All posts by Mandy McEvoy

Ride Routes 9 – 15th July

Many of us have marvelled at Adam and Arletta Ralph climbing the Dolomites, Italy this past fortnight culminating in Adam racing the 35th ”Maratona” last weekend.

From the Event – ”The sun smiled on the almost seven thousand participants of the 35th edition of the Maratona dles Dolomites – Enel. A Marathon dedicated to the “Ciüf”, the flowers, in the knowledge that a new balance between nature and man is more necessary than ever. Staged on the roads closed to traffic that allow the cyclists to enjoy, albeit with fatigue, the wonderful Dolomite passes: Campolongo, Pordoi, Sella, Gardena, Falzarego, Giau and Valparola.”

Adam completed the 137 km course with over 4,200m elevation in a tad over six and a half hours, describing it as an ”Amazing party and beautiful celebration of the bike with a new PB for smiles per mile” Chapeau !

We have also loved seeing Arletta embrace her first ”mountains experience” and tackling many days in the saddle with over 1200 m elevation too ! Even Arletta was surprised how much she now loves climbing, ”who even knew I could ride up and down the mountains?’, ”pushing myself whilst trying to take in all the splendour” with so many passages ”like riding a postcard”.

Adam and Arletta were joined by their daughter Teehani who enjoyed hiking the mountains, making may trails her own. Safe onwards journey Team Ralph, this is one grand adventure we can’t wait to hear more about first hand.

Farewell Sam — Our beloved Flockie, SPR Club Secretary Sam Walker (nee Flockhart), hubby Liam and fur babies Comet and Ziggy are leaving us to relocate to Victoria, just outside Melbourne in Point Cook. Sam has been working very hard in mining for almost a decade, finished her degree and nearly finished her MBA and has been snapped up for a great opportunity with Toll Holdings, leaving mining, WA and sadly, SPR. 

Sam and Liam took up cycling in 2012 after returning to Perth from Kalgoorlie. They were looking for a way to get fit, stay healthy and a google search led them to our Club. At first Sam said ” I wasn’t going to get too serious about cycling, no lycra, no N+1 number of bikes, no cleats on my shoes and definitely no racing. All of that changed within a year” Sam goes on to add ”SPR has led us to a wonderful community and many, many friendships that will last a lifetime and have provided us some of the most memorable holidays, Tours Down Under and dinner parties that we look back on fondly” 

Sam was elected to SPR Committee in 2021, assuming the excutive role of Secretary and also sitting on the Women’s Sub – Committee making wonderful contributions of her time and skills and will be very missed by our Club’s Committee.  We asked Sam about some of her most memorable moments on the bike and she had a great many but one of her proudest was placing third in the TT at the Australian Masters Championships in Victoria in 2018 and riding the 2017 Tour of Margaret River with SPR and having Annemiek van Vluten guest ride with their team. ”Seeing my fitness, power and speed improving through training is also very rewarding and having the opportunity to join the Dome Coffees Cycling Team for the 2021 Tour of Margaret River was a special moment”
Sam sums it up for so many of us at SPR ”there are so many inspirational people in our Club that have driven me to want to be a better rider over the years and sound guidance and advice, not just in relation to cycling and racing, but also life and career development” 

We will miss Sam and Liam greatly and wish them all the very best but this is not goodbye, just until we all meet again …

Call for Sponsors — SPR Tour of Margaret River 2020. The Tour of Margaret River three day cycling event has been a key success of the South Perth Rouleurs through the Clubs commitment to providing a well organised, safe and social ride experience. The hard work and dedication of each and every cyclist in the months leading up to the event and its race volunteers ensure a quality experience for all.

In 2022 though, inclusiveness has been taken to a whole new level with the number of six-member teams increasing from nine in 2021 up to 15 teams, including an additional women’s team and introducing two mixed teams.

However it is through the support of our sponsors that the Club can increase the number of teams participating and the sense of comrade that is achieved through the inclusion and support of our community to take this beyond a
cycling event. 

If this is you or your business we would love to hear from you via this Expression of Interest.

https://forms.gle/wpn6DyfikqvCmW7P8

We will provide preference to any club members who would like to sponsor, but also consider sharing this opportunity with any businesses that you know of that might be interested.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. WCMCC Casuarina Graded Scratch Road Race

2. PDCC Peel 24 Hour — not this weekend, but get your entries in!

 

From the Ride Coordinator — The weather looks promising for our Saturday ride, with rain only forecast later in the day. That means the EarlyBird may be more appealing than the extra river loop, for those inclined to do a bit more.

SPR is keen to expand the ride route options and will be investigating some new routes for Saturday and Sunday rides in coming months. These could be different versions & combinations of existing rides, as well as some new roads. If anyone has suggestions for these, feel free to email GPX or TCX suggestions to ride-routes@southperthrouleurs.com.au.

Starting this Wednesday we will formalise a bi-weekly “transition” ride, starting at 10am from Coode St car park. This is an ideal ride for those who can make it, looking for a safe space to transition from riding on their own, to riding in a group, as well as those just looking for a gentle 30km ride.

Saturday 9th July

Sunday 10th July

Monday 11th July

Tuesday 12th July

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 13th July

Thursday 14th July

Friday 15th July

Ride Routes 28th May – 3rd June

We’ve seen some amazing photos from Katie & Daniel Sargent on our Facebook Group lately so we reached out to them to tell us more …

“We are on our honeymoon at the moment (married in April this year) and had this trip booked for 2 years, constantly rescheduling due to Covid! After mum did a Cycling Retreats holiday here in Spain near Alicante back in 2019, we arranged to do it as a family (mum, dad, my brother and his fiance, and Daniel my husband). 

We’ve done 7 days with 1 rest day in the middle (the hosts arranged for a yoga session and massages at the villa we are staying at for the rest day). Each day you choose between a chilling ride (approx 60 to 80km with 600 to 1200m climbing) or challenging (approx 80 to 120km and climbing 1200-2500m). Daniel did a mix of challenging and chilling, whereas I did chilling – that was hard enough for me!

The villa has just won rural retreat of the year in Valencia and its amazing! Theres about 14 people in each retreat and we have the whole hotel to ourselves and everything is included; breakfast (croissants, porridge, fruit, cheeses, cured meats etc), dinner, unlimited beer and wine, sports drink powders, lollies & dried fruit for your ride. You can bring your own bike or use the bikes the retreat arranged, I’m on a Bianchi this week which has been nice, all the bikes are pretty high end. We’ve had a fantastic time and met a lot of great people from all over Europe. “

Thanks for sharing your journey Katie and representing SPR. If any other Members have biking travel adventures to share, please get in touch to be featured. 

 

Peel Womens and Junior Tour — Calling our SPR Chicks and Juniors, have you seen this exciting upcoming Event from Peel District Cycling Club?

*** Final chance – entries close Saturday midday, racing Sunday. The weather looks perfect 😎 ***

Aimed at novice/intermediate racers this is a 3 discipline Event — with an ITT, Criterium and Road Race down at the Kwinana Motorplex Sunday 29 May.

Entry is $35 (with $5 transponder hire) with Grades from A – D. An AusCycling “Race – All Disciplines” license is required but 4-week free trial licenses are accepted.

Interested? Entry via the Facebook event or direct via Entryboss https://entryboss.cc/races/11021.

SPR Kit Order — The kit shop is open for our next order! The order closes on 6 June with expected delivery late July. Sample kit for sizing is available at R&D Speedshop in Claremont (thank you!). You have the option of pickup from R&D Speedshop or posted directly to you.

All the details about club kit here with ordering direct from Mayeur’s SPR shop.

 

SPR Race Day Hoodie — With the weather getting colder, replace your SPR tee with and SPR Hoodie. Go on.

Unisex pocket hoodie. Regular fit, pullover hood, inset sleeves, kangaroo pocket. Heavy weight, 350 GSM, 80% cotton 20% polyester anti-pill fleece. Lined hood, tonal shoestring drawcord, sleeve cuff ribbing, preshrunk to minimise shrinkage.

Unlike our normal kit orders, these items may be ordered any time and will be delivered direct to your door. Order on the Mayeur SPR shop here.

 

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. WCMCC Casuarina Graded Scratch Road Race

2. PDCC Peel Womens and Junior Tour 2022

 

From the Ride Coordinator — This Sunday sees the return of an SPR Gravel ride.

A simple counter-clockwise loop of the Heritage railway trail – with options for some to do a longer ride if the numbers and inclination are there. If you have a gravel or mountain bike, come along – just ask anyone who did SeVen how much fun it is. Conditions will be perfect after the rains. We meet at 7.30am at Darlington Post Office. Plenty of parking and a coffee shop across the road.

Saturday takes us back to Maddington, where the crosswinds will hopefully be absent for a change. There are some tricky bends just after we cross Shelley bridge so remember to hold your lines to allow riders in both lines enough space to get around safely; the same applies to all roundabouts. The first step for to an enjoyable morning for all is for everyone to get back to the coffee shop safely (and have a good coffee).

Saturday 28th May

Sunday 29th May

Monday 30th May

Tuesday 31st May

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 1st June

Thursday 2nd June

Friday 3rd June

Ride Routes 2nd – 8th April

SPR members aplenty amongst the 150 + riders at the WA Cyclocross (Western Australia) (CX/ ‘cross) season opener – O’Day “Party in the Park” Sunday at Perry Lakes. For those who don’t know, WACX started in 2012 and is run by Stu and Lou Carson, well known to our SPR Family over the decade. ‘Cross is a form of bike racing (well, we prefer ”cycling way of life”) held during autumn / winter over a 2km odd ”cross country” style course with obstacles, raced in all weather conditions, a real lung burner for around 45 / 50 minutes, completing as many laps as possible. It began in France in the early 1900s and continues to be one of the most exciting and popular forms of bike racing in Europe and America.

New SPR CX riders were ripping around the grassy & sandy course like they’d raced ‘cross for years (looking at Mark & Dan from Dome). We had the young Emilsen boys, Felix and Morris in on the action too with nearly 40 kids racing! The big kids raced in three categories, keeping in the US O’Day theme there were Freshers (20mins), Sophomores (30mins) and Seniors (45mins) and congratulations to Anny Kidd, Dan Mijat and Mandy McEvoy making their race’s podiums. Anny for the Sophomore’s win on her second only race, Dan 2nd in Sophomores and Mandy 3rd in Freshers on their first CX races. Mark Claydon was just off the podium, 4th in Sophomores. Toby Brown was in fine form donning his new T-Rex costume, thanks to his son’s birthday party the day before and suitably (pun intended) carrying out some terrific ”hand ups”. Heinrich Strobel dutifully relieved his Dome DS and performed beautifully!

Next up is the first of ”Numbat Cup” Series at Gloucester Park under lights Saturday 9 April and we encourage anyone curious about Cross or just looking for a fun night out to join us (and find out what ”hand ups” are all about). All details on WA Cyclocross Facebook Group.

📸 Photo credits to Mark Uzii and Aloysius Parker

The Kalgoorlie Classic to Leonora is on the long week end in June, a two-day handicap race for grades A to D, 132km and 100km flat but furious, how can you resist. In 2022 you need an annual race all disciplines licence to enter but for those interested in participating there is a 132km community challenge on the first day which leaves before the main race – lifestyle membership. 

Depending on how you would like to transfer, this can be a compressed fly in Saturday out Sunday package for $300 (all transfers in the goldfields included) + $100 tent one night Menzies + registration.

For the more leisurely version take the train up Friday back Monday, Perth-Kalgoorlie return $187 full fare; 50% off for seniors card holder, 7 hours one way, two departures each day. Also budget for $200/night for accommodation in Kalgoorlie Friday and Sunday ($100 per person if sharing) + $100 tent Saturday night. There may be the option to arrange a bus back to Kalgoorlie Saturday if the tent does not sound attractive or you are participating in the community challenge – please discuss soon with Carol if interested comdev@southperthrouleurs.com.au or with Steve race@southperthrouleurs.com.au if racing.

Registrations (early bird until 17 April): race $150, community $30 and both include return bike transfer Perth to the event. Race registration also includes dinner Saturday night in Menzies and a bus transfer back to Kalgoorlie for those not flying. 

Don’t wait to book if you are interested as flights and accommodation are limited https://www.cyclassic.com.au/

 

Jim Flynn and the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride 2022 – Two weeks in for Jim on his IndiPac 2022 adventure and lots of kilometres already behind him.

See below for the progress update as at now and see his latest Facebook post here. Live tracking here.

The AGM Happened – Thank you all for participating in the SPR Annual General Meeting. Ironically, we have moved much of our AGM online due to COVID, but the benefit more broadly was that the AGM could go ahead even if the wet weather meant that our Saturday rides were decimated.

Thank you to everyone who voted (online)!

And thanks to the four or five (I think!) people in addition to Committee members who made it in person 😱

New Race Day Gear – the SPR Kit Subcommittee and Mayeur are proud to announce the SPR Race Day Hoodie and SPR Race Day Tee for your wearing pleasure.

You know you want one.

Unlike our normal kit orders, these items may be ordered any time and will be delivered direct to your door. Order on the Mayeur SPR shop here.

 

Criterium racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. PDCC Summer Criterium Series 2021-22 Club Champs

2. WCMCC Bibra Lake Criterium

 

From the Ride Coordinator – So you’ve heard us say on more than one occasion that the expectation of riding our rides is to make sure you are familiar with the ride route before you ride. Despite this, the ride route of choice this weekend is probably the route that has been ridden the wrong way around the most! Yes folks it’s Ridgehill road! What apparently makes it a little confusing is that it traverses the Roe Hwy on the same bridge going out as well as coming back. So this time we decided to give its own focus on the blog so everyone gets it right. So going out over the Roe Hwy for the first time you continue straight ahead on Helena Valley Rd and approach Ridgehill from the Helena Valley side. We then do a big clockwise loop coming back down Midland Rd and left over the Roe Highway bridge onto Bushmead Road again. If you are approaching Ridgehill from the Maida Vale side, then we suggest you wave to all the groups going the other way and keep a good sense of humour as you would have gone the wrong way. It will be OK, you’ll get back to the coffee shop having done the same amount of Ks but be prepared for the jokes from the others as you won’t be able to easily hide the error over a coffee.

Couple of other things to note this week. Last week we signalled that from this Sunday, all of the Sunday Hills rides will move to a 7am start time. So that means that both the short hills versions, the long hills and the coffee ride will all commence at the Coode Street carpark at 7am.

Also last week, we signalled that there will be road works on Welshpool road as they look to install bridge girders at the Leach Hwy intersection and Welshpool Road will be closed all weekend. In order to avoid this area completely, we are suggesting that all groups stay on Oates Street after turning off Albany Hwy all the way to the right turn at Orrong Road. Whilst Orrong Road can be a busy road, we think this is the most straightforward way to head out as well as return and avoid the Welshpool Rd/Leach Hwy intersection for this weekend.

Saturday 2nd April

Sunday 3rd April

Monday 4th April

Tuesday 5th April

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 6th April

Thursday 7th April

Friday 8th April

Ride Routes 19 – 25th February

Saturday just gone saw the 3rd & final race in the 4Five+ Athlete Collective Sanctuary Crit Series for Women at the Speedome Midvale.

Some of our Members & Riders had their first foray into Crits, some into Racing generally and there was a hot field of encouraging & experienced racers to help us novices.

A special acknowledgement to the Fine Young Cannibals (named after the old SPR Cannibal kit) – Kirstie Moore, Amy Currie & Belinda Evans for their 3rd place overall for the Series!

SPR Member & Chaotic Energy founder Teneal Attard won A/B Grade on the final night in a thrilling throw finish (and new Max HR) and Anne Bramley also SPR Member and CERT rider won overall 4Five+ rider for the Series!

Also on the Podium through the Series were Kirstie Moore and Amy Currie Race 1 C/D, Rhianna Farrell and Kirstie Moore Race 2 A/B/C+.

Our thanks again to 4Five+, sponsors, all contributors & volunteers for this unique, inaugural Event, we loved it … 

  • SPR Chicks
  • SPR Chicks
  • SPR Photo
  • Fine Young Cannibals – 3rd Overall
  • SPR Chicks
  • Fine Young Cannibals – 3rd Overall
  • SPR Chicks
  • Series Winner – Anne Bramley
  • Podium Race 2
  • Everyone

Henk Vogels Snr Memorial & Renae’s Race – This event is RCCC’s biggest event of the year. And rightly so. It aims to celebrate the lives of Henk Vogels Snr and Renae Baker, one a man who dedicated much of his life to the promotion and love of cycling, the other a young lady taken way too soon by an insidious disease.

For those not familiar, I encourage you to read the history of the race here.

Enter online here, and follow updates on Facebook.

Many will be aware that there have been a number of coaching sessions offered for our female riders at RCCC and 4Five+ races over the summer. Men, now it is your turn. RCCC and GB Coaching are pleased to offer a skills session for C and D grade male athletes as part of the Henk Vogels Snr Memorial / Renae’s Race program.

Get tips on bike handling and cornering from two time Olympic Gold Medallist and ex-professional cyclist Graeme Brown. Enter here and follow on Facebook.

Criterium racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. PDCC Summer Criterium Series 2021-22 #7 (entries closed 😥)

2. WCMCC DRMC Criterium

 

From the Ride Coordinator – So one of the main elements of our SPR ride etiquette is the expectation of all riders who want to ride with us to familiarize themselves with the ride route before we embark on each ride. And the reason why it’s so important to riding in a group is pretty simple, make a wrong turn and you can injure yourself and your fellow riders. We’ve had feedback in the past “well my Garmin/Wahoo/bike computer will tell me when to turn”. My response to that is well if your looking down to work out when to turn, you’re not looking ahead at the dynamic of the group. Either scenario all you’re doing is creating a risk that is unnecessary if you familiarize yourself with the route beforehand.

So why is that important for this specific blog post? We have that expectation every weekend don’t we ? Well yes but if you intend to ride our long hills ride route you may notice that we are introducing a new ride this weekend “Ryecroft Thomas John Forrest” so it will be imperative for you to review the new route before your ride so please do yourself and your fellow riders a favour and click on the link below to check it out. Also stay tuned over the coming months as we introduce a few more ride choices for Sunday!

Saturday 19th February

Sunday 20th February

Monday 21st February

Tuesday 22nd February

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 23rd February

Thursday 24th February

Friday 25th February