Category Archives: Uncategorized

Kit shop open…knicks on sale

The kit shop is open!! Get in quick, it will close on Wednesday next week – 6 September.

Mayeur SPR kit shop

This is a great opportunity to get into the supercomfy SPR knicks to go with your Tour of Margaret River race jersey! The new second generation knicks are outstanding, and as a special offer this time Mayeur is providing a $20 discount per pair…so a comfortable rear end will only set you back $135!

Trip to the Worlds

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David Menarry’s trip to Glasgow

I recently competed in the 2023 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Perth (Scotland) after qualifying at Amy’s Gran Fondo (Victoria) in September last year. This year was the first time that they combined all cycling disciplines at the same event – I also managed to visit the elite track and men’s road racing, both in Glasgow.

After what seemed like an interminable training program, race day arrived. It was relatively cool and dry, making perfect racing weather. Released in 5-year age groups, the first challenge was avoiding road furniture on the roads out of Perth. The 160km course was largely rolling terrain with three longish climbs, all less than 10 kms each.

The first climb determined the race outcome. My 180-strong age group split into two main bunches.  Unfortunately – due to poor positioning on my part – I ended up in a small third bunch between the two, and despite best efforts (on my part at least …) we couldn’t bridge back to the first group.

Riding the middle third of the race as a group of 8 to 10 was extremely tough.  It included all three major climbs and by the top of the third I was well and truly cooked, so much so that I couldn’t jump on to the fastest women (who had started 5 minutes behind us) as they passed towards the top of the third climb.

That also resulted in the breakup of our small group, and I found myself solo for a few kms. Thankfully I was able to stay with the third bunch of women, who were extremely motivated to catch the first two groups, and after another 10kms or so we managed to catch the faster women and those of our small group who had been able to stick with them.

The final third of the race was actually quite relaxed. The women raced their race, and we sat behind them as they dragged us along. There was no pressure on us because we weren’t close to the front, and we didn’t want to interfere with the women’s racing.

In the end I finished 120th out of 172 and 6th out of 15 Australians in my age group. I had hoped for top half, but my poor positioning into the first climb was the kiss of death for that. Nevertheless, I was happy to have finished (no certainty given the length of the race!) and the scenery and experience were wonderful. Racing with people from countries across the world was a privilege, one I was delighted to share with Nancy Tippaya, who always inspires me.

Ride Routes 26th August – 1st September

CX Nationals — Last weekend, a large team from WA Cyclocross travelled to Ballarat to compete in the AusCycling National Cyclocross Championships. 

The course was a large, relatively flat one, with long sections of thick slippery mud, and one steep technical hill known as the mound. 

I was racing in the U13s – and we were lucky enough to have participants from most states on the start line. 

The first lap was hectic. About half way through the first lap, I’d managed to build up a small gap after running one of the mud sections, only to loose it all when my front wheel slipped out and I got tangled up in the course tape. 

My battle at the front continued for the next two laps, but I finally managed to get away on one of the steep climbs up the mound. After that I was able to slowly build a nice gap and rode across the finish line about 45 seconds in front of second place. 

It was really nice to be able to race against the other states, and the results across the rest of the team show how strong the cyclocross community here in Perth is. 

I would like to thank Louise and Stewart (van der) Carson for the work they have done to establish such a great community of CX racing.

It would be great to see more SPR riders at the CX racing, and it’s a great way to maintain your speed when the weather gets cold.

Oscar


SPR’s freshly minted U13 National CX Champion 💚

See our earlier blog for details and tickets (direct shop link) to our La Vuelta inspired SPR Family Day.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. WCMCC Chidlow A Graded Road Race

2. Peel Womens and Junior Tour 2023 (2/Sep – see below)

Juniors Ride — Juniors rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures

 

From the Ride Coordinator — As the temperatures rise and the roads dry out, we expect to see more people turning up for rides. Choosing the right group makes for a better experience for everyone; it may be a good idea to drop a group back when making a return if you haven’t ridden for a while.

Remember that the last group to leave riding the Main course on Saturdays is always a NO-DROP group.

Note for Friday’s ride – there are roadworks just after the bike path at the end of Shelly. You may need to stay on the bike path till the bridge.

Enjoy the good weather and stay safe as we hopefully bid winter farewell…

Saturday 26th August

Sunday 27th August

Monday 28th August

Tuesday 29th August

Wednesday 30th August

Thursday 31st August

Friday 1st September

Ride Routes 19 – 25th August

Good evening all. The weather looks good for the weekend, so make sure you find some time on the bike 💚

Just a couple of things to put in front of you this evening. First up, we have put out an EOI for coming onto the team as an SPR Ride Leader – do consider if this is a contribution that you would willing to make. Having a good-sized group of Ride Leaders with new people coming onto team helps us to maintain what is in many ways the centrepiece of what makes SPR … SPR.

Give it some thought, and do not hesitate to reach out to Greg Jones on development@southperthrouleurs.com.au if you have any questions or fill in any EOI – link in last week’s blog.

Second, don’t forget to sign up for our SPR Family Day… La Vuelta style… see below.

Final note, there are some good opportunities for riding coming up in the Canola Classic (see our post several week’s back) and the Bike it to Ballidu Gravel (apparently, the early bird is back).

Enjoy your riding, and hopefully see you for coffee.

Daniel

See our earlier blog for details and tickets (direct shop link) to our La Vuelta inspired SPR Family Day.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. CCC 98th Collie to Donnybrook & Return Cycling Classic

Hopefully, you’ve entered the Collie to Donnybrook as entries have closed. If you are racing, I wish you all the best and every success in this classic race!

Juniors Ride — Juniors rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures

 

From the Ride Coordinator — More good riding weather on the way this weekend – not quite Goldilocks temperatures yet, but we’ll take it any day! Perfect for those starting their TOMR training – a double on Saturday and/or Sunday hills is ideal training for the event – just adapt your pace/group to match your ability as your fitness builds.

Whatever rides you choose to do, please familiarise yourself with the route. Whether that’s reading up the night before, loading it into the Garmin/Wahoo, or putting a sticky note on your crossbar, make sure you know which way the group is going, and if you’re not sure about an upcoming turn, ask someone in the group ahead of time – we’re there to help each other.

Roadworks are still ongoing in Applecross on Melville Beach Pde and the Strand so if you haven’t been doing early morning rides, take note and expect detours.

Saturday 19th August

Sunday 20th August

Monday 21st August

Tuesday 22nd August

Wednesday 23rds August

Thursday 24th August

Friday 25th August

Ride Routes 12 – 18th August

SPR Ride Leader Program Call for Expressions of Interest — SPR’s training rides set us apart as a cycling Club; we are one of the few clubs in Australia that is not affiliated with a bike shop facilitating a broad range of opportunities for people to cycle in a group every day. Since its inception in 2009, a key feature of the feedback the Club receives is the value delivered by our organised and regular training rides. A key part of running these training rides is our ride leadership programme. Consistent, trained and visible ride leaders results in safer, more enjoyable ride experiences for everyone.

To this end, the Club developed a ride leader development program, with the objectives of:

  1. Developing SPR ride leaders’ knowledge and skills of both ride leadership and core cycling skills
  2. Building the confidence of ride leaders to ensure ride consistency and enhanced decision making during group rides
  3. Growing the pool of capable, confident ride leaders

We are now seeking Expressions of Interest from SPR members who would like to be part of our next public Ride Leader Development Program. The Program consists of four separate but related components:

  1. Theory: covers the core knowledge and skills required to be an effective ride leader for group rides across the Main, Transition and Development rides conducted by SPR (+/- 2hrs personal time)
  2. Skills Sessions: out on the bike, learning all about what it takes to be a good ride leader as well as having the opportunity to practice your skills and ideas in a “safe” environment. (2 x 2.5/3 hours sessions)
  3. Online Scenario Discussion: covering a few common scenarios that you may find in ride leading and joined by experienced ride leaders sharing their knowledge and stories when exposed to similar scenarios. (1 x 1.5/2 hour session)
  4. Ride Leader Observations: This will involve you being the ride leader for two(2) to three (3) separate SPR training rides with an observer to determine how you go about deploying your skills and knowledge in the “real world” environment. (2 – 3 ‘normal’ training rides, weekdays or weekends as required)

As a participant, you will get:

  1. New Skills: You will learn new skills and knowledge about cycling as well as ride leadership.
  2. Kudos: Be part of the “qualified” ride leader team out on the road.
  3. Stuff: Upon successful completion, Program participants will receive a custom SPR Ride Leader jersey to be worn whenever you are leading a SPR ride.
  4. On Going Development: Access to private discussion groups; coaching and skills development; ride-leader only events.

In return, once you have completed the Program, we will expect your commitment to the following:

  1. Lead a minimum of 2 Saturday main rides* per month throughout the year
  2. Be a role model for ride behaviour on ALL rides you participate in
  3. Assist in the recruitment and mentorship of future ride leaders
  4. Assist in training/observing people for their readiness to take on the role of Ride Leader.

* All prospective ride leaders should note that, from time to time, they will need be called on to lead rides of a lower skill &/or fitness level than their own. This means putting the interests of the Club and other riders before their own.

We are now seeking expressions of interest from SPR members who regularly ride with any group ie Main 1, 2, 3 & 4 as well as Transition and Development groups. While the ability to ride at or above the level of the group you are leading is important, just as critical is the constructive attitude and sound communication skills that are brought to the role. Empathy, care and the ability to encourage others is essential to the success of the ride leader.
In the event we are over-subscribed, the Development and Training sub-committee will use the quality & content of the EOI’s as well as the need to balance the mix of ride leaders to select the required number of participants. Anyone who is not selected shouldn’t be discouraged; it’s a numbers thing (us) rather than a capability thing (you).

As part of your EOI, we’d like you to outline:

  1. What you hope to get out of being a SPR ride leader
  2. Why you feel you will make a good contributor to ride leader team
  3. Which SPR group you usually ride with (M1, M2, M3, M4, T), and
  4. Your statement of commitment to the role of ride leader in terms of time to complete the Program and to lead the requisite number of rides per month

We anticipate kicking the Program off in the last week of August (with access to the theory being provided) and completing it by the end of September with the last weekend in August and the first weekend in September being critical in terms of availability for the two (2) skills sessions as well as the online discussion forum (this will be weather dependent).
If interested, please submit your EOI via this form before Sunday 20th August:

Submit Expression of Interest

There is space for questions as part of the EOI, but if you have any questions about the Ride Leader Program before submitting your EOI, please send them through to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au and we will get back to you ASAP.

SPR Ride Leaders 💚

See last week’s blog for details and tickets (direct shop link) to our La Vuelta inspired SPR Family Day.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. CCC 98th Collie to Donnybrook & Return Cycling Classic

Juniors Ride — Juniors rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures

 

From the Ride Coordinator — On Saturday the transitional group will once again be joined by some tandems through a collaboration with WATCAC, who promote the integration of blind and vision impaired cyclists into the cycling mainstream using tandems. After good feedback both tandem riders and regular Transitional Group riders last time, we’re keen to continue this venture.

Sunday’s hills groups have been smaller lately, which means a wider range of ability among fewer people, and that requires some compromise from stronger and weaker riders. Some days there will be an option to drop back from long to short hills on the first climb, but not always. The Social Hills group is always an option if you don’t think you’re up to the pace of the regular long or short hills groups, and if you’re feeling strong on the day, do an extra loop afterwards rather than pushing hard and splitting the group. Good communication at the start and during the ride means plans and expectations are adjusted to match the group on the day, and the group finishes together.

Saturday 12th August

Sunday 13th August

Monday 14th August

Tuesday 15th August

Wednesday 16th August

Thursday 17th August

Friday 18th August

Ride Routes 5 – 11th August

The South Perth Rouleurs are again hosting a family day on the back of the very successful event last year. This is an opportunity for everyone in the club to catch up informally in a setting that allows members and families to participate in a safe and casual environment at the Como Bowling Club. You can even enjoy a game of bowls.

Como Bowling Club
1 – 4pm, Sunday 10th September

The theme is inspired by La Vuelta, the last grand tour for 2024 in Spain. The Spanish cuisine made fresh at the site by Mr Paella includes a Chicken and Spanish chorizo paella as well as a vegetarian paella and Spanish Churros.

Drinks can be purchased from the Bowling Club. The Bowling Club has excellent facilities including indoor cover if the weather is unfavourable.

The Club is subsidising the event as it wants to recognise the support families provide the cyclists in their family by bringing them together. Ticket prices are very reasonable; children 5 or under are free and those 6 to 17 are heavily subsidised representing excellent value.

Visit the SPR Shop to book tickets.

Piñata anyone?
SPR La Vuelta Family Day
SPR La Vuelta Family Day

📸 Image by Freepik

SPR Ride Leader Program Call for Expressions of Interest — SPR’s training rides set us apart as a cycling Club; we are one of the few clubs in Australia that is not affiliated with a bike shop facilitating a broad range of opportunities for people to cycle in a group every day. Since its inception in 2009, a key feature of the feedback the Club receives is the value delivered by our organised and regular training rides. A key part of running these training rides is our ride leadership programme. Consistent, trained and visible ride leaders results in safer, more enjoyable ride experiences for everyone.

To this end, the Club developed a ride leader development program, with the objectives of:

  1. Developing SPR ride leaders’ knowledge and skills of both ride leadership and core cycling skills
  2. Building the confidence of ride leaders to ensure ride consistency and enhanced decision making during group rides
  3. Growing the pool of capable, confident ride leaders

We are now seeking Expressions of Interest from SPR members who would like to be part of our next public Ride Leader Development Program. The Program consists of four separate but related components:

  1. Theory: covers the core knowledge and skills required to be an effective ride leader for group rides across the Main, Transition and Development rides conducted by SPR (+/- 2hrs personal time)
  2. Skills Sessions: out on the bike, learning all about what it takes to be a good ride leader as well as having the opportunity to practice your skills and ideas in a “safe” environment. (2 x 2.5/3 hours sessions)
  3. Online Scenario Discussion: covering a few common scenarios that you may find in ride leading and joined by experienced ride leaders sharing their knowledge and stories when exposed to similar scenarios. (1 x 1.5/2 hour session)
  4. Ride Leader Observations: This will involve you being the ride leader for two(2) to three (3) separate SPR training rides with an observer to determine how you go about deploying your skills and knowledge in the “real world” environment. (2 – 3 ‘normal’ training rides, weekdays or weekends as required)

As a participant, you will get:

  1. New Skills: You will learn new skills and knowledge about cycling as well as ride leadership.
  2. Kudos: Be part of the “qualified” ride leader team out on the road.
  3. Stuff: Upon successful completion, Program participants will receive a custom SPR Ride Leader jersey to be worn whenever you are leading a SPR ride.
  4. On Going Development: Access to private discussion groups; coaching and skills development; ride-leader only events.

In return, once you have completed the Program, we will expect your commitment to the following:

  1. Lead a minimum of 2 Saturday main rides* per month throughout the year
  2. Be a role model for ride behaviour on ALL rides you participate in
  3. Assist in the recruitment and mentorship of future ride leaders
  4. Assist in training/observing people for their readiness to take on the role of Ride Leader.

* All prospective ride leaders should note that, from time to time, they will need be called on to lead rides of a lower skill &/or fitness level than their own. This means putting the interests of the Club and other riders before their own.

We are now seeking expressions of interest from SPR members who regularly ride with any group ie Main 1, 2, 3 & 4 as well as Transition and Development groups. While the ability to ride at or above the level of the group you are leading is important, just as critical is the constructive attitude and sound communication skills that are brought to the role. Empathy, care and the ability to encourage others is essential to the success of the ride leader.
In the event we are over-subscribed, the Development and Training sub-committee will use the quality & content of the EOI’s as well as the need to balance the mix of ride leaders to select the required number of participants. Anyone who is not selected shouldn’t be discouraged; it’s a numbers thing (us) rather than a capability thing (you).

As part of your EOI, we’d like you to outline:

  1. What you hope to get out of being a SPR ride leader
  2. Why you feel you will make a good contributor to ride leader team
  3. Which SPR group you usually ride with (M1, M2, M3, M4, T), and
  4. Your statement of commitment to the role of ride leader in terms of time to complete the Program and to lead the requisite number of rides per month

We anticipate kicking the Program off in the last week of August (with access to the theory being provided) and completing it by the end of September with the last weekend in August and the first weekend in September being critical in terms of availability for the two (2) skills sessions as well as the online discussion forum (this will be weather dependent).
If interested, please submit your EOI via this form before Sunday 20th August:

Submit Expression of Interest

There is space for questions as part of the EOI, but if you have any questions about the Ride Leader Program before submitting your EOI, please send them through to development@southperthrouleurs.com.au and we will get back to you ASAP.

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. CCC 98th Collie to Donnybrook & Return Cycling Classic

2. PDCC 2023 Road Season Club Championship

3. WA Cyclocross Numbat Cup Five

4. WCMCC Herne Hill Memorial Graded Handicap Road Race

Juniors Ride — Juniors rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures.

 

From the Ride Coordinator — Should be good riding weather again this weekend, so let’s make the most of it. Saturday takes us to Scarborough Beach & Hale – after a lenghty absence. It has a few lumps along the way to stretch the legs, and hopefully plenty of green lights to keep the momentum going.

On Sunday both long and short hills go up Canning Mills Road, one of Perth’s “Alpine” climbs – with plenty of twists and turns along the way which seem to lessen the pain, as you don’t get to see one long hill ahead of you (picture Welshpool Road!).

For those who’ve been braving the wet roads – Kudos to you – and remember to clean your bikes and lube your drive trains. Clean braking surfaces, chains and gears last a lot longer, and shift a lot smoother.

Saturday 5th August

Sunday 6th August

Monday 7th August

Tuesday 8th August

Wednesday 9th August

Thursday 10th August

Friday 11th August

Ride Routes 29th July – 4th August

The WA State Fondo Series York Canola Classic is being held on Sunday 27 August 2023. Set in the picturesque Shire of Your, cycle routes of 93km (1200m climbing) or 52km (~600m climbing) take you from the York township through boundless blooming yellow canola fields of the Avon Valley.

Contact Carol on comdev@southperthrouleurs.com.au if you want to participate.

SPR @ Canola Classic 2021
💚💚

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. TBA – EntryBoss is down 🙂

2. TBA

Juniors Ride (Saturday 22 July) — Juniors rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures.

 

From the Ride Coordinator — According the BOM this weekend is not going to be the perfect riding weather we had last weekend – so once again expect fewer riders, and a more mixed makeup in the group. It helps a lot to drop your tyre pressure by about 10-15psi when the roads are wet. Softer tyres mean more rubber in contact with the road which means more grip! It’s still pretty dark out there too, so front and rear lights are a must for all early rides, and highly recommended for getting to the 7am rides.

Thanks to everyone for taking on board the tips about staying in the lane through roundabouts – I had some good feedback from ride leaders and noticed the same myself. Keep it up, and stay safe in the wet (or jump on Zwift).

Saturday 29th July

Sunday 30th July

Monday 31st July

Tuesday 1st August

Wednesday 2nd August

Thursday 3rd August

Friday 4th August

Ride Routes 22nd – 28th July

Call for Sponsors — SPR Tour of Margaret River 2023. The Tour of Margaret River three day cycling event has been a key success of the South Perth Rouleurs through the Clubs commitment to providing a well organised, safe and social ride experience. The hard work and dedication of each and every cyclist in the months leading up to the event and its race volunteers ensure a quality experience for all.

We are proud of the the opportunities we have provided for our members to participate in what is arguably the best event of its kind in Australia. This year we are looking at around 15 teams, which means a sea of SPR green 💚

And here in lies an opportunity… sponsorship enables us a club to enhance the experience for members of our teams — through event-specific club kit and the like — providing a sense camaraderie and identity, whilst at the same time promoting local businesses through involvement with the sport of cycling.

A real win-win.

If this is you or your business we would love to hear from you!

Please get in touch via race@southperthrouleurs.com.au.

We will provide preference to any club members who would like to sponsor, but also consider sharing this opportunity with any businesses that you know of that might be interested.

WA Tandem Cycling Advisory Council Ride. Last Saturday saw the first of our rides, where our Transitional group was joined by a number of WATCAC riders. Thank you for coming. Check out the photos!

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. PDCC 2023 President’s Cup (Handicap Race)

2. WCMCC Dwellingup – Graded Handicap Road Race

Juniors Ride (Saturday 22 July) — After a few exercise sessions focused on improving our young riders’ bike skills through engaging games, it’s time to take things up a notch and build up their endurance by tackling a proper course! You can check out the course here: 

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/160875180

Spanning approximately 12 kilometers, this ride will challenge our young riders and provide them with a rewarding experience. We have planned a delightful stop at Dome (Deep Water Point), where the kids can enjoy a well-deserved treat of ice cream, serving as a delicious reward for their efforts.

The meeting point for this adventure will be at the Holy Family Church car park in Como, conveniently located at https://goo.gl/maps/pzQcsdXYFXi19Vtw7. We kindly request all participants to gather there at 10:30 AM sharp. The estimated return time home is around 12:30 PM, allowing for a satisfying morning of cycling and fun.

Furthermore, we would like to inform you that this upcoming ride will be the last one for the next four weeks. Our junior ride leader, Giovanni, will be temporarily away visiting his family in Italy. Therefore, we will be taking a break from organised rides during this period.

Please note that our rides will resume on September 2nd, 2023, and we look forward to continuing our cycling adventures.

During this break, we encourage everyone to continue practicing and enjoying their own rides with their parents.

 

From the Ride Coordinator — Perfect winter riding weather this weekend – but the roads could still be a little slippery after all the rain this week so please go easy on corners and roundabouts. Saturday Main route is Collier Dianella, a newish route that had a recent safety improvement following rider feedback. We now cross the railway line in Guilford just after crossing Tonkin Hwy and then dog-leg right into Railway Pde before turning left into Collier Rd.

Sunday Long Hills is also one a newer one – with familiar roads, but Repatriation loop counter-clockwise. Remember to slow down and turn right into Forest Rd before the T-junction at the bottom of the descent of Patterson.

Saturday 22nd July

Sunday 23rd July

Monday 24th July

Tuesday 25th July

Wednesday 26th July

Thursday 27th July

Friday 28th July

Ride Routes 15th – 21st July

It has been a big week, with both light and shade.

The Tour is proceeding apace, and making for some excellent viewing. In my opinion anyway. Seeing Jai in yellow was amazing. And having watched Pogacar and Vingegaard battle it out with some serious attacks, I remain very impressed with Jai’s +2:40 third place in the General Classification.

SPR’s Tour de France dinner was Tuesday just gone, and as ever, the cuisine and company at Chez Pierre were sublime. Select photos below.

I also wish to offer a tribute and our deepest condolences on behalf of the club to Connor Lambert’s family and friends. Many in the club will have known and raced with Connor as part of the local cycling and racing community, and it is a confronting to hear news of a young life cut tragically short. I know that it must be infinitely worse for Connor’s family and friends in dealing with this shocking news.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all affected by this loss.

For those who may not be aware, we heard the news of Connor’s death of in Belgium whilst on a training ride earlier this week.

Daniel

Look out for the tandem riders from WATCAC, WA Tandem Cycling Advisory Council, who will be joining this Saturdays Transition ride for the first time.

Learn more about tandem riding in WA 

https://watcac.org

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. [CANCELLED] 4Five+ Femmes on Track Race 2

2. WCMCC Casuarina – Graded Road Race – 3 Day Tour – Day 2

Juniors Ride (Saturday 15 July) — The weather forecast for this weekend is looking fantastic, ensuring another delightful day with the kids. As we continue to evolve this type of ride and explore new possibilities, this time we have decided to gather at the beautiful Wireless Hill Park (https://goo.gl/maps/avubzSpDya2JnGaC8) at 11am. Our plan is to enjoy some invigorating laps around the museum and engage in exciting games.

For those who are interested in cycling to the park, covering a distance of approximately 9.5km, we will be meeting at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Como at 10.20am. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some exercise before joining the rest of the group.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the event!

 

From the Ride Coordinator — According to the BOM it’t going to be nippy this weekend, but no rain, so dress for the conditions. A reminder about extra precautions required at roundabouts – they are a major contributor to accidents according to our stats. “Hold your line” doesn’t mean keep going straight, and short cutting across the roundabout. It means KEEP LEFT, stay in your lane, and follow the curve of the road through the roundabout or corner, so that the riders and cars adjacent to you can do the same.

Polite constructive feedback to riders who don’t do this can be helpful. Think of the group you’re in as a team. We need to have each other’s backs all the time – whether it’s calling out obstacles in the road loud and early, communicating when riders are struggling, or letting the group know there’s a split at a traffic light. This builds trust among the riders in the group, which leads to a safer culture – one of SPR’s key values.

Sunday’s long hills ride is a tester with some steep sections – and maybe not ideal for less experienced riders but great for those wanting to stretch their climbing legs after watching le Tour. There is always the short hills option…

Saturday 15th July

Sunday 16th July

Monday 17th July

Tuesday 18th July

Wednesday 19th July

Thursday 20th July

Friday 21st July

Ride Routes 8 – 14th July

If you did not have enough of a reason to stay up and watch the Tour de France… you do now.

This year was already exciting with twelve Australians riding in the Tour, including locals Jai Hindley and Ben O’Connor. And now, after a big day in the mountains, we have Jai Hindley in yellow and with a decisive stage win under the belt yesterday. Impressive.

If you have not see the seen the result, check out the win and the post-race interview. Not to mention that local photographer Zac Williams is there capturing the moment.

For me, in addition to the racing, I am appreciating the inclusion of “mate” in the lexicon of Tour de France post-race interviews.

“… then the opportunity for the stage presented itself, and I was all in on the last climb and just happened to take the yellow jersey as well, which isn’t too shabby so I can’t complain mate.”

We have one ticket left for our Tour de France dinner next week. Keep in mind that we will be having some WATCAC tandem riders joining us Saturday week.

Enjoy the Tour.

Daniel

Racing this weekend – If you want to race, or get in on the action watching others race, read on.

1. PDCC 2023 Winter Series – Race 4

2. WCMCC Splendid Park – Graded Criterium Race – 3 day tour – Day 1

 

From the Ride Coordinator — Another week of ordinary weather, and more iffy stuff this weekend. There should be some breaks in the weather, so don’t miss out when they appear. Recent SPR safety stats are showing promising signs – so keep up the good work, and politely remind people if you see any unsafe behavior.

JUNIOR RIDE: There will be another junior ride this Saturday at 11am – meeting at the same place – Kuljak Island – which has plenty of parking at the meeting point. There is also the option of a 13km ride to the start from the meeting point at Holy Family Catholic Church in Como. Thanks to all who attended and helped last Saturday – the kids and adults had a blast. Remember to check your kids bikes, and wear a helmet if you’re planning to join.

Saturday 8th July

Sunday 9th July

Monday 10th July

Tuesday 11th July

Wednesday 12th July

Thursday 13th July

Friday 14th July