where to start. there is so much information, advice and opinion floating around at the moment that it is worth stopping and taking stock of our current situation. over the weekend the committee had a lengthy discussion and we posted our advice for group riding and coffee-shop interaction. basically stop snotting and touching and if you have travelled recently or been in contact with someone that now has the virus, stay away. the next day we developed a strategy which showed just how we would deal with this pandemic moving forward. after much discussion we landed on level 2 as it fell in line with the national guidelines.  the next day westcycle posted their advice and using our strategy guidelines, suggested that all clubs need to be at level 3 (riding is ok, but no coffee-shops). As such we have taken that position and although we are still running group rides, our recommendation is that you do restrict any physical social interaction afterwards.

in some people’s opinions, this does not go far enough and we are being told that we should cease all group rides all together. this is contrary to all federal and state level advice as well as the national cycling organisation. however, this is not just blindly following the government advice but making an informed decision and trying to find the right balance.

while the more populated east coast of australia is starting to see an increase in the number of cases reported, there is some benefit in being the most isolated capital city in the world. unfortunately, it is also the home of many cash-up bogans who didn’t want to give up their bali holiday. so, at the moment, the majority of cases in wa are coming from people that have travelled and returned with the virus. looking at the stats for each state in this abc.net article (updated daily), nsw, vic and qld have had a dramatic increase in the number of cases with nsw going from 22 to 267 in two weeks. wa is lagging, but there is no reason not to expect that we will follow the same trajectory. as such, we think that we have about a week before the number of cases contracted locally begins to rise. as we start to see that change, the committee will discuss the best options for the club and communicate immediately. bearing in mind that as this level of isolation could be mandated for months, we are cautious to not over-react.

so, in the meantime what is the risk for riding? in an article from bicycling.com, there is a section about the risks of transmission from sweat, spit and snot during riding. it also covers what to do if you do get hit by someones spit and how long they think the virus (which is not airborne transmitted) can live outside a host. just be aware that this article is written for an american audience and different rules for social distancing apply (50 people, while in australia it is currently 500 people).

there is also an argument that in the event of an accident, you will further overwhelm a health care system that is under pressure.  i totally agree, but we are not there yet and when that time comes, indoor would be the safest option.

at the end of the day this comes down to personal choice and if you have family that are elderly or vulnerable, then you need to make the decision as to how you conduct your daily life.  not just cycling, but using public transport, using areas that have shared spaces and who you do come in contact with. while we do think that the current risk of transmission while cycling is low, we are also aware that the situation can change rapidly and we will endeavour to react accordingly.

so while you still see the ride routes listed out for the coming week, we are starting to develop an online option for those that want to begin isolating now. this may be the norm moving forward so it may pay to get your equipment and memberships ready for when it becomes the only option available. the spr indoor riders collective (sprirc) is being established with the first ride coming this saturday  for those that don’t want to head out (see below). as the situation changes we will work towards making more rides available throughout the week.

annual general meeting – The South Perth Cycle Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been postponed due to social distancing rules being applied to indoor gatherings. However, while we sort out a date to hold the AGM, feel free to nominate for a position within the committee. Initial indications are that the club will need at least 2 new committee members for 2020. Please see the previous post for more info.

new spr kit design – as outlined in the previous post, the design for the new spr kit has been finalised.  the kit committee has been working closely with Mayeur to come up with a design that encompasses the clubs main elements whilst presented within an understated style. next steps will be a social event/sizing party to ensure that people order exactly what they need.

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.

watertower challege 2020 – it’s back. after a number of years hiatus, we will be running the watertower challenge in september. you can choose between the metric (100km) or imperial (160km) challenge visiting a number of watertowers around the suburbs of perth. form a team of 3 and challenge yourself. more info on our facebook events page.

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 have been canceled as per our corona virus pandemic strategy.

spr indoor riders collective (sprirc) – For those who wish, there will be Zwift ride set up for Saturday morning. I’ll invite those who follow me on Zwift, and for anyone who wants to join in, they can get in touch via the zwift app (search for Julian Johnson SPR) and add me to your following list, so I can add you. The ride course is the Sand and Sequoia on Watopia and it starts at 7 am. You can also just join in with the group at the start. We’ll do 3 laps in total, the first lap we’ll make sure everyone gets on and roll around at 2-2.5 w/kg. This will pick up to 3 for the second lap and all in for the last 20 km. Total distance will be 60 km

from the ride coordinator – Wow. What a crazy time we live in. To think that this time last week, the thought of not scheduling a main ride seemed a distant consideration. Fast forward 7 days and it has occupied the deliberations of the committee constantly in the ever changing world we live in. Right now, I’m happy to report that we are still riding but without the coffee shop experience afterwards. We know this is not everyone’s choice so we are also setting up alternatives to those that may be uncomfortable with the conventional form of riding. Whatever option you choose, you can rely on this club committing to being true to itself around inclusion and providing options for as many of its members as possible. Enjoy whatever you choose and stay healthy.

saturday 21st march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – cancelled

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans shelley 40.59km spr saturday

fast/main – canning vale & welshpool 49.74km spr saturday

sunday 22nd march

rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

note: sunday rides now start at 7:00am from mar to oct

development group – coffee ride

short –wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – wlsh obs kal 90.32km spr sunday

monday 23rd march

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

cancelled

tuesday 24th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

cancelled

wednesday 25th march

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

cancelled

thursday 26th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

cancelled

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

cancelled

friday 27th march

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

cancelled

who is it that influenced you to ride a bike? was it a family member that you always saw riding when you were growing up, or did you start riding later in life and noticed some friends or work mates spending time in the saddle? for me it was a school mate that got me into riding.  pre-helmet rules, pre-lycra style and heavy steel bikes. no group rides, just a couple of us heading out for hours on end, or touring between towns.  the longest was a 200km trek between bendigo and halls gap which took us 10 hours and included 8 hours of rain.  looking back on it we had no idea what we were doing.  bags were just 2 backpacks slung over a carrier and nutrition involved pies from local bakeries.  definitely a simpler time.

ride leader sponsor – this months ride leader sponsor is Chaotic Energy.  owner, Teneal Attard is an active member of the club and is proud to be supporting the upcoming Renae’s Race, the premier race for women in WA.  what is Chaotic Energy? they are a gym with a difference – an inclusive, stress free and supportive community, committed to achieving physical and emotional optimisation. see the previous post for more details and links.

annual general meeting – The South Perth Cycle Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday 21 March 2020 at 9am. This will be held at Dome Westralia Plaza (5/167 St Georges Terrace, Perth) following the usual Saturday ride. Each year at the AGM all office holder and general committee positions are declared vacant. In order to keep the club moving forward and meet the needs of all, it is important that the SPR committee is representative of our broad membership.
Initial indications are that the club will need at least 1 new committee member for 2020. Please see the previous post for more info.

SPR SuperVan and Tent City at The Ring Subiaco – These things don’t happen by themselves. We are seeking some volunteers to arrive at 11:00am and 17:30pm this Sunday to the corner of Rokeby and Baker Rds to assist in setting up and packing down the SPR tents for The Ring Subiaco this weekend. If you race, intend to race, like to watch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyOqd6RN9eU) or happen be an SPR member then volunteer to come along and help. If you intend to nominate for SPR’s at Tour of Margaret River squads this year, volunteer, as this will count towards the mandatory vollie appearance! Email race@spr to volunteer. Otherwise, come along and watch and cheer and ring cowbells like some crazy bugger that could have bought all the toilet paper. See you there.

new spr kit design – as outlined in the previous post, the design for the new spr kit has been finalised.  the kit committee has been working closely with Mayeur to come up with a design that encompasses the clubs main elements whilst presented within an understated style. next steps will be a social event/sizing party to ensure that people order exactly what they need.

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. numbers have been a bit sporadic for juniors since the new year.  hopefully we can get numbers back up to a sustainable level so that it doesn’t rely on only a few people to make it happen.  while the weather is nice, get the kids out and get them active.

from the ride coordinator – Was so inspired by last week’s Perth Festival finale tribute to Bon Scott that I’ve got all nostalgic in this week’s choice of ride route for our main ride. For those riding this week, bring out your best Acca Dacca Lycra (black will do it) and rock your own Highway to Hell on the Freo Canningvale route !

On another note, good luck to all those SPR riders participating in the Peaks Challenge, Perth to Buso and Subiaco Crits events this weekend.

saturday 7th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday

fast/main – freo & canning vale 52.11km spr saturday

sunday 8th march

rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

note: sunday rides now start at 7:00am from mar to oct

development group – coffee ride

short – grnmt goose 65.22km spr sunday

long – grnmt prk mnd wr 93.71km spr sunday

monday 9th march

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 10th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 11th march

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 12th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 13th march

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

so, lets talk about the weather.  rain, humidity, wind.  all the things that cyclists don’t like.  this morning we were also dodging the odd thunderstorm but didn’t manage to miss the rain.  apart from the steamy queensland like weather, the other main change is that sunrise is getting later.  it is now after 6am and with the overcast skys, this makes it dark.  as announced a number of times, the sunday hills ride is moving back to a 7am start.  this allows us more visibility and less chance of drivers being blinded by the sunrise. i am sure that someone will turn up there at 6am this week, but i am also sure that they will only do it once.

ride leader sponsor – this months ride leader sponsor is Chaotic Energy.  owner, Teneal Attard is an active member of the club and is proud to be supporting the upcoming Renae’s Race, the premier race for women in WA.  what is Chaotic Energy? they are a gym with a difference – an inclusive, stress free and supportive community, committed to achieving physical and emotional optimisation. see the previous post for more details and links.

annual general meeting – The South Perth Cycle Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday 21 March 2020 at 9am. This will be held at Dome Westralia Plaza (5/167 St Georges Terrace, Perth) following the usual Saturday ride. Each year at the AGM all office holder and general committee positions are declared vacant. In order to keep the club moving forward and meet the needs of all, it is important that the SPR committee is representative of our broad membership.
Initial indications are that the club will need at least 1 new committee member for 2020. Please see the previous post for more info.

criterium racing – Sunday 8th March is the Subiaco round of the InterClub Crit Series. If you went last year to race or spectate, you’ll know it was a splendid afternoon out.
Staged in the heart of Subiaco, the circuit is a tough course, fully closed with brilliant spectating available. The SPR SuperVan will be in attendance with our Green tent city, esky’s filled, some seating and even some cowbells. OF COURSE!
The weekend after is the final round of the InterClub series and the Premier Women’s Criterium race event of the year – Renae’s Race. Celebrating the life of the late Renae Baker, you should have also seen that the event this year is being generously sponsored by Chaotic Energy. This year the same day will play host to a commemorative race in memory of Henk Vogels Snr for the blokes.
Come and race, come and spectate, COME AND SUPPORT!!!
Your entries are open for both at entry boss click the links for The Ring Subiaco or Renae’s Race.
And keep your eyes out for the RACE@SPR posts.

new spr kit design – as outlined in the previous post, the design for the new spr kit has been finalised.  the kit committee has been working closely with Mayeur to come up with a design that encompasses the clubs main elements whilst presented within an understated style. next steps will be a social event/sizing party to ensure that people order exactly what they need.

rubbish – it was observed that someone in the group discarded a gel pack during the ride last week.  all rubbish must be carried and disposed of properly.  even the pro’s can only drop things at certain times during the race now to minimise littering. if you managed to carry the gel packet when it was full, you certainly had space for the empty packet.

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. numbers have been a bit sporadic for juniors since the new year.  hopefully we can get numbers back up to a sustainable level so that it doesn’t rely on only a few people to make it happen.  while the weather is nice, get the kids out and get them active.

from the ride coordinator – Some changes for this weekends rides, will really test how far people read down the blog, or whether they just skip past this section to the ride routes. If you are reading this, then kudos to you as you might just have some more knowledge than the thumb scrolling experts who just go to the ride routes.

First thing is a reiteration of last week’s notice than Sunday Hills rides will be reverting back to a 7am start. If you are a regular for these rides, be good to have a quick word to your fellow regular Sunday riders to make sure they enjoy an extra hours sleep.

If you are intending to ride the public holiday Monday ride, then please note their is a slight change to the route that will take away the dangerous and deteriorating road conditions around Riverside Rd, through the left bank. SO PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: the ride route will continue along Preston Point Rd all the way to the Canning Highway. DO NOT TURN RIGHT AT THE ROUNDABOUT AT THE CORNER OF PRESTON POINT RD INTO RIVERSIDE DRIVE. Continue straight along Preston Point ride, up and over the rise to the Canning Highway. At Canning Highway, turn right but stay in the right hand lane, ready to turn onto the Stirling Highway Bridge. After traversing the bridge, turn left onto Tydeman Road to join the route as you know it.

Again, if you are having a coffee and asking your fellow SPR rider if they are riding Monday, be sure to also ask if they know of the PH ride route change. Otherwise enjoy this weekend’s riding as it looks like it’s clearing up just in time.

saturday 29th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans reabold 38.69km spr saturday

fast/main – reabold & cottesloe 50.91km spr saturday

sunday 1st march

rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

note: sunday rides now start at 7:00am from mar to oct

development group – coffee ride

short – brktn weir 82.89km spr sunday

long – cann dam 100.13km spr sunday

monday 2nd march – labour day

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

main/fast – public hol 57.62km spr special

tuesday 3rd march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 4th march

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 5th march

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 6th march

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

the other day #2 son had to write a piece on people he admired.  he listed kobe bryant, some random youtube person that i don’t know and….me. as an 11 year old, this is not unusual, but his reasoning was a little more obscure. he talked about the club and how i am a ride leader and this is what he wanted to be when he grew up. not “i want to win races” (that’s def not me), not “i want to ride fast” (still not me), but “i want to be a leader”. when we started the ride leader program, it was modelled loosely on the surf life-saving structure. a lot of young people join the junior ranks on the beach, with the hope of one day being able to wear the bright yellow of a life-saver. if that is how our juniors view the program, then we must be doing something right.

ride leader sponsor – this months ride leader sponsor is Chaotic Energy.  owner, Teneal Attard is an active member of the club and is proud to be supporting the upcoming Renae’s Race, the premier race for women in WA.  what is Chaotic Energy? they are a gym with a difference – an inclusive, stress free and supportive community, committed to achieving physical and emotional optimisation. see the previous post for more details and links.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday is a west coast masters race at herne hill. 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.

new spr kit design – as outlined in the previous post, the design for the new spr kit has been finalised.  the kit committee has been working closely with Mayeur to come up with a design that encompasses the clubs main elements whilst presented within an understated style. next steps will be a social event/sizing party to ensure that people order exactly what they need.

rubbish – it was observed that someone in the group discarded a gel pack during the ride last week.  all rubbish must be carried and disposed of properly.  even the pro’s can only drop things at certain times during the race now to minimise littering. if you managed to carry the gel packet when it was full, you certainly had space for the empty packet.

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. numbers have been a bit sporadic for juniors since the new year.  unfortunately i will be contributing to it this week as i have a previous commitment and will not be bringing the boys down. hopefully we can get numbers back up to a sustainable level so that it doesn’t rely on only a few people to make it happen.  while the weather is nice, get the kids out and get them active.

from the ride coordinator – This is the last week that the Sunday hills ride will leave at 6:00am. Next Sunday is the 1st of March and sunrise will be after 6:00am so the rides will move back to 7:00am.  I have enjoyed getting home early, but there has also been an increased risk from motorist not seeing us as we are riding into the rising sun.  there have been very few really hot days, so if there are any predicted, we will just tackle them on an “as needs” basis.

saturday 22nd february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans benara 39.90km spr saturday

fast/main – benara rd 50.76km spr saturday

sunday 23rd february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – brktn weir 82.89km spr sunday

long – roley obs 100.16km spr sunday

monday 24th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 25th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 26th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 27th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 28th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

leadership. over a year ago, i lost the love for cycling. i was sick of training and sick of trying. at the time i thought that i just needed to ride for fun and physically that is all i did.  mentally and emotionally, however,  i also disengaged but probably didn’t realise at the time, what effect that had on my interactions within the club.

there were a lot of times last year when strong leadership within the club would have contributed positively towards a better outcome and i wasn’t there.  for that i apologise. i left a lot of things up to the committee and, although they are more than capable of delivering, support from my corner was limited.  for that i apologise. the clubs presence within the wider arena of cycling within wa and with me often being the “face” of spr at meetings was almost non-existent. for that i apologise. i have had some personal issues with some others within the cycling community and as such, have taken a very “trumpistic” nationalism view and often ignored other entities within cycling. for that i apologise.  there was some change within cycling in wa and the clubs have now fallen under the westcycle banner.  at the time i wasn’t paying attention and now we find ourselves pulled in many directions with issues around auscycle.  although i couldn’t have changed a lot, i still apologise for not being actively engaged.

so, where does that leave us? we will be having an agm in march and as per our constitution, all positions, including the presidency are vacated. i am intending on standing again, but i suppose that is up to the membership as to whether i continue as president. i do, however, commit to being much more active and engaged as i believe that a lack of strong leadership causes organisations to quickly disintegrate. the club has changed significantly over the last 10 years and we have built something that has the potential to remain strong for many years to come. i now realise that the role of president is not just a position in name only, but is a vehicle for directing the club.  just what direction that is depends on how much effort is placed behind it.

come and try – this weekend at the Peel crit at the motoplex, there will be a “come and try” ride for any women that wants to see what crit racing is about.  The session will be with experienced riders to guide you around and provide feedback. follow the calendar link below to get more info on the event and times for each session.

crit racing – there is racing available throughout summer – pretty much every weekend. this sunday is round 2 of the interclub criterium series hosted by Peel. 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.

spr kit supplier – as outlined in the previous post, the kit sub-committee conducted a review of our current supply and design for club kit.  a number of different manufacturers were invited to submit a proposal and we are pleased to announce that we are moving forward with Mayeur. we are currently in the design process and hope to get it finalised soon with orders opening soon after.  there will be a sizing kit available at a local bike shop and orders will be via an online portal.

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 – Back (by popular demand) this week for both Saturday and Sunday is a reprise of 3 of our newest ride routes and the return of an old favourite. Got some great feedback from both transition and main groups that they really liked the North Lake/Shelley and Stock Shelley routes. Last time we did it, we also had quite a few people who missed out as they were visiting Radelaide for the TDU. So with the sort of wind conditions shifting from North West to South West, we can’t miss the opportunity for the “holy grail” of having the wind behind us most of the ride, so we are going for it ! (Lets hope Mother Nature is also a cyclist !). Similarly on Sunday our most difficult to pronounce as well as newest long hills ride is also coming back for another show after rave reviews last time. Enjoy your riding !

saturday 15th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans nth lake & shelley 40.50km spr saturday

fast/main – stock & shelley 49.56km spr saturday

sunday 16th february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – zamia darl mund dodd obs 111.68km spr sunday

monday 17th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 18th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 19th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 20th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 21st february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

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.

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.

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.

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

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans cresswell 40.21km spr saturday

fast/main – tv stations 50.29km spr saturday

sunday 9th february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – khna weir 72.23km spr sunday

long – khna can mills 94.55km spr sunday

monday 10th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 11th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 12th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 13th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 14th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

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

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday

fast/main – south st 51.23km spr saturday

sunday 2nd february

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – kal goose 67.63km spr sunday

long – kal obs goose 97.40km spr sunday

monday 3rd february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 4th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 5th february

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 6th february

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 7th february

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

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

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans shelley 40.59km spr saturday

fast/main – hale rd reverse 51.37km spr saturday

sunday 26th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – grnmt goose 65.22km spr sunday

long – grnmt prk mnd wr 93.71km spr sunday

monday 27th january – public holiday

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

fast/main – public hol 57.62km spr special

tuesday 28th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 29th january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 30th january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 31st january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride

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

early lap – earlybird 40.93km spr special

all rides start at coode st carpark at 7:00am

juniors – kings park juniors 23.72km spr saturday

development group –  novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional 1/2 – trans nth lake & shelley 40.50km spr saturday

fast/main – stock & shelley 49.56km spr saturday

sunday 19th january

rides start at coode st carpark at 6:00am

note: sunday rides start at 6:00am from nov to feb

development group – coffee ride

short – brktn weir 82.89km spr sunday

long – cann dam 100.13km spr sunday

monday 20th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

south stock 33.76km spr monday

tuesday 21st january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

spr tuesday 36.37km (river ride)

wednesday 22nd january

ride starts raffles bike path at 5:30am

interval training – stock road repeats

thursday 23rd january

ride starts under the narrows (cityside) at 5:30am

see previous post for ride groups

spr thursday 37.26km (cott & freo)

ride starts frasers ave at 5:45am

development group – interval training kings park

friday 24th january

ride starts under the narrows (sth perth side) at 5:30am

spr friday 42.01km (shelley)

friday training/recovery ride