SPR’s training rides set us apart as a cycling Club; we are one of the few clubs in Australia that is not affiliated with a bike shop facilitating a broad range of opportunities for people to cycle in a group every day. Since its inception in 2009, a key feature of the feedback the Club receives is the need to improve the way our group rides are led. With more consistent, trained and visible ride leaders, the result will be safer, more enjoyable ride experiences for all.

To this end, the Club developed a ride leader development program, with the objectives of:

1. developing SPR ride leaders’ knowledge and skills of both ride leadership and core cycling skills
2. building the confidence of ride leaders to ensure ride consistency and enhanced decision making during group rides
3. growing the pool of capable, confident ride leaders

We are now seeking Expressions of Interest from SPR members who would like to be part of our second public Ride Leader Development Program. The Program consists of three separate but related components:

1. Theory: covers the core knowledge and skills required to be an effective ride leader for group rides across the Main, Transition and Development rides conducted by SPR (+/- 2hrs personal time)
2. Skills Sessions: out on the bike, learning all about what it takes to be a good ride leader as well as having the opportunity to practice your skills and ideas in a “safe” environment. (3 x 2.5 hours sessions)
3. Ride Leader Observations: This will involve you being the ride leader for up to three (3) separate SPR training rides with an observer to determine how you go about deploying your skills and knowledge in the “real world” environment. (2 – 3 ‘normal’ training rides, weekdays or weekends as required)

As a participant, you will get:

1. New Skills: You will learn new skills and knowledge about cycling as well as ride leadership.
2. Kudos: Be part of the “qualified” ride leader team out on the road.
3. Stuff.Upon successful completion, Program participants will receive a custom SPR Ride Leader jersey to be worn whenever you are leading a SPR ride (new style out soon!!).
4. On Going Development: Access to private discussion groups; coaching and skills development; ride-leader only events.

In return, once you have completed the Program, we will expect your commitment to the following:

1. Lead a minimum of 2 rides* per month throughout the year
2. Be a role model for ride behaviour on ALL rides you participate in
3. Assist in the recruitment and mentorship of future ride leaders
4. Assist in training/observing people for their readiness to take on the role of Ride Leader.

*All prospective ride leaders should note that, from time to time, they will need be called on to lead rides of a lower skill &/or fitness level than their own. This means putting the interests of the Club and other riders before their own.

We are now seeking expressions of interest from SPR members who regularly ride with the Main 2, 3 & 4 as well as Transition groups. We currently have a good number of riders from the Main 1 cohort; we really need to boost our numbers further down the line. While the ability to ride at or above the level of the group you are leading is important, just as critical is the constructive attitude and sound communication skills that are brought to the role. Empathy, care and the ability to encourage others is essential to the success of the ride leader.

In the event we are over-subscribed, the T&D sub-committee will use the quality & content of the EOI’s as well as the need to balance the mix of ride leaders to select the required number of participants. Anyone who is not selected shouldn’t be discouraged; it’s a numbers thing (us) rather than a capability thing (you).

As part of your EOI, we’d like you to outline:

1. what you hope to get out of being a SPR ride leader
2. why you feel you will make a good contributor to ride leader team
3. which SPR group you usually ride with (M2, M3, M4, T), and
4. your statement of commitment to the role of ride leader in terms of time to complete the Program and to lead the requisite number of rides per month

We anticipate kicking the Program off on the 24th of October and completing it by mid-December.

If interested, please submit your EOI to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au  before 17 October 2019. If you have any questions about the Program before submitting your EOI, please send them through to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au and we will get back to you ASAP.

SPR Training and Development Sub-Committee

So, if you’ve ever wondered what you need to do to in order to review how beast you are following a hard, honest race on Zwift…well…you need to get onto “Zwift Power”!!!

Zwift Power is a 3rd party provider of all things Zwift Events. It takes the data from Zwift and turns it into a deep dive of you performance, how you went against your competition and keeps a record of your personal progress over time.

To take advantage of this completely free service, you need to set up and account on Zwift Power and then ‘Connect’ your Zwift account (the one that you pay for) to your Zwift Power account.

In Zwift Power there is a ‘team’ already created for SPR…called…”SPR“. Be sure to connect your Zwift Power account to this Team so we can all see you and revel in your glory!!

Here’s a video of how to connect it all up!

So, if you’re still wondering what this Zwift thing is all about, or you’re just holding out because you can’t see what the attraction is, here’s a little primer for you.

Today, at 3pm, I got to ‘ride’ with Daryl Impey, Matt Hayman (yes, the one that one Roubaix on the back of training ONLY on Zwift), Jack Bauer, Wesley Sulzberger and a bunch of others whom I’ve never heard of…but apparently ‘mates’ with these four.

Impey is stuck in isolation in Spain. He organised a group ride that anyone could join…so 400 of us did…plus his ‘mates’.

Lots of banter and good humour via the text line and we even learnt a few things about their most embarrassing moments as pro-cyclists…like Impey throwing a musette into the wheel of a team mate in his first year as a Pro!

After 58 minutes of solid riding, the boys lifted it somewhat. They organised themselves into a Mitchelton Scott train and dropped the hammer. With no way of holding those wheels, I ‘Fan Viewed’ Matt Hayman – 86rpm/165hr/468w for over 90 secs!!!

So, do yourself a favour. Ride with the Pros; they rate it. So should you.

So, we had our first Thursday ride in this C-19 world on Zwift and it went pretty well. 14 turned up, we rode the first lap together and then set the G1/2 hardmen/women off to do battle for the second lap. The Beacon held a steady 2.5-3w/kg (because that’s all it could manage anyway) to ensure sweeping duties…which were largely unnecessary as it turns out…were taken care of.

But ENOUGH reflection!! We have Saturday to contend with!!

There are two (2) rides to choose from:

• 7am start
• Watopia Sand and Sequoias
• 58kms (~70-85mins)
• 2 1/2 laps
• KOM finish
• Ride One (F1/2) pace – aim for 3-3.5w/kg for lap one and then take the gloves off
• Ride Two (All welcome – “fenced”) – the ‘fence’ means that the group will be kept together regardless of your output; work as hard or light as you like!

To get an invitation to Ride One, you must “Follow” Jordan Brock via the Zwift Companion App.

To get an invitation to Ride Two, you must “Follow” Rob Ramsden via the Zwift Companion App.

Please put “SPR” after your name in the Profile section of Zwift so we can see you!

Wondering how to get started? Try here.

If none of this makes sense and you need help, email me!

Some suggestions to improve the ride/rider experience:
1. try to keep your cadence as steady as possible and avoid surging – aim to work between 75-90rpm
2. try to stay in the middle of the group (not near the edges) as much as possible to maximise the draft effect (you achieve this by minor adjustments to your cadence…’cos you can’t ‘steer’!)
3. watch the w/kg reading of the other riders in the group; aim to match someone you know is about your capability level in real life

So, as we know all SPR group rides have been cancelled. But that doesn’t mean we can’t ride together…virtually.

This morning was the first of what we hope will become an evolving opportunity for us to remain connected and operate as a Club where fun, inclusive, social rides can be conducted in a ‘safe’ environment…our homes!

While we still work out the details of a regular, reliable & sustainable ride program will look like, we’re keen to still offer rides that service our members needs.

This Thursday, at 5:30am (good to keep us regular) we will kick off a virtual ride on Zwift that will aim to replicate a typical Thursday ride…hard for the ‘G1/2’ riders and ‘solid’ for the ‘G3/4’ riders.

We will do 2 laps of the Sand and Sequoias course. The first lap we will run between 2.5 and 3w/kg. The second lap will see the G1/2 riders kick off and go as hard as they like/can. G3/4 will remain solid at 2.5 – 3w/kg. If you want a 3rd lap…be my guest!

In order to join the ride you need to be registered on Zwift and ‘Follow’ me (Rob Ramsden SPR). You will then be able to be included in the invitation list of the Zwift Meet Up. Please put “SPR” after your name in the Profile section of Zwift so I can see you! If none of this makes sense and you need help, email me!

Some suggestions to improve the ride/rider experience:
1. try to keep your cadence as steady as possible and avoid surging – aim to work between 75-90rpm
2. try to stay in the middle of the group (not near the edges) as much as possible to maximise the draft effect (you achieve this by minor adjustments to your cadence…’cos you can’t ‘steer’!)
3. watch the w/kg reading of the other riders in the group; aim to match someone you know is about your capability level in real life

Tonight we held the first ever formal meeting of SPR’s Ride Leaders at Dome Westralia Square. With over 30 in attendance, the evening included the group getting to know each other a little better as well as general networking and socialising.

A huge thank you goes to Toby for hosting our evening and creating a great atmosphere for us.

The evening involved the team workshopping ideas for how to improve the safety and enjoyment of SPR’s training rides with lots of great ideas and recommended solutions being offered.

Going forward, it is envisaged that a sub-set of this group will create a formal sub-committee that will meet 3 times a year to further contribute to the improvement overall of SPR’s training rides.

One of the great ideas ready for immediate implementation will be that Ride Leaders will encourage riders in their group to communicate calls as normal (ie: “car back”) but to also include a polite “pass it up” or “pass it back” following the call. This is in pursuit of increasing communication across the board and aiming to improve the distribution of important information throughout the group. So…if you’re reading this….pass it up…!!

To get everyone in the mood for April 6th, we thought it might be a good idea to look back at the last 10 years of SPR history in the form of…you guessed it…a quiz!!