Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ride Routes 31st July – 6th August

We are back for the SPR Water Tower Challenge 2021 Edition after a great event last year.

Ride against the clock in teams of 3, through the Perth suburbs in search of water towers. You will likely find water towers that you never knew existed and visit suburbs you do not usually ride through.

And remembering that water towers are built on the top of hills, you will have the opportunity to do some climbing as well 😀 – choose either the Imperial (170km and 1,800m of climbing) or the Metric tonne (103km and 1,300m of climbing).

This is a fundraiser for the club and helps support the Rider Leaders Programme that both members and non-members enjoy 365 days a year.

The event is open members and non-members.

To whet your appetite I’ve included some photos from my team’s attempt last year.

All of the details are on the EntryBoss event page, which is where you sign up!

Find a team and get involved.

Inaugural Gravel Ride – Don’t forget our first gravel/dirt ride this weekend (weather permitting!) – we have prepared an easy route that starts at the Darlington post office where we travel north to Lake Leschenautia across to Chidlow and return on the northern side of the heritage trail to Bellevue and then back to the Darlington Post Office.  The total distance is 56ks along fairly easy going trails.  If anyone is not keen on going to the Lake there will be an alternate option of just the Heritage Trail.  This is a no drop ride so everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy the scenery. With all the rain that we have had there are plenty of streams flowing and frogs croaking to enjoy.  Please remember to bring enough water and food for the journey and spare tubes.

All the details below.

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea – Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance. Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health.

The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Now fully subscribed – thanks everyone for supporting the club – but for more information see the full post here.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

With the recent lockdown, this has been re-scheduled to Thursday 5th August (after the Tour has finished but the best we could do!). Enjoy the night!

Sorry, sold out.

From the Ride Coordinator – So if you’re anything like me and really sick of the weather (my road bike is suffering from separation anxiety) then neither I or the BOM have good news for you this weekend with yet another front (or two) due to pass over the greater Perth area. Let’s hope there is a enough of a break to get our Saturday ride in.

However, we are hopeful that we get enough respite from the combo of heavy rain and driving winds to kick off our inaugural regular gravel ride around the Heritage trail with optional extension to Chidlow.  So if it’s “just lightish rain” as opposed to the stuff we have been experiencing, then come and meet us at 7.30am on Sunday departing from the car park opposite the Darlington post office for a bit of fun on the Heritage trail. We have a couple of options to choose from if the numbers stack up. One that does the Heritage Trail loop only, and one that goes further up to Chidlow. So if you’ve ever wanted to give gravel riding a go, this may be the weekend to try it. If the weather is looking too difficult to hold, a call will be made Saturday evening at around 7-7.30pm so keep an eye out on Facebook for confirmation it is on. If it is and you are driving to the start, remember to pack a change of clothes or at least a towel.

Saturday 31st July

Sunday 1st August

Monday 2nd August

Tuesday 3rd August

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

Wednesday 4th August

Thursday 5th August

Friday 6th August

Ride Routes 24 – 30th July

Over the life of the club, we have evolved and changed what we provide for members.

You will be pleased to know that this is happening again, and we have something new to offer.

The gravel is calling.

There has been an increase in people riding gravel and MTB bikes (Dean wonders if it is just him, we think that while he has been taking his gravel riding very seriously recently, there are probably more of you).

What we have come up with is the monthly SPR Sunday Gravel Ride.

The rides will be lead by Dean Roser (Mr Training and Development) and will usually run on the last Sunday of each month, although we will be starting them next week (Sunday 1 August). We will be publishing the routes, but expect the route to be approx 60km and start “on location” (e.g. Darlington Post Office).

The rides will be open to everyone, and will be no-drop rides.

If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with Dean at coffee or reach out via email/website/Facebook.

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea – Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance. Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health.

The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Now fully subscribed – thanks everyone for supporting the club – but for more information see the full post here.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

With the recent lockdown, this has been re-scheduled to Thursday 5th August (after the Tour has finished but the best we could do!). Enjoy the night!

Sorry, sold out. Well actually, we’ve found one more ticket. Grab it in the shop if you’re keen.

From the Ride Coordinator – Is that rain finally starting to clear or is the immediate forecast just an aberration in an otherwise very wet winter. As I see more and more Strava ride posts boasting of finally being able to get outside, let’s take the glass half full view and say at least we should be able to ride more.

For those that have already ventured out into the semi dry sandy expanses of our metro road system, one thing is for sure, the chances of getting flat tyres has definitely increased with all the rubbish that has floated over the surface washed down by the rain. I know from recent experience that some of that rubbish includes things like little shafts of metal or flora including leafs/branches/sticks that are not conducive to your tyres remaining fully inflated. 

So a couple of things for all our riders to consider focusing on this weekend.

First is the preparation for the ride. Do you have good tyres or are they worn. Do you have spare tubes, canisters etc that will help you get on your way again. It’s a good time of year to check these things because of the higher chance of finding one of those spiny little suckers on the road.

The second is good communications whilst we are group riding. Calling things like potholes, water on road, debris is vital for group safety at the driest of times, in mid winter it’s essential. Road surfaces are changeable at this time of year. I’ve already noticed a couple of sneaky potholes appear on regular roads that I ride that weren’t there a few weeks back. At best these can lead to flat tyres, worse still, injury to your fellow riders. So please, please call these up the line so everyone in your group maximizes the chances of staying upright. Please leave the “I’m too cool to call” attitude for other rides if that’s your thing. We prefer to have everyone back safely, sipping coffee at the coffee shop.

Saturday 24th July

Sunday 25th July

Monday 26th July

Tuesday 27th July

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

Wednesday 28th July

Thursday 29th July

Friday 30th July

Ride Routes 17th – 23rd July

A loyal club member and regular rider, Shirley Vine stepped into the role of club treasurer last year.

Here, she answers some questions about herself.

Name: Shirley Vine
Position: Club Treasurer

1. What bike do you ride?

I ride a purple Giant Liv with matching purple bar tape. When my friend purchased a bike shop, I wanted to be her first customer and she gave me a terrific deal as it was a demo bike.

2. What brought you to cycling and to SPR? 

I’ve been cycling my whole life. My three brothers and I always had bikes. We even brought our ‘tracker’ bikes with us when we emigrated from England in 1973. I have always ridden to school, ridden to work and competed in triathlons for many years. I was a long distance runner prior to taking up triathlons. After completing the Ironman, I joined SPR. My husband kept encouraging me to join as he signed up straight away when we moved to Perth. 

I started in Development and was only a Saturday morning rider for ages. After my first Monday ladies recovery ride, I was motivated to start riding more regularly to improve my cycling skills.

Now I am a main 2 rider and try hard in main 1.4 when not ride leading. SPR has become my cycling family.

3. How long have you been with the club? 

I joined SPR around 2013.

4. What is your most memorable experience on the bike? 

I’ve got so many it’s hard to narrow it down. I love being a ride leader, have competed in lots of races and events, criteriums, road races, gran fondos, Three Dams, Five dams, events in Brisbane, Darwin and am signed up for my 2nd Tour of Margaret River this year. I have no short twitch fibres in my muscles so prefer long distance events. I am learning how to ride faster and after feasting on this year’s Tour de France am more motivated than ever.

If I have to pick one memorable experience, I’d like to look back on my first criterium, an SPR event at Technology Park. I was beside myself with fear and trepidation. Cathi Dixon was the nominated mentor and I was dropped at the start line because I couldn’t clip in quickly enough. In my mind I was telling myself not to worry I would catch them, they would see and I got lapped twice haha. Cathi was teaching me what to do at each corner and because I was dropped I had her all to myself at the back. How funny it was. If you just keep turning up you improve and get stronger from every ride. I have overcome so much fear, I can even ride in the dark and can’t count the fun and enjoyment I have experienced finishing so many races and events, let alone the wonderful friends I have made.

5. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role? 

I have worked as a volunteer in many and varied organisations including on the committees for years and years. I was the treasurer at the Belmont RSL prior to joining the SPR committee where I learned the MYOB system of finance operations. I loved it. So I thought I would learn the Xero system by volunteering for SPR as its treasurer.

My aspirations were to improve my finance skills. I really like it and enjoy being part of running our organisation.

6. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike? 

Off the bike I am many things. I am married to Iain, (husband of the year). We are currently on our second honeymoon in quarantine. We have a son, Finley, his lovely wife Kimi and our 2 grandies Luna & Roland.

I work as the property department manager and in-house counsel for Retirees WA and oversee the management of 18 retirement villages stretching from Geraldton to Busselton. I am the Vice Chair on the East Perth Community Group and a volunteer rep with Lifeline. The community visitor scheme works to eradicate loneliness in the community. I was visiting Ruby, a 90 year old lady who had no family and she requested a visitor who likes to play scrabble and keep score. I was visiting her weekly for a couple of years, but she recently passed away so I am having back to back scrabble tournaments with Iain ha ha. Guess who wins?

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea – Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance. Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health.

The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Now fully subscribed – thanks everyone for supporting the club – but for more information see the full post here.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

Sorry, sold out. And with the recent lockdown, this has been re-scheduled to . Thursday 5th August (after the Tour has finished but the best we could do!). Enjoy the night!

From the Ride Coordinator – There is a saying “A week is a long time in politics”. In football terms it’s “lets take it a week at a time”. In this pandemic environment it looks as though lots can change rapidly between weekend rides so let’s just “live in the moment” and appreciate that this weekend we are able to ride in groups and share a coffee at the end. When you overlay the fact that the rubbish weather we have been experiencing may just stay away long enough to enjoy our main ride, then let’s hope we see many people out for the ride.

As for the route, well the light winds predicted mean we can pretty much choose any route and it won’t be wind affected too much so we will head south again this weekend on one of our more popular summer rides – South St.

Hoping we see you out there because you never know what will happen in a weeks time.

Saturday 17th July

Sunday 18th July

Monday 19th July

Tuesday 20th July

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

Wednesday 21st July

Thursday 22nd July

Friday 23rd July

Our ‘Ben Ben’ (à la Ride Routes 10 – 16th July)

I am sure I was not the only one who became emotional as Ben O’Connor stormed to victory on stage nine of the Tour de France. 

As the 25-year-old Freo product broke away from Columbian Sergio Higuita up the Col des Saisies, an immense pride permeated through the WA cycling community. 

This was after he’d dropped climbing great Nairo Quintana and Canadian Michael Woods, not to mention the entire peloton and the maillot jaune. 

Sleep could wait – this kid was making history. 

When commentator Robbie McEwan read out SPR member Cathi Dixon’s poem about the young-gun, my pride was amplified – go ‘Ben Ben!’. 

I interviewed Ben for The West (or here) in 2019, and he told me: “When you are young you know if you are going to be good at something and with riding I knew”. 

Out of context, such a statement could be construed as arrogant, but Ben was far from it. 

He knew his strengths and he set his sights on becoming a GC contender in the Grand Tours. 

He has performed well in the past, riding into the top 10 of the Giro – but never until now has he garnered so much attention. 

The young rider’s face was splashed across mainstream media following his win – finally Australia was paying attention to this beautiful sport. 

Even our Premier congratulated him at his daily COVID presser – a refreshing reprieve from the dispiriting public address. 

Has cycling finally made it into the hearts and minds of mainstream Australians? 

Maybe drivers will even start treating us better on the roads.

Time will tell, but I certainly hope so. 

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea – Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance.  Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health. 

The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Now fully subscribed – thanks everyone for supporting the club – but for more information see the full post here.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

Sorry, sold out. And with the recent lockdown, this has been re-scheduled to . Thursday 5th August (after the Tour has finished but the best we could do!). Enjoy the night!

From the Ride Coordinator – So for my fellow couch peletonians – what a week it’s been at the TdF. Despite the lockdown easing, the weather gods have smiled on us couchies watching Le Tour as it’s been too wet to ride in the mornings (Those on Zwift are the exception). And what inspiration have we seen from our local lads – Turbo and Beno. There’s enough inspiration there to do 2 rides on a Saturday. (Oh wait some amongst us already do!). Anyway, now it’s our turn to get out there this weekend and we hope those weather gods look after us by clearing the rain early enough for our Saturday ride and closing the window late on Sunday. Cross your fingers it happens. Whatever cycling you can fit in this weekend, please make sure you look after yourselves and your fellow riders.

Saturday 10th July

Sunday 11th July

Monday 12th July

Tuesday 13th July

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

Wednesday 14th July

Thursday 15th July

Friday 16th July

SPR Women’s Health Talk & Afternoon Tea

Female cyclists can often encounter health issues that require careful monitoring or maintenance.  Come join Dr Rachel McCormick and PhD Scholar Serene Lee to discuss these issues and how they can be managed to lessen the impact they can have on your cycling and health.  The club will be putting on afternoon tea!

Date:  Sunday, 1st August 2021

Venue:  Dome Westralia Plaza

Time:  1:00pm – 3:00pm

Cost:  Free for members

Reserve a place

Dr Rachel McCormick

Rachel is a PhD graduate from the University of Western Australia where she investigated strategies of iron supplementation for iron deficient athletes. She conducted her PhD research in collaboration with the Western Australian Institute of Sport where she has also worked as a physiologist for the last 5 years. Her research has also recently guided the Australian Institute of Sports protocols for treating iron deficient athletes. Currently, she is continuing to develop her research profile, conducting studies to improve gut health in a clinical population and athletes at Edith Cowan University. As an avid track runner, a lot of Rachel’s research is motivated by issues associated with endurance sports.

PhD Scholar Serene Lee

Serene is a PhD scholar at Murdoch University studying the effects of hormonal fluctuations on exercise performance in female cyclists. She will be discussing how a “period”-ised training and nutrition plan may be beneficial for the cyclical female athlete. She will also answer some of the common questions such as, how often and when should I strength train, are rest days necessary and are saddle sores normal.

SPR thanks these knowledgable women for giving their time for the benefit of our members.

Ride Routes 3rd July – 9th July

With the announcement from the Premier that we move out of lockdown from midnight tonight, the Committee has read through the detail and decided that we ride from tomorrow. We fit under the category of outdoor community sport, with some care needed before and after. Good news!

Each of us does need to take care to abide by the restrictions put in place by the State Government, so please take note.

In the car park at the start of the ride, we need to ensure that group sizes are kept to 20 people and that masks are worn. To assist in spacing of the groups, we will revert to the more spread out layout in the car park. Please pay some attention in this regard as we congregate.

Similarly, at the end of the ride, masks are a requirement. Additionally, Dome has a restriction of 20 patrons so many of us won’t get to sit down, but takeaway will be available. 

See you out on the road.

From the Ride Coordinator – All I can say is thanks god for the TdF! Whilst there were rumblings coming from NSW last week, it’s nothing that we haven’t heard before from over east and usually the tyranny of distance from our east coast friends has been enough to keep the nasties at bay. Unfortunately this hasn’t been the case this week, but it’s allowed us to stay up a bit later to watch the stages of Le Tour. And yes, if the carnage that played out this week isn’t enough to keep safety at the forefront of your mind when group riding, I guess it never will.

So to this weekend’s ride route, with a gentle North Eastely behind us, we plan to tackle Morley Drive. Please note that the Saturday Hills ride option is going into hibernation during winter as we didn’t get one rider this time last month and the poor ride leaders scheduled had to get out of their warm beds 30 mins earlier than they needed to. We will look to advertise when we boot it up again in Spring. Whilst we are talking hills, the Sunday “social” short hills ride (try say that fast 10’ times over) is continuing throughout winter. It follows the short hills ride route at a slower pace than the main group, so if you wan to give it a go, if numbers and weather allows, ask around at the car park on Sunday.

So, if your reading this, then we are allowed to ride but please look after yourself and the safety of your fellow riders. In this case we don’t want to be like the pros over in France. We just want you back for coffee safely .

Saturday 3rd July

Sunday 4th July

Monday 5th July

Tuesday 6th July

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

Wednesday 7th July

Thursday 8th July

Friday 9th July

Not the Ride Routes

We’ve been here before. Able to get out and ride, thankful for that, but a little unsure when we will next get to ride with friends.

Personally, I got out for a ride today, and I was reminded of times in the recent past when our riding was similarly restricted. The photo above was me out for a solo night ride the last time we did this lockdown thing. I was reminded of the water that has gone under the bridge since the last time we were required to lock down – with vaccination and the Delta Variant topical issues this time round. And with lots of opinions being expressed by almost everyone, from our leaders on down. This latest variant is highly infectious, and I am glad that it is being taken seriously by our leaders. I also know that many in our community, both SPR and wider, are being hit hard by the lockdown.

In this middle of all of that, I am thankful for the opportunity to get out on the bike. Physically, and for the sake of my mental health.

If you have the space, take the opportunity. 

A couple of things to close out. First, we know the lockdown period is set to end Friday midnight, but with all of the activity around the country, we think the best strategy is to await the Premier’s press conference tomorrow before announcing ride routes for the next week. We’re keen to ride, so look for the blog post if we get an all clear from the Premier tomorrow.

Keep an eye out also regarding the Tour de France Dinner that was originally to be held tonight. As soon as we have some clear sight of when the lockdown is ending we will seek to re-book. It is only week 1 of the Tour so we have our fingers crossed that we can get together before the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

We also have tickets still available for the SPR Yoga for Cycling Course.

Ride Routes 26th June – 2nd July

A man who hardly needs an introduction – a true mainstay of SPR – Dean Roser. A super smooth ride leader and a friendly face I never get tired of seeing. Dean – aka “silver fox” is a true club favourite.

Here, I ask about the man behind the Bianchi.

Name: Dean Roser
Position: Training and Development

1. What bike do you ride?

It depends, either the Focus Izalco Max for the road or the Cervelo Aspero for the gravel. But my true love is my Bianchi Oltre, you can’t beat Italian passion. And no, I don’t need a MTB, my wife might have something to say if I brought home another bike.

2. What brought you to cycling and to SPR? 

Cycling has always been something that I enjoyed, but wasn’t a priority for a long time. Perhaps it was a midlife crisis that brought me back to cycling :-). Why SPR, the Sunday hills ride of course. There hasn’t been many of those that I have missed. Though now that I have the gravel bike, the hills are dirtier, partly because I keep falling off.

3. How long have you been with the club? 

I started doing the hills rides in around 2012 which then increased to the Tuesday and Thursday rides as well. I joined the club in around 2013 or 2014. I can’t remember, early onset dementia.

4. What is your most memorable experience on the bike? 

There are just so many, mainly because just being on the bike is always a pleasure when you’re out and about with your mates. Though getting the gravel bike I felt like I was 12 again, that was exciting, I still have the grin.

5. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role? 

Being on the committee is just a small way of trying to give back to the club.

6. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike? 

If I’m not riding, then I’m taking pictures of birds and flowers, or I’m gardening, or making things for the home or playing with the dogs. We have two French Bulldogs, they are good apartment living dogs apparently. I suppose I go to work occasionally, it just gets in the way of riding my bike.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

Sorry, sold out. Enjoy the night!

From the Ride Coordinator – OK, how cold was it this week!! Those brave souls heading out on one of our mid week rides would know exactly how cold it can get riding here in Perth in the winter. And those overnight temps don’t look like improving too much for our main ride with current forecast sitting around 5 as the minimum Friday going into Saturday so make sure you rug up if you’re doing the ride Saturday. This weeks ride route takes us through Subi, so watch out for the road works and the heavier traffic around the Hay St/Rockeby rd intersection so please be patient if their is some slowing there.

Unfortunately Sunday looks to be similar to last weekend with a wet day forecast. And that might be just as well too with the start of Le Tour for the next 3 weeks and the grand depart for the #couchpeleton also scheduled on for a Saturday evening start. Whatever riding you do, enjoy it and look after each other. Especiallyif you are sitting on the couch watching the TV. 😁

Saturday 26th June

Sunday 27th June

Monday 28th June

Tuesday 29th June

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

Wednesday 30th June

Thursday 1st July

Friday 2nd July

Ride Routes 19 – 25th June

Carol Dowse may be new to the SPR committee but she is in no way new to the club. 

Carol has been running the development group for many years and has helped countless people get into cycling. 

Here, she answers some questions about what motivates her to ride and to be part of the committee. 

Name: Carol Dowse
Position: Community Development
Bike: Focus (importantly, black and pink…)

1. What brought you to cycling and to SPR? 

It was the only way I got to see my husband – OK so there was the I need get away from the kids thing and hear the quiet outdoors.

2. How long have you been with the club? 

From the beginning of time – I have the jersey to prove it.

3. What is your most memorable experience on the bike? 

The first time I cracked 60kph barrier – I think this is the last speed barrier I will be breaking in my lifetime. Memorable.

4. Why did you choose to be on the SPR committee and what do you hope to achieve as part of your role? 

Time to give back to the club; I am very grateful to the many people who have helped me, past and present with all aspects of cycling. My goal as a committee member therefore is to motivate and support people new to cycling to participate in events both cycling and social. We have a very talented committee deeply committed to inclusiveness that supports this aim.

5. Can you tell me a bit about your life off the bike? 

Recently semi-retired and it is just wonderful – it is all it is cracked up to be. Three kids who promote safe driving around cyclists to their friends.. I’m a proud mum. Oh .. and if you can’t put it into a spreadsheet I won’t understand it!

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

Read more and get in on the lucky last ticket here.

From the Ride Coordinator – So looks as though this weekend will be the tale of two very different days. Saturday morning is forecast to be a cracker but it looks like Sunday is a day for daredevil riding if you want a hills ride with the weather closing in overnight.

This winter we have been relatively lucky with the weather for our main ride on Saturday and we welcome all who want to join us again this weekend. Big numbers overall can lead to big numbers in specific groups. That’s been especially noted in our Main 2 group of late which seems to have swelled in the early winter rides. The ideal group size to ride with varies, but anything bigger than 20 in a group will slow the group down (splits at lights etc) and can lead to frustrations. Generally we like it to be around 15. To alleviate this, if numbers are large again this week we will look to split M2 in more than just the 2 large groups we have been running with. If this upsets your view of your ride with Main 2 then we do things for the safety and enjoyment of all the riders and large groups are just to unwieldy to manage on the road. So it would be appreciated if you could expect that things may be a little different and work with those ride leaders who are trying to manage the change. They are human too and are volunteering their time to try to make your ride more safe and enjoyable.

Saturday 19th June

Sunday 20th June

Monday 21st June

Tuesday 22nd June

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

Wednesday 23rd June

Thursday 24th June

Friday 25th June

Ride Routes 12 – 18th June

So I don’t know about all of you reading this, but whilst I am not a sugar cube – dissolving at the first drop of water I come into contact with – the wet weather certainly affects my riding.

I don’t like to leave for a ride in heavy rain, and on weeks like the last couple, this does make it difficult to get enough training kilometres into my week, especially with a few work constraints coming into play.

And if it wasn’t wet, it was cold. I like the cold, but it is not every day that we have “10 degrees, feels like 3 degrees” reports from my Weather App.

Welcome to winter.

If you are looking for cycling opportunities, whether it is a fondo or racing, there is plenty on. Many SPR riders were racing last weekend in the Goldfields Cyclassic or the Margaret River XCO, and this weekend Midland Cycle Club are running one of their classic races, the Midland 100. And in the WestCycle WA State Fondo Series there is Round 1 Swan Valley this Sunday. Entries have closed for the fondo, but the Midland 100 is open until midday tomorrow (Friday).

One more reminder, we are keen to close out our TOMR 2021 teams in the near future, so if you are interested, please get in touch via the Race Subcommittee (Steve) or Women’s Interests Subcommittee (Amanda). And keep your eye out for a survey next week.

Let me finish with some footage from the Goldfields Cyclassic last weekend. This is SPR’s Kate Bonner leading out the finish for Darcie Richards for the Velofit Australia Racing Team, complete with commentary.

Enjoy.

SPR Tour de France Dinner – The SPR Committee is pleased to announce that we are this year again holding our Tour de France dinner. This year at Chez Pierre.

There are not many tickets (sorry, this is what we could arrange), but there are about a dozen still available!

Read me and get your ticket here.

From the Ride Coordinator – Well it is winter now and we know we get most of our precious rainfall in the next 3 months but I just hope that those sunny “windows” appear on Saturday and Sunday mornings instead of mid week. So last weekend we were lucky, this weekend is looking a little “iffy” (yes that’s a bureau of meteorology technical term) but I am ever hopeful of getting the rides in that we have planned after a what has been a wet and windy week.

Recently we’ve had a spate of rides heading through our northern suburbs with favorable wind conditions for those rides but this week we will put “The South” back into South Perth Rouleurs by sticking close to our namesake and enjoying the Canning Vale and Welshpool route. Please do yourself a favour and have a quick glance at the route so you know where you are going. Feedback from some groups last week was that a few took a wrong turn so for your own peace of mind and the safety of there group, please make sure you know where you’re going. Garmin doesn’t always get it right! Whatever cycling you do, enjoy it and look out for each other.

Saturday 12th June

Sunday 13th June

Monday 14th June

Tuesday 15th June

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

Wednesday 16th June

Thursday 17th June

Friday 18th June