All posts by Rob Ramsden

Club Van & Driver Guidelines

1 Comment

One of the great assets our club has is a very eye catching van! All members have access to use the van for the purposes of attending a cycling related event (races or otherwise). If this is something that you would like to do, take a look at the Van Use Guidelines that the Committee have developed. They will give you all the information you need on how to go about becoming an authorised member driver and what’s involved.

If you have any feedback or comments on these Guidelines, please drop us a line at admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au

Group Ride Etiquette – Knowing the Way & Group Communication

There has been much discussion just recently among the ride leader group and members in general regarding the need to improve our internal group communication while riding, both verbal AND non-verbal.  So too, the ride leaders have reported numerous examples, from Main 1 to 4, of people not knowing the ride route on a Saturday.

Our recent blog post, Where Are We Riding Today? covers the latter; below is all for the former.

Good communication among the riders in a group involves lots of talking as well as the use of clear hand signals. When riding with a large group, often only the lead riders have an uninhibited view of the road ahead with the rest of the group relying on them to call out or point to objects on the road like road furniture, rocks, gravel and glass as well as changes in the road itself like bridges and potholes.

Hand Signals
While many riders use variations of different hand signals, some common ones are as follows:

  • Use one finger to point at single items, like a rock. Also verbally announce the hazard.
  • Use a shaking open hand for scattered hazards like glass or gravel. Also verbally announce the hazard.
  • Use an open hand to the side or on the back to signify that the group is slowing down or stopping. You can also simply announce, “slowing” or “stopping”.
  • Place your hand over your head like a shark fin to tell other riders that the road narrows and the group should ride single file.
  • Wave your hand behind your back to signify a shift in the group due to an upcoming hazard like a slower rider, road sign, or obstacle. Simply push in the direction that you want the riders behind you to move.

Watch Video

Rules of the Road: Hand Signals

There is a complete list of key signals and calls on the SPR website here.

Talking
Most hand signals are often accompanied (or replaced) with verbal references. Confidence, safety and good riding skills are enhanced when riders are communicating with each other in the group. With that said, it’s best to avoid talking too much (ie: the whole time during the ride) as the relevance of your voice may be reduced, leading to not being taken seriously when it really matters!

A few of the main calls that might be relevant during the group ride, and should (MUST) be passed up and down the riding line, are as follows:

  • “Car Back” – a car is behind the group and either is, or may, attempt to overtake the group
  • “Car Up” – a car is coming towards the group from the opposite direction
  • “Slowing”- I’m slowing down
  • “Stopping” – I’m going to come to a complete stop
  • “Bikes Back” – a faster group is approaching or in the process of overtaking our group
  • “Hole/branch/glass/etc” – there’s a hazard on the road which is to be avoided
  • “Ease Up” – A call to the front of the group to allow back markers to catch back on to the group
  • “All On” – Everyone is now with the group again

In addition to these standard calls, good conversation and talking among riders along the way can also assist in improving the safety and overall ride experience for everyone. This might include reminding each other to maintain the line through corners or roundabouts, close gaps in the group or just general words of encouragement and support if you can see someone suffering!

Now……if you know a non-member that might ride with us occasionally (all the time?) who may not read our blog too often (if ever?)……. go forth and share  this post via your social media platform of choice, good people!

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

Braking (or not) when riding in a group

4 Comments

A key skill that all riders need to be able to demonstrate is effective braking. In a group ride, when someone is braking ineffectively or, worse, inappropriately, it can make for a very nervous and disjointed ride.

The Main Points

  • Most people ride with their hands on the brake hoods with one or two fingers on the brake levers. This is to be encouraged in a group, because unless you are at the front of the group, you should always be ready to use your brakes immediately (so either on the hoods or in the drops).
  • When riding in a group it is important that we do not grab our brakes every time the group or the person in front of us slows down
  • The best strategy to gaining a small amount of slowing without causing disruption to the group, is to ‘feather’ the brake levers slightly. This brings the brake pads into gentle contact with the wheel rims which will slow the bike down enough to deal with most situations in a group ride without causing problems to the riders behind
  • All riders should respond to the situations that they encounter with the interests of other riders in mind; grabbing a handful of brake unnecessarily or unexpectedly can have catastrophic affects on others whilst the culprit remains upright!
  • The key to braking effectively is to LOOK AHEAD, typically three to four riders, and to anticipate any changes in pace in the group well before it’s necessary to respond with the brakes. In many cases, stopping pedaling or drifting slightly to the right/left to use the wind as a brake (known as “air braking”) will do the job just fine.
  • In cases where braking is necessary/unavoidable then it should be combined with a clear call of “slowing” or “stopping”.

In this video, you will be shown the key skills required for effective braking. Of particular interest to us, is the section from 2:50 onward, where riding & braking (or not) in a bunch is specifically addressed.

   Watch Video

Practice This
The next few group rides you go on, try and brake less using these strategies:
  1. Look further ahead than you ordinarily do – try and focus on the riders at the front of the bunch, even if you’re at the very back
  2. Watch the pedaling  behaviour of the riders in front; if they start to freewheel, or pedal slower, there’s a good chance this will trickle its way down the group
  3. Manage your speed by adjusting your pedalling first; aim to ‘mimic’ what you see the riders in front doing
  4. Add an inch or two to the gap you leave to the wheel in front, increasing the “no brake required” buffer if the group slows a little
  5. Look for hazards up the road that may mean the group needs to slow down (roundabouts; pedastrian crossings; traffic lights) – try easing off the pedals slightly beforehand just to be ready if needed
  6. When you would ordinarily go for the brakes, resist the urge for just a little bit longer
  7. Focus on minimising the impact your braking has on the riders behind; “think then respond“
Key Takeaways
  1. Braking heavily in a group can have serious consequences and should only be done with the thoughts of others in mind
  2. Good braking skills and judgement about when and when not to use our brakes only comes with experience and practice, practice, practice.
  3. It’s not the role of our ride leaders to be cycle coaches – everyone can help each other; a quiet word if you see something that could be improved is all it may take to help make the ride safer
  4. Communicate any feedback professionally and respectfully.

Any questions or comments on this post, please email development@southperthroulers.com.au

New Look Thursdays

As the Club continues to evolve we need to ensure that our training rides remain safe, relevant, consistent and predictable.

We recently introduced the “Fast Too” group to cater for riders wanting to ride a little faster than the main group, which has worked well up until now. What has become clear, however, is that a further separation of the groups is required to keep the size manageable and safe as well as to achieve an overall consistent pace for each group.

From this Thursday, we will break the groups into categories based on the SPR Thursday (Gairloch) Strava segment (https://www.strava.com/segments/5958997) as follows:

Group 1 – Less than 54:00mins

Group 2 – 54:00 to 59:00mins

Group 3 – 59:00 to 1:03mins

Group 4 – Greater than 1:03mins

We will target group sizes of between 18 and 20 riders so that any ‘towing’ effect is significantly reduced; this means that there will be a greater incentive for everyone to contribute more evenly and improve rolling through on fairly narrow roads. Smaller groups will also be better placed to manage occasional splits at roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and traffic lights (ie: short periods of light-pedaling).

Ride leaders have been asked to encourage riders in their groups at the commencement of each ride to be more controlled, so that a steady ‘training mode’ roll-through along Mounts Bay Rd is established; we wish to promote full group co-operation at a manageable speed before the first hill after Steve’s in Nedlands. Ride leaders have also been asked to support adjusting the pace on the return journey depending on the capacity of the whole group.

For this to work, what we need from all riders is the following:

  1. Review your last 3-6 months on the SPR Thursday (Gairloch) Strava segment (https://www.strava.com/segments/5958997) and find out which group is for you based on current fitness
  2. Review the new Thursday Ride Start Map  to know where your group will be leaving from
  3. If there is the need to break riders into 2 groups of the same category (that’s why we need you to wait in the right spot!), please respect the call of the Ride Leaders when they are dividing the groups. Remember, the ride will be at the same speed whether you go in the first or second group
  4. Send a link to this post to everyone you know who rides with SPR on Thursday’s but may not read the blog or Facebook page
  5. Ride for the “group” not just yourself; take your turn on the front but don’t try and pull the legs off other riders; you can still ride hard and keep the group intact
  6. Some groups may not have a designated ride leader, so help out by talking to each other and reinforcing the aim(s) of the ride

If everyone chooses the right group it will help us to achieve the goal of keeping the group together for the whole lap. Please note, we are not saying you HAVE to go in the group that your Strava time suggests for you; this is simply a guide. Some weeks you will feel stronger and want to have a go and hang on; other weeks you will want to take it a little easier. All we ask is that you respect the overall purpose & intended segment time of the group you select and ride accordingly.

Expressions of Interest SPR Ride Leader Development Program

1 Comment

SPR’s training rides set us apart as a Cycling Club; we are one of the few clubs in Australia, 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 has 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 practice
  2. building the confidence of ride leaders to ensure consistency and enhanced decision making during group rides
  3. growing the pool of capable, confident ride leaders

We are now seeking Expressionsrl-cert_your-name-here of Interest from SPR members who would like to be part of our first 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:

  1. learn new skills and knowledge about cycling as well as ride leadership,
  2. be part of the “qualified” ride leader team out on the road,
  3. rl-jerseyreceive a custom SPR Ride Leader jersey to be worn whenever you are leading a SPR ride, and
  4. have access to private discussion groups relating to rides and ride leadership; ongoing coaching and skills development; ride-leader only events.

In return, once you have successfully 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, whether you are leading or not
  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 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.

At this stage, we are seeking to secure 10 -12 participants from across the spectrum of SPR riders. We are not just looking for highly experienced cyclists that only ride with the Fast/Main 1 groups. We need ride leaders for all levels of rides. While the ability to ride at or above the capability 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 every 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). More Programs will be conducted later in 2017.

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

  1. what you hope to get out of being a SPR ride leader
  2. why you feel you will be a good contributor to ride leader team
  3. 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 the week commencing 23 January ‘17 and completing it by the end of March ‘17.

If interested, please submit your EOI to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au  before 13 January 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

Are you even fast too?

1 Comment

During the summer months, we have a bunch ride that leaves straight after the normal “Fast” riders, called “Fast Too”. Thursday’s have been working pretty well of late, so have subsequently transitioned this ride option to the Saturday program, with the first Fast Too ride going out this weekend just gone. From all reports, it’s going  ‘pretty well’ with perhaps just one disclaimer….people really need to self-seed correctly to make it work.

So, what does this mean?

Well, to channel a much loved weight lifting you tuber, “are you even fast too”?  
are-you-even-fast-too_graphic

Unlike the other SPR Rides, it’s less about bunch riding and/or cycle skills because it’s expected at this level you know what you’re doing…..Fast Too is more about strength, fitness and endurance.

The main consideration when self-seeding for Fast Too is whether you are going to be part of the bunch doing work in the pursuit of keeping the pace high and possibly even catching the “fast” bunch, or just hanging on the back from the start trying desperately not to get dropped. While there is no shame in having a ‘bad day’ and sucking wheel on the odd occasion, if you’re ALWAYS on the back of the string behind the riders doing the heavy lifting, you probably aren’t fast too….yet.

What then do you do in order to become fast too? You do the work, baby! And you have three choices:

  1. Go with Fast Too; do as many turns as you can, pop, and form a sub-group of other poppee’s to try and chase back on….this makes you stronger
  2. Go with Fast Too; do more turns than you can really handle, pop, and wait for Main 1 to sweep you up….this makes you stronger
  3. Go with Main 1 and do more work than everyone else; helping to keep the pace high up front or helping drag stragglers onto the back…this makes you stronger

The important thing to keep in mind about all three options, is that you really, really, really need to listen to the ride leader for guidance on what they need from you, especially if you’re in Main 1. Keeping the pace up at the front is not about pulling everyone’s legs off; it’s about doing more &/or longer turns on the front at a steady/solid pace so the BUNCH gets the benefit of your awesomeness….this makes you stronger…..

At the end of the day, it’s up to you. That’s the point of “self-seeding”. You know where you sit in the pack; you know how you’re feeling on the day; you know if you’re “really” Fast Too or just “making up the numbers” at the back….the choice is yours and yours alone….be brave, be bold, be honest!

where are we riding today?

1 Comment

Back in the mid ‘00’s, before Facebook had made its global presence felt on our lives, before Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat even existed and ADSL 2 was just becoming mainstream, we would all gather at 7am on Saturday morning outside a local South Perth bike shop waiting to learn the answer to the question…where are we riding today? At the appointed time, Peter (who most know now as El Prez) would stand up on the steps of the rear entrance to the shop, get everyone’s attention, and proceed to bellow out the ‘rights’ and ‘lefts’ of the route we would ride that day. If we were lucky, we heard about ½ of it and remembered about a 1/3rd….good times….not so safe some might say….

Frustrated by the lack of coordination and ride route knowledge amongst the group, Peter decided to tackle the issue head on. He created an email distribution list of those he had addresses for; he created a range of ride routes in Map My Ride (does anyone still use this site?); he would email out the selected ride route each Thursday. The rides got safer, less hectic and gave us confidence that if anyone got dropped, they would be able to find their way home. Peter then took the next step and created a “Blog” called, you guessed it; “where are we riding today?” The Blog became the place we would all get our hands on Saturday’s ride route as well as information relating to all things Perth Cycling….the rest as they say, is history….

So, why are we telling you this? Because as recently as last Saturday as well as just two weeks ago, we have had a crash (Mike Bonner came down) and major mechanical damage (Derek Baston’s front wheel rendered unusable), caused largely by people not being familiar with the ride route the group is taking.

Firstly, we all have an obligation to undertake a few simple preparatory steps to ensure we are ready and able to ride in a group safely. They are:

  1. Log on to the SPR Website on Friday to review the ride routes for the week ahead (or better still, sign up to the Weekly Rides Newsletter and get them delivered straight to your Inbox!)
  2. If you have a GPS enabled cycling computer, download the Course(s) and load it/them onto the device
  3. Listen to the ride briefing from the ride leader prior to setting off in case anything has changed or needs to be highlighted (hazards; re-group points; etc).

Secondly, when we are out on the ride, we all have an obligation to each other to communicate our intentions early and clearly, both verbally and non-verbally. Signalling a right/left turn with an outstretched hand or arm as well as calling “Right turn” or “Left turn” helps everyone know what’s coming up. Sure as eggs there will be SOMEONE who hasn’t done ANY of the above 3 steps and they WILL be the ones who cause the issues….don’t be that person.

So, this weekend, let’s try and get EVERYONE knowing AND communicating the answer to the ultimate question that started this whole thing off….where are we riding today?

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

Training and Development

SPR Transition Group_Roll Through on Guildford

Video

This morning, I had the pleasure of witnessing  what I believe to be a good example of a group roll through; but not with our “super experienced” guys & gals from the Fast or Main Groups. Nope, this one was with our “Trannies” – the riders who are generally either still learning the craft of cycling, developing their fitness, happy to ride at a less hectic pace…or maybe a bit of all three!

Anyway, I managed to secure a little bit of footage of the performance that unfolded in front of me….the benefit of this is that we get to see what ‘good’ looks like and it’s not from a group of “pros”, just our “everyday” Trannies from SPR.

…..and I’m really hoping that the “stars of the show” won’t be grumpy with me for sharing their backsides with the world?

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

​ A Note to Our Budding Manx Missiles

Sprint/ Mark CAVENDISH

Most group rides are designed to have some form of test of rider fitness and skill. Sprinting is one such activity that will do just that. However, beyond strength, fitness and endurance, sprinting requires a significant level of bike handling skills to be done safely….for ALL concerned.

As a GROUP ride, we are first and foremost concerned with the safety of the GROUP. This means that it is incumbent on those wanting to participate in a designated sprint to firstly decide if it is safe for the GROUP for them to do so. This means being aware of what needs to be considered when making that decision…..

The Golden Guide to Sprinting (during a GROUP ride)
  • Sprints are dedicated points in a group ride where there is a point further down the road considered to be the “finish line”.
  • If there are to be sprints during a group ride, Ride Leaders will usually (but not always) refer to it during the briefing (although most experienced riders will know it’s happening as the group will commence to speed up and spread across the lane).
  • Sprints should only be conducted in locations where it is completely safe to do so – eg: limited likelihood of oncoming traffic, preferably two lanes available, wider lanes if only single lane available, etc
  • Not all riders will want to participate; it is therefore incumbent on those who are participating to communicate their intentions and be respectful of those who aren’t. In almost all cases, only about 3 or 4 riders in a group of 20 will be interested…in participating OR the result!
  • Riders wanting to be involved in the sprint should decide early and position themselves so they do not need to break from the inside of the group to participate – if you are “boxed in” and can’t safely move to the outside line, TOUGH!! Your bad; you miss out; your mate(s) prepared themselves better. Deal with it and ride to the ‘line’ with the group.
  • Sprint participants need to be aware of their surroundings and look up to see what’s in front of them (not down at the road/wheel in front of them!).
  • Sprint participants need to hold their line and not drift from side to side – this is where most crashes will occur.
  • Sprint participants should NEVER cross the line into the oncoming traffic lane
 And please, please, please remember, it is still a GROUP ride and not a race; there are no medals, money or podium girls at the end – if that’s what you’re after there are plenty of “real” races around the traps to get your juices flowing (cue Rocky theme music…)
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

Which Ride for Me?

1 Comment

12079982_876796362437188_344618119232146394_oThere has been much conversation over the last little while about particular aspects of some of our Saturday training rides, specifically the Main 3, 4 and Transition rides. 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 as to what is expected and to expect across this large cohort of the Club’s members.

Key Rationale for the Rides

Transition (“Trannies”): 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. This 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. This ride is always 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.

Main 4: 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 ride. So, the key capability needed is endurance! As a rider in this group, you need to be able to ride further than the Trannies 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. This ride is always 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.

Main 3: This ride is about getting fitter and 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 when 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 or two 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 (same route/distance, just a bit slower). This is also why it is so important to know the ride route beforehand, just in case you have to navigate alone for a while. If there is no Main 4 group following then the group will be a “no drop” ride and behave 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