As you may know, I had an accident in December last year that forced me being off the bike for almost two months. I missed lots of opportunities to represent green jersey at the crit season and few other races. However, taking that as the (proper) off-season and long (super long) holidays without bike riding, I have been watching our awesome SPR Women participating in events and racing throughout the season, and enjoying our monthly SPR Chicks ride. That is just fabulous! I really want to thank all amazing ladies for all kinds of support to the club and our group so far. So… let’s have a look at all recent updates from our SPR Chicks.
Sunday 21st February 2021 we had our first out of lycra event for the SPR Chicks. Approximately 35 fabulous members gathered at the Camfield for drinks, nibbles and few laughs whilst watching the sun go down. The SPR Women’s Sub-committee met beforehand to plan out some of the initiatives and events for the year. It was a great afternoon. Stay tuned for the next one.
SPR Chicks Social Ride & Coffee. We had our first monthly ride last year in October. It was our fourth ride on last Friday! Our aim is to encourage everyone, new or familiar faces, to come and join us for an easy ride with good vibes and catch up for coffee. This is an easy pace ride, conversational pace. Roadies, flat bar, MTB does not matter. Just spin with us and enjoy the ride. We love to meet you all awesome ladies! The next monthly ride will be posted in our Facebook group and website soon. Feel free to contact us at women@southperthrouleurs.com.au for any enquiries.
Meet Our Women Initiative. “To be inspired and get to know each other more…” SPR Women’s Sub-committee proudly to present this project. We have shared the great story from our amazing ladies in our SPR Chicks Facebook group. We may have been riding together almost every weekend for years but… there could be some stories that we never know! How and what has brought us together in the cycling community. The most memorable experience that could inspire you in so many ways. Those are our key messages we want to share from this initiative. Visit our SPR Chicks Facebook group and check out all wonderful stories.
SPR Women Racing. We have had many SPR members representing the club in the race in both green jersey and the cycling team. What a great achievement! We got podiums almost every weekend! (believe it or not) Crit season, Track cycling, Mountain bike races and more. Super stoked to see you all ladies standing on the podium everytime. (That has given me super positive energy to get back in the race asap) Cyclocross and road races are coming soon. Stay tuned for more updates. Of course if you are interested in racing but not sure where to start, feel free to email us at women@southperthrouleurs.com.au
Thank you.
SPR Women’s Interest Committee and Sub-committee ????
Calm sunrises with a bit more than a hint of humidity make for fast mornings on the bike. For the weekday earlybird rides, lights are now mandatory and please remember to set them to solid (non-flash) to minimise the discomfort to other riders. As for the weekend, the Sunday hills will have it’s final 6am start as we move back to 7am starts from March onwards. The expected sunrise times are now later than 6am and the days should start cooling down. The SPR kit order also closes on Monday 1st March so anticipate that cooler weather meaning you will need arm warmers or long sleeve jerseys. Make sure you get your order in as every year, those that start riding over summer get caught out on that first cold morning.
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.
SPR Chicks Friday Ride – Social ride starting at the Narrows Bridge (city side) 6AM 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 will be an organised club ride (last Friday of each month) and be posted to the SPR club page. The ride route will be posted on both the main club website and also on this chicks FB page. All riders are welcome and encouraged. Flat bar, roadies, MTB does not matter. Come and join us! Event details here.
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 – 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.
SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.
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 – Alright! It’s a long weekend (you gotta love the first half of the year don’t you – all these delicious public holidays!) For us cycling tragics that just means enjoying a few more hours in the saddle with friends. The club caters for all 3 days with riding options so if you are at a loose end, come and join us on the Saturday main ride, followed by a “jaunt” in the hills on Sunday (Greenmount hopefully more quiet on a Sunday over a long weekend) and top it off with our tried and true reverse river loop ride on the Monday. Do all 3 and you’ll be nudging 200ks. Add the EBRs in then you’ll be really cracking on towards your yearly distance goals. Or perhaps just choose the ones you want to. Oh yeah! Heads up ! Over Easter we are looking at the possibility of introducing another public holiday ride route option but more about that closer to the time. Whatever riding you choose to do over the weekend, hopefully it includes one of our options. Happy AND safe riding!
Saturday 27th February
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
All good things come to an end. Even though a few weeks ago I wrote about the Beverley weekend no longer running, I thought it was still important to recognise what made it a successful event. Besides Toby Hodgson’s tireless efforts to turn and idea into a full cycling weekend, it was the elements that I see in this photo that epitomise the event. The stark blue skies, and dry countryside were evident for a number of years (expect the year the hailstorm hit). The rolling hills and dead roads are so typical of the area, well of most country roads really. People like Daniela Tommasi have been involved with the event for years and have captured many a great picture to act as a reminder. And finally, the green. The event would not run without the teams of volunteers that returned year after year to make it run smoothly whether it was a road race or ttt. And of course the teams themselves. Teamwork makes the dream work.
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 – 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.
SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.
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 – I love the honest feedback you get from the conversations after the ride. After last week’s choice of ride route (hands up those who noticed the golf course 😉 ) I got the full range of responses from “it’s a great hill isn’t it” to “I hope I never see that thing again (you know who you are)! I think I’ll push my luck again this week because this one is “the quiet achiever” as far as elevation goes. Ostensibly it appears to be flat but that’s only after the half way mark. For those groups that go flat out, doesn’t really matter what you throw at them, it’s all an opportunity to go fast, hills or not. But this one gets the heart rate going in it’s second quarter with good old Stock Rd and the undulations around O’Connor. If you’ve got anything left in the tank after that, then it tests you with fast roll throughs along its namesake, Nicholson Rd and finally the Albany Hwy. Yes – it’s a favourite of mine, yes it’s South Street! Been waiting for those strong easterlies to settle before scheduling so this weekend it’s forecast for light winds. Enjoy!
Saturday 20th February
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
It was certainly a little cooler on the ride this morning and definitely darker for the 5:30am start. As we head towards the cooler months make sure that you have the right kit to tackle the earlybird rides. The current kit order closes on March 1 so this is your opportunity to make sure that you get the cold weather kit BEFORE it gets cold. Every year we see the same thing. People that have taken up riding over the sunnier, warmer months turning blue on the first real cold Saturday morning. They only do that once. 🙂 Don’t underestimate what a difference an undergarment makes to your comfort on a ride. Branded to show that you bleed green.
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.
Transition week – The period between full lock-down and what we had before is our current transition week. Most places will be open, but masks will be required when not doing vigorous exercise. Community sport for up to 150 people is allowed and we can travel outside our neighbourhood for more than an hour. This is a small price to pay for the freedoms that we have been allowed especially in relation to other countries or even other states. One more week of positive outcomes and we can return to the lifestyle which we have grown accustomed to.
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.
SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.
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.
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 – Hopefully last weekend’s weather event pushed the reset button on those wicked easterly winds that have dried out our environment. It’s nice to see the color green return to our lawns and hopefully there will be lots of SPR green seen in the hills this weekend as we offer our popular (but delayed) Saturday morning hills option. Great timing for all those training to ride the Kalamunda 100 for the following weekend. If you are planning to go, don’t forget departure time is 30 minutes earlier from the car park to get you back to the coffee shop in time. We will also be running the same Sunday Hills ride options (Zig Zag) that we had scheduled up last weekend which nobody rode because of the weather. For those who want to stick to the metro main ride, we will be enjoying watching the green fairways of the Western Australian Golf Club slip buy as we climb Cresswell road (I’m sure that some don’t even realise there is a golf club to you left as you climb the hill !). Whatever you choose, make it a safe and enjoyable ride and don’t forget to pack your mask if your planning on stopping for coffee. Hopefully we also get to push the reset button on the restrictions after Saturday as well !
Saturday 13th February
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
As per the premier’s announcement last night, the restrictions on Perth will be eased at 6pm tonight (Friday). This means that we are no longer limited to the 1 hour exercise, with housemates only, within a 5km radius of your home and fully masked up. What we will be moving to is a week of transition. A week where business’s can open and community sport can resume albeit with some limitations. We still have a week of masks, but you do not have to wear one during vigorous exercise. This means that we will resume group rides and during the rides you DO NOT have to wear a mask. However, before and after the rides, if you are standing around talking you MUST have a mask on. If you are going to the coffee shop afterwards, you MUST have a mask. So therefore, if you are going to come on one of our group rides, you MUST have a mask with you. We understand that some people may not be comfortable with group riding yet, and that choice is yours to make, but political statements or conspiracy theories about masks or Covid-19 will not be tolerated. If you want to ride, bring a mask with you. Let us negotiate through this week and hopefully we can then enjoy another 10 months of semi-normal lifestyle.
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.
Transition week – The period between full lock-down and what we had before is our current transition week. Most places will be open, but masks will be required when not doing vigorous exercise. Community sport for up to 150 people is allowed and we can travel outside our neighbourhood for more than an hour. This is a small price to pay for the freedoms that we have been allowed especially in relation to other countries or even other states. One more week of positive outcomes and we can return to the lifestyle which we have grown accustomed to.
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.
SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.
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.
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 – They say a week is a long time in politics, well politics has got nothing when your under restrictions of a pandemic. But with restrictions easing enough to open up a ride and the community shutting down to prepare for a deep low to hit, is anything normal anymore. Whilst not exactly the same, we are delighted to advise that we will be running our rides (not quite under normal conditions) this weekend for those who want to brave the conditions. So if you’ve been cooped up or on Zwift all week, this may be your first chance to ride in a while. Enjoy it, but please ride safely and in line with regulations. Note: Dome will be open at the end of the ride, but please understand that masks will need to be worn after the ride, you will need to have the QR scanning code and there is the 4sqm rule reapplied so please be aware of these things. Please note that this weekend’s Sat Hills ride option will be delayed until next weekend.
Saturday 6th February
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Wow, the end of January already. As we move into the end of summer, there is still lots of racing and riding to go. Both Peel and RCCC have crits on around Rockingham and Baywater as well as the West Coast Masters races for those that are old enough. For those that want a challenge without the race number, Feb and Mar give a good opportunity to train up for the Dams Challenge. Make use of the nice weather and get stronger by riding into that damn easterly.
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.
SPR Chicks Social Ride & Coffee – Social ride starting at 5:45am 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. All riders welcome and encouraged. Please congregate on the bike path under the bridge and try and keep out of way of oncoming cyclists / pedestrians. 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. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to post a message! Ride route is here and Facebook event here.
SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.
AusCycling Memberships – As of November this 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.
Licence renewals – Most race licences will expire at the end of the year, or a bit after. Due to the change over between Cycling Australia and AusCycling, your membership will not automatically renew. Please make sure that you ensure that you are covered and renew you licence as soon as possible. You may not worry about racing for a while, but if you are still riding the group rides, then it will make sure you are covered till then. You can also take the opportunity to change clubs if you so desire – by that I mean change to South Perth, not leave us for another club :(. See the link to the membership page above. It is all pretty easy to follow, but reach put of you have trouble.
Tandem Pilots needed – NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEER TANDEM PILOTS FOR VISION-IMPAIRED CYCLING – Next skills clinic Sunday 31 January. Visit www.watcac.org/events for details and to register interest. We are a tandem cycling community that supports blind and vision impaired road cycling. We welcome all enquiries but particularly from women cyclists for this intake. We pair new pilots with blind and vision impaired riders for our fantastic 2021 Sunday cycling program. On Sunday 31st January our morning clinic will teach you how to ride up front on a tandem and partner with a blind or vision impaired stoker. No other prerequisites, just a willingness to share your love of cycling. Can’t make the 31st? Then follow us on Facebook @WATCAC Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council or visit watcac.org
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 adhere to the new gathering regulations, we need to slightly change the meeting points of the groups. There is a 100 person gathering limit and when all groups are combined, we often exceed that when everyone is waiting for the start. There was a discussion about different start times for different groups, but what we settled on was moving half the groups to different sides of the carpark. This is not ideal as there are usually more cars using the eastern most parks, but we will just have to work around that for now. We understand that the COVID risk isn’t high, but it is more about how the club is viewed from outside. So, please congregate in the assigned locations, so we can continue to hold group rides in the future.
From the Ride Coordinator – Didn’t take long did it! This time last week we were celebrating the reprieve from the easterlies. Well they are back this weekend so we are heading East early in the ride again to hopefully enjoy the cruise home with the wind behind us. For all you “flat trackers” I’ll issue an apology straight up ! So whilst Hale and Ridgehill do not carry the title of the hardest hills to climb it’s fair to say it’s not flat country out that way and there is some elevation to navigate from the turn of Hale Rd to the bottom of the ZigZag. However, when you get to that point just know that most do the pain will be forgotten by the time you get back to the coffee shop as you cruise home. Enjoy one of our more challenging rides!
Saturday 30th January
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
The club kit order portal is open again. You can access the order portal via the links on the club kit webpage – here. Remember that you need to be a current SPR member to be eligible to purchase club kit.
The current order will close on 1 March, so now is the time to br thinking about your autumn and winter kit needs.
There will be four opportunities to purchase kit in 2021, with orders closing on;
So the days have been hot and windy and it certainly feels like summer. The reprieve from the easterly’s that dominated the past 3 or more weeks is welcomed, but it feels like we still have lots of summer to go. We have, however, past the summer solstice, which was the longest day of the year. That means that from that day on, our days have actually been getting shorter. Official sunrise is now 5:32am which means that we start our earlybird ride a couple of minutes before this. Not that it is totally dark, but first light is now 5:05am which on a cloudy morning, may seem even later. So, what this is about, is safety and making sure that you get to our rides in one piece. We are not yet at the point in which lights are required for the earlybird rides, but you may need some type of lighting device if you are commuting to a pre-sunrise start. It doesn’t have to be much, just a small flasher that means cars can see you, but you can then turn off once you start the group ride. Make sure you stay safe at all times out there, especially early mornings when a tired/distracted driver may not be looking out for you.
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.
SPR kit collection – The latest run of the kit will be ready to collect at the Dome after the Saturday ride this week. If you miss that, it will be either available at R&D Speedshop or posted out depending on your preference when you ordered. The next order will open soon and will be part of our quarterly ordering cycle. Look out for more info on the website in the near future (like probably tomorrow).
AusCycling Memberships – As of November this 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.
Licence renewals – Most race licences will expire at the end of the year, or a bit after. Due to the change over between Cycling Australia and AusCycling, your membership will not automatically renew. Please make sure that you ensure that you are covered and renew you licence as soon as possible. You may not worry about racing for a while, but if you are still riding the group rides, then it will make sure you are covered till then. You can also take the opportunity to change clubs if you so desire – by that I mean change to South Perth, not leave us for another club :(. See the link to the membership page above. It is all pretty easy to follow, but reach put of you have trouble.
Tandem Pilots needed – NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEER TANDEM PILOTS FOR VISION-IMPAIRED CYCLING – Next skills clinic Sunday 31 January. Visit www.watcac.org/events for details and to register interest. We are a tandem cycling community that supports blind and vision impaired road cycling. We welcome all enquiries but particularly from women cyclists for this intake. We pair new pilots with blind and vision impaired riders for our fantastic 2021 Sunday cycling program. On Sunday 31st January our morning clinic will teach you how to ride up front on a tandem and partner with a blind or vision impaired stoker. No other prerequisites, just a willingness to share your love of cycling. Can’t make the 31st? Then follow us on Facebook @WATCAC Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council or visit watcac.org
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 adhere to the new gathering regulations, we need to slightly change the meeting points of the groups. There is a 100 person gathering limit and when all groups are combined, we often exceed that when everyone is waiting for the start. There was a discussion about different start times for different groups, but what we settled on was moving half the groups to different sides of the carpark. This is not ideal as there are usually more cars using the eastern most parks, but we will just have to work around that for now. We understand that the COVID risk isn’t high, but it is more about how the club is viewed from outside. So, please congregate in the assigned locations, so we can continue to hold group rides in the future.
From the Ride Coordinator – Well I’m not normally one to complain about weather but today I am going to comment that thankfully we won’t be riding into those strong easterlies for this weekend’s main ride! Woo Hoo! (Although I must say that there were quite a few Strava PRs I noted for the segments along Welshpool Rd last weekend) Anyway, this weekend the forecast is for the opposite so we will be heading to the coast for the first part of the ride and hoping for the push home, so the scenery will be a little different. This ride route is one that we haven’t done in a while, primarily because the stretch of road through the left bank has been redesigned and resurfaced to take out some of the old style bollards that caught many a rider in a group unawares. For those that have recently ridden the Public Holiday route that goes through there, they will know that whilst the road surface to ride on has dramatically improved, there is a still a few spots where the new “road furniture” can still be problematic to navigate if your not expecting it. So, because we haven’t ridden the route in a while, please take the time to familiarise yourself with the route and the section referred to above. If not for your own personal safety, but for the safety of your fellow riders. Let’s enjoy the reprieve from the easterlies this weekend, have fun and ride safely.
Saturday 23rd January
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
The Rover Road Race of 1897 was the brainchild of Percy Armstrong, noted rider and entrepreneurial owner of the Rover Cycling Agency. The gruelling event of 116 miles over rough turn of the century roads proved popular and was later re-named The Beverley to Perth Race – or simply the “Beverley”. The Beverley was reinvented 7 years ago by SPR club member Toby Hodgson when he started the Beverley Heroic. It was an event that tried to capture the spirit of old bikes and dirt roads into a challenge for cyclists caught up in an age of carbon and lycra. Over that time it morphed into a complete weekend of cycling which was embraced by the towns of the Avon Valley. The Heroic was joined by a road race, CX race, kids town ride, and historic bike show. Toby worked hard to secure government grants and funding to support the weekend and worked closely with different clubs and organisations to help them see success for their events. Unfortunately, the 2020 weekend was the last for the Heroic. The Sunday Heroic and Gravel rides cannot run with Traffic management costs lifting the entry price too high. Sunday riders and grants funded the weekends support to all events. Without that support the Race, CX, camping and Retro Bike show are a financial risk to their organisers. So it is with great sadness that we see the end to another cycling event in WA. SPR are currently looking into alternative locations to run the team time trial event as it provided a good warmup for the Tour of Margs. There will be a bit of a void, however, for that niche event that wanted to recreate something from the past. The club would like to thank Toby Hodgson for all his efforts over the past years and for having the vision to build something different.
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 this 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.
Licence renewals – Most race licences will expire at the end of the year, or a bit after. Due to the change over between Cycling Australia and AusCycling, your membership will not automatically renew. Please make sure that you ensure that you are covered and renew you licence as soon as possible. You may not worry about racing for a while, but if you are still riding the group rides, then it will make sure you are covered till then. You can also take the opportunity to change clubs if you so desire – by that I mean change to South Perth, not leave us for another club :(. See the link to the membership page above. It is all pretty easy to follow, but reach put of you have trouble.
Tandem Pilots needed – NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEER TANDEM PILOTS FOR VISION-IMPAIRED CYCLING – Next skills clinic Sunday 31 January. Visit www.watcac.org/events for details and to register interest. We are a tandem cycling community that supports blind and vision impaired road cycling. We welcome all enquiries but particularly from women cyclists for this intake. We pair new pilots with blind and vision impaired riders for our fantastic 2021 Sunday cycling program. On Sunday 31st January our morning clinic will teach you how to ride up front on a tandem and partner with a blind or vision impaired stoker. No other prerequisites, just a willingness to share your love of cycling. Can’t make the 31st? Then follow us on Facebook @WATCAC Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council or visit watcac.org
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 adhere to the new gathering regulations, we need to slightly change the meeting points of the groups. There is a 100 person gathering limit and when all groups are combined, we often exceed that when everyone is waiting for the start. There was a discussion about different start times for different groups, but what we settled on was moving half the groups to different sides of the carpark. This is not ideal as there are usually more cars using the eastern most parks, but we will just have to work around that for now. We understand that the COVID risk isn’t high, but it is more about how the club is viewed from outside. So, please congregate in the assigned locations, so we can continue to hold group rides in the future.
From the Ride Coordinator – Early forecasts from our friends at the BOM suggest a return of those “fresh” easterly winds for this Saturday’s ride. You remember them don’t you? 2 weeks ago when we did Morley Drive, the group I was cycling with caught one of those “fresh” gusts whilst riding and back at the coffee shop, we reflected on the admirable skills of the riders to stay upright. This got me thinking about 3 top of mind things to consider whilst group riding in windy conditions. 1/- Communications and calling is always more difficult due to the noise in your ears so make sure you call hazards forward and back and PLEASE pass them on if you hear something being called. 2/- Whilst keeping the group tight in the peloton is always good in windy conditions, half wheeling is an absolute no no. I was literally blown sideways 2 weeks ago so please allow enough space so as to eliminate touching wheels. 3/- Don’t forget to always look up, around and past the person in front of you, even as you’ve got your teeth gritted and your head down pushing into the wind. Just like driving a car, if you’re only just looking at the wheel in front of you, you’ll miss what’s happening ahead and rely on reaction time only to keep you out of trouble. It only takes a moment of inattention for something to go wrong. Please stay safe and look after your fellow riders
Saturday 16th January
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
With the formation of AusCycling there is now an additional level of membership available for riders to take out. Similar to our Extraordinary membership, the Club Add-On allows people to support another club even if they are not primary members of that club. The purpose of our Extraordinary membership was to allow people that were already members of another organisation or club, to loosely affiliate with SPR to be able to purchase kit or just provide a way of supporting the club. The Club Add-On now formalises this approach for people within the AusCycling system. This is now important as a Race all discipline licence allows you to be a member of BMX or MTB clubs, but many people still ride and train on road bikes. Our club has always been set up as a primary training/group ride club and we readily accept people from other clubs to come and ride with us. The Club Add-On gives regular riders from other clubs an opportunity to formally support the club and it’s activities. Conversely, it also give our members the opportunity to support other clubs. If you regularly race the Peel or RCCC crits, then consider the Club Add-On option as a way that you can support those clubs to continue to provide services to you as a rider.
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 this 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.
Licence renewals – Most race licences will expire at the end of the year, or a bit after. Due to the change over between Cycling Australia and AusCycling, your membership will not automatically renew. Please make sure that you ensure that you are covered and renew you licence as soon as possible. You may not worry about racing for a while, but if you are still riding the group rides, then it will make sure you are covered till then. You can also take the opportunity to change clubs if you so desire – by that I mean change to South Perth, not leave us for another club :(. See the link to the membership page above. It is all pretty easy to follow, but reach put of you have trouble.
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 adhere to the new gathering regulations, we need to slightly change the meeting points of the groups. There is a 100 person gathering limit and when all groups are combined, we often exceed that when everyone is waiting for the start. There was a discussion about different start times for different groups, but what we settled on was moving half the groups to different sides of the carpark. This is not ideal as there are usually more cars using the eastern most parks, but we will just have to work around that for now. We understand that the COVID risk isn’t high, but it is more about how the club is viewed from outside. So, please congregate in the assigned locations, so we can continue to hold group rides in the future.
From the Ride Coordinator – Wow, the world everywhere seems to be heating up right now and we are no different here in Perth with some scorching temperatures expected over the next few days. Good time to remind people to make sure they slip slop slap the sunscreen, hydrate well and look after your fellow riders if you are intending to ride this weekend. For those riding hills, looks like Sunday will be the pick of the days for riding. We’ve done our best to pick the best routes for safety this weekend but as bushfires are fluid by their very nature, please keep an eye out on DFES and emergency sites on the morning of your ride to make sure everything is OK for the ride route. Whatever riding you do this weekend, enjoy but take care in these difficult condition.
Saturday 9th January
Ride starts under the Narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
