so, as many of you may have seen, the spr kit committee has been tasked with reviewing our current kit, for both supplier and design. we have had the current design for around 5 years now and it has served us well to create the club identity. last order, however, very few people were purchasing kit, whether due to saturation limits, or brand, comfort/fit, etc.
it was decided to do a full review and tender out to the wider supplier base as well as our current supplier cannibal. the kit committee developed a supply requirements list of 12 points covering everything from sizing kits, order frequency, delivery options and online ordering.
instead of going out to different companies, we requested that if you knew someone in the industry, to get them to contact the club for a requirements list to tender against. in the end the following companies (alphabetically) submitted a tender –
Ale Cycling
Cannibal In-sport
Champion Systems
Mayeur
Pedal Mafia
Pedalare Cycling
Santini
Vermarc
we also sent a list to Presto, but they said that they couldn’t match our requirements, so we thank them for their honesty and professionalism.
as you can see there were a number of international as well as domestic companies that submitted. each outlined how they would meet our list as well as what range they could supply and what we would expect on price. the kit committee reviewed this as well as received feedback from others in the club of fit and quality from end users.
after a long process, and many discussions, the kit committees recommendation (which was endorsed by the spr committee) was to move forward with Mayeur as the new supplier.
Mayeur is a small local business with links back to spr. both the owners tom and john are spr members and therefore understand what is involved with supplying kit to a large club base. their tender went above the requirements list and offered a dedicated bike shop partner for sizing and collection of orders. this means that there will be no more coffee shop distribution as you can head to a shop front during usual trading hours (including weekends).
price was also competitive, as were most of the tenders, but it is the understanding of how we operate and a willingness to streamline our workflows that got them over the line. we do thank the other companies for their tenders and especially thank cannibal for being our partner for such a long period of time.
next steps are currently in play and we are working on a new design to hopefully be presented soon. this will coincide with a sizing kit supply which will be permanently located in one of perth’s premier bike shops. once this is all ready to go, an online portal will be activated and orders will be placed until around the end of the month. initially we will not be offering a full range of gear and are currently looking at 2 monthly orders, so you will be able to get winter gear next order.
we look forward to seeing how the clubs look will change in the future and also to growing together with Mayeur.
thursday morning, 5:30am, 22 deg, light winds. perfect riding conditions. the picture attached was from this weeks thursday training ride. it may not look like it, but if you do a count, there are over 80 people in this photo and a few more still coming down the path. numbers like this mean that we need to be aware of our group sizes on the road. if we allow the groups to remain too large, we take up more space, roll throughs can be more difficult, we get cut off at the lights, and cars can get more impatient. the ride leaders make an effort to split the groups to keep you safe, so please listen to them and follow directions when given. we are not there to tell you what type of rider you are, so if you don’t want to be in the third group, make sure you line up closer to the bridge.
Photo: DeCastro
come and try – this weekend at the RCCC crit at the driver training centre, there will be a “come and try” ride for any one that wants to see what crit racing is about. There will be both a men’s and women’s session with experienced riders to guide you around. follow the calendar link below to get more info on the event and times for each session.
Photo: DeCastro
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday RCCC and West Coast Masters are both running a criterium. an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
Mo, Tech, Numbers. Photo: Mo
spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out. check out the previous post for more information.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. my boys were a bit dissappointed last week as they were the only two that turned up to the juniors ride. they had to drown their sorrows in pancakes and bacon at the coffee shop afterwards. yes school has started, but make sure that the kids ride is part of your weekly routine.
from the ride coordinator – Great to see so many riders out last weekend enjoying the ride. We had some positive feedback from M3 and M4 about their rides which suggests that the introduction of M4 has been a success. With numbers swelling, so are the group sizes, which can bring its own challenges. The chances of things like splits at lights increase and communicating becomes a key to getting everyone back safely. Each group seems to have its own “etiquette” when it comes to communication but in my view, communicating up and down the line in the group is the cornerstone to enjoyment and safety. Whether it’s your hands or your voice, big group sizes call for strong communication. Next time you see the pro’s riding in an event, watch closely how they communicate. Obviously they think it’s OK to call, so should we.
saturday 8th february
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
so january is pretty much over, the tdu has finished and half the kids are back at school already. it won’t be long now until we have to put lights back on the bike as we head into the cooler months. so before the year disappears, where do you see your riding by the time the next festive 500 comes around. have you set yourself some goals??? races, events, hold on to group 2 on a thursday??? with the wide and diverse group that we have in the club, everyone will be aiming for something different. however, with the wide and diverse experience within the club, there is always someone that can help you achieve your goals.
ride leader vouchers – please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday Peel and West Coast Masters are both running a criterium. an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out. check out the previous post for more information.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times. as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk. however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes. come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.
from the ride coordinator – Our reintroduction of M4 last week worked a treat so we will be continuing with this ride, at least for the remainder of the summer. Provides us with a development opportunity for any transition riders coming through that might want to test themselves at the extra distance. But the benefit continues further up in M3, M2 and into M1. M3 then becomes a drop ride and therefore an opportunity for that group to prepare themselves for the rigours of M2, and M2 for the step up to M1. Whilst you might be thinking this is the same blog from me as last week, I wanted to take the opportunity to reinforce it again for all riders as there are still some with abilities beyond their chosen group that should be moving up to the next. Even within M1 we have some riders starting at the slightly slower groups that could push themselves up a further grouping. Catching the group ahead of you is not the goal of our Saturday ride. Having everyone enjoy the ride in each group is. Please just give it some thought as to what ride is appropriate for you this weekend.
saturday 1st february
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
with many of our members away in radelaide for the tour down under, i decided (had no choice) to hop directly over the biggest cycling event in our country and spend time in sydney and brisbane….for work. sydney was good, but busy with the school holiday crowd out in force at the major landmarks and it made me appreciate the slower pace that perth has to offer. that and the less busy roads that we ride on. brisbane is nice, but going for a run in 100% humidity this morning made me appreciate the fairly consistent weather that we get in perth. before this trip i was two weeks in victoria where apart from the 4 seasons in one day, there was also the very smokey days to contend with. i guess that i am probably just getting homesick and perth feels like home. i hope you enjoy the long weekend.
ride leader vouchers – please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday RCCC is running the australia day criterium as part of the interclub series. an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out. check out the previous post for more information.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times. as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk. however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.
cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains. it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux. if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes. come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.
from the ride coordinator – So we had some really positive feedback from riders over the last 2 weekends after introducing new ride routes for Sunday long hills and a new main and transition ride. To continue the “mixing it up theme”, this week we are going to bring back an old favorite. No it’s not an old ride route but it’s a main 4 ride grouping. We’ve noticed that numbers in development and transition have swelled of late and to aid people’s choice in selecting the right group for themselves, we decided to reintroduce this group. Whilst on the subject of selecting the right group for yourself, it’s also been noted that after half a summer of kilometers in the legs, it might be time to challenge yourself by stepping up to the next grade. With good numbers and a multitude of groups to choose from (now down to M4!) if you’re ever going to think about changing to a different group, now is as good a chance as you will get. Selecting the right group for your capabilities will make it a much more enjoyable ride experience ! Have fun riding.
saturday 25th january
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
yep, it is that time of year again. the time when if you are not in adelaide then you probably don’t want to be on social media either. there are a number of people that you will need to block on facebook this week and most of them are in the photo above. saying that, it is good to see such a good club presence at these major events and i usually spend my time playing “spotto the spr jersey” when watching the willunga hill stage.
ride leader vouchers – please be aware that since we haven’t had a ride leader sponsor for most of last year, dome will no longer be accepting the vouchers for coffee. if you have been hording any cards or just find one in your wallet, sorry, but this is no longer available.
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday there are races on from Peel and west coast masters. an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out. check out the previous post for more information.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times. as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk. however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.
cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains. it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux. if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes. come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.
from the ride coordinator – The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our new Sunday ride route last week has emboldened us to roll out a new route for our main and transition ride this Saturday. But it will be interesting to see how many hands go up at ride briefings this weekend when the question is asked “do you know what ride route we are doing”. So suggestion is, for your own safety and for the safety of your fellow riders, in the immortal words of Molly Meldrum “go out and do yourself a favour” not by streaming your favorite song, but familiarize yourself with the ride route ! As well as the safety aspect, it will make it that much more enjoyable if you know where you’re going.
saturday 18th january
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
identify your “mountain” this year and make a plan to climb it.
limited internet and limited time means that this update will be pretty limited. there is a lot going on, however, with the crits in full swing in perth and the nationals happening this week in ballarat. we have a few riders in victoria already and there are some results coming through. patrick chucked his hat in the ring against durbo and dennis for the itt and put in a solid effort to come 22nd. oli stenning also came in 19th in the under 23 event. coming up we have teneal attard in the crit and kate bonner, patrick and oli in their respect road races. some of this will be televised, but also there are a few facebook feeds that show the events. support them if you can.
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday there are races on from RCCC and west coast masters. an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
spr race mentors – the race mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. if you think you want to be a race mentor to help those that are curious about racing, then you can sign up to help out. check out the previous post for more information.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times. as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk. however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.
cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains. it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux. if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes. come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.
from the ride coordinator – The club committee and ride leaders sub committee has been busy scoping some new ride routes for all members to enjoy. This weekend we commence the roll out of this programme with the introduction of a new long hills ride route for Sunday. This one is an epic with lots of kilometers and plenty of elevation. Great for those is training for either the Peaks and 5 Dams events which are coming up in March and April. So enjoy. As soon as the weather is right, we also have 2 new Saturday ride routes with corresponding transition rides ready to go. Those with a keen eye may have noticed the new additions added to the blog last week.
saturday 11th january
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
Currently we’re in the middle of a summer season heatwave of Crits. And with these opportunities, Race@SPR wants to encourage anyone race-curious to come and have a crack, but with some support and guidance available and ready to help you through.
Yep – the SPR Race Mentors are back.
We invite SPR members (have you renewed your CA membership yet?) if you are interested, curious or cowbell-crazy to give racing a try – with guidance from us. The Race Mentors will be your go to for questions, queries and advice so you can dip your toe with some support. Right now there is a “Bring A Mate” program with Cycling Australia going on, so we can sign you up for a 2 week trial race membership to do a few races and see if you like it….. Spoilers – you will.
What do WE do?
We’ll get in touch by email.
We’ll assign you a Mentor from the SPR Race Sub-Committee to be available to guide you through the race experience.
All questions are valid, so ask away to your Mentor. We don’t know it all, but we’ve seen enough to understand that there is some stuff you just wouldn’t know if you haven’t experienced it. Let’s face it – any concerns or fears are there merely to be kicked into oblivion. Racing isn’t actually that scary and stupid – the racing we have is safe, on managed or closed roads, is readily achievable and available for all of our members (you’ll need a race license to continue past the trial), and is a great challenge if you are eager or curious to have a go. Have a look over at the What Makes Crits Great? post.
So, go on. Email us at race@southperthrouleurs.com.au, chat to us at Dome post Saturday Main Rides and have some fun. We’ll be firing up the SPR SuperVan again this summer too. Bring your picnic chair and cowbells.
so this year for something different, we tracked the festive 500 quite closely and put up prizes for the first 2 club men and women. there were a few surprises along the way and a few last minute rides to finish off the event.
for those that are unaware, the festive 500 is a strava based challenge where you try to ride 500kms in the 8 days from xmas eve to new years eve. less than 100k’s per day seems easy until you factor in things like xmas day (if you have kids or family commitments) or just general fatigue if you are normal.
so before we get to the final leaderboard, here are the more surprising things that happened as part of the festive 500.
nancy was first to 500kms after just 4 days and well ahead of pretty much everyone in the club. at the time this ranked her 63rd in the entire world.
marcel completing half the festive 500 in one ride after doing a 300km effort. i thought that my boxing day test double century was an effort, but marcel went one further (a whole century further)
finley starting a ride at 1:48am in order to do a couple of hundred k’s without getting too much (any) sun.
mo organising a imperial century ride out to northam including dirt sections and a 140k return the next day.
nancy just going for a ride to the food trucks on the last evening but doing enough k’s to jump 2 positions in the leaderboard.
john doing one extra +75km ride on new years eve just to break the 1000km mark.
so, here are the results. click on the picture to enlarge it but overall there were a lot of kilometres ridden in such a short period. there has previously never been as many night owl rides in the one week, ever.
so there were prizes on the line and initially, i offered a pair of glasses for the top two men and women. these were donated by jamie moyle and are swisseye sports sunglasses with 3 lenses. before john decided to go for an extra ride, he was tied with pete on 925kms, so i committed to giving away 3 pairs to the guys, which meant that i would give away 3 to the girls. then john leapfrogged everyone and there was no more tie. however, we will still give away a pair to the top 3 in the club for both men and women.
therefore a pair of glasses are coming to John Carnicelli, Finley Vine, Peter Seizovic, Nancy T, Kate Bonner and Meegan Fyfield.
congratulations, to these people and well done to everyone that did the k’s this holiday break. you may not have all won glasses, but i am sure you gained some strength and endurance if not just a very sore arse.
i was doing a cupboard clean out this week and found last years festive 500 patch. i hadn’t removed it from the cardboard and when i did was surprised to see the little poem behind it. “Most lay in bed. Contented, well fed. You forge on ahead Legs like lead Did something great instead.” the last week has been an interesting time and has shown some interesting behaviours from people. who would have guessed that nancy would be first to crack 500kms, that marcel would have a 300km day and finley would do a ride starting before 2am. all three of those people covered more than 800kms in the 8 days and i know that there are many more stories out there from the challenge. here is your new challenge. from your own festive 500 experience, write a 5 line poem on what was important to you. whether it is watching the sunrise for the 5th morning in a row, or riding all the way to a closed coffee-shop, there must be something to inspire the poets amongst us. another pair of sunglasses is up for grabs.
crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this weekend alone there are FOUR options available – Midland CC on Saturday afternoon, while Peel District CC, RCCC and West Coast Masters all have races on Sunday. There is an updated program with links to the events HERE. for a bit more info on why crit racing could be for you, check out the previous post.
social club awards – the weekend before last we had our xmas breakfast and club awards. the social club awards are voted on by you, the members and feedback is asked for as validation of your nomination. with the exception of dean roser nominating himself for every award, this is a great way for members to let someone know that they are doing something right. check out the previous post for the results and feedback.
mercantile lane closure – some of you may remember that the pedestrian bridge over mercantile lane fell down last year. this is the back lane that we take to get from mounts bay rd to st georges terrace. as of 20th dec it will be closed again to facilitate the rebuilding of that foot bridge. no idea how long it will be down for, so you will need to take the next road (william st) to hook back around to the cafe after the ride.
hot weather policy – there has been a lot of discussion after last weeks heat wave as to how the club should run the sunday hills rides when the mercury rises significantly. there are a number of options being looked at including shortening rides, cancelling rides or changing times. as always, we cannot tell you not to ride and you do so at your own risk. however, if we deem that the conditions are not suitable, the club sanctioned training ride may be adjusted to suit. watch this space as more develops.
rapha festive 500 – this year’s festive 500 saw a very competitive finish with a couple of people leapfrogging positions at the last minute. with 5 people clocking up more than 900kms in the 8 days and 1 exceeding 1000kms, there were a lot of tired legs come new years day. there will be a final washup post soon which shows the club leaderboard and just who won a new pair of sunnies.
cycling trip to france – this year long time spr member, christophe is looking at organising a trip to france to ride in the mountains. it is 12 nights with 2 french speaking guides cruising around such little hills as mount ventoux. if you are interested, see christophe at the coffee shop after the ride or email him at crosstraining@optusnet.com.au
sunday start locations – as numbers increase over summer, we are looking at how we can manage the groups on a sunday morning. as such we are implementing a start location system to give us an idea of how big the groups are. we can then split them before they leave the carpark to ensure that the groups are a safe size on the road. see the previous blog post about where to meet and the new start time.
saturday start locations – we have revamped the group start locations on saturday morning. please have a look at the map so you know where your group will congregate. this makes it easier for ride leaders to give you a briefing before the ride starts. see the previous post for more details.
spr juniors – juniors, juniors, juniors. the weather is awesome out there, so get the kids out and onto the bikes. come ride your bike and you may get to feed the magpies. lets see if there were any bike related presents under the tree this year.
from the ride coordinator – Happy New Cycling Year everyone! Well the 2019 kilometers are now in the Garmin/Wahoo/whatever bank and the clock starts ticking again for this year. Hats off to those who completed the Rapha500 over the festive season, unbelievably there was 1 SPR rider who effectively did it twice with a tad over 1000kms (you know who you are). As usual, this time of year there are lots of cycling events on, with the nationals and the Tour Downunder topping the immediate list. Whatever your goal in 2020, enjoy your cycling and I hope you achieve what you are looking to strive for.
saturday 4th january
ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am
There is so much on offer at the moment, I can’t even keep up with self-effacing race reports – it’s THAT busy. This time of year is Crit season. Criteriums are short-course circuit races, and they are based on race TIME, not distance.
There is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. This weekend alone there are FOUR options available – Midland CC on Saturday afternoon, while Peel District CC, RCCC and West Coast Masters all have races on Sunday. There is an updated program with links to the events HERE.
Tip it in Thursday!
What Makes Crits Great? Crowd support – The courses are short, so spectators see the racers come past the start/finish every 1-2 minutes. Even come out to watch a race first. Cowbells, anyone? Familiar – you lap the same circuit (around 1km long) over and over. You’ll hit the same corners and straights in-situ and will soon nail that perfect line. Close– you are never further than a couple of hundred metres from the start. If you get a flat, drop a chain, just wanna bail out – you’re not worried about being stranded on course. Cheap– club races at club prices. You could probably spend more on a coffee in Perth (*”probably”, ooooooor at least kinda close!). Fun – with race times between 25 and 60 minutes, it’s way shorter than a group ride, you can sit in easier than an interval session, and you get to sprint at the end!
Done with Fourth, The Librarian takes a podium. Photo: Jedsman
Also, check out the Race Mentors post published VERY SOON if you are dead keen or even a little bit curious about racing with SPR, check it out.
Summer Crits are NEVER like this classic award-winning shot. Photo: Jedsman
