Ride routes 3rd – 9th April

So. Definitely the beginning of a new era. If you have a look at the photo of the new committee, it is most definitely a feature that @elprez is absent.

I said this last Saturday at our AGM, but it is worth repeating here. It was not for the sake of raw ambition for the role of president that I have taken it on, but I most definitely believe in SPR and what it represents collectively for us as members. Cycling has been a significant part of my life since I seriously took it up as a sport around 2008 – I can’t tell you the precise date as I did not have a Garmin at that time (my earliest ride on Strava is 2010). What I can tell you is that my first SPR ride was a Thursday morning fast ride from which I was dropped in Dalkeith – and for which Peter had the group wait for me to get back on as he knew it was my first ride. I’ve done a few rides since then, and Peter and I have become good friends since that time.

But more that physical health and fitness, SPR has been an essential part of my mental health. There is something about the single-minded focus of holding a wheel that, even in the most stressful of times, allows me to take some space from all of the other things that at times crowd my life. And those that pay attention will have noticed, I rarely ride solo as I enjoy too much the company of friends. It will be different things for many of you, but I know that SPR has been successful for the fact that many others appreciate what we do as a club.

Thank you Peter. I would also add my thanks to Rob, Nancy and Teneal who have also stepped off the committee at the AGM last week. Your contributions are appreciated.

One of the things that we have discussed at committee is how we go forward with the weekly blog.

Clearly, we will continue to publish the blog each Thursday 🙂

Equally, for those of you that know the ebb and flow of my life, it would be inviting disappointment for me personally to attempt to emulate the discipline and reliability of Peter’s consistent production of weekly blog posts. I’m not completely inexperienced – having written several ride reports (as they used to be called – for proof, see here and here) among other things – but Peter is completely out of my league. More on that later.

Enjoy the long weekend, and see you on the bike.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • 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 – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. 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
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Life Members for 2021 – At our AGM last Saturday I announced on behalf of the 2020 Committee the admission of Peter, Julian and Rob as life members of the club. It seems fitting that the very first life member is @elprez. For those who missed this auspicious occasion, have a read of this post.

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.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – It’s a great time of the year for cycling. Mornings are a little cooler and you get some of the best sun rises on the EBR rides, some just take your breath away. With the Easter break giving us a couple of extra cycling days, for those that are not going away, it looks like it’s going to be a great opportunity to get out on your bike with lots of choices. Good Friday we are spoiled with choice with either of the EBR, VP or public holiday ride to choose from and again on Monday with EBR and/or the Public holiday ride. In between we have our normal Saturday and Sunday schedule. Whatever cycling you do over the long weekend, make it a good one and look after tour safety. Happy Easter everyone.

(Please note the Saturday Hills ride option will not be run this month due to the VP ride and the long weekend)

Saturday 3rd April

Sunday 4th April

Monday 5th April – Easter Monday

Tuesday 6th April

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 7th April

Thursday 8th April

Friday 9th April

SPR Life Members for 2021

At our AGM last Saturday I announced on behalf of the 2020 Committee the admission of Peter, Julian and Rob as life members of the club. It seems fitting that the very first life member is @elprez. For those who missed this auspicious occasion, have a read below of their citations.

Peter Mah

Peter was the inaugural President of the South Perth Rouleurs in 2009, and has been has been instrumental in the life and ethos of the club since that time. He was key in setting the original direction and has provided consistent, strong and visionary leadership in the role of President from inception through to his retirement from the Committee in 2021. In many ways, Peter’s involvement personally has provided the “face” of SPR in the eyes of both club members and the public. Peter was actively involved in the running of events, from the Water Tower Challenge (an innovation of the club and Peter in particular) through to the conduct of the “Tech Park Criteriums” that were a feature of the summer racing scene for a number of years. Notably, Peter has authored the club’s “ride routes blog” released every Thursday evening for many years, something that has become so much a part of the culture of the club that people get worried if the blog post runs late. Not to mention that over that time, Peter has also ridden 145,000 km. Peter was admitted as a Life Member of the South Perth Cycle Club in 2021.

Julian Johnson

Julian was an inaugural member of the South Perth Rouleurs in 2009 and Vice President from 2010. He has played a key role in the leadership of the club from that time until his retirement from the Committee in 2020. Julian has provided a steady hand and reliable advice to the club over that time. Throughout his tenure, Julian has been a consistent contributor to the club’s regular rides, always prepared to put up his hand and take responsibility for leading rides or taking steps to ensure that rides are safe and enjoyable. In addition to his contributions on and off the bike, during his time with SPR Julian has ridden 140,000 km, many of these in the Perth hills, his favourite. In recognition of this love, Julian was instrumental in starting the club’s Vice Presidents Ride which runs at Easter. Julian is known for his love of zinc and his willingness to wear maximally mismatching kit. Julian was admitted as a Life Member of the South Perth Cycle Club in 2021.

Rob Ramsden

Rob was an inaugural member of the South Perth Rouleurs in 2009, a member of the Committee 2012 through 2013, and then again from 2016 through 2020 taking on the Training and Development role. In particular, Rob was responsible for bringing his “day job” expertise to the club in the development and execution of the club’s Ride Leader Program. This program is an innovation of SPR that seeks to enable the club to put on regular group rides for which safety and organisation are highlights. The program enables the club to train ride leaders, and then promote and recognise them as a key part of club life. Rob was both the author and the driver behind this program, which has been hugely successful and is today a key part of the life, ethos and culture of the South Perth Rouleurs. Other notable contributions include work on the organising committee for the club’s 10-year anniversary as well as volunteering & marshalling for many of the club’s races & events. Rob has been a regular rider with club and a regular Ride Leader himself – though it is recognised by most that he is allergic to any form of inclement weather. Rob was admitted as a Life Member of the South Perth Cycle Club in 2021.

The 8th Annual Vice President’s Ride

On Good Friday, April 2, the annual Vice President’s Ride will take place. It should have been the 9th this year, but the pandemic had other plans for us in 2020. It will also be the first ride without Julian at the helm, although his 2019 appearance was just in a particularly fetching apron!

Starting at the Coode Street carpark at 6am (lights compulsory), we’ll head out along the old three dams course via Midland, then up Greenmount.

Ride route is available here – 149.8 km Road Cycling Route on Strava

Morning tea at Wungong Dam

There will be SHORT regroups after each climb, as time is of the essence to make it to Wungong Dam for the morning tea and photo opportunity.

Preferred dress code is national kit or (in honour of Julian!) mixed SPR kits.

The usual prize of free coffee for the most number of different SPR kit pieces will be on offer. For those short on time, you’re welcome to join us for parts of the ride and the route will be confirmed on the weekend.

Please leave a comment to let us know if you’ll be coming…we want to make sure there is a hot cross bun for everyone!

Ride routes 27th Mar – 2nd Apr

saturday morning at south perth

The end of and era.
Like any good TV show, at some stage it is easier to do a reminiscing “clip” show than write any new content. So after 13 years of writing a blog, this is my final entry… for now.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/01/04/where-this-all-began/
Before SPR, I was running group rides out of a shop. There was very little organisation but also, very few people to organise. This is the very first post. Previous to this, I used to email out the ride routes.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/01/13/sunday-13th-jan-greenmount-parkerville-mundaring/
Some of the early blog posts were just recaps of the group rides. This is how I would spend my afternoons after the rides. So glad we stopped doing this. It was exhausting.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/03/03/jersey-design-part-01/
We started talking about a jersey for the group (Still not a club). Check out the comments on this post to see where the name came from.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/03/31/jersey-design-part-02/
First design of a kit.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/05/08/ride-routes-10th-11th-may/
First ride from the current starting location. At this point, I had no idea if anyone would turn up.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/10/04/saturday-4th-oct-spr-breakfast-ride/
Holding a quarterly breakfast was one of the events that we established early on. It was about getting the group together and supporting each other. There was food, coffee and lucky door prizes. These were held at my house until we had too many riders to fit in.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/03/05/ride-routes-7th-8th-mar-plus-inaugural-meeting/
The first post about becoming a club. Welcome to the South Perth Rouleurs.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/03/09/inaugural-meeting-of-the-roulettes/
Early meeting of the SPR Chicks. Back then they were the South Perth Roulettes. Some old faces and some young faces in these pics.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/05/11/1st-anniversary-the-year-in-review/
One year down and a review shows how small and naive we were. No way we could have predicted where we would be 10 years later.

This only gets us to the end of 2009.
I do, however, have 838 individual posts on this blog, so if you are really keen you can cure your insomnia pretty quickly.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/06/27/how-did-i-get-here/
This is my personal story as told just after the start of SPR. How little did I realise that my life and cycling would become more intertwined.

As I said at the start, this is the end of an era, but I am confident that I am leaving the running of the club in safe hands. Both Daniel and Ballam share my vision for what SPR is meant to be and I trust their judgement explicitly.
Whatever happens in the future, I am proud of what we have built from nothing and thankful for all the wonderful people that have supported it’s growth over the years. Thank you all for being part of my journey.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • 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 – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. 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
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Club AGM – Voting is currently open for this years AGM. The new committee needs endorsing and there are some changes to the constitution that require a vote. If you want a copy of the reports or have any questions of the outgoing committee, please use the links in the voting form and register so we have a tally of members that have voted. More info and links to the voting form can be found on the previous post.
The AGM on Saturday after the club ride will just be an information session based on what the results are from the online voting.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

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.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Congratulations to all those who took the ride leader quiz challenge last week on the subtle changes we made to avoid the roadworks on Kalamunda Rd over the Roe Highway. Feedback was really positive with some suggesting that it should be a permanent change to the route. It’s a sometimes route for us but we will consider it for next time we schedule it up again.
This Saturday we will be heading the exact opposite way towards Freo. Got to take advantage of the forecasted light ESE winds but we will finish with whatever strength the wind with it pushing us home.Sunday sees us trying to avoid the various routes offered in the Damns challenge. Most of these are to the south, with the 5 damns course pushing the furtherest north as it heads back up Welshpool. For those SPR regulars doing the Damns ride, good luck, looks like it’s going to be really nice weather for you. For those that want to join us, we will be sticking to the Kalamunda/Gooseberry area.
Whilst we are on Sunday rides our slower more social Sunday Hills ride group will continue as a trial through to the end of May if the numbers in the group stay strong. So if you still want to give hills riding a go or if you are keen to continue to build fitness, this is the ride for you. Keep a look out for the group which leaves from Coode Street after the other groups from 7am

Saturday 27th March

Sunday 28th March

Monday 29th March

Tuesday 30th March

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 31st March

Thursday 1st April

Friday 2nd April – Good Friday

2021 SPR AGM Voting

VOTE HERE

At last years AGM we introduced electronic voting as a way of negotiating the Covid restrictions around the size of gatherings. This year we wish to continue that as we feel that it gives better transparency on who voted in meetings and what their vote was. In a coffee shop scenario, a show of hands doesn’t guarantee that only financial members are engaged in the vote.

There are a couple of issues that need resolution from the membership and we are calling on all financial members to cast their vote for us.

The first is endorsing the new committee. As our constitution requires that the entire committee nominate each year, all positions need endorsement from the membership. This year sees 4 of the committee stepping down but luckily 4 members have put up their hand to serve. As such, the vote for committee is not so much to choose which members, but rather formally endorse them.

Secondly, as previously mentioned in the blog, there are a few minor modifications to the constitution that require members endorsement. These deal with the changes to the governing body for cycling and allow us to continue to operate and attract new members as we always have. An overview of the changes can be found on this previous post.

The survey itself is quite short and will be open till the end of the week. At that time, the new committee and changes can be formally presented at the official AGM on Saturday. There is also a section that allows any member to ask questions of the outgoing committee. So if you have any issues that you think should be raised in front of the membership, then feel free.

The electronic voting is via Google Forms and can be found here.

Ride routes 20th – 26th March

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how i write the blog post this week as there are a few things that need to be discussed. Primarily it is the AGM that we are holding next week in which we not only vote in a new committee, we also ratify some changes around how we operate, i.e. our constitution. As discussed last week, we need to make sure that we have a good cross-section of people representing the club so that all aspects of all quarters are taken into account. As such, I would request that a few more people from the novice to main 2 riding groups stick there hand up. You may notice below that there are a couple of vacancies. The more nominations we have, the better the democratic process. We require nominations to be in by tomorrow, Friday, as we will open up electronic voting this weekend to run for a week. That way the first order of business will be to ratify the new committee.
Another thing you may notice is that my name is not appearing on the list of nominations. I have had quite a few in depth discussions with a number of people about the club moving forward and I have decided that it is time for me to step away. Over ten years ago when we setup the club, there was no way that we ever envisioned that it would look like it does today. It is a testament to the hard work of the many, many people that have served on the committee over the years to have such a strong club. Not just in numbers, but also in the general organisation and running in which the cornerstones of the club can clearly be seen.
The last few years for me have been a bit of a juggle between work, family, training and the club. I said last year that I recognised that I had been a bit distant and made sure that re-engaged as much as possible. The Watertower Challenge, ToMR and Beverley was the big push at the end of last year but i guess that after so many years, I am just tired.
Some of the discussions that I have had, have been around succession planning and you will see that Daniel Harvey has nominated for President with Andrew Ballam as VP. These two individuals have not only been integral to the running of the club over the past few years, but I know that they have the best interests of the club at heart. I know that with these two, the club will continue to operate with the same ethos in which it was established. However, as per the constitution, anyone can nominate for any position, so we can, in fact, have multiple nominations for any of the 4 named positions.
This is obviously not good-bye from me. I am not moving away or stopping riding altogether, I just want to be part of the club and not feeling like I am the club.
So, we need a few more nominations to kick off 2021 and you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address. Don’t be surprised if a few of the current committee put the hard word on you before tomorrow.

Current Nominations –
Daniel Harvey – President
Andrew Ballam – Vice President
Shirley Vine – Treasurer
Sam Flockhart – Secretary
Greg Jones
Claire Tyrell
Steve Burns
Amanda Nabi
Tom Goerke
Vacant
Vacant

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • 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 – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. 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
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

2021 State Criterium Championships – You have until 7:30pm tonight to register for the state criterium championships. Held down at Rockingham and run by the Peel Districts club, there are both open and age group races to cover all. If you can’t race, head on down to watch and cheer on the riders a they compete for a state title. Entry is via the EntryBoss link here.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – We have just announced the date for this years club AGM as the 27th March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved.
Similar to last years Covid restricted voting, we will again hold our voting via an online platform. This allows all members the opportunity to cast their vote during the week leading up to the AGM. The new committee is then announced as one of the first orders of business at the start of the official AGM on the day.
Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.
Check out the previous post for more info, but you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

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.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – So this week there will be a quiz delivered to all riders by the ride leaders for our main ride . But I’m going to give you all a heads up on what the question will be. It’s one that you’ve probably heard many times if you listen in to the ride leader briefings, so you should be able to ace the exam this week. The question is: “Who’s familiar with the ride route this week” or the variation “ Who knows the ride route for this week”. If you answer “Holmes Rd” without looking at the route first, you will get only a half mark. If you answer, Holmes Road but with a variation to take out road works on Kalamunda rd and Tonkin Hwy, you can claim bragging rights! So please note for this ride that the group will be turning right from Kalamunda rd into Midland rd and NOT going straight ahead into the road works zone. So please do yourself a favor (and probably for those that don’t read down this far), please note the subtle change to the ride route and turn down Midland. And please pass this note on to your fellow riders if they do not know. It will save confusion and potential crashes if you do.

Saturday 20th March

Sunday 21st March

Monday 22nd March

Tuesday 23rd March

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 24th March

Thursday 25th March

Friday 26th March

Ride routes 13th – 19th March

Left to right: Mike Bonner, Luke Ellis, Anna Massey, Jordan Brock, Peter Mah, Meg Thomas, Andrew Ballam, Daniel Harvey, Julian Johnson

This is a photo of the 2013 committee being as dysfunctional as possible. It is the earliest photo of a committee that I could find on the website but it does show a couple of things. Firstly is consistency as there are a few members that that are still on the current committee and have been part of the journey from the early years. Secondly is that people are helping and directing things, which is exactly what the committee is about. It may often seem like things take a while to get done, but this is because we are always making sure that everyone’s interests are being taken into account. The committee is making decisions on how the club runs, looks and acts. It is important that we get a good cross-section of our membership to be involved. We are now calling for nominations for the 2021 committee so if you would like to get involved make sure you put your name forward. If you think that you are part of the club that is under-represented, make sure you get someone nominated that will be your voice. There is a state election this Saturday and regardless of whether it will be a whitewash or not, it is your chance to have a say. Our election is only a couple of weeks later and it is also your chance to influence the running of the club.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • 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 – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. 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
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – We have just announced the date for this years club AGM as the 27th March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved.
Similar to last years Covid restricted voting, we will again hold our voting via an online platform. This allows all members the opportunity to cast their vote during the week leading up to the AGM. The new committee is then announced as one of the first orders of business at the start of the official AGM on the day.
Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.
Check out the previous post for more info, but you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

Renae’s Race & Henk Vogel Snr Memorial – Entries close at midnight tonight for one of the biggest criteriums of the season. Both races celebrate the life of people that made in impact on cycling in Perth. Similar to last year, the premier women’s race is sponsored by club/committee member Teneal Attard through her Chaotic Energy gym. Run by RCCC these races will be held on a closed course at the Driver Risk Management Centre at the airport. There is already a big contingent of SPR riders entered and the tent and van will also be onsite for support. Check out the entryboss page but remember, you only have a few hours left to get involved.

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.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – So if you’ve been riding in Perth at all over the last 10 days, chances are that you’ve noticed a bit of moisture in the air. Conditions like this can be so deceiving that you don’t drink enough but lose plenty! Argh! Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we would miss those dry easterlies. (Got me thinking as a cyclist are we ever completely happy with conditions) ????
Well thankfully it appears we are in for a change back to the dryer conditions for our Saturday and Sunday rides this week.
Whilst we are taking about Sunday Hills rides, feedback from the riders on the slower hills ride last weekend was really positive and numbers were good. So if the humidity was a factor in you not trying it out last weekend, this weekend should be a lot better. We are hoping that this ride becomes a “regular” during the coming months and that relies on the numbers showing up from a safety point of view. So if you are thinking of it, the plan is for it to be on again this weekend.
Whatever riding you choose to do, make it a safe and enjoyable one!

Saturday 13th March

Sunday 14th March

Monday 15th March

Tuesday 16th March

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 17th March

Thursday 18th March

Friday 19th March

Minor change to the constitution

Fair warning…this post may be boring enough to put you to sleep, but it is important.

With the arrival of AusCycling on the scene we have a situation where there are now effectively two peak bodies for cycling in Western Australia…both offering membership of South Perth Cycle Club. The way our constitution reads at the moment you can only actually be an ordinary member, and therefore able to vote on club issues or run for committee, if you sign up through AusCycling. We know that some members would prefer to sign up through WESTCYCLE, and in order for those members to have the same rights as AusCycling members we need to make a couple of small tweaks to the constitution.

Our plan is to amend rules 12.2 and 12.3, and to introduce a by-law to inform rule 12.3.1 which will make it easier to adjust access to membership if the peak bodies change again. We plan to make the necessary changes to the constitution at the upcoming AGM, so this post is notice of our intention to make the required changes.


Current constitution rules

12.2 The annual membership fee for all classes of membership shall be determined by the Committee. All members must pay their membership fees on joining or after that on the date fixed for payment in each year.

12.3 Membership of the Club shall consist of the following —
      12.3.1 Ordinary Member – any person that holds a licence under the governing body of cycling in Western Australia and is a financial member of the Club. If that person holds a licence and is a member of another cycling club then they cannot be considered as an ordinary member.
      12.3.2 Extraordinary Member – any persons other than Ordinary Members who are interested in promoting the Club may become an Extraordinary Member. This includes people that hold a licence but are also Members of another club.
      12.3.3 Junior Member – any person under the age of 18 years may become a Junior Member. Junior Members shall have no voting rights nor be entitled to hold any office.
      12.3.4 Life Member – any Member may nominate a person to the Committee for consideration for Life Membership. The Committee will determine if a nominee should be granted Life Membership based on criteria set out in the Club’s by-laws.

Proposed news rules

12.2 The annual membership fee for all classes of membership shall be determined by the Committee. All members must pay their membership fees on joining or after that on the designated due date to maintain membership.

12.3 Membership of the Club shall consist of the following —
      12.3.1 Ordinary Member – any person that
            (a) holds an approved membership under one of the peak cycling bodies for Western Australia as designated in the Club’s by-laws; and
            (b) has nominated the Club as their primary club for the purposes of that membership.
      12.3.2 Extraordinary Member – any persons other than Ordinary Members who are interested in promoting the Club may become an Extraordinary Member. This includes people that hold an approved membership under 12.3.1(a) but are otherwise not eligible to be an Ordinary Member of the Club.
      12.3.3 Junior Member – any person under the age of 18 years may become a Junior Member. Junior Members shall have no voting rights nor be entitled to hold any office.
      12.3.4 Life Member – any Member may nominate a person to the Committee for consideration for Life Membership. The Committee will determine if a nominee should be granted Life Membership based on criteria set out in the Club’s by-laws.
            12.3.4.1 Life Membership does not preclude a member from also being an Ordinary Member.

Proposed by-law

2 Recognised peak cycling bodies for Western Australia (rule 12.3.1)
2.1 Pursuant to rule 12.3.1 (a) the Club designates ‘recognised peak cycling bodies for Western Australia’, for the purposes of Club membership.
2.2 The intent of this designation is to ensure that members are;
            a) provided with membership options that best suit their likely participation level;
            b) are insured to the satisfaction of the Committee; and
            c) are able to claim Ordinary Membership of the Club consistent with rule 12.3 of the Constitution.
2.3 Designated recognised peak cycling bodies and associated memberships for Western Australia are;
      2.3.1 AusCycling Limited
            a) Lifestyle or Race memberships, or equivalent, that includes at least Third Party Public Liability Insurance.
      2.3.2 WESTCYCLE Incorporated
            a) Ride Membership, or equivalent, that includes at least Third Party Public Liability Insurance.
2.4 In rule 12.3.1 (b) the term ‘primary club’ means that a member has selected South Perth Cycle Club Inc. as their first club when establishing or renewing their membership with one of the recognised peak cycling bodies as identified in section 2.3 of this by-law. It demonstrates an intention by the member to associate themselves first and foremost with the South Perth Cycle Club Inc. in cycling related matters.

Notice of AGM

The South Perth Cycle Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday 27 March 2021 at 9:00am. This will be held at DOME Westralia Plaza (5/167 St Georges Terrace, Perth) following the usual Saturday ride.

COVID-19 considerations mean that we won’t be having the buffet breakfast available that has been a part of AGMs in previous years.

Each year at the AGM all office holder and general committee positions are declared vacant. In order to keep the club moving forward and meet the needs of all, it is important that the SPR committee is representative of our broad membership.

Initial indications are that the club will need at least 2 new committee members for 2021.

Positions on the committee include:

  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretary
  • Race committee representative
  • Kit committee representative
  • Community committee representative
  • Training and development representative
  • General committee members

There is also an opportunity to assist the club on the following sub-committees, and new volunteers are always welcome:

  • Race sub-committee
  • Kit sub-committee
  • Community sub-committee
  • Women’s interests sub-committee
  • Training and development sub-committee

If you are interested in joining (or continuing on) the main committee or one of the sub-committees, please email admin@southperthrouleurs.com.au.

Please note that to be a committee member or to vote at the AGM you must be a current financial member. You can sort your membership out  here.

Nominations are due by Friday, 19 March 2021.

After the success of last year’s enforced trial of online voting we will again be holding our Committee election virtually, with the results being declared at the AGM. Voting will commence on 20 March 2021 and conclude on 26 March 2021. All members eligible to vote will receive an email at the beginning of the voting period to advise them how to place their votes.

Constitution Amendment

At this year’s AGM members will also be asked to vote on a minor change to our constitution which clarifies some membership issues. The change is outlined in another blog post on the club website.

Ride routes 6th – 12th March

As if life for a cyclist isn’t hard enough. We are abused by drivers for being on the road and abused by pedestrians for being on the path. Now even the paths don’t seem that safe for cyclists. A number of cyclists in our group have had run in’s with the scooter riders using the path and on Wednesday, I did as well. They were travelling along south bound between Raffles and Mt Henry spitting at people as they went by. When I saw them line me up I gave them a squirt in the face with the water bottle. Apparently, they can dish it out, but were not happy to have it back at them as they decided to chase after me. However, doing a U-turn on a scooter with 3 people, whilst on a bike path is not the easiest thing, so i was up over a bridge before they caught me. So, yes, their actions can be dangerous, but make sure your actions do not put you in a worse situation. Being collected by a scooter at speed would not be a nice way to end a ride.
For the non-moving hazards on the paths, the City of Melville have installed speed humps on the path on the south-west side of the Canning bridge, adjacent to the rowing sheds. Now if these were hot mix humps that are similar to the path, it would not be too bad. They are however, hard plastic bolted down and in a pattern to cover the extent of the path. These are the type of humps that can easily throw inexperienced riders over the handlebars or, if wet, cause their wheels to slip out from under them. Not only that, they are not safe from a pedestrian point of view as they create a significant trip hazard (the very people they think they are protecting).
So, if you are using the road, be careful. If you are using the path, be careful. If you are riding a bike, be careful.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • 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 – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. 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
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – Keep an eye out for details of this years club AGM to be held in March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved. Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.

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.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Looks like the weather is finally going to clear for riding this weekend and the current forecast is for light winds which gives us a lot of choice for this weekends ride routes so our main ride will be heading north this Saturday for a ride route we haven’t done in a while – Scarbs Beach and the double header hill up Hale road.
Speaking of hills, we have a few extra options for members and riders this weekend. It is the first Saturday of the month so we will be offering the Saturday Hills ride leaving Coode Street car park at 6.30am, so if you’re keen, lock it in.
Also this Sunday we will be offering up a slower paced short hills ride. Whilst it will follow the same route as the other short hills group, it will be at a slower pace to the main group and we are hoping to attract any riders who haven’t ridden in hills for a while or any who want to give it a go. It’s expected that you will be able to ride M3 pace comfortably and aimed at M2-M3 riders. We’ve also chosen a short hills route that is relatively quiet (no screaming car engines heading up Welshpool) but nonetheless has its challenges (ie Ridgehill, Zig Zag and Mundaring Weir rd). If this sounds like something you want to try, join us at Coode Street on Sunday at 7am.

Saturday 6th March

Sunday 7th March

Monday 8th March

Tuesday 9th March

  • Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
  • Ride starts Frasers ave at 5:45am
    • Development group – interval training kings park

Wednesday 10th March

Thursday 11th March

Friday 12th March

The website for the South Perth Cycle Club