It’s time for the best ride of the year again! The weather forecast for Friday looks just about perfect!
There are 2 ride distances, and hot cross buns at Wungong Dam as a reward. All the details are on the event in the closed SPR group. Please respond if you are coming so that we can make sure everyone gets a hot cross bun!
The ProVelo Super League (PSL) is an elite road cycling league hosted annually across Australia with teams and athletes competing in a points format. The calendar features a combination of three day tours, 2 classic one day races and is hosted across January to March. This year the women’s division was won by SPR member Sophia Sammons. It was a dominant performance where she outright won two of the multi day tours and came top ten in everything else. As a 20 year old, she has shown the talent and dedication to achieve awesome results on the bike and we hope that this win propels her into the spotlight and potentially a European contract.
Her plan is to head across to Spain this year with the aim of getting exposure to UCI level races and hopefully a spot in the Aussie World’s team. This may then give her the visibility needed to pull a pro contract for 2027.
As a cyclist in Australia, we have seen how hard it has been for riders to get a foot in the door overseas and hopefully Sophia’s plan will see her achieve her goals by year end. This type of lifestyle isn’t cheap, however, and as such she has a fundraiser through the Australian Sports Foundation to help raise funds to get her setup overseas. Unlike a “go fund me”, donations to Australian athletes are tax deductible, so if you would like to support Soph, then go to her page and donate.
https://asf.org.au/campaigns/sophia-sammons/2026-season-1
On a personal note, watching her ride away from the group on the final stage of the Q tour brought about a bit of PTSD. I was on a hills ride with her a year or so ago and coming out of Mundaring Weir, she just rode away from me. Didn’t stand up and attack, just rode a pace that I, out of the saddle and pushing 600w, could not sustain. It was brutal (for me) but beautiful to watch. I wish her the best.
And speaking of powerful females, it looks like we are about to get a visit from Narelle. Tropical Cyclone Narelle, that is. We are already having some of the strong winds today, but it looks like Friday/Saturday will be a complete washout. As usual, we will post the ride routes, but just be aware that even if there is a break in the weather, numbers will probably be low and care should be taken during any group rides.
Other Information
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog previously. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — this weekend. Hopefully the weather down there is better than we are predicting for Perth. Good luck to all SPR members that are taking part.
The 13th Annual Good Friday VP ride is on this Friday. It covers an amended 3 Dams route and comes complete with morning tea along the way. See link for more details – https://www.facebook.com/events/900459539656587
Upcoming Racing
Juniors
What an incredible day we had last Saturday at the Treasure Hunt event! It was such a joy to see everyone having fun, especially the children enthusiastically solving puzzles and fully engaging in the activities at each checkpoint.
A big congratulations to all participants—from our youngest adventurers, Billy and Eden (just six years old!), to their parents—who made it all the way to the DNA Tower after exploring some of Perth’s most iconic landmarks. Truly a fantastic effort by everyone involved!
The program for this week is:
Saturday (28/3): given the horrible weather forecast, unfortunately there will be no ride on this day.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
Events coming up
29/3/2026 Liquor Barons Numbat Cup Series #1 (Perry Lakes Reserve)
CX series. Check the calendar here: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
Our first CX training will be on Saturday the 11th of April at 11am in Garvey Park, Ascot (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fn59Et58XzgEqX8U8).
From the Ride Coordinator
Pick your ride groups wisely! These people are going to be your teammates for the ride and you will be wanting to work together to make the ride as smooth, safe and enjoyable as possible. If gaps open up in your roll throughs, or riders are not rolling through, then please look around and moderate your pace to keep the group together. Don’t forget to call “clear” and “last wheel”.
Saturday 28th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special
All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Development group (*) – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday
Transition: Trans Canning Vale https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87300092
Fast & Main: Hale Rd Reverse https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87299811
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 29th March
Rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Social River Loop – approx. 50km
Short Hills (Social): Les Obs https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87300200
Short Hills: Les Obs https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87300200
Long Hills: Welsh Mel-Falls RePatt Lawn Zigzag https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87299277
Monday 30th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
south stock 33.76km SPR Monday
Tuesday 31st March
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Two groups – solid roll through vs relaxed pace
SPR Tuesday 36.37km (river ride)
Women’s Only Training Session at 6:00am (1hr)
Wednesday 1st April
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
No drop recovery ride
SPR Wednesday 35.3km (2023 Edition)
Thursday 2nd April
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Three groups fast paced roll-throughs
SPR Thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)
Friday 3rd April – Good Friday
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
SPR Friday Alternate 38.43km (Shelley)
13th Annual Good Friday VP Ride
Ride starts at Coode St carpark at 6:00am
Good Friday VP’s Ride event link
All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Public Holiday North 2025 Version https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/337978967
We are fast approaching Easter which used to signify a change in the weather. I remember coming back from Easter holidays and starting to wear vests under the jersey and sometimes armwarmers. Lately, though, the seasons seem to have slid back a bit and this week of very warm weather is a good example of it. Late March and a string of +35 degree days means that although we have left Summer behind, the lingering heat is still hanging around. Not having to put on 3 layers of clothes before riding is a blessing, but we seem to alternate between roaring, hot easterly winds, or still high humidity days. Bring on the real Autumn.
The one thing that hasn’t changed is how dark it is in the morning. The sun is not up until almost 6:30am this week and that means that full front and back lights when coming out on the earlybird rides. As such, this is your yearly reminder that it is club etiquette to ensure that your lights are not flashing when riding in a group situation. Commuting to the start of the ride many people have their lights on flashing to increase their visibility with traffic. Fully understandable, but when riding fast in close quarters with other people, a flashing light serves as a distraction that can cause issues. Even worse is when we start to get a bit of morning moisture in the air, and glasses start to fog up. The flashing lights will refract off the condensation on the glasses and basically blind you.
So, be respectful and when we remind you during the ride, please do the right thing. I have had people in the past argue, or complain that we are treating them like babies. However, the group’s safety is my biggest concern, not your fragile ego, so if you don’t want to turn them to solid, you are welcome to ride on your own.
Photo: Shelby Carstens
Other Information
SPR Family Treasure Hunt
This Saturday maybe think about doing something slightly different and bring your family along to the bike ride treasure hunt. This is a great opportunity to get the family to experience bike riding together. Total distance is only 17kms and you have to solve clues to find the next location. There are supported check in stations along the way and a morning tea to finish off.
Registrations are via the following link – https://entryboss.cc/races/29654
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog previously. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/ . Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
1. Peel District CC Hilly TT & BBQ 2026 (22 Mar)
2. ATTA 80km Championships – NorthLink PSP (22 Mar)
3. Liquor Barons Numbat Cup Series #1 (29 Mar)
4. Good Friday 20km at Champion Lakes (3 Apr)
Juniors
Our rising star James delivered another amazing effort last Saturday by completing Main 2 ride and showing off great skills uphill. Well done !
Kudos to our little juniors Hugh and Luke who engaged in a sprinting competition before getting to the cafe last week. It is so great to experience your enthusiasm and joy for riding !
The program for this week is:
Saturday (14/3): I invite the U15 and U13 juniors to ride with the adults, Peter Mah will look after them. We will meet at the Coode Street car park in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VAYMEqX9A4pXndRKA) at 7:00am. For the U11 and U9 riders please remember to register for the family fun activity the “Come and Try” treasure hunt organised by SPR. Registration open at 7am for a start at 7.30am. Here is the link for the registration: https://entryboss.cc/races/29654
Wednesday (25/3): we meet in Shelley at 5.30pm (https://maps.app.goo.gl/f13aSogDHvX3fJzt9). We will focus on bunch riding skills and sprints along Riverton Drive. Bring your front and rear lights.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
Events coming up
21/3/2026 SPR treasure hunt: Family-friendly cycling treasure hunt organised by South Perth Rouleurs: form teams, follow clues to Perth landmarks and enjoy a relaxed social ride. Registration and details here: https://entryboss.cc/races/29654
CX series resuming in the end of March!
Here is the calendar: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
Our first CX training will be on Saturday the 11th of April at 11am in Garvey Park, Ascot (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fn59Et58XzgEqX8U8).
From the Ride Coordinator
At SPR we encourage riders to stay behind stopped vehicles at junctions. Sneaking up the side to gain a few meters can potentially slow down the group, because the vehicle gets stuck behind the rider(s) who are now in front.
Saturday 21st March
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special
All rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Development group (*) – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday
Transition: Trans Cresswell https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87300040
Fast & Main: Alexander Drive https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87299655
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 22nd March
Rides start at Coode St carpark at 7:00am
Social River Loop – approx. 50km
Short Hills (Social): Khna Patt Lawn https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/129340493
Short Hills: Khna Patt Lawn https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/129340493
Long Hills: Khna Trnr Obs Hum https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/87300363
Monday 23rd March
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
south stock 33.76km SPR Monday
Tuesday 24th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Two groups – solid roll through vs relaxed pace
SPR Tuesday 36.37km (river ride)
Women’s Only Training Session at 6:00am (1hr)
Wednesday 25th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
No drop recovery ride
SPR Wednesday 35.3km (2023 Edition)
Thursday 26th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (City side) at 5:30am
Three groups fast paced roll-throughs
SPR Thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)
Friday 27th March
Ride starts under the Narrows (South Perth side) at 5:30am
I had an “oh, crap” moment today, when I realised that Thursday evening now means that I have to do a blog post. Definitely not in the rhythm for that yet as I remember gathering ideas for days leading up to Thursday in order to have something interesting to say. At the moment, there is a lot of reflection, and part of that is where the club came from. The blog actually contains a history of how the club evolved and so the featured image is from way back in 2009 and it represents the entirety of the Saturday morning ride. How the rides and the club as a whole developed from that point is a testament to work that went in behind the scenes to build a structure that allowed the growth we saw over the years. No matter who the people that are involved, either back then or now, that structure still remains and will allow the club to naturally evolve into what the members need. The current Tuesday earlybird is a prime example of that. It started as a gear restricted ride to slow the faster rides down so all abilities could ride as a group. Over the years this has been pushed to the limits and so naturally, splitting into two groups allows the club to now cater for a faster and more relaxed Tuesday ride. Keeping everything as “status quo” is not a recipe for long term success, if you feel that there are areas of the club that need to develop differently, please reach out to myself or a committee member so we can take it on board. Don’t wait for a club survey, grab someone at the coffee shop and share your ideas. I have had some very good feedback recently from some old members that rarely ride with the club now, but understanding how we can fit into people’s changing lives is just as important as how they can fit into ours.
Other Information
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog previously. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/. Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
1. Peel District CC Hilly TT & BBQ 2026 (22 Mar)
Juniors
In spite of the early start and the warm weather we had 3 juniors riding last weekend. Well done to all of you and congratulations to James for completing the official club ride. Hugh and Claudia had a crack in Kings Park riding more than 30km with some significant climbing.
The program for this week is:
Saturday (14/3): I invite the U15 and U13 juniors to ride with the adults. We will meet at the Coode Street car park in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VAYMEqX9A4pXndRKA) at 7:00am. For the U11 and U9 riders the appointment is in Shelley at 10.30am (https://maps.app.goo.gl/f13aSogDHvX3fJzt9). We will focus on bunch skills along Riverton Drive.
Wednesday (18/3): we meet in Shelley at 5.30pm (https://maps.app.goo.gl/f13aSogDHvX3fJzt9). We will focus on bunch riding skills and sprints along Riverton Drive. Bring your front and rear lights.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
Events coming up
21/3/2026 SPR treasure hunt: Family-friendly cycling treasure hunt organised by South Perth Rouleurs: form teams, follow clues to Perth landmarks and enjoy a relaxed social ride. Registration and details here: https://entryboss.cc/races/29654
CX series resuming in the end of March ! Here is the calendar: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
Our first CX training will be on Saturday the 11th of April at 11am in Garvey Park, Ascot (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fn59Et58XzgEqX8U8).
From the Ride Coordinator
Consistent communication (e.g. highlighting potholes) during the ride helps with group coordination and contributes to the safety of the group. Where two groups get caught together at a junction let the front group pull ahead and resist the temptation to jump across. This preserves the group size that was initiated at the start of the ride and reduces the chance of a larger group forming, which is difficult for other road users to navigate around.
Saturday 14th March
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 15th March
Monday 16th March
Tuesday 17th March
Wednesday 18th March
Thursday 19th March
Friday 20th March
In the words of the great Marshall Bruce Mathers III – “Guess who’s back, back again?”
After a number of years in the cycling club wilderness, I have again taken on the President’s role for SPR. And honestly as much as some things seem the same, there are a number of differences which reflect on the growth within the club. I’m slowly being brought up to speed on how to actually do a blog post now as there are more people providing input that when I left. And there may even be changes in myself that you may notice, like using capital letters. However, the familiar structure and format of how SPR runs has not changed and it is that organisation, I feel, that people rely on week after week.
After previously being president for well over a decade, I stood down for a number of reasons, but the main one was that I felt I was getting stale. I was going through the motions but didn’t really feel I could commit to anything, and looking back, it is a clear case of burn-out. Handing over to Daniel and Andrew allowed me to clear my head, focus on myself and do other rides with other people. I had little to do with the running of the club over the last 5 years but have always been there on the periphery. There are often expectations around being a club president that you may not notice from the outside, but can weigh on the decisions you make. Even little things, like what kit you are wearing, can prompt comments from people.
So, I am back. But why am I back. I am back to help rebuild the club and I guess the elephant in the room is why do we actually have to do that. Although it has all been agreed within the committee that we will move forward and focus on SPR, there are still a few things that I want to address from the outset.
There were a number of rumours, lies, half truths and conspiracy theories spinning around that caused a division within the club. Even though I was not directly involved, I know this because I was gas-lit for the last year with these same stories. Plus when I re-joined the committee to assist with the race training, I had access to all the chat history and emails that happened over that period.
Some of these I want to bring to light here –
The committee is not dirty and corrupt. If anything, it was requesting better oversight as to how funds were being spent. A really disturbing email I found in relation to ToMR funding stated clearly “These are not SPR funds, these are ToMR funds”
Dome is not trying to take over the club. The clubs relationship with Dome has been long and not without its ups and downs. In this case the question was just asked, if we had to have a major sponsor on our jersey, why would we not ask Dome rather than a real estate company that had no links to the club?
SPR doesn’t care about racing. If you knew the club history, you would know that the reason we formed a club in the first place was because we had about 12 or so people turn up for a Northern Districts race and we all had licences with different clubs. SPR’s participation in ToMR preceeds the breakaway race committee’s involvement with SPR and SPR has been a fixture at many club races over the years.
The club has not stolen money from Steve. Reimbursements were late. Too late to be considered normal and was bad practice on the clubs behalf. But if money had been “stolen” why were the police not involved?
Now people can choose to ride with whomever they want. I was reflecting the other day that I see on Strava that a number of the original SPR members now ride with Fastlane on a Saturday morning. Vanessa created her own club with 4F and people have moved over to it. So it is not about telling people they can’t choose or crying because people have not chosen SPR.
What has caused the angst is that there are a number of people that have believed the stories that caused the division and have decided that SPR was dirty and corrupt. Some of these people have known members of the committee for well over a decade and didn’t bother to ask their side of the story. That, to me, is one of the most disappointing things. Others have only been with the club since they were recruited for ToMR and so that group is all they have known. I fully understand why they would move away to ride with their friends.
SPR has always been an inclusive club and we will not tell anyone that they cannot ride with us (unless you are dangerous, it has happened in the past). So we are moving forward and will concentrate on our rebuild. I have spent the past 4 months focussing on the Tuesday and Thursday earlybird rides, and numbers have been steadily increasing. We are already planning a number of changes and improvements for this year and once the new committee meets, we can start fleshing these out.
So, long start for an initial blog post, but I wanted to close things off so the club can start afresh with the goal in mind of continuing to do what we do best.
Other Information
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog previously. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/. Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
1. WCMCC Herne Hill Road Race (8 Mar)
2. Peel District CC Hilly TT & BBQ 2026 (22 Mar)
Juniors
Last Saturday Liam and Hugh (U11) rode with the adults (transitional group) and completed more than 40km including their commuting from home. Absolutely an awesome effort for both of them !
The program for this week is:
Wednesday: we meet in Kings Park (DNA tower – https://maps.app.goo.gl/8grZ2wXrG4U5B1Yd9) at 5.00pm. We will focus on climbing.
Saturday: I invite the U15 and U13 juniors to ride with the adults. We will meet at the Coode Street car park in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VAYMEqX9A4pXndRKA) at 7:00am. For the U11 and U9 riders the hot weather has meant that the normal mid morning Shelley ride will need to be moved and we will meet at 7am at Coode St.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
CX series resuming in the end of March ! Here is the calendar: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
Our first CX training will be on Saturday the 11th of April at 11am in Garvey Park, Ascot (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Fn59Et58XzgEqX8U8).
From the Ride Coordinator
At SPR, we encourage all riders to familiarise themselves with the planned route before joining a group ride. Not knowing the next turn can increase the risk of accidents — for you and others in the group.
Saturday 7th March
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 8th March
Monday 9th March
Tuesday 10th March
Wednesday 11th March
Thursday 12th March
Friday 13th March
After yesterday’s club AGM we are pleased to announce the new committee members for 2026.
Back Row – Ben Thorman, Peter Mah (President), Shane White, Danielle Collins, Phil Davidson, Claire Tyrrell, Mark de Castro, Adrian Emilsen.
Front Row – Andrew Ballam (Vice-Pres), Laurensia Rosana (Treasurer), Carol Dowse (Secretary), Amanda Nabi, Giovanni Firmani.
Absent – Jon Hanson, Gary Pennefather
If you have any questions about the running of the club, please don’t hesitate to ask any of these people for assistance. We will be holding our first committee meeting in the next couple of weeks and from that people will be assigned club responsibilities (i.e. kit, race, social, etc). After that, certain sub-committees will be established to assist the club to achieve it’s goals. If you can to contribute to any of those areas, we will be putting out a expression of interest soon.
Here’s to a successful 2026 and an opportunity to help the club grow.
This week will see the club hold its Annual General Meeting immediately after the main ride on Saturday 28 February at 9:00am, as per usual at DÔME Westralia Plaza. Please make an effort to be there as everyone’s contribution is valuable and if you want a say in how the club moves forward you can do that by helping to select this year’s Committee. A list of candidates was posted – here.
To make sure that everyone gets back safely and in time for the AGM we will run two main routes this week and alter the start order slightly as we have done in previous years. All the details are in the Ride Coordinator item below.
Groups will gather in separate zones of the carpark, with Fast, M1 & M2 on the west side (as per normal), and M3, M4 and Transitionals in the middle row of the carpark.
Please note:
Hills rides revert to 7:00am starts as well this weekend!
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog previously. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/. Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.
1. Peel District CC Summer Criterium #8 (1 Mar)
2. WCMCC Herne Hill Road Race (8 Mar)
3. Peel District CC Hilly TT & BBQ 2026 (22 Mar)
Juniors
Last Saturday was an awesome day out with the juniors! We started from Coode Street car park in South Perth and made our way to Kalamunda, completing four repeats of the Zig Zag. It was an incredible achievement by all the children who rode that day — a real display of determination and teamwork.
Well done to Hugh, who won the handicap race on the final climb of the Zig Zag!
The program for this week is:
Wednesday: We meet in Shelley at 5.30pm near the Shelley beach park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5XVxoCXkesdeC92X6). We will focus on rolling and bunch riding.
Saturday: This Saturday, the club will hold elections for the new committee at DÔME in the city. To allow all members to participate, there will be no 10:30am training session. All juniors (U11, U13 and U15) are asked to meet at the Coode Street carpark in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VAYMEqX9A4pXndRKA) at 7:00am. From there, we will head to Kings Park for ~1hr, before making our way to DÔME for the AGM, which will begin at 9:00am.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
CX series resuming in the end of March ! Here is the calendar: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
We are planning some CX training sessions. We will communicate more details soon.
From the Ride Coordinator
Please note that Sunday short, long, ‘super’ long, social & coffee rides will start at 7:00am.
On Monday we have the Public Holiday North ride.
All riders note the different start this Saturday. Due to the AGM, we will have two main routes. The aim is to get everyone away quickly and back to DÔME safely. The two main routes are:
Groups will gather in separate zones of the carpark, with Fast, M1 & M2 on the west side (as per normal), and M3, M4 and Transitionals in the middle row of the carpark.
Note:
Order of departure will be –
Saturday 28th February
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 1st March
Monday 2nd March
Tuesday 3rd March
Wednesday 4th March
Thursday 5th March
Friday 6th March
The club’s AGM is happening at 9:00am this Saturday (28 February) at DÔME Westralia Plaza, and importantly it is your chance to help set the direction for the club through the election of the Committee for 2026. Please do your best to attend the meeting as voting will be in-person and we want as many people as possible to have their say.
There are multiple candidates for the officer positions of Treasure and Vice President, as well as more General Committee nominations than we have places. Thank you so much for the strong show of support in people putting up their hands to support the club.
There are some choices to make. Candidates are presented in alphabetical order below. Voting for the officer roles will be by a show of hands and for the General Committee positions will be via a simple paper ballot.
Members should have just received an email with information about each candidate. If you believe you are a current member but didn’t receive an email please get in touch via vp@southperthrouleurs.com.au
For the officer position of President
Peter Mah will be elected unopposed.
For the officer position of Secretary
Carol Dowse will be elected unopposed.
Candidates for the officer position of Vice President
Andrew Ballam
Iain Dow
Candidates for officer position of Treasurer
Laurensia Rosana
Shirley Vine
General Committee Candidates
Mike Barry
Danielle Collins
Phil Davidson
Mark de Castro
Adrian Emilsen
Giovanni Firmani
Jon Hanson
Amanda Nabi
Gary Pennefather
Ben Thorman
Claire Tyrrell
Shane White
If you haven’t seen world class track racing live then you haven’t lived! If you have, then you’ll want to experience it again. And guess what…in a couple of weeks’ time world class track racing is coming to Perth. Over three electrifying nights, the UCI Track World Cup will boast high-speed, high stakes racing with a packed program of elite men’s and women’s racing across sprint and endurance disciplines.
Featuring Olympic and World Championship events, national teams from around the world, and medal races every night, the World Cup is where global stars are made and rivalries are sharpened.
The 2026 UCI Track World Cup will be in Perth at the Midvale SpeedDome 6-8 March. You can find out more and purchase tickets here – 2026 UCI TRACK WORLD CUP
AGM Reminder
Annual General Meeting will be held on 28 February at 9:00am, as per usual at DÔME Westralia Plaza. Nominations for Committee positions are still open until Sunday (22 February). You can nominate by emailing admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au, or if you would just like some more information on what is involved, please have a chat to myself or any of the other current Committee members.
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog earlier this week. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/. Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.
1. WCMCC DOG HILL ROAD – Baldivis – Road Race (22 Feb)
2. Peel District CC Summer Criterium #8 (1 Mar)
3. Peel District CC Hilly TT & BBQ 2026 (22 Mar)
Juniors
Last Saturday we battled the warm temperatures and managed to survive! It was a longer than usual ride with the heat, so well done to everyone who came. You got fitter for sure after that session!
Well done to Hugh Thomson who competed the Perth Mountain Bike Club summer XCO series in Joondalup!
The program for this week is:
Wednesday:
We meet in Shelley at 5.30pm near the Shelley beach park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5XVxoCXkesdeC92X6). We will focus on rolling and bunch riding.
Saturday:
We will meet our advanced riders (U15 and U13) in the morning at 8am at the Coode St car park in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/KcRfGe1tpQXKeZP16) to go to the Perth hills ! This is the course: https://connect.garmin.com/app/course/429266657. The plan is to reach the top of the Zig Zag by 9.30am and wait for the younger juniors for some hill climbing practice.
For our young ones (U11 and U9) and beginners we will focus on hill climbing. The plan is to tackle the iconic Zig Zag climb twice (see picture below). Located just outside the city, the Zig Zag is famous for its breathtaking views and is a must-ride for any cyclist. The road is closed to traffic by boom gates until 11am, making it a perfect training ground. However, this means we need to start earlier than usual—so let’s meet at the sightseeing car park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/TfZxyREwib4B87RC8) at 9.30am. This ~3 km section provides a great opportunity to practice both climbing and descending. We’ll be going up and down twice, focusing on technique and control.
At the end of the ride we can have treat in Kalamunda at the Mason & Bird cafe’ (https://maps.app.goo.gl/KnAgfBXcGyPzVS6F7)
Important Notes:
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
CX series resuming in the end of March ! Here is the calendar: https://wacyclocross.org/racing/calendar/
From the Ride Coordinator
A heads up that Sunday short and long hills, social hills & coffee rides will start at 7am from the 1st March. Giovanni’s extra long hills training group will continue with their 6am start.
Do you know your role in the bunch?
Every rider in a group ride is responsible for the success of the group: everyone knows the route, calls out hazards, and passes on information. They also must ride in a predictable manner and “hold the line”.
Front riders are to judge whether the bunch can get through lights, call a roll-through, signal directions and remember to pedal when going downhill! Rear riders are to check and call whether it is safe to change lanes and call “car back” or “bikes back” as needed.
Stronger riders are to moderate speed to match the middle abilities of the bunch or take longer turns at the front or into the wind. Slower riders are also required to work to maintain the average of the group (which can be tough but beneficial for your fitness – isn’t that why we do this?)
Sure, we have ride leaders, and you must listen to them, but they are only one part of the bunch. A good group should require minimal input from the leader as everyone works in cohesion. That’s the group I want to ride in!
Saturday 21st February
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 22nd February
Monday 23rd February
Tuesday 24th February
Wednesday 25th February
Thursday 26th February
Friday 27th February
If you have ever been around the city on a Tuesday morning in early March and wondered what all the people with the clipboards were doing, now is your chance to find out. The first Tuesday in March is referred to as Super Tuesday and on that morning a bicycle transport tally is done all over the country.
The activity is run by bike advocacy group Bicycle Network to collect data about active transport for use in planning and advocacy work. They are still seeking volunteers to assist with this year’s count, so if you are free between 7:00-9:00am on Tuesday 4 March and are keen to be involved you can register here. Volunteers also get to direct a $70 donation to a club or charity of their choice as a reward for their time.
Annual General Meeting will be held on 28 February at 9:00am, as per usual at DÔME Westralia Plaza. Nominations for Committee positions are still open for another week. You can nominate by emailing admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au, or if you would just like some more information on what is involved, please have a chat to myself or any of the other current Committee members.
2026 and 2027 international trips – Don’t forget to register your interest if you are keen on either of the planned international trips featured on the blog earlier this week. You need to complete the EOI if you are interested.
Tour of the Blackwood 2026 — Registrations for the Rotary Tour of the Blackwood River 28 March 2026 are now open. The Full Tour meanders some 130km through stunning countryside between beautiful Bridgetown and the magical townsites of Balingup and Nannup, and features over 2000m of climbing including a Category 4 ascent toward the finish line. There is also a 65km distance (elevation ~841m) or 30km. New in 2026 is a gravel 88km adventure ride – ebikes included. This is an excellent event, with a great community atmosphere and well-marshalled roads- definitely one to consider. If interested you will need to book accommodation as soon as possible as limited availability. For more details about the event including accommodation please check out their web site https://www.blackwoodtour.info/. Registration fees go to support community awareness regarding youth mental health. So SPR can connect interested participants, please register your interest and that of your partner via this EOI.
Upcoming Racing
If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.
1. Peel District CC Summer Criterium #7 (15 Feb)
2. WCMCC DOG HILL ROAD – Baldivis – Road Race (22 Feb)
3. Peel District CC Summer Criterium #8 (1 Mar)
Juniors
Thanks for the support of the parents last week and in the sessions before. This program would not be possibile without your help
The program for this week is:
Wednesday:
We meet in Shelley at 5.30pm near the Shelley beach park (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5XVxoCXkesdeC92X6). We will focus on rolling and bunch riding.
Saturday:
There will be a session for our advanced riders (U15 and U13) early in the morning at 7am from Coode St car park in South Perth (https://maps.app.goo.gl/KcRfGe1tpQXKeZP16). There will be plenty of riders, so just look for me and if you cannot find me, give me a call or send me a message via whatsapp. This is the course of the ride: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/429386895. Depending on the numbers and the level of fitness of the participants we might consider to join one of the adults ride.
For our young ones (U11 and U9) and beginners we will focus on endurance. We will ride the following 28km loop from Shelley https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/409639124. We will meet at 10.30am in Shelley (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5XVxoCXkesdeC92X6). Beginners can ride with us for the first 4km along Riverton Dr and then go back to the start.
Please check our WhatsApp SPR junior channel for any last minute call.
Racing coming up
Peel District CC Summer Criterium #7 (15 Feb)
From the Ride Coordinator
Appreciation to everyone in SPR kit or wearing something green last Saturday! Let’s keep it going.
Saturday’s main ride is Morley Dr – we may encounter one or more traffic lights along the way! Be prepared for the call of “split”. Once the group has split, the lead group are to soft-pedal until the split riders have re-joined and call “all on”. Safety is the priority and we don’t want riders recklessly running red lights out of fear of being dropped.
Saturday 14th February
(*) Please note that our Ride Leaders will adjust the composition and route for Development, Transition and Main 4 to suit people and conditions on the day.
Sunday 15th February
Monday 16th February
Tuesday 17th February
Wednesday 18th February
Thursday 19th February
Friday 20th February