Tag Archives: novice

Tuesday ‘Transition Group’ ride

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by Scott

Well after a bit of toing & froing the the Tuesday Transition Group ride came about. (originally when it was just Toby and myself throwing the idea about it was going to be ‘Tubby Tuesday’ but since there are other riders besides us it is no longer appropriate). Naming rights for this ride are still up for grabs. It came about after we discussed the weekly routine of us getting dropped off the main group and how hard it would be for newer Novice riders making the transition as well. We threw around the idea of a slower paced ride and after mentioning it to Dr Ronny at the crits on Sunday, it got legs.

After Ronny’s initial post of the ride, there was a bit of misunderstanding about its intentions with a few novice riders feeling pressured to progress. Just to let you know this ride is for anyone who wants a slower paced ride option for Tuesdays, whether its the likes of myself struggling to hang on to the main group or those in the novice looking for a step-up, all are welcome. It’s a steady pace averaging about 26km/hr or the slowest rider and shortcuts are taken to fit the time frame.

Now onto the ride itself. After a very hot, humid night and similar to follow I wasn’t sure how many would turn up, but on arrival under the Narrow’s I found 7 willing participants + Toby and myself. After a quick briefing from Toby & waiting for the main group to head off we hit the road. Mounts Bay road was a nice stretch to get the group sorted and get a feel for where everyone was at. We headed around the back of UWA and thru Dalkeith with the group working well together, taking the rises in there step and generally maintaining the line. There was a few changes of turns at the front and all going smoothly.

We then headed out to Freo along Stirling Hwy which was another good chance to get the group used to holding the wheel in front and maintaining the line in a group. Lynda was the only 1 who really ‘enjoyed’ the rise thru Claremont, but got the chance to learn the benefits of drafting to get back to the group. It was pretty smooth sailing down this way with a light breeze to keep us cool. Over the bridge and into East Freo the group started to feel the light headwind. The first little rise off Canning was fun for a few, who got pulled up by the short sharp rise, plus someone losing a light, lucky for the sweeper (me) it was retrieved. We regrouped on the roll down the other side and continued to Point Walter where we had a bit of a breather and regroup, with dropped lights & water bottle handed back to owners. At this point the Main group swept thru having caught us as we went around them with our shortcut.

From here it was a mostly flat run back to Atomic for coffee, with the group maintaining a good pace and and continuing turns at the front. We did a few sections of PSP along the way With the group doing really well on there single file and communications. We’ll try to avoid the PSPs next time as they get busy at this time of day and really don’t help with group riding skills. Half the group stayed for coffee while others had to head off for work. For those interested you can see the route we took here (disregard my commute to and from the start/finish)

All in all it went well for the 1st time, with a few little things to iron out in terms of skills and the route. But generally the guys worked together well and showed a good level of skills. Hopefully in the future we will see a few other riders joining us and helping to grow the club.

*Just as a note this ride won’t be happening next week due to Toby & myself being away and it also being Australia Day, but will be back the week after.

"N" Group Ride – Monday Public Holiday

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Monday morning was going to be hot and the “conspirators” had agreed after the post Christmas Saturday ride that in an effort to beat the heat, the “N” group would leave Coode St carpark at 6.30 for the longer ride around the river and back to Atomic in Mends St.   At 6.35 when Gwyn & I arrived there were only couple of the girls plus Mike & Debbie, but by the time we had discussed the morning “easterly” and which way to go, the numbers were up to 14 including myself and couple of the other guys “ex” the main group joining in with the “N” group regulars. 

Heading off towards the Narrows at around 6.45am, we upped and over the bridge to re-group and pair up ready to head east along Mounts Bay Rd. Sitting on 30 with the tail wind, and Mike keeping the rear end in check, we rode as a solid pack “real cyclists” past the Brewery into Nedlands.  Turning left to follow the river alongside UWA, the pack went
through the “Steve”s” roundabout to tackle the first “lump” ahead as the The Avenue rose up into Dalkeith; this pushed a few of the heart rates up with the group spread out a little and three “old amigos” came past and took us on the hill.   

Re-grouping at the top we picked back up to a steady pace around 25-28, overtook the 3 amigos, and cruised up to
Stirling Hwy were we sat seemingly for ages waiting for the lights to change – too much carbon and not enough steel on the bikes I reckon to trigger the vehicle detectors in the road. 
Under the underpass, then left and up the next rise past Scotch College heart rates getting nicely elevated again, before stopping at the top for a quick strategy chat on tackling Curtin Ave in single file and the red lights on Eric and Jarrad St.  As luck would have it, both lights held green and let us straight through sitting on 27-30 with the
easterly helping us along.   Down through Leighton”s and the group looking very professional and business like – shame about the utes parked and blocking the bike lane heading south (no doubt the same d**kheads who like to hurl abuse at cyclists legitimately using the “their” road).  We even managed to overtake a couple of “targets” before taking a sneaky back street shortcut into Tydeman Rd.   
Little traffic around so we decided at the last minute not duck into east Freo, but head back via the Stirling Bridge, Canning Hwy and our third little casino pa natet lump up into Preston Point Rd.  More elevated heart rates with Tracy, Michelle and a couple of others storming up the hill and gapping the rest with a 50 metre lead out.  Up and over Point Walter and
then for a re-group to organise the roll through; after  pairing up ok, the inner line got a bit too enthusiastic and made it hard for the outer line pushing into the easterly to overtake, ending up with the group stretching out and separating somewhat.  A bit more practise around the longer section of Shelley and we”ll get there.    Waved and shouted
“pleasantries” at the Main group as they headed by in the opposite direction and had another crack at rolling through along Melville Beach Rd – bit better this time, and then again for the third time along the short section from South Perth Y.C to Canning Bridge.    Re-grouped by the Bridge and as we had only covered around 40 klms by
then, checked if anyone was game for quick deviation via Shelley – but the 60/40 split in favour of coffees at the Atomic  won through.  Funny that !   
So far we had run a safe and generally tight group ride – possibly a bit slow for some of the “guns” but a couple of the newcomers really appreciated Mike sweeping up at the back end of the pack and offering encouragement in times of need.  Heading north on the freeway bike path with a bit of a tail wind, Gwyn, Patrick & Tracy romped ahead.   As the main group turned off into the jet ski carpark, the large red & white pole in the middle of the bike path jumped up out of the red bitumen and assaulted one of our number (who wished to remain nameless) . . . . That sickening sound of screech crunch and thud behind can only mean one collective thing – pain embarrassment and expensive bike damage.  Thanks to the hospitality of the jet skiers and the ministrations of Michelle and a couple of the others, the recipient of the assault was laid out in the skiers tent in a bit of shock, whilst Mike checked the bike over.  With doses of TLC the patient recovered enough to re-mount and we all finished off the last klm of the ride back to Atomic (very carefully).  Just goes to show that after riding in the sun for an hour or two, it”s so easy for a bit of lapsed concentration to lead something ugly.  Fortunately damage to bike and body appeared to be minimal although someone will be sporting a few bruises and feel a little sore for the next few days.  Apart from the pole assault, thanks to Mike and the other “escorts” we had a safe ride, the group generally worked well together and gained a bit more confidence on some of the traditionally busy “cycling” roads.