle and heckle). The flyover was exciting, the barriers challenging (I was an utter gumby going over them) and the course itself was just so interesting. Corners, grass, flyover bridge, road, barriers, sand, a run-up, curbs, stairs, detours through showground stables, tunnels – it was all there. And sure, my heart rate was close to threshold for the entire 30 minutes, but with all the fun distractions of the course, it was barely noticeable. (Like trail running compared to road running).
As each lap went on, I could feel my bike handling skills improve and confidence increase (my second lap was almost 1 minute quicker than my first lap) Mounts and dismounts were nothing short of laughable, and even though I was pushing my limits through the whole race, there was not one thought of ‘why am I doing this’. I ended up finishing in the middle of the field – but even if I had finished last I would’ve had a big massive smile on my face. It was honestly the best fun I have had on a bike since being a kid let loose on Rottnest and being told by my parents to come back for dinner.
My better half on seeing my jubilance at having competed gave me the all-knowing ‘I told you so’ look. Much like the look he gave me when I started out doing my first group rides on a road bike after 6 months of hesitation. I went to bed that night, once again unable to sleep thanks to this Supercross 16 event, due to the excitement of the evening and the desire to get back out there and have another crack at it.
There is no pressure in a cross race – the community is incredibly friendly and supportive, so are the hecklers! The support from the crowd during the event was brilliant. You honestly get out there and do your own race at your own pace – and no matter how fast or slow you go, you can’t help but have fun with the added bonus of having done a really intense workout that would feel like death on a road bike or trainer. Even though the course has some technical parts, it is all totally rideable, you do not need to have incredible bike handling skills (sure – the experts with these skills just do these bits faster!)
Late nights and work pressures meant I have missed a few morning rides this week, but I found 30 minutes to take the kids to the park this afternoon – and the mountain bike came along so I could learn how to get on and off the bike! You can fit a cross practise session in anytime, anywhere.
I hate to say that my husband was right, but Cross is the bomb! I now understand why he loved the sport the first time he saw it back in 2012. A short intense race that doesn’t eat into your whole day, a family friendly event as kids of all ages can ride in a friendly race as well (even lil’ ones on balance bikes), and most importantly – FUN! Supercross 16 is bound to be the biggest race of the year (and will be even bigger in 2017, 2018 and 2019), but there will be at least 6 more Cross races in the WA Cyclocross season (May-September). There are separate male and female races, with different categories in each. Don’t wait another 2 years like I did to join in on the fun. Get on your mountain bike or CX machine and have a crack. Borrow your friend’s wheels if you don’t have any. You’ll be blown away by how much fun it is – and I guarantee the smile will still be on your face days after the event and you’ll be shopping for a new bike in no time.
Check out ‘WA Cyclocross’ on Facebook.
WACX Dates (Sunday): 22nd May, 12th June, 26th June, 10th July, 7th August, 28th August
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handful of brakes vs crossing wheels. this is often a well discussed topic when during a group ride, there is a sudden slowing due to weather, fatigue or whatever. we all know that we shouldn’t cross wheels with the person in front of us as if they suddenly move to one side, you can get your front taken out from under you. however, grabbing a handful of brake to avoid a collision can have such huge knock on effects further down the line as was seen in last weeks main 1 ride. the trick is to position yourself, so that you have a clear exit strategy when you are riding in a bunch. hard to do when you are on the gutter side, so you really need to look at how close you need to be to the rider in front. can you allow a bit more space without dropping the wheel? can you position yourself slightly to the right of their wheel so you don’t aim for the gutter in an emergency? sudden changes in the peloton can have a dramatic effect, but even smaller changes can be absorbed better if you look at your positioning. group riding is such a dynamic thing with many influences way outside your control. don’t just look at the wheel in front of you and grab for the brakes if it starts to slow. look a few riders ahead, so you can see the change in pace before it hits you and make sure you are already in a position to react to it. you are responsible for more than one persons safety, so make sure your actions don’t put someone else on the deck.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for april is Acanthus Green landscape and garden design and construction. part owned by spr member and Dome rider ben godridge, Acanthus Green is your one stop shop for to creating the perfect garden to compliment your home and enhance your life.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
brian sing & his new spr jersey
kit crash replacement – we now have a crash replacement policy for your spr kit. if you damage your kit by some misadventure (on your bike) you can contact the kit committee and get a 30% discount on your replacement kit. please see the previous post for more details.
racing – there are lots of races coming up over the next few months with the tom lowry memorial in collie next weekend. please see the previous post for more details.
west coast masters – most of you will know that there is a “breakaway” organisation operating in western australia primarily for masters riders. they split from cycling wa a long time ago (well before my time) and organised their own insurance, etc. these guys put on regular graded races for the plus 35 yr old rider with lots of grades to cover all bases. you need to get a separate licence to race with them, but there are quite a few riders in our club that head out for some regular action. they have a teams competition and liam donley has setup an spr team in the event. if you do head out to race with them, wear your spr kit and let them know you are part of team spr to give points to the club. the northern beaches did a similar thing last season and it certainly goes a long way to rebuilding some bridges between the two organisations. next race is the 1st may at herne hill, nominations at primary school in argyle st from 0815, start at 0900.
gfws national kit – if you rode well at the any of the grand fondo qualifiers and have managed to secure a spot in the final in september, then hold off purchasing your national kit. we are currently investigating a spr version of the national kit so we can identify our members a bit easier. see the previous post for more details.
goldfields classic – feel like racing across the vast expanse of the kalgoorlie area??? he goldfields classic handicap race is on again and we are looking at who wishes to head across for the long weekend of racing. as in previous years, spr will organise the logistics of transport, accommodation and transfers so you can just pay, turn up and race. please see the previous post if you are interested in racing or even in volunteering to help out.
giro d’italia night – the first social night of the year is almost upon us. come and spend an evening of italian flavour at bravos restaurant to celebrate the giro d’italia. organised by the spr social committee, this is open to all members/partners. please see theprevious post for further details.
spr road race champs – off the back of the crit championships will be the road race championships for 2016. there are a number of races identified that riders will accumulate point for. a change in the scoring system this year to try to allow those that have a go at ‘a’ grade a better chance of getting points. please see the previous post for more info.
uwct training ride – to allow those that have qualified to keep their toe in, and those that want a good solid limited stops hills ride, we will now run a 1st sunday of the month uwct training ride. this will replace the long hills ride once a month and follow the same format as the previous uwct training. as it is now a lot darker, we move the start to 7:00am. and as it is primarily for those that have qualified, we will only have 1 start time and see how it plays out. we can adjust as we move closer to the actual final.
ride routes – looks like there may be a small break in the weather this weekend to allow us to get out and do some serious riding. the temperature has started to drop and it is always interesting to see those that started riding over summer, suddenly realise that you need to buy more layers of clothes to wear. sunday morning is predicting under 10 deg, so make sure you rug up. just be aware that the ronald mcdonald house charity ride will also be leaving from the coode st carpark on saturday morning. we should be in the opposite corner of the carpark, so not a big problem, but just make sure that we make allowances for other users.
saturday 30th april
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
It must be something special to take a South of the River cycling club North of the Wall …. I mean river. At the rather civilised ATTA winter season starting time of 8am what could be more special than the “Time Trial”.
“What is a time trial? Where did the humble TT come from?” I hear you ask.
For those unsure of what a time trial is….
time trials
bicycle race events in which individuals or small teams of riders ride the same route and distance separately for elapsed time. Time trials are generally started at preset intervals and held on an out-and-back or circuit course…..and generally mean the “n+1” rule is applied for just about every piece of cycling equipment you own….TT bike, TT helmet, TT skinsuit etc etc
Historically, one account is that in 1890, the National Cyclists’ Union banned racing on UK public roads in fear of cycling, yes fear of the entire sport. As a result events organised by clubs around this time often involved pursuit of cyclists by horse-mounted policemen who threw sticks into racers wheels. Nice.
What resulted were secret races; an underground of cycle racing where organised races would happen under cover of darkness or first light of dawn with riders dressed from neck to ankle in black (just like ninjas). Races were referred to by code name and cycling press could not publish locations or competitors up to the 1960s. Super cool.
These days us cyclist are still “feared” by the general population but thanks to the ATTA folks it is much more organised, civilised, safe and non-ninja like.
Sundays ATTA 30/60km TT out at Neerabup was exactly like this. The Neerabup course is a “flat” course with undulations throughout which come the turnaround point start to feel like L’Alpe d’Huez (note: not a realistic comparison). Generally calm conditions, which are preferred for TTs, with what seemed to be a rising headwind for the first leg of the out and back course. Lucky for me, with and 8:12am start, not so much so for Andrew Ballam, with a 9:23am start.
The TT had a huge number of SPR folks rising early to bury themselves in the hurt locker for the 30km or 60km options. A whopping 21 (plus an enthusiastic cheer squad in a sniffily Amanda Nabi) including 6 first timers and 8 first timers at Neerabup. That’s 30% of the field!
SPR was extremely well represented taking out the top women’s place easily with Davina Summers leading just under 4mins clear of the next woman out on the course and Jarred Anderson stomping out an impressive 43.6km average and 3rd fastest of everyone on the day. In the 30km SPR chicks took out 5 of the top 10 women overall with the men taking out 4 of the top 10 overall placings. In the 60km there were 4 of the top 10 from SPR including Tom Ford who broke the course record at a whopping average speed of 41.41km!
Now don’t let the photos fool you, we are smiling at the end but it is nothing more than a grimace, some whimpering or Ballams wide mouthed gasping for air out on the course. It may be tough but it’s an experience and addictive one at that. The ATTA community is welcoming and supportive (except when you’re late to the start line……4mins before your start you need to be there ready to go, you have been warned) and for anyone hesitant on racing in a peloton but keen to race against themselves and the clock why not have a crack. You get a timing chip, a race number, a start time and a PB to strive for every time. It’s fantastic physical training but also important mental training.
Summer Season close at the classic Champion Lakes course is happening in a little over a week with the sparser Winter Season to follow. How hard fast can you do the 20km course? Why not have a crack?
Want to know more or have some questions, drop me a line or find me after a group ride.
okay, a little simple psychology for this weeks post. most people have heard about pavlov’s dogs. he did an experiment where he trained his dogs to salivate when he rang a bell. simple experiment where the dogs linked the bell to their dinner time. this is also known as classical conditioning. for us in a group riding situation, there are many things that we take for granted every day. there are many things that we do pretty much without thinking or do out of a form of classical conditioning. unfortunately, this happened a couple of times to me in the last week and half. turning left at an intersection, the group all yelled “clear” as they turned, but by the time we were halfway through the group, i look right and there is a car less than 50m away. lights were blazing and it was obviously not clear. the rider a couple of places ahead of me had yelled clear as they went through. even the first few riders would have seen a car in the distance and should have gave warning. are people just being conditioned to yell “clear” just because it is what we are expected to do. group riding involves quite a high level of trust. i am trusting you to tell me about the potholes, to tell me about the parked cars and to tell me about that tonne of steel and plastic hurtling down the road at me. everyone is responsible for their own actions, but at the same time, you cannot ride in close quarters with others without trusting that the person in front of you will not put you in danger. again it comes down to being spatially aware and then conveying any potential dangers to the rest of the group. and then, also importantly, passing that message down the line to the rest of the group as the riders behind you are also trusting you to look out for them. if not, then you may, or may not end up like schrödinger’s cat.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for april is Acanthus Green landscape and garden design and construction. part owned by spr member and Dome rider ben godridge, Acanthus Green is your one stop shop for to creating the perfect garden to compliment your home and enhance your life.
rules of engagement – please read the previous post if you come out on any of our rides. it is up to all members to enforce these rules.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
spr sub-committees – if you’re interested in being part of one or more of the sub-committees…even if you’ve indicated previously then please contact the relevant committee member. please see the previous post for more details.
brian sing & his new spr jersey
kit crash replacement – we now have a crash replacement policy for your spr kit. if you damage your kit by some misadventure (on your bike) you can contact the kit committee and get a 30% discount on your replacement kit. please see the previous post for more details.
gfws national kit – if you rode well at the any of the grand fondo qualifiers and have managed to secure a spot in the final in september, then hold off purchasing your national kit. we are currently investigating a spr version of the national kit so we can identify our members a bit easier. see the previous post for more details.
grand fondo international rider – the club has received a request from a finnish-american female masters rider that has qualified for the final in september. she is currently looking for anyone that has a spare room or granny flat for about 3 weeks leading up to the event. this is a great opportunity to help out a fellow cyclist and maybe broaden your own horizons. if you do have anything available, please email the club and we can put you in contact with her.
goldfields classic – feel like racing across the vast expanse of the kalgoorlie area??? he goldfields classic handicap race is on again and we are looking at who wishes to head across for the long weekend of racing. as in previous years, spr will organise the logistics of transport, accommodation and transfers so you can just pay, turn up and race. please see the previous post if you are interested in racing or even in volunteering to help out.
giro d’italia night – the first social night of the year is almost upon us. come and spend an evening of italian flavour at bravos restaurant to celebrate the giro d’italia. organised by the spr social committee, this is open to all members/partners. please see theprevious post for further details.
spr road race champs – off the back of the crit championships will be the road race championships for 2016. there are a number of races identified that riders will accumulate point for. a change in the scoring system this year to try to allow those that have a go at ‘a’ grade a better chance of getting points. please see the previous post for more info.
ride routes – long weekend and school holidays so it will be hit and miss as to how many people we get to this weekends rides. some people will take advantage of the extra free time and ride more. some will take the time to go elsewhere. make sure you know the ride routes as it is up to everyone in the group to know where they are going.
saturday 23rd april
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
For any SPR women that would like to improve their skills in the more advanced aspects of group riding, one of our more accomplished members, Davina Summers, will be running a session next Saturday.
Sat 23rd 11.30am (allow around 2 hours). If it goes well, and there is sufficient interest, there will likely be a follow-up session a couple of weeks later.
Limited places, priority to SPR members.
Cost: $15 cash (bring on the day).
Final location still to be determined, but likely an oval in Balcatta (10km north up the freeway). Location will be confirmed on Wednesday.
If raining, it will be re-scheduled to a following Saturday in consultation with attendees.
If there is a male rider that specifically wants to attend, please email to discuss.
The session plans to cover:
Close riding/bumping
Wheel touching
‘curb’ jumping
General balance on the bike
(it will be on grass).
Happy to answer any other technique based or racing questions that the group has.
What to bring:
Full bike gear (like you were going for a club ride), cycling shoes, helmet, gloves, glasses
2x full waterbottles, 2-4 empty bottles (old ones or broken ones are better than your good ones, depending on how many you have)
Please eat lunch before arriving and bring a snack for the end of the session
Smile and a can-do supportive attitude
Have a good night’s sleep on Friday night.
To confirm your attendance:
Email Davina on davina.summers@live.com your interest for a place, please include your full name, mobile number and a brief paragraph on your riding history. If you have any particular concerns or thing that you would like help with, include these here and the session can be tailored to maximise the benefits for all attendees.
Davina has been a member of SPR since the club’s inauguration in 2009.
She has spent quite a few years racing overseas in Europe, North America, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. She has attended National Training camps, and raced with the Australian National Women’s Road Team. She has raced with professional UCI teams and been competitive in Spring Classics World Cup races (the current World Tour equivalent) like Flandres and Drenthe. During her second Giro Donne (the best stage race for women in the world) Davina was involved in her team mate attaining and defending the pink jersey as the first ever Australian rider.
Davina has a young daughter and currently races in the National Road Series and at some local Perth races.
ride leader sponsor – the ride leader sponsor for may is Carton & Cowater. bringing you water in a more environmentally friendly packaging. Carton & Co is a Perth based company trying to lighten the load on our planet.
bike lights – it is now at that time of year where if you are doing the earlybird ride, then you need a good set of lights. last year i wrote a long post about bike lights and what we expect when riding in a group. basically, bigger/brighter is not always better. please read the post take note of what effects your lights have on the rest of the group. take any suggestions on board as at the end of the day, it is for the safety of the group as a whole.
goldfields classic – entries have closed for this race but we are still organising the logistics behind getting people there and back. if you have already been in contact with the race committee about travelling with the club, then some payment is now due. please see the previous post for more details.
