We’ve been here before. Able to get out and ride, thankful for that, but a little unsure when we will next get to ride with friends.
Personally, I got out for a ride today, and I was reminded of times in the recent past when our riding was similarly restricted. The photo above was me out for a solo night ride the last time we did this lockdown thing. I was reminded of the water that has gone under the bridge since the last time we were required to lock down – with vaccination and the Delta Variant topical issues this time round. And with lots of opinions being expressed by almost everyone, from our leaders on down. This latest variant is highly infectious, and I am glad that it is being taken seriously by our leaders. I also know that many in our community, both SPR and wider, are being hit hard by the lockdown.
In this middle of all of that, I am thankful for the opportunity to get out on the bike. Physically, and for the sake of my mental health.
If you have the space, take the opportunity.
A couple of things to close out. First, we know the lockdown period is set to end Friday midnight, but with all of the activity around the country, we think the best strategy is to await the Premier’s press conference tomorrow before announcing ride routes for the next week. We’re keen to ride, so look for the blog post if we get an all clear from the Premier tomorrow.
Keep an eye out also regarding the Tour de France Dinner that was originally to be held tonight. As soon as we have some clear sight of when the lockdown is ending we will seek to re-book. It is only week 1 of the Tour so we have our fingers crossed that we can get together before the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Feeling stiff and sore after cycling (and blaming the cold weather)? Trying to better manage your heart rate, power output and/or overall performance? Then explore the benefits of Yoga for Cycling in a tailored 3 part series for SPR Members in July!
What
There are many ways the practise of yoga can benefit cyclists including improved strength, flexibility and balance however a lesser known one is regulating breath with movement which has untold benefits on and off the bike. We have tailored this series to activating, strengthening and releasing the muscles and fascia (connective tissue) we use in cycling. The classes will be a strong Vinyasa flow for 50 minutes with 25 mins of restorative Yin to finish.
When
Tuesdays July 13, 20 and 27 from 18.15 – 19.30
Where
North Perth’s Lesser Hall (next to the Town Hall), 24 View St, North Perth
Who
Guiding us will be Eve Gindein, a senior teacher and lead facilitator at some of Perth’s largest and most successful yoga studios who also trains new teachers on registered YTT200 and advanced teacher trainings. Eve discovered a love for yoga after a serious scooter accident in 2010 rendered her fairly immobile. Her weekly practise evolved into a daily yoga (and meditation) practise and subsequently she became a teacher to share her passion and relatable knowledge about how and why yoga can transform the mind and body. Eve’s classes always offer anatomically intelligent sequencing combined with challenge, levity and humour.
For those aspiring to follow in Eve’s footsteps and share the gift of yoga with others, embarking on a Yoga Teacher Training Bali retreat can be a life-changing experience. Immersed in the serene beauty of Bali’s landscapes, aspiring teachers delve deep into the philosophy, anatomy, and practice of yoga under the guidance of seasoned instructors. This immersive environment fosters not only a comprehensive understanding of yoga but also personal growth and self-discovery. Through intensive training modules and hands-on teaching practice, participants emerge not just as certified yoga instructors but as compassionate leaders ready to inspire others on their own transformative journeys.
How much
The Series is $30.00 only and bookings are essential via the club shop. Places are very limited so book now to avoid disappointment.
A man who hardly needs an introduction – a true mainstay of SPR – Dean Roser. A super smooth ride leader and a friendly face I never get tired of seeing. Dean – aka “silver fox” is a true club favourite.
Here, I ask about the man behind the Bianchi.
Name: Dean Roser Position:Training and Development
1. What bike do you ride?
It depends, either the Focus Izalco Max for the road or the Cervelo Aspero for the gravel. But my true love is my Bianchi Oltre, you can’t beat Italian passion. And no, I don’t need a MTB, my wife might have something to say if I brought home another bike.
2. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
Cycling has always been something that I enjoyed, but wasn’t a priority for a long time. Perhaps it was a midlife crisis that brought me back to cycling :-). Why SPR, the Sunday hills ride of course. There hasn’t been many of those that I have missed. Though now that I have the gravel bike, the hills are dirtier, partly because I keep falling off.
3. How long have you been with the club?
I started doing the hills rides in around 2012 which then increased to the Tuesday and Thursday rides as well. I joined the club in around 2013 or 2014. I can’t remember, early onset dementia.
4. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
There are just so many, mainly because just being on the bike is always a pleasure when you’re out and about with your mates. Though getting the gravel bike I felt like I was 12 again, that was exciting, I still have the grin.
5. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role?
Being on the committee is just a small way of trying to give back to the club.
6. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
If I’m not riding, then I’m taking pictures of birds and flowers, or I’m gardening, or making things for the home or playing with the dogs. We have two French Bulldogs, they are good apartment living dogs apparently. I suppose I go to work occasionally, it just gets in the way of riding my bike.
SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.
Sorry, sold out. Enjoy the night!
From the Ride Coordinator – OK, how cold was it this week!! Those brave souls heading out on one of our mid week rides would know exactly how cold it can get riding here in Perth in the winter. And those overnight temps don’t look like improving too much for our main ride with current forecast sitting around 5 as the minimum Friday going into Saturday so make sure you rug up if you’re doing the ride Saturday. This weeks ride route takes us through Subi, so watch out for the road works and the heavier traffic around the Hay St/Rockeby rd intersection so please be patient if their is some slowing there.
Unfortunately Sunday looks to be similar to last weekend with a wet day forecast. And that might be just as well too with the start of Le Tour for the next 3 weeks and the grand depart for the #couchpeleton also scheduled on for a Saturday evening start. Whatever riding you do, enjoy it and look after each other. Especiallyif you are sitting on the couch watching the TV. 😁
Saturday 26th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Carol Dowse may be new to the SPR committee but she is in no way new to the club.
Carol has been running the development group for many years and has helped countless people get into cycling.
Here, she answers some questions about what motivates her to ride and to be part of the committee.
Name: Carol Dowse Position:Community Development Bike: Focus (importantly, black and pink…)
1. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
It was the only way I got to see my husband – OK so there was the I need get away from the kids thing and hear the quiet outdoors.
2. How long have you been with the club?
From the beginning of time – I have the jersey to prove it.
3. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
The first time I cracked 60kph barrier – I think this is the last speed barrier I will be breaking in my lifetime. Memorable.
4. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role?
Time to give back to the club; I am very grateful to the many people who have helped me, past and present with all aspects of cycling. My goal as a committee member therefore is to motivate and support people new to cycling to participate in events both cycling and social. We have a very talented committee deeply committed to inclusiveness that supports this aim.
5. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
Recently semi-retired and it is just wonderful – it is all it is cracked up to be. Three kids who promote safe driving around cyclists to their friends.. I’m a proud mum. Oh .. and if you can’t put it into a spreadsheet I won’t understand it!
SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.
Read more and get in on the lucky last ticket here.
From the Ride Coordinator – So looks as though this weekend will be the tale of two very different days. Saturday morning is forecast to be a cracker but it looks like Sunday is a day for daredevil riding if you want a hills ride with the weather closing in overnight.
This winter we have been relatively lucky with the weather for our main ride on Saturday and we welcome all who want to join us again this weekend. Big numbers overall can lead to big numbers in specific groups. That’s been especially noted in our Main 2 group of late which seems to have swelled in the early winter rides. The ideal group size to ride with varies, but anything bigger than 20 in a group will slow the group down (splits at lights etc) and can lead to frustrations. Generally we like it to be around 15. To alleviate this, if numbers are large again this week we will look to split M2 in more than just the 2 large groups we have been running with. If this upsets your view of your ride with Main 2 then we do things for the safety and enjoyment of all the riders and large groups are just to unwieldy to manage on the road. So it would be appreciated if you could expect that things may be a little different and work with those ride leaders who are trying to manage the change. They are human too and are volunteering their time to try to make your ride more safe and enjoyable.
Saturday 19th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
So I don’t know about all of you reading this, but whilst I am not a sugar cube – dissolving at the first drop of water I come into contact with – the wet weather certainly affects my riding.
I don’t like to leave for a ride in heavy rain, and on weeks like the last couple, this does make it difficult to get enough training kilometres into my week, especially with a few work constraints coming into play.
And if it wasn’t wet, it was cold. I like the cold, but it is not every day that we have “10 degrees, feels like 3 degrees” reports from my Weather App.
Welcome to winter.
If you are looking for cycling opportunities, whether it is a fondo or racing, there is plenty on. Many SPR riders were racing last weekend in the Goldfields Cyclassic or the Margaret River XCO, and this weekend Midland Cycle Club are running one of their classic races, the Midland 100. And in the WestCycle WA State Fondo Series there is Round 1 Swan Valley this Sunday. Entries have closed for the fondo, but the Midland 100 is open until midday tomorrow (Friday).
One more reminder, we are keen to close out our TOMR 2021 teams in the near future, so if you are interested, please get in touch via the Race Subcommittee (Steve) or Women’s Interests Subcommittee (Amanda). And keep your eye out for a survey next week.
Let me finish with some footage from the Goldfields Cyclassic last weekend. This is SPR’s Kate Bonner leading out the finish for Darcie Richards for the Velofit Australia Racing Team, complete with commentary.
Enjoy.
SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.
There are not many tickets (sorry, this is what we could arrange), but there are about a dozen still available!
From the Ride Coordinator – Well it is winter now and we know we get most of our precious rainfall in the next 3 months but I just hope that those sunny “windows” appear on Saturday and Sunday mornings instead of mid week. So last weekend we were lucky, this weekend is looking a little “iffy” (yes that’s a bureau of meteorology technical term) but I am ever hopeful of getting the rides in that we have planned after a what has been a wet and windy week.
Recently we’ve had a spate of rides heading through our northern suburbs with favorable wind conditions for those rides but this week we will put “The South” back into South Perth Rouleurs by sticking close to our namesake and enjoying the Canning Vale and Welshpool route. Please do yourself a favour and have a quick glance at the route so you know where you are going. Feedback from some groups last week was that a few took a wrong turn so for your own peace of mind and the safety of there group, please make sure you know where you’re going. Garmin doesn’t always get it right! Whatever cycling you do, enjoy it and look out for each other.
Saturday 12th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Kit order closes midnight on Monday! Don’t forget that the stylish new SPR and SPR Chicks socks are available 🙂
If you are headed into R&D to try on kit please remember that the staff aren’t able to assist you with sizing…send a query to Mayeur direct. The sizing kit is held at R&D as a service to the club…there’s nothing in it for them, so if it becomes hard for them we may lose the opportunity. 😉
Today, we have another wonderful SEVEN story to share with you. This one comes from Nicki du Plessis, and is an inspirational read. Enjoy!
As you may have heard or read by now, SEVEN is a very special event. Not only does it offer many of the challenges any all-round cyclist can hope for, it also offers breathtaking vantage points and majestic views that stretch for miles. As I have often quipped to anyone that will listen, if offers very vivid glimpses of utopia – picturesque landscapes that one can only dream of.
Anyway, as I have probably used up all the poetic licence any cyclist worth their VO2 max can bear, SEVEN offers a range of challenges across 3 unique courses fondly referred to as THREE (approx. 50km and 1100m climb), FIVE (approx. 85km and 1700m climb) and SEVEN (approx. 124km and 3800m climb).
I entered THREE for the first time in 2020 without much training beforehand, and managed to finish the almost 52km route, including 1,020m elevation, in 4hrs and 7 minutes. I must admit it included several walking breaks, pushing my MTB up those pesky hills, but at least it gave me the opportunity to take in my surroundings, commiserate with other riders who were struggling with me and appreciate what preparation I will need if I wanted to attempt SEVEN one day…in the distant future…
This year I decided to enter THREE again with a mindset of not walking at all. In February, I started training cycling coach, Sarah Hunter, from Hunter PT, and together we worked on improving my power and making me stronger through a variety of indoor and outdoor, road and MTB cycling workouts. My husband (Herman) and I also visited Nannup a number of times in the lead up to the event to complete training rides on parts of the actual course – this was invaluable as I felt well prepared, not just physically but mentally too.
When race day finally arrived, we were greeted by a beautiful day – not too hot or too cold – just right as Goldilocks would say. As I had set myself the target of completing the event in under 4 hours I was somewhat disappointed when I reached the first hill and got off the bike to walk the last little effort – did I mention that I do take a while to warm up – that’s my excuse anyway!
Once the first serious ascent was out of the way I felt more relaxed and comfortable, and tried to make up for lost time by completing the descents as quickly as possible by relying on my Scott Spark’s trusty full suspension and just going for it – with a slight degree of caution of course!
When I reached the 32km mark, I was slightly disappointed when I cycled over Reveley bridge which signalled that I had exited the forest plantations and was now on my way back to Nannup. The worst of the hill climbing was behind me although I still encountered a few little short, shart “surprises” along the way – but as I was heading home I was focussed on completing the race in under 4 hours.
When I reached the single track, I realised I had clear air ahead of me and just tried to smash it out as fast as I could in order to reach the finish line. I am happy to report I finished in 3 hours and 17 minutes and 3rd female in my age group.
Next year I will be attempting FIVE, the 85km route, and who knows what 2023 holds… perhaps I will be ready to tackle SEVEN, after all as a Dad told his little girl when she asked how many hills were left, “it’s all downhill; except for the uphill bits!”
Photo credit: Race finish photo by Daniela Tommasi Photography.
Swan Valley Fondo – The Swan Valley Fondo is back as part of the WestCycle WA series, and coming up on Sunday 13 June 2021.
Gather a few like-minded cyclists and create a team or just jump in yourself.
Read the full post here, and reach out to Carol on the Community Development email address (comdev@southperthrouleurs.com.au) if you have any questions.
Kit Order Closing Soon – The current order is closing soon – midnight on 7 June to be specific.
Check out all of our kit, including the new range of socks, with a special mention to the SPR Chicks socks.
And for those of you waiting on an order delivery, you should have received an email letting you know that orders have arrived and are available for pickup at R&D Speedshop (unless you had it posted, of course).
From the Ride Coordinator – Chapeau to those 8-9 brave souls who ventured out into the weather last Saturday for the main ride (you know who you are 👏👏 ) You were probably still cleaning the gunk off the bike by the time the second front hit on Sunday but that doesn’t take away from your adventurous spirit.
This week it’s looking a lot better so hoping those that are yet to brave a chilly morning or anyone spending too much time as part of the couch peloton for the Giro/Dauphine double, can come riding with us this week.
I looked back on when we last scheduled this ride (Alexander Drive) and it was end of June 2020 as we were climbing out of the national lock down and getting back to our “COVID normal”. Whilst lots has changed in the world since then, it appears 12 months on, we are still literally a breath away from lockdowns and/or potential worsening health so we should appreciate the opportunity to ride when we can.
Speaking of such, this weekend the club is providing a plethora of choices to ride starting with the monthly Saturday Hills ride (note start at 6.30 from the car park) and finishing with the long weekend public holiday ride on Monday. It’s a great state we live in, so let’s ride to celebrate it. Whatever ride you choose to do this weekend make sure it’s a safe one, enjoy it and be thankful we can share it with others.
Saturday 5th June
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
The Swan Valley Fondo is back as part of the WestCycle WA series: Sunday 13 June 2021
Gather a few like-minded cyclists and create a team or just jump in yourself.
Two distances to select from:
A: 79km 1 challenging lap (644m of climbing) + 3 scenic laps $88 pp*. One section is 11.5% gradient so come along for a challenge. Check out the route on Strava.
B: 51km 3 scenic laps (reasonably flat) $78 pp*. If you are new to group cycling events and want a collegial non-competitive participation ride this is for you. Check out the route on Strava.
Don’t wait – register by 9 June midnight via this link.
You can create a team or join a team by selecting an Individual Registration then selecting I’m part of a team.
For this week’s blog, we thought we would do something a little different. In an effort for you to get to know your new club president better, Claire Tyrrell has posed a series of questions.
Stay tuned for more profiles of fellow committee members and other SPR riders.
Name: Daniel Harvey Position:Club President Bike: Giant TCR
1. What brought you to cycling and to SPR?
In my thirties, I found I needed to do more consistent work to stay fit and healthy. I had started doing multisport races with friends (Anaconda anyone?), but wanted something regular to work on fitness. I’m a bit of an extrovert by nature and found (find) group riding to be just the thing.
2. How long have you been with the club?
Since the beginning 🙂
I started riding on a shop ride that was the precursor to SPR. I think it was Jonny and Lennie that first introduced me (I’d been riding a Sunday ride with them for a year or so at that time).
3. What is your most memorable experience on the bike?
Hard to pinpoint a most memorable experience, but highlights would include the early Cyclo Sportif’s that I participated in with the club as well as my first Tour of Margaret River.
4. Why did you choose to become president and what do you hope to achieve during your tenure?
I’ve always been a believer in community, and I know what the SPR community has added to my life over the years, particularly in difficult times.
Taking on the president role is really just an opportunity to contribute in a new and slightly different way. SPR has done amazing things in its ten year history so far, but I know there are opportunities for my contribution to make a difference. For example, as the club membership has grown, we have attracted new and different members, and it is important to make sure the club continues to meet members needs as the membership changes and evolves. Safe and fun group rides are central to what draws lots (most?) of our members, but there are lots of things connected to that that I would like to see done well.
5. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike?
I am married, and with my wife Ainsley have three now adult children. I work in IT, running a local SME with several partners out of West Perth. We’ve been around for just on 20 years, so we’re doing something right. I love technology and still find immense satisfaction from the work I do.
We just moved house (now in Bayswater – not that I’ve ever lived in South Perth!) and are slowly working through the remaining boxes and finding places for everything.
Social ride starting at the Narrows Bridge (city side) and ending in Kings Park at Fraser’s restaurant for coffee. This is an approx 25km distance, 25km/hr easy pace, no drop ride. End of ride coffee is the key priority
This is an easy pace ride, conversational pace .. no puffing required ! A ride leader will give a short briefing to each group before we set off.
Saturday Start Locations – As announced last week, we are moving back to the older and more condensed layout in the carpark at Coode Street for the start of the ride.
This makes communication and organisation that little bit easier.
The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t quite business as usual – As the past week’s lockdown has shown us, it is definitely not business as usual just yet. Please keep in mind our social distancing and personal hygiene:
The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.
SafeWA registration – Remember that for many locations and venues contact registration is mandatory. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app. So, how do I get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual. – Android users click here – Apple phone users click here
Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.
Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.
From the Ride Coordinator – Hope everybody enjoyed Ewen Street hill last weekend. We also enjoyed pretty good riding conditions on Saturday morning as the threatening skies never really caused us problems for our main ride. Alas, this weekend, unfortunately it looks like those same conditions that hit us on Saturday afternoon are forecast to come in from Friday afternoon so I think our run of great riding conditions are going to come to an end this weekend.
But of course there are still some of us that don’t mind riding in conditions that are akin to a Belgium winters morning, so for all of you out there, this Saturday’s ride route is one of those that likes to take the quieter, perhaps more safe, roads on what is likely to be a wet morning. We’ve decided to schedule up Cresswell for all who are keen to ride. If you do ride, be extra careful if it’s wet. At least the coffee will taste extra special back at the Dome when you finish.
Saturday 29th May
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
! A ride leader will give a short briefing to each group before we set off. 
