A man who hardly needs an introduction – a true mainstay of SPR – Dean Roser. A super smooth ride leader and a friendly face I never get tired of seeing. Dean – aka “silver fox” is a true club favourite.
Here, I ask about the man behind the Bianchi.
Name: Dean Roser Position:Training and Development
1. What bike do you ride?
It depends, either the Focus Izalco Max for the road or the Cervelo Aspero for the gravel. But my true love is my Bianchi Oltre, you can’t beat Italian passion. And no, I don’t need a MTB, my wife might have something to say if I brought home another bike.
2. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
Cycling has always been something that I enjoyed, but wasn’t a priority for a long time. Perhaps it was a midlife crisis that brought me back to cycling :-). Why SPR, the Sunday hills ride of course. There hasn’t been many of those that I have missed. Though now that I have the gravel bike, the hills are dirtier, partly because I keep falling off.
3. How long have you been with the club?
I started doing the hills rides in around 2012 which then increased to the Tuesday and Thursday rides as well. I joined the club in around 2013 or 2014. I can’t remember, early onset dementia.
4. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
There are just so many, mainly because just being on the bike is always a pleasure when you’re out and about with your mates. Though getting the gravel bike I felt like I was 12 again, that was exciting, I still have the grin.
5. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role?
Being on the committee is just a small way of trying to give back to the club.
6. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
If I’m not riding, then I’m taking pictures of birds and flowers, or I’m gardening, or making things for the home or playing with the dogs. We have two French Bulldogs, they are good apartment living dogs apparently. I suppose I go to work occasionally, it just gets in the way of riding my bike.
SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.
Sorry, sold out. Enjoy the night!
From the Ride Coordinator – OK, how cold was it this week!! Those brave souls heading out on one of our mid week rides would know exactly how cold it can get riding here in Perth in the winter. And those overnight temps don’t look like improving too much for our main ride with current forecast sitting around 5 as the minimum Friday going into Saturday so make sure you rug up if you’re doing the ride Saturday. This weeks ride route takes us through Subi, so watch out for the road works and the heavier traffic around the Hay St/Rockeby rd intersection so please be patient if their is some slowing there.
Unfortunately Sunday looks to be similar to last weekend with a wet day forecast. And that might be just as well too with the start of Le Tour for the next 3 weeks and the grand depart for the #couchpeleton also scheduled on for a Saturday evening start. Whatever riding you do, enjoy it and look after each other. Especiallyif you are sitting on the couch watching the TV. 😁
Saturday 26th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Carol Dowse may be new to the SPR committee but she is in no way new to the club.
Carol has been running the development group for many years and has helped countless people get into cycling.
Here, she answers some questions about what motivates her to ride and to be part of the committee.
Name: Carol Dowse Position:Community Development Bike: Focus (importantly, black and pink…)
1. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
It was the only way I got to see my husband – OK so there was the I need get away from the kids thing and hear the quiet outdoors.
2. How long have you been with the club?
From the beginning of time – I have the jersey to prove it.
3. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
The first time I cracked 60kph barrier – I think this is the last speed barrier I will be breaking in my lifetime. Memorable.
4. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role?
Time to give back to the club; I am very grateful to the many people who have helped me, past and present with all aspects of cycling. My goal as a committee member therefore is to motivate and support people new to cycling to participate in events both cycling and social. We have a very talented committee deeply committed to inclusiveness that supports this aim.
5. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
Recently semi-retired and it is just wonderful – it is all it is cracked up to be. Three kids who promote safe driving around cyclists to their friends.. I’m a proud mum. Oh .. and if you can’t put it into a spreadsheet I won’t understand it!
SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.
Read more and get in on the lucky last ticket here.
From the Ride Coordinator – So looks as though this weekend will be the tale of two very different days. Saturday morning is forecast to be a cracker but it looks like Sunday is a day for daredevil riding if you want a hills ride with the weather closing in overnight.
This winter we have been relatively lucky with the weather for our main ride on Saturday and we welcome all who want to join us again this weekend. Big numbers overall can lead to big numbers in specific groups. That’s been especially noted in our Main 2 group of late which seems to have swelled in the early winter rides. The ideal group size to ride with varies, but anything bigger than 20 in a group will slow the group down (splits at lights etc) and can lead to frustrations. Generally we like it to be around 15. To alleviate this, if numbers are large again this week we will look to split M2 in more than just the 2 large groups we have been running with. If this upsets your view of your ride with Main 2 then we do things for the safety and enjoyment of all the riders and large groups are just to unwieldy to manage on the road. So it would be appreciated if you could expect that things may be a little different and work with those ride leaders who are trying to manage the change. They are human too and are volunteering their time to try to make your ride more safe and enjoyable.
Saturday 19th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
For this week’s blog, we thought we would do something a little different. In an effort for you to get to know your new club president better, Claire Tyrrell has posed a series of questions.
Stay tuned for more profiles of fellow committee members and other SPR riders.
Name: Daniel Harvey Position:Club President Bike: Giant TCR
1. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
In my thirties, I found I needed to do more consistent work to stay fit and healthy. I had started doing multisport races with friends (Anaconda anyone?), but wanted something regular to work on fitness. I’m a bit of an extrovert by nature and found (find) group riding to be just the thing.
2. How long have you been with the club?
Since the beginning 🙂
I started riding on a shop ride that was the precursor to SPR. I think it was Jonny and Lennie that first introduced me (I’d been riding a Sunday ride with them for a year or so at that time).
3. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
Hard to pinpoint a most memorable experience, but highlights would include the early Cyclo Sportif’s that I participated in with the club as well as my first Tour of Margaret River.
4. Why did you choose to become president and what do you hope to achieve during your tenure?
I’ve always been a believer in community, and I know what the SPR community has added to my life over the years, particularly in difficult times.
Taking on the president role is really just an opportunity to contribute in a new and slightly different way. SPR has done amazing things in its ten year history so far, but I know there are opportunities for my contribution to make a difference. For example, as the club membership has grown, we have attracted new and different members, and it is important to make sure the club continues to meet members needs as the membership changes and evolves. Safe and fun group rides are central to what draws lots (most?) of our members, but there are lots of things connected to that that I would like to see done well.
5. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
I am married, and with my wife Ainsley have three now adult children. I work in IT, running a local SME with several partners out of West Perth. We’ve been around for just on 20 years, so we’re doing something right. I love technology and still find immense satisfaction from the work I do.
We just moved house (now in Bayswater – not that I’ve ever lived in South Perth!) and are slowly working through the remaining boxes and finding places for everything.
Social ride starting at the Narrows Bridge (city side) and ending in Kings Park at Fraser’s restaurant for coffee. This is an approx 25km distance, 25km/hr easy pace, no drop ride. End of ride coffee is the key priority
This is an easy pace ride, conversational pace .. no puffing required ! A ride leader will give a short briefing to each group before we set off.
Saturday Start Locations – As announced last week, we are moving back to the older and more condensed layout in the carpark at Coode Street for the start of the ride.
This makes communication and organisation that little bit easier.
The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t quite business as usual – As the past week’s lockdown has shown us, it is definitely not business as usual just yet. Please keep in mind our social distancing and personal hygiene:
The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.
SafeWA registration – Remember that for many locations and venues contact registration is mandatory. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app. So, how do I get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual. – Android users click here – Apple phone users click here
Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.
Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.
From the Ride Coordinator – Hope everybody enjoyed Ewen Street hill last weekend. We also enjoyed pretty good riding conditions on Saturday morning as the threatening skies never really caused us problems for our main ride. Alas, this weekend, unfortunately it looks like those same conditions that hit us on Saturday afternoon are forecast to come in from Friday afternoon so I think our run of great riding conditions are going to come to an end this weekend.
But of course there are still some of us that don’t mind riding in conditions that are akin to a Belgium winters morning, so for all of you out there, this Saturday’s ride route is one of those that likes to take the quieter, perhaps more safe, roads on what is likely to be a wet morning. We’ve decided to schedule up Cresswell for all who are keen to ride. If you do ride, be extra careful if it’s wet. At least the coffee will taste extra special back at the Dome when you finish.
Saturday 29th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
If you stayed on for coffee after any SPR ride in recent months, you would have heard whispers of SEVEN.
“What size tyres are you running? How heavy is your bike? Will you ride a cyclocross bike or a mountain-bike?”
The anticipation was palpable.
On Sunday, the day finally came – and there was no talk of tyres or frames. We just rode our bikes.
A 45+ SPR contingent took part in the Seven, Five and Three rides – and every single one of them did the club proud.
It was the third time I’d embarked on this epic event (though the second year I opted for Five), and it was as spectacular as ever. Weather conditions were ideal for a day out on the bike, and that’s all I tried to see it as.
Yes, I climbed more than 3000 metres and pedalled across 125km of gravel roads, spending about 7h30m on my bicycle, but at the end of the day I was doing what I loved.
I met some awesome, like-minded people and caught up with some old faces, I had emotional ups and downs (including two crashes), but I was happy to be out there.
My happiness was amplified as I rolled into the finish, to see that SPR’s Kate Bonner had claimed third woman overall, Vanessa Johnson came third in her division and Deb Kempe took out first female 60+.
Michael Bonner had an awesome ride to achieve first male 60+ and Kate Nelligan got first in her age group in Five.
Sharing in the triumphs and tribulations of my green comrades was something special – and it was great to see how many members signed up to Seven as the event grows.
I covered the very first Seven in 2018, when the event attracted about 250 riders – compared to an impressive 1000 plus on Sunday.
It seems the gravel adventure will continue to grow, with rumours that accommodation for next year’s event has sold out already.
I certainly plan to take part in next year’s Seven. Who’s with me?
Tour of Margaret River Information Session – After the ride this Saturday we are holding the first of our information sessions regarding the Tour of Margaret River 2021.
The club is seeking expressions from riders at all levels. And don’t worry if you haven’t raced before – it does not matter how fast you go!
If you are interested, curious, or just have questions, drop past Dome at 9am, and talk to Steve or one of the Committee.
Giro D’Italia Dinner – SPR members enjoyed a night out at East Victoria Park’s Bella Rosa café for this year’s Giro d’talia night.
Forty of us packed the function rooms and chatted all things life and cycling, on the rest day of the Italian grand tour.
An Italian dress theme was encouraged, and Shirley Vine stood out from the crowd in her pink attire.
Stay tuned for the next social event during the Tour de France.
Saturday Start Locations – As announced last week, we are moving back to the older and more condensed layout in the carpark at Coode Street for the start of the ride.
This makes communication and organisation that little bit easier.
Bike Maintenance Session – Check out this post for an invite to SPR women who want to learn the basics when it comes to fixing and maintaining their road bike.
The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t quite business as usual – As the past week’s lockdown has shown us, it is definitely not business as usual just yet. Please keep in mind our social distancing and personal hygiene:
The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.
SafeWA registration – Remember that for many locations and venues contact registration is mandatory. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app. So, how do I get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual. – Android users click here – Apple phone users click here
Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.
Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.
From the Ride Coordinator – OK. Have the ladies and gentlemen at the BOM got the forecast right? Your immediate reaction is likely to be “well probably not” but some early modelling on a Thursday afternoon suggests we might be able to slip in a ride in the morning before the rain sets in. Cross your fingers that they are right this time around.
If they do get it right then those that go out will attempt one of the most feared rides in our repertoire – Ewen St aka “Spewin Ewen” – nicknamed for the amount of effort that you might put in or perhaps how you feel at the top. I’m not sure it deserves such a fearsome reputation. It’s a cracker of a hill don’t get me wrong – but the elevation across the ride isn’t our worst. Perhaps I just haven’t tried hard enough to enter the red zone? If you haven’t done it before, come see for yourself and you be the judge. The view from the top looking back is good, but it’s the downhill on the other side that’s better 😀. If you choose to ride, make it safe and enjoyable. Hope to see you for coffee if the rain holds off.
Saturday 22nd May
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
If you only do one road race this year, the Tour of Margaret River should be it.
The event, entering its 13th year, captures everything I love about road riding.
You work in teams of six, so there’s no room for selfish riders or too much ego, among some of WA’s most picturesque roads around Nannup and Balingup. The event changes slightly in format each year, but in 2020 featured three team time trails and two road races over three days.
Before you switch off and think the event is just for elite riders – think again.
TOMR caters for riders at every level, from those dipping their toe into the world of racing to professionals.
And that’s the beauty of it – it’s a chance for Perth’s cycling community to converge, to share a laugh on and off the bike away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Organisers Rebecca Cotton and Brendon Morrison and their army of volunteers do an amazing job of drawing support for the event – in the past it has attracted global cycling superstars Annemiek van Vleuten and Marrianne Vos.
Personally, I have ridden this event three times, and each experience was markedly different. In 2017, I rode it with the club – with Rebecca Kelly, Kate Bonner, Kathryn Dines, Ali Ramm and Leigh Outschoorn. We worked well together to finish second in our division – being pipped by Veris by just seconds in the final team time trial.
For me, the camaraderie of the club was a highlight. Cold cokes under the SPR tent, the volunteers in green and my ever-smiling SPR buddies – it’s a blast!
This year’s tour is from 5-7 November, with provisional stages already released.
The club is seeking expressions from riders at all levels. And don’t worry if you haven’t raced before – it does not matter how fast you go!
Contact admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au to express your interest in the event. We will be posting more, and aiming for an information session soon, but we would love to hear from you.
Last chance to take us up on an invitation to join us for our Giro D’Italia Dinner. Last chance because the dinner is next week, and also because we have sold nearly all of the tickets, so if you’re interested … get in quick!
Saturday Start Locations – As announced last week, we are moving back to the older and more condensed layout in the carpark at Coode Street for the start of the ride.
This makes communication and organisation that little bit easier.
Bike Maintenance Session – Check out this post for an invite to SPR women who want to learn the basics when it comes to fixing and maintaining their road bike.
The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t quite business as usual – As the past week’s lockdown has shown us, it is definitely not business as usual just yet. Please keep in mind our social distancing and personal hygiene:
The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.
SafeWA registration – Remember that for many locations and venues contact registration is mandatory. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app. So, how do I get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual. – Android users click here – Apple phone users click here
Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.
Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.
From the Ride Coordinator – So many of the regular riders with SPR will be heading down Nannup way this weekend for the epic gravel/off road event SeVen. If ever you wanted to set yourself a challenge, it is this event with the signature event covering 125kms, over 3000 meters of elevation and 10 categorized climbs over the distance. Phew, I’m exhausted just thinking about it as I’m typing. Of course there are options for shorter courses but whatever the choice it’s a real achievement to finish. So to all the SPR members who are attempting it this weekend (& there are quite a few), good luck to you all and we hope to see you riding back in our groups next week 👍🏻
For those wanting a good hit out around Perth this Saturday morning, whilst not quite as epic, we still have a little challenging ride up Hale and Ridgehill Rds for you with a tail wind finish along Guildford Rd. Remember to familiarize yourself with the route. All it takes is a click on the link below and a quick scan of the route to put you in the picture and maximize your own safety by knowing the route. Please don’t put your own safety in other peoples hands by hoping the rider next to you knows where they are going because you don’t. As ride leaders we see near misses happening all the time and all we are trying to do is make sure you have an enjoyable and safe ride. Something that’s a bit difficult if you’re skidding along the road surface because you’ve clipped a wheel or someone has cut you off. So familiarize yourself with the route and we can enjoy a coffee together at Dome afterwards.
Saturday 15th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
I had the pleasure of joining some of the club’s finest on the Vice President’s ride on Good Friday – and boy, was it epic.
Despite being at the club for six years, I was yet to embark on this annual pilgrimage – so I was full of anticipation as I joined the bunch at Coode Street. Proudly donning my national jersey (despite its unfortunately placed grease stains) I set off with about 30 others towards Mundaring.
Looking around at the svelte riders around me I knew it would be a tough day in the saddle and I was not wrong.
Propelled along by the pack I hit the base of Greenmount Hill with fresh legs, and after foolishly going out too hard (you think I would have learned by now) I soon settled into a rhythm.
I made it to the first regroup point near the back, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
The ever-chivalrous Dean Roser shepherded me and a few others along the picture-perfect roads for the best part of the near six-hour ride (thanks Dean – your patience does not go unnoticed).
There were two occasions where the club’s spirit truly came to the fore during this ride.
Firstly, when newly-minted president Daniel experienced what we all have as cyclists – the dreaded bonk. In Roleystone’s hills Daniel’s legs protested with every pedal rotation, and it was not long before he was surrounded by a small posse of club riders.
I can’t speak for others, but I know that when I am experiencing lows on the bike it really helps to be surrounded by my mates, and SPR delivers that support in spades.
Our morning tea stop at Wungong Dam delivered the second reassurance of the strong sense of community in the club.
SPR members and all-round legends Sam Flockhart and Liam Walker were waiting for the bunch in a shady carpark – and they were a sight for sore eyes.
I don’t think the satiating effect of icy coke for a weary cyclist can be overstated, particularly in the Australian heat – and the Easter treat didn’t go down too badly either.
Amanda Nabi and Sam had thoughtfully spent the evening buttering dozens of hot cross buns and the Vice President himself Andrew Ballam prepared an eski full of refreshing beverages.
The roll back into town was flat and fast, but I was glad my bike wouldn’t have to go up any more hills for at least another day.
I cannot thank the club enough for the experience.
The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.
As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change. Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.
The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.
SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app. So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual. – Android users click here – Apple phone users click here We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.
AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.
EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.
Community Cycling Survey 2021 – The WA government (the Office of the Auditor General) is conducting a survey to help inform a current audit on cycling in the Perth area. It focuses on 2 key areas: (a) the bicycle network, and (b) state and local government work to promote cycling as a safe and viable mode of transport.
The survey is particularly interested in the cities of Perth, Cockburn, Bayswater and Kalamunda but invites contributions more broadly.
It will only take about 15 minutes to complete, so check it out. You have until 4 pm on 19 April 2021.
Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.
Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.
Where do i need to stand again?
Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.
From the Ride Coordinator – Those pesky twin cyclones off our coast could lead to some interesting weather for Perth later in the weekend but at least they should stay away long enough for us to enjoy some cycling on Saturday and hopefully Sunday morning! Having said that it looks like a return to those stronger easterly winds for our riding, especially for the main ride on Saturday, so the route this week needs to finish with the wind at our backs. Riding in groups in the stronger winds requires some care and concentration on some safety elements to get it right so please make sure you call directions and hazards up and down the line as it may be more difficult to hear a call all the way to the front or back if it’s not passed on. It’s also good to keep the group riding tight as you are comfortable to, to take advantage of the protection you get from the peloton so try not to leave big gaps and avoid surging out front in the roll throughs otherwise it will be more difficult. And of course, knowing the route is always an advantage, wind or not in maximizing your chances of getting back to the coffee shop in one piece. Whatever cycling you do over the weekend, make it safe and enjoyable!
Saturday 10th April
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
! A ride leader will give a short briefing to each group before we set off. 
