All posts by Rob Ramsden

And the mystery continues….

There has been plenty of chatter throughout the Club over the weekend about what we have planned for our 10th Anniversary on the 6th of April. Committee members claim to have been offered bribes of gold and silver (…“Not all treasure’s silver and gold, mate.”), while others have been threatened with Davy Jones’ locker!! So much passion for information…

Now, while we’re not yet ready to spill the full beans, what we can reveal in this next instalment is that there will in fact be NOT ONE, but TWO, separate events happening on the same day!! “Holy Decoy, Batman! Is that a statue in the middle of the river??”

Both events will be in keeping with our ‘river-ride’ theme, each with its own key elements of intrigue and curios to keep you entertained. What we can unveil today is that you’ll need to be ready to ‘pedal the distance’ AND ‘frock up’; but for which is which? Time will tell….

So, tune in next week…..same Bat-time, same Bat-channel….

As the year of 2018 comes to a close….

…we are planning 2019 event that is not to be missed!!

April 6th 2019 will see all those in attendance celebrate 10 years of SPR. So many memories have been created, friendships formed, races won and lost, volunteers provided, events organised and completed…we are a leading example of a community group that transcends the sport we all love – our heart & soul is social & sporting inclusion. Anyone can, and has, joined our Club to develop their own love of the sport of cycling, found new friends and established ways of living their life that were previously unimaginable (“Riding a bike in Italy up those same hills that the ‘big boys’ ride?? Not a chance…until I found SPR!!”)

But how to celebrate such a big occasion? With change & adaptation a constant force on the Club over the last 10 years, we wanted to do something that would be meaningful to everyone who has or does belong to SPR, which is why we’ve chosen the the ‘SPR River Loop’! We feel it would be remiss of us to not pay homage to this nationally, and in some cases internationally recognised icon of Perth cycling!

Now, of course it won’t just be ANY SPR River Loop – that would never do! And, if we told you exactly what we were planning, where would the fun in that be?!

Over the coming months we’ll be drip feeding a few clues on the Blog during the lead up to the big day….just to keep you guessing. Some clues will likely be decoys to throw you off the scent and others will be factual to help you get to the start on time (and wearing the right a-tyre)! If you think you’ve got it, keep it to yourself…but don’t be too sure as we think we’ve got something pretty special that might just surprise you!

Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, all Committee members have been sworn to secrecy so don’t go putting the squeeze on them!! They are vaults!

So, if SPR has, did, does or continues to mean anything to you as a person or cyclist, then lock it in! When this event picks up a full head of steam you will NOT want to simply hear about it the next day! You will want to be able to revel in the fact that you have participated in and contributed to something that will become part of the history of the Club, just as the SPR River Loop is part of the fabric of Perth.

Be sure to have the late afternoon/evening of the 6th of April well and truly blocked out in your calendar! More clues and information will be provided soon!

Save The Date – 6 April 2019!!

South Perth cycle club was established in 2009 to draw together and co-ordinate the social, recreational and competitive activities within the existing South Perth Rouleurs community.

The cyclists thundering to destiny

To celebrate turning “10” we are planning a river loop with a difference. Details of the event will be provided periodically as the plans are firmed up, but for now, make sure you have the evening of the 6th of April, 2019 marked in your diaries. If past experience is anything to go by in terms of what our little community can achieve, this will be an event NOT to be missed!!

SPR Ride Leader Program – Call for Expressions of Interest

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.
  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 behavior 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 27th of October and completing it by mid-December.

If interested, please submit your EOI to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au  before 12 October 2018. 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

Which Ride For Me 2.0

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Following on from last Saturday’s post regarding the changes being made to the M3/M4/Transition rides, it’s timely for us to refresh an article posted back in 2016 that would still appear to be current in its content and guidance.

As was communicated last week, there has been much conversation about particular aspects of some of our Saturday training rides, specifically the Main 3, 4 and Transition. The conversation generally revolves around expected speeds (average and cruising) as well as general cycle skills.

We have processed a range of contributions from people who regularly lead or participate in these rides with the aim of firming up a clearer view for all what is expected across this large cohort of the Club’s members.

Key Rationale for the Rides

Transition 2: “I’m just starting finding my way on this group ride thing, and excited about riding a bit further than I have been before. I’m still a bit nervous or unsure about what’s expected and about riding too close to anyone else.”

This ride is for people who have developed a base level of fitness and general cycle skills with the Development Group or may be returning from having a long spell off the bike. The group rides a shorter distance (approx. 40km) than the Main Rides and often at an average pace of between 22-24km/h. During the ride, the group may get up to a cruising speed of 28-30km/h if conditions like wind direction, traffic lights and roll through skills are favourable. It is expected that riders in this group will still be developing their group riding skills but will be able to undertake key manoeuvres like riding one handed while signalling or drinking, not surging off the front during a roll through, looking over both left and right shoulders whilst maintaining a straight line.

Transition 1: “I’m getting used to this group riding thing and am looking to take it to the next level; I think I need to start riding a bit faster to get my fitness up and really test myself. I’m getting comfortable riding in bigger groups near other people and feel I can contribute to the roll throughs confidently.”

This ride is for people who have developed a solid level of fitness and good cycle skills with the Development or Transition 2 Group or may be returning from having a long spell off the bike. The group rides a shorter distance (approx. 40km) than the Main Rides and often at an average pace of between 25-27km/h. During the ride, the group may get up to a cruising speed of 34-36km/h if conditions like wind direction, traffic lights and roll through skills are favourable. It is expected that riders in this group will have developed their individual riding skills and looking to firm up their  group riding abilities at important times throughout the ride (eg: roll throughs; pace lines; hills/inclines).

Main 4: “I’m used to riding in groups and I want to ride for longer but not necessarily faster; I really want to focus on my endurance. I’m comfortable riding in bigger groups near to other people and feel I can contribute to the roll throughs confidently.”

This group formed out of the need to allow people to increase the distance they cycle, whilst maintaining the average and cruising speed of the Transition 2 ride. So, the key capability is endurance! As a rider in this group, you need to be able to rider further than the Transition rides but you don’t have to ride any faster. This ride is a great option for those wanting to step up their long range fitness while getting better at riding in a group situation. It must be noted that this is a “no drop ride” as there are no other groups going to be able to come along behind to sweep up any riders who fall off the back. This means that the whole group MUST show respect to the decisions made by the ride leader to either re-group and/or slow down the average/cruising speeds to match the ability of the slowest rider (see below on Choosing Your Ride).

Main 3: “This group riding thing rocks; I can contribute to the roll throughs confidently, I can hold the wheel tightly of my fellow riders and I can get up and over the little hills without getting spat out the back. My endurance is at a point where I can ride a bit faster and longer than I’ve been able to before”

Main 3 is about building endurance and riding faster. If you choose to ride with this group then you need to be able to maintain both the average speed (25-27km/h) and cruising speed (up to 34km/h) over a 50km distance. It is typically the last 15km that hurts the most and this is where we can run into problems if you have chosen the wrong group at the start. The other key difference with this ride is that it “may” be a “drop” ride where there is a Main 4 group following. If this is the case then the ride leader may make the decision that the majority of the group on the day can maintain a certain speed and that there is one, two or three riders that are struggling. In that instance, the ride leader will communicate to these riders that they are not able to maintain the pace of the group and that they may be dropped. The very strong suggestion will be that those riders “sit up” and wait for the Main 4 group to come along and then join that ride. If there is no Main 4 group following then the group will be a “no drop” ride and act as per Main 4.

Choosing Your Ride

We all have ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days. So much depends on how we’re feeling and what we want to get out of our precious training time. Some people are after a social outing whilst others are up for a trip to Pain City. It’s important to keep this in mind when choosing your ride; you’ve come along to a GROUP ride and it’s expected that once you make your choice you conform to the expectations of the GROUP, not the other way around. If you’ve traded up too high too early, then it’s not really fair that you keep calling “Ease Up” and expect the ride leader to control the group to your pace if you’re the only one dropping out the back. Similarly, if you’re always on the front of the group and have the legs to maintain the average and cruising speeds ALL the time, then you’re probably ready to step up.

Above all, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to the ride briefing so you know what the expectations of the GROUP are and respect the decisions and calls of the ride leader(s) on the day. It is not easy to control everyone all of the time. It may be that they have to slow the GROUP down to allow for the safety of a single rider as it may be unsafe or not in line with the group’s “no drop” practice. Ride leaders are trained to identify how the group is travelling as a whole, to pick up on any individuals who may be doing it tough (or riding unsafely), and to make decisions in the best interests of the GROUP on the day.

If you have any feedback or questions on this or any other aspect of riding in SPR’s group rides, please do drop your friendly training and development sub-committee an email at development@southperthrouleurs.com.au

Observations of an SPR Ride Leader

One of the unintended but very positive outcomes of our Ride Leader Program is the sharing of both positive and negative experiences as well as knowledge and ideas across the ride leader cohort – soooo much good learning and development!!

From Saturday just gone, we had a number of observations shared regarding some positive things people did as well as some not-so-cool riding behaviours – all of which warrant raising with a broader audience; namely our rider-ship.

  1. Group Splits: On Saturday, the Main groups were all split at the start. However, due to lights and a following group rolling through, there was a joining of groups for a couple of kms; the ride leaders then subsequently split the groups again. As this happened, there were a couple of different riders in groups after the split, but it worked ok. It was pleasing to see that people respected the splits and the instructions of the ride leaders, in keeping with our emphasis on keeping groups to manageable, safe and fun sizes
  2. Use of Technology Whilst Riding (Part A): Along the road up to Guildford, one rider decided to take a photo with his fly 6. There was no way the rider was concentrating on riding at this point, and was advised by the ride leader that we do not want to see that sort of thing on an SPR ride. It was also good to see a couple of other riders advised that it was poor form as well.
  3. Use of Technology Whilst Riding (Part B): Further on, the ride leader noticed a rider surging off the front during the roll through whereby verbal attempts to ease up had no affect. Upon passing the rider, it was noted that the rider was wearing a set of headphones. They were politely asked to remove the offending items and requested not to put them in again for the duration of the ride. Both of these examples are not consistent with our Ride Etiquette Guidelines – time to brush up?

If you have any questions regarding this article, please feel free to drop us a line at development@southperthrouleurs.com.au

SPR Christmas Awards 2017 – Nominate Now!

Each year SPR recognise some of the cyclists and participants who help to support the club or inspire others with their cycling achievements. There are multiple awards this year, four of which will be based on the information provided in this survey. Presentations of the awards will take place at the Christmas breakfast on Saturday 23 December 2017.

There will also be a prize awarded at the breakfast for the best dressed rider/bike on the Christmas ride, so don’t forget to dress up your bike and yourself. Other awards will also be given at the Christmas breakfast.

You can nominate up to two people for each award. If you could provide some background as to why the person is being nominated, even if they are not the final award recipient, they will still have the opportunity to read the collated comments. Note this survey is fully anonymous.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GSQJTT5

This survey will be open until midnight Tuesday 19 December 2017.
Thank you for participating in our survey. Your feedback is important.

SPR Have Your Say 2017

Every 2 years we seek formal feedback from our current members.
While the club is run by your elected Club Committee, we are here to represent you – the club members. In order to do this we like to gather your thoughts on a few issues, some old, and some new. We’ll use this information to aid us in making the best decisions for the club and planning the best way forward. We can also use it to compare how the club’s demands have changed over time (this is our 4th survey).
The survey will close at midnight Sunday 3rd December. Once we’ve collated the results we’ll publish the summaries up for everyone to see.
To further entice members to take the time to provide your feedback, if you choose to do so, you can go into the draw to win an Apple iPad valued at $469**. Simply add your name and contact details into the space provided at the end of the survey to be in the running to win. The winner will be announced at the SPR Christmas Breakfast on the 23rd of December and via the SPR website.
So go on, have your say:

**Must be a current financial member of the club to be eligible for the iPad prize.

The Importance of Group Separation

One of the key focus points of SPR Club rides is that we will always aim to create an environment where all riders are safe and can be in the best position to have fun on the ride. As the Club has grown and our rides have become more popular, we have had to take steps to ensure that our groups are not too big. We do this for a number of reasons, which may not always be apparent to the casual observer. When the group is of a manageable size (ie: less than 20), we can (generally) achieve the following:

  1. All riders in the group get to know who they’re riding with; the bigger the group, the less likely you are to have ridden next to someone by the time it gets important (ie: roll throughs).
  2. Ride leaders can better communicate to the group what their expectations are at important times throughout the ride (eg: approaching lights; roundabouts; turning points)
  3. Communication generally is enhanced because the back is not too far away from the front
  4. There is less chance of the group becoming ‘split’ at lights and intersections meaning there isn’t a ‘wait’ and ‘chase’ effect; or worse, riders at the back running red lights for fear of being dropped! This is important on certain rides where there are LOTS of lights!

So, what can YOU do about this? A couple of things:

  1. Respect the split at the very start. If there is someone that you want to ride with, then be near them when the groups are split in the first place. Don’t jump across to the group leaving because you missed it! Stay put and ride with people you don’t know – you may like them!
  2. Get to the START! We all like a sleep in, but the start is the start. If you live on the ride route, lucky you. Get to the START!
  3. IF YOU CATCH THE GROUP IN FRONT….re-form the gap by soft pedalling. You didn’t catch them ‘cos you is hard…you caught them because they caught a bunch of red lights or were being safe at intersections…trust us!!
  4. Respect the Ride Leader’s call & judgement. If they ask you to ease up and re-form the gap, please do so.

If everyone plays by these simple rules, we will be able to maintain a healthy balance of group size (everyone loves a draft) and safe riding conditions whilst acknowledging we are riding ‘in the wild’ with lots of inherent hazards out on the road.

Like always, if you have any feedback or would like to offer any suggestions, please do so by emailing development@southperthrouleurs.com.au or catching up with one of our friendly ride leaders at the coffee shop.

Ride Leader Development Program – Call for Expressions of Interest

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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.
  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 behavior 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 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), 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 1st of November and completing it by mid-December.

If interested, please submit your EOI to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au  before 27 October 2017. 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