thursday morning, 5:30am, 22 deg, light winds.  perfect riding conditions.  the picture attached was from this weeks thursday training ride.  it may not look like it, but if you do a count, there are over 80 people in this photo and a few more still coming down the path.  numbers like this mean that we need to be aware of our group sizes on the road. if we allow the groups to remain too large, we take up more space, roll throughs can be more difficult, we get cut off at the lights, and cars can get more impatient. the ride leaders make an effort to split the groups to keep you safe, so please listen to them and follow directions when given.  we are not there to tell you what type of rider you are, so if you don’t want to be in the third group, make sure you line up closer to the bridge.

come and try – this weekend at the RCCC crit at the driver training centre, there will be a “come and try” ride for any one that wants to see what crit racing is about.  There will be both a men’s and women’s session with experienced riders to guide you around.  follow the calendar link below to get more info on the event and times for each session.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday RCCC and West Coast Masters are both running a  criterium. an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out.  check out the previous post for more information.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. my boys were a bit dissappointed last week as they were the only two that turned up to the juniors ride.  they had to drown their sorrows in pancakes and bacon at the coffee shop afterwards.  yes school has started, but make sure that the kids ride is part of your weekly routine.

from the ride coordinator – Great to see so many riders out last weekend enjoying the ride. We had some positive feedback from M3 and M4 about their rides which suggests that the introduction of M4 has been a success. With numbers swelling, so are the group sizes, which can bring its own challenges. The chances of things like splits at lights increase and communicating becomes a key to getting everyone back safely. Each group seems to have its own “etiquette” when it comes to communication but in my view, communicating up and down the line in the group is the cornerstone to enjoyment and safety. Whether it’s your hands or your voice, big group sizes call for strong communication. Next time you see the pro’s riding in an event, watch closely how they communicate. Obviously they think it’s OK to call, so should we.

saturday 8th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans cresswell 40.21km spr saturday

fast/main – tv stations 50.29km spr saturday

sunday 9th february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – khna weir 72.23km spr sunday

long – khna can mills 94.55km spr sunday

monday 10th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 11th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 12th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 13th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 14th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

so january is pretty much over, the tdu has finished and half the kids are back at school already. it won’t be long now until we have to put lights back on the bike as we head into the cooler months. so before the year disappears, where do you see your riding by the time the next festive 500 comes around.  have you set yourself some goals??? races, events, hold on to group 2 on a thursday??? with the wide and diverse group that we have in the club, everyone will be aiming for something different. however, with the wide and diverse experience within the club, there is always someone that can help you achieve your goals.

ride leader vouchers –  please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday Peel and West Coast Masters are both running a  criterium. an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out.  check out the previous post for more information.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – Our reintroduction of M4 last week worked a treat so we will be continuing with this ride, at least for the remainder of the summer. Provides us with a development opportunity for any transition riders coming through that might want to test themselves at the extra distance. But the benefit continues further up in M3, M2 and into M1. M3 then becomes a drop ride and therefore an opportunity for that group to prepare themselves for the rigours of M2, and M2 for the step up to M1. Whilst you might be thinking this is the same blog from me as last week, I wanted to take the opportunity to reinforce it again for all riders as there are still some with abilities beyond their chosen group that should be moving up to the next. Even within M1 we have some riders starting at the slightly slower groups that could push themselves up a further grouping. Catching the group ahead of you is not the goal of our Saturday ride. Having everyone enjoy the ride in each group is. Please just give it some thought as to what ride is appropriate for you this weekend.

saturday 1st february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday

fast/main – south st 51.23km spr saturday

sunday 2nd february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – kal goose 67.63km spr sunday

long – kal obs goose 97.40km spr sunday

monday 3rd february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 4th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 5th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 6th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 7th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

with many of our members away in radelaide for the tour down under, i decided (had no choice) to hop directly over the biggest cycling event in our country and spend time in sydney and brisbane….for work. sydney was good, but busy with the school holiday crowd out in force at the major landmarks and it made me appreciate the slower pace that perth has to offer. that and the less busy roads that we ride on. brisbane is nice, but going for a run in 100% humidity this morning made me appreciate the fairly consistent weather that we get in perth.  before this trip i was two weeks in victoria where apart from the 4 seasons in one day, there was also the very smokey days to contend with. i guess that i am probably just getting homesick and perth feels like home. i hope you enjoy the long weekend.

ride leader vouchers –  please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday RCCC is running the australia day criterium as part of the interclub series. an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out.  check out the previous post for more information.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains.  it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux.  if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – So we had some really positive feedback from riders over the last 2 weekends after introducing new ride routes for Sunday long hills and a new main and transition ride. To continue the “mixing it up theme”, this week we are going to bring back an old favorite. No it’s not an old ride route but it’s a main 4 ride grouping. We’ve noticed that numbers in development and transition have swelled of late and to aid people’s choice in selecting the right group for themselves, we decided to reintroduce this group. Whilst on the subject of selecting the right group for yourself, it’s also been noted that after half a summer of kilometers in the legs, it might be time to challenge yourself by stepping up to the next grade. With good numbers and a multitude of groups to choose from (now down to M4!) if you’re ever going to think about changing to a different group, now is as good a chance as you will get. Selecting the right group for your capabilities will make it a much more enjoyable ride experience ! Have fun riding.

saturday 25th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans shelley 40.59km spr saturday

fast/main – hale rd reverse 51.37km spr saturday

sunday 26th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – grnmt goose 65.22km spr sunday

long – grnmt prk mnd wr 93.71km spr sunday

monday 27th january – public holiday

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

fast/main – public hol 57.62km spr special

tuesday 28th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 29th january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 30th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 31st january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

yep, it is that time of year again. the time when if you are not in adelaide then you probably don’t want to be on social media either. there are a number of people that you will need to block on facebook this week and most of them are in the photo above. saying that, it is good to see such a good club presence at these major events and i usually spend my time playing “spotto the spr jersey” when watching the willunga hill stage.

ride leader vouchers –  please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday there are races on from Peel and west coast masters. an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out.  check out the previous post for more information.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains.  it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux.  if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our new Sunday ride route last week has emboldened us to roll out a new route for our main and transition ride this Saturday. But it will be interesting to see how many hands go up at ride briefings this weekend when the question is asked “do you know what ride route we are doing”. So suggestion is, for your own safety and for the safety of your fellow riders, in the immortal words of Molly Meldrum “go out and do yourself a favour” not by streaming your favorite song, but familiarize yourself with the ride route ! As well as the safety aspect, it will make it that much more enjoyable if you know where you’re going.

saturday 18th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans nth lake & shelley 40.50km spr saturday

fast/main – stock & shelley 49.56km spr saturday

sunday 19th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – brktn weir 82.89km spr sunday

long – cann dam 100.13km spr sunday

monday 20th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 21st january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 22nd january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 23rd january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 24th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

limited internet and limited time means that this update will be pretty limited. there is a lot going on, however, with the crits in full swing in perth and the nationals happening this week in ballarat.  we have a few riders in victoria already and there are some results coming through.  patrick chucked his hat in the ring against durbo and dennis for the itt and put in a solid effort to come 22nd.  oli stenning also came in 19th in the under 23 event. coming up we have teneal attard in the crit and kate bonner, patrick and oli in their respect road races. some of this will be televised, but also there are a few facebook feeds that show the events. support them if you can.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday there are races on from RCCC and west coast masters. an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out.  check out the previous post for more information.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains.  it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux.  if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – The club committee and ride leaders sub committee has been busy scoping some new ride routes for all members to enjoy. This weekend we commence the roll out of this programme with the introduction of a new long hills ride route for Sunday. This one is an epic with lots of kilometers and plenty of elevation. Great for those is training for either the Peaks and 5 Dams events which are coming up in March and April. So enjoy. As soon as the weather is right, we also have 2 new Saturday ride routes with corresponding transition rides ready to go. Those with a keen eye may have noticed the new additions added to the blog last week.

saturday 11th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans abernethy 39.96km spr saturday

fast/main – holmes rd 50.42km spr saturday

sunday 12th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short –wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – zania darl mund dodd obs 111.68km spr sunday

monday 13th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 14th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 15th january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 16th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 17th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

i was doing a cupboard clean out this week and found last years festive 500 patch.  i hadn’t removed it from the cardboard and when i did was surprised to see the little poem behind it. “Most lay in bed. Contented, well fed. You forge on ahead Legs like lead Did something great instead.” the last week has been an interesting time and has shown some interesting behaviours from people. who would have guessed that nancy would be first to crack 500kms, that marcel would have a 300km day and finley would do a ride starting before 2am. all three of those people covered more than 800kms in the 8 days and i know that there are many more stories out there from the challenge.  here is your new challenge.  from your own festive 500 experience, write a 5 line poem on what was important to you.  whether it is watching the sunrise for the 5th morning in a row, or riding all the way to a closed coffee-shop, there must be something to inspire the poets amongst us. another pair of sunglasses is up for grabs.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this weekend alone there are FOUR options available – Midland CC on Saturday afternoon, while Peel District CC, RCCC and West Coast Masters all have races on Sunday. There is an updated program with links to the events HERE.  for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.

social club awards – the weekend before last we had our xmas breakfast and club awards.  the social club awards are voted on by you, the members and feedback is asked for as validation of your nomination.  with the exception of dean roser nominating himself for every award, this is a great way for members to let someone know that they are doing something right.  check out the previous post for the results and feedback.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

rapha festive 500 – this year’s festive 500 saw a very competitive finish with a couple of people leapfrogging positions at the last minute.  with 5 people clocking up more than 900kms in the 8 days and 1 exceeding 1000kms, there were a lot of tired legs come new years day.  there will be a final washup post soon which shows the club leaderboard and just who won a new pair of sunnies.

cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains.  it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux.  if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – Happy New Cycling Year everyone! Well the 2019 kilometers are now in the Garmin/Wahoo/whatever bank and the clock starts ticking again for this year. Hats off to those who completed the Rapha500 over the festive season, unbelievably there was 1 SPR rider who effectively did it twice with a tad over 1000kms (you know who you are). As usual, this time of year there are lots of cycling events on, with the nationals and the Tour Downunder topping the immediate list. Whatever your goal in 2020, enjoy your cycling and I hope you achieve what you are looking to strive for.

saturday 4th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday

fast/main – maddington 51.87km spr saturday

sunday 5th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short –khna weir 72.23km spr sunday

long – khna trnr obs 101.76km spr sunday

monday 6th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 7th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 8th january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 9th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 10th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

happy new year. as the year draws to a close, i could go on some sentimental trip about how the club has changed over the years, or how successful it has been at this or that, but i would rather save that for the agm wrap up. what i would like to say, though, is for me personally, there has been a big change in my riding between the start and end of this year. at the end of 2018, i really lost my riding mojo. quite possibly just burn-out from years of training, but i just needed to find the love again. a year on and i am now trying to smash out as many k’s as i can to try to get my annual total back up.  i had 5 months this year with a kilometre count under 1000 and 3 of those months were around 500 or under. it wasn’t till the last 2 months that i have managed to get it back to around 1500. in training, k’s are not everything, but i am now motivated enough to actually get out there and even do a few night owl’s. i look forward to what 2020 brings.

social club awards – last weekend we had our xmas breakfast and club awards.  the social club awards are voted on by you, the members and feedback is asked for as validation of your nomination.  with the exception of dean roser nominating himself for every award, this is a great way for members to let someone know that they are doing something right.  check out the previous post for the results and feedback.

mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down earlier in the year.  this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace.  as of tomorrow (20th) it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge.  no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.

hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times.  as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk.  however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.

rapha festive 500 – so jamie moyle has kindly donated a few pairs of swisseye sunglasses.  these come with 3 interchangeable lenses, and i guess you can mix and match, if you want… anyway, for the festive 500 this year, we will be giving away a pair each to the top 2 male and female riders in the club with the most k’s. firstly you have to have joined the festive 500 challenge on strava, then you need to have joined our strava club. (i am in the process of removing all the random russian bots and “club collectors” that are not really part of the club.) however, the final qualifier is that you will also need to be a paid up member of spr. i will continue down the list until i find 4 full members who can claim their prizes.  get riding.

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.

from the ride coordinator – With Christmas now past, we look forward to a safe and prosperous 2020. It’s definitely a time of reflection on the year gone and planning ahead for the new year and our great cycling club is no different. From a ride leader’s perspective it’s great to have welcomed some new ride leading recruits last weekend and we look forward to adding a couple of new routes early in 2020 to our existing ones. We still need to keep an eye on safety into 2020. There are still too many accidents on our rides, so that will be a focus of the ride leading sub committee going forward to understand this better. But there are some immediate things that everyone can do that can help. Knowing the ride route, regular bike maintenance and above all communication are all things that all riders can control. It really doesn’t take much effort for everyone to contribute to a safe ride. After all, as ride leaders, this is our top priority to get everyone back for a coffee and chat. Believe it when I say, we all feel it when we have an accident on our rides. So, whilst the club is preparing for another big year ahead, it’s good if everyone from the fast groups, through all Main groups, down to transition understands how they can contribute to the safety of their own group. Have a happy, safe and hopefully prosperous 2020.

saturday 28th december

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans shelley 40.59km spr saturday

fast/main – freo & canning vale 52.11km spr saturday

sunday 29th december

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short –grnmt goose 65.22km spr sunday

long – grnmt prk mnd wr 93.71km spr sunday

monday 30th december

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 31st december

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 1st january – new years day

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

public hol 57.62km spr special

thursday 2nd january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 3rd january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

so we wrapped this year up with the final committee meeting at the windsor where items were discussed over pizza and drinks.  the main topic was the weather so make sure that you are prepared this weekend for what the weather brings.  don’t over commit and bring lots of water. the sunday hills is doing loops around kalamunda, so if you need to pull the pin early, you can.  look after each other, out there.

crit season – criterium racing is making you choose agian this week with rccc, peel and masters all holding events. the rccc race includes the before mentioned “come and try” for female racers.

spr xmas drinks – keep the evening of sunday 15th december free for our annual out of lycra xmas drinks night.  this is always a great night and allows you relax and tell lots of lies about your prowess on the bike. tickets can be found in the blog shop and more info can be found in the previous post.

spr xmas awards – every year we give the members a chance to nominate people that have made a difference to the club.  this may be via direct contact, though inspirational performance or just something that really sticks out (like years ago when ballam threw a water bottle at my head during the uwct final).  check out the previous post for more details and a link to the survey.

entertainment book – tis the season for supporting and we have a great gifting opportunity which helps our fundraising efforts. the gift of entertainment is a new digital membership valid for 12 months from the day of activation. you can buy that special someone a single city or multi city membership so they can save year-round on everything they love to do. simply buy it, print it, gift it!

AusCycling – so i asked the question at the WestCycle AGM held this last week about the timing of AusCycling and how it related to our current memberships and licence.  some of the social media was suggesting that come 1st jan CA would cease to exist and AusCycling would be the new body.  apparently this in not the case and the change over will more likely be around Q2 next year.  this gives us some reprieve around renewing licences and doesn’t force people into an early renewal to ensure consistency. a lot of it is still up in the air and they are still pushing a single unity model.  however, feedback from a source at the department of sport and rec said that many other sports had pushed that early in the process and moved to a state based model after negotiation.  we are still hopeful for a good outcome, but we will just have to wait and see.

cycling trip to france – next year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains.  it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux.  if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au

sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning.  as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are.  we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road.  see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.

saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning.  please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate.  this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts.  see the previous post for more details.

spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is looking good so get the kids out and onto the bikes.  there were some new juniors out last weekend so the numbers are growing heading into summer. A few more returns from last year and we will have quite a squad in kings park.

from the ride coordinator – We are pleased to introduce the ride leader class of 2019. Keep an eye out for their first observation rides this weekend

saturday 14th december

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans cresswell 40.21km spr saturday

fast/main – cresswell & herdsman 48.86km spr saturday

sunday 15th december

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides now start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short –kal goose 67.63km spr sunday

long – kal obs goose 97.40km spr sunday

monday 16th december

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 17th december

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 18th december

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 19th december

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 20th december

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride