i often have discussions at the board level about racing being the be all and end all of our sport.  my argument is that people need to start somewhere and if you don’t provide pathways, then your sport will eventually die out.  our club is different to many others in this state as we have more than half of our membership on a recreational licence.  for other clubs it is all about racing, but our focus is a little broader than that.  however, it was great to see so many spr jerseys out at the crits last weekend, especially in the women’s races.  we do have a good system for developing people from weekend warriors through to fully fledged racers so if you want to take that step, don’t be afraid to ask for some help.  the crits as a good place to start, even if you just come down to watch on sunday to see what is involved and who is involved.  often people don’t feel ready to “pin on a number” but are happy to be competitive on a saturday morning.  you may be surprised at who is actually racing, and find that you may already be at that level to give it a go.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here.

ride leaders sponsorship – this months ride leaders are proudlysponsored by the BikeDr.  please see the previous post detailing what they provide and we thank them for encouraging our members to step up as ride leaders.  ride leaders will receive a $10 Dome voucher to be used after the saturday ride.  if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

thursday night crit training – this thursday we continue our night time crit training in canning vale.  as long as it is not raining, check out the previous post and head on down.

smashfest criterium series – the crits continue this week after a successful kick off last week.  good racing in all grades with 4 grades of women’s included.  if you want to have a go at racing, then this is the place to start.  nice easy course and lots of spr support.  it is now just rock up, pay your money and race.  men’s and women’s races will be separate and juniors can race in ‘e’ grade.

smashfest criterium volunteers – we will only need a few volunteers this year as we are paying for traffic management and for st john.  still a handful will be needed to help setup and assist in the rego/drink desk.  racing for juniors starts at 7am so if we can have a couple of people down there at 6:30 it would be great.

cyclesport wa agm – held on the 29th november, this is your opportunity to see how the sport of cycling is governed in wa.  there is a members forum after the agm which you as members of an affiliated club are welcome to ask questions of the board and ceo.  if you want any more info about this, drop me an email.

single speed summer scorcher – our fixie ride is back again this time with a summer ride (i think the last one was a bit wet).  get your bikes ready for the 6th december and see the previous post for more info.

girls fast ride – also on the 6th of december we will have the first girls only fast group ride.  spawned from the success that the spr girl had down at margaret river, it was decided to put on a monthly girls fast group ride on saturday mornings.  this ride will leave after the fast ride and before main 1.  the idea is to try to encourage more girls to take that step into more competitive riding.

new 2015 spr cycle kit – coming soon.  stay tuned for the release of the new design and an opportunity to try the sizing kit before you order.

ride routes – there was some talk about the sunday tranny group leaving at 6am.  if that is the case, let me know and i can blog it appropriately.  otherwise, all rides as listed below, but be aware that there will be lots of regulars at the crits on sunday morning.

saturday 22nd november

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans reverse river 40.58km spr saturday

fast & main groups – tv stations 50.29km spr saturday

sunday 23rd november

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – wlsh obs kal 90.32km spr sunday

racing – smashfest criterium series – tech park

early ride routes this week as i am racing tomorrow in margs.  another cyclist was hit in perth today in what was believed to be another possible texting incident.  the lady in her 50″s is in a critical condition but was not carrying any identification on her.  after brendan”s accident last year, there was a lot of discussion around carrying some form of ID on you while you are riding.  a lot of people rely on their phone, but if it is locked and you are unconscious, it is not going to help.  even if people know your first name, there is a good chance they don”t know your last or who to call in the case of an emergency.  i carry an old licence and some business cards on me, but others have purchased the rideid bands.  the photo above was taken on sunday on the bike path between canning bridge and mt henry. it seems that we are not safe even on the bike path.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here.

ride leaders sponsorship – this months ride leaders are proudlysponsored by the BikeDr.  please see the previous post detailing what they provide and we thank them for encouraging our members to step up as ride leaders.  ride leaders will receive a $10 Dome voucher to be used after the saturday ride.  if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

thursday night crit training – this thursday we start off a night time crit training in canning vale.  as long as it is not raining check out the previous post and head on down there.

smashfest criterium series – the crits start mid november and this years smashfest will be 4 weekends in a row rather than spread across summer.  there is a teams options for men’s a & b grade, so if you want to be part of an spr team there is more info here.  we will only need a few volunteers this year online casino as we are paying for traffic management and for st john.  still a handful for rego/drinks/camera would be great.  also, if someone would like to learn how to use the new timing system, it would be great to have that skill in our club.

ride routes – with many regulars away this weekend for the tour or margs, we will really need some people to step up and lead the groups.  mark and dave will be kicking things off on saturday morning, so if they are asking for help, please volunteer your time.

saturday 8th november

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans mosman 40.39km spr saturday

fast & main groups – south lake 51.99km spr saturday

sunday 9th november

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – wlsh obs kal 90.32km spr sunday

be thankful for the things we take for granted.  i guess for most of us we do take for granted being able to ride almost every day of the year here in perth.  the weather is good, the bike paths are good for commuting and there are lots of places to explore.  i have missed out on some of that these last two weeks as i come down with pneumonia.  it certainly makes me feel old as it usually affects the old and weak.  however, a couple of weeks downtime is nothing compared to the weeks and months of rehab that nicky and brett faced earlier this year.  but at least they are still with us.  the memorial ride for brynt mcswain held last saturday showed just how much support there is out there from within the cycling community.  it also shows how vulnerable we are when pursuing the sport we all enjoy.  the group rides that we hold are not just training to get people fit, they are also a social interaction and a safety mechanism.  it is easy to not notice a solo rider on the road as compared to a pack, so our size often keeps us safe.  it is, however, also up to each individual rider in the group to look after the safety and well being of others.  look out for your fellow riders, drop back and offer a wheel if someone is struggling, work together if a few of you get dropped.  importantly for our group is also the ability to be able to self manage the expectations.  we do not condone at risk behaviour.  running red lights, sliding between cars that are stopped in traffic, taking up more room than we need to is just not on.  lately the saturday fast group has become quite big, and some of these behaviours are becoming evident.  it is not a race, it is a training ride.  if the group is big and you get split at the lights, then you all work together to get back on.  you do not go around people that have stopped at the lights, you do not form a train to bring your “teammates” to the front of the group.  this ride has developed into a hard ride which is what some riders need for their training.  however, if we feel that the size and behaviours within the group do not support the club ethos, then the group may have to change.  we don’t want to hold a memorial ride for you just because you were worried about getting dropped.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here.

ride leaders sponsorship – this months ride leaders are proudly sponsored by the BikeDr.  please see the previous post detailing what they provide and we thank them for encouraging our members to step up as ride leaders.  ride leaders will receive a $10 Dome voucher to be used after the saturday ride.  if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

spr kit – the final order of the current kit is closing this friday.  if you need an item to “complete the set” then order now.  otherwise 2015 will see a new design.

spr watertower challenge – thanks to the volunteers that helped out at this years watertower challenge.  although numbers were down on last year, the event went off without a hitch and all those participating were pleased with the service they received at the feedzones and registration.

spr chicks recovery ride – every monday the spr girls get together for a leisurely recovery ride.  there is also a spr chicks facebook group if you are looking for a bit more support with your riding.

smashfest criterium series – the crits start mid november and this years smashfest will be 4 weekends in a row rather than spread across summer.  there is a teams options for men’s a & b grade, so if you want to be part of an spr team there is more info here.  we will only need a few volunteers this year as we are paying for traffic management and for st john.  still a handful for rego/drinks/camera would be great.  also, if someone would like to learn how to use the new timing system, it would be great to have that skill in our club.

wednesday uci laps – if you are thinking of doing the uwct masters race next year, then a good place to start your training is ther wednesday uci laps in kings park.  more info here.

ride routes – expecting some nice riding weather this weekend, so numbers will be up.  help out by signing up as a ride leader, especially those tapering for the tour of margaret river.

saturday 1st november

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans shelley 40.59km spr saturday

fast & main groups – hale & ridgehill 50.58km spr saturday

sunday 2nd november

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – khna weir 72.23km spr sunday

long – khna can mills 94.55km spr sunday

bike clubs.  more than just riding bikes.  the social interaction that we have whilst riding our bikes makes it a lot different to any other sport out there.  you can compete with someone and have a pleasant conversation with them on the same ride.  the club is full of a diverse range of people, make sure that you tap into that and engage with people you may not know.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here.

ride leaders sponsorship –   if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

brynt mcswain memorial ride – as some of you may know, brynt mcswain was recently killed in a hit & run while riding to meet his partner who was waiting in the hills.  it was early morning, about the same time that we all head to our normal meeting spots, so it could be any of us.  there is a memorial ride scheduled this saturday which clashes with our ride, but i want to promote it anyway.  if you are after an easier ride this week, have a look at the following link and show your support.

spr watertower challenge – this sunday the watertower challenge will hit the streets of perth.  thanks to those who have volunteered their time to help out and also to those taking part. entries are closed but more details can be found on the events page.  rider info will be emailed out tonight.

smashfest criterium series – the crits start mid november and this years smashfest will be 4 weekends in a row rather than spread across summer.  there is a teams options for men’s a & b grade, so if you want to be part of an spr team there is more info here.  we will only need a few volunteers this year as we are paying for traffic management and for st john.  still a handful for rego/drinks/camera would be great.  also, if someone would like to learn how to use the new timing system, it would be great to have that skill in our club.

wednesday uci laps – if you are thinking of doing the uwct masters race next year, then a good place to start your training is ther wednesday uci laps in kings park.  more info here.

ride routes – the watertower challenge is on this sunday, so if you didn’t sign up and still intend to do the hills ride, make sure you know the route.  the normal leaders may be searching for towers instead.

saturday 25th oct

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans rebold 38.69km spr saturday

fast & main groups – rebold & cottesloe 50.91km spr saturday

sunday 26th oct (you should really be doing the watertower challenge)

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – wlsh obs kal 90.32km spr sunday

terrible news last week of yet another cyclist being killed on perth roads.  the greens are trying to fast track legislation through that will give cyclists a little more room on the road. the feedback i have read on some news websites makes it seem like the car drivers are the victims here as they might actually have to slow down and take care.  these laws are currently being trialled in queensland and the world hasn’t stopped turning over there.  a little consideration from both sides should mean a safer place for all of us on the road.  think about your actions as cyclists as there are lots of examples in both camps of people doing stupid things.  stay safe.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here.

ride leaders sponsorship –   if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

spr watertower challenge – registrations close next week for the 2014 watertower challenge.  get together with a couple of mates to form a team of three and navigate your way around the suburbs of perth.  the event is on sunday 26th october and more details can be found on the events page.

wednesday uci laps – if you are thinking of doing the uwct masters race next year, then a good place to start your training is ther wednesday uci laps in kings park.  more info here.

cycling safari – want to race overseas???  check out this opportunity that mark is organising for anyone in the club.  see the previous post.

ride routes – with the ride to conquer cancer on this weekend, and their ride route coming along mill point road and up douglas, we are heading straight out coode st.  if you do drive to the start,  be aware that the roads may be restricted when coming from the causeway end.

saturday 18th oct

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans canning vale 42.34km spr saturday

fast & main groups – south st 51.23km spr saturday

sunday 19th oct

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – grnmt goose 65.22km spr sunday

long – grnmt prk mnd wr 93.71km spr sunday

long weekend, school holidays, royal show, some good weather for riding.  not the best time to get sick, but when is the best time.  tour of margs will be upon us in about 5 weeks, so i hope those that are competing are having a good lead up.  stay safe, stay away from sick people.

ride leaders – support the club and help us become ambassadors for the sport in the public eye. put your name down as ride leader to ensure that the group ride is safe and organised. sign up here and earn cold hard voucher.

ride leaders sponsorship – this months ride leaders are proudly sponsored by Alto Financial Services.  please see the previous post detailing what they provide and we thank them for encouraging our members to step up as ride leaders.  ride leaders will receive a $10 Dome voucher to be used after the saturday ride.  if you have a business that you want to promote to our members, check out the previous post to both promote your business and help out the club.

buddy program – if you are new to cycling and want to get some advice on what to do, or if you are and old hand and have lots of advice to give, then sign up to our buddy program.  last program was very successful and we actually had more mentors than mentees. see the previous post for more details.

the beverley heroic – a grand fondo with a difference.  registrations close this friday for the beverley heroic a ride on some old roads by some old bikes.  for more info see the previous post.

velodrome kids – if you are looking for something to do with the kids this holidays, then how about trying out track riding.  there are 3 sessions running for a very cheap price aimed at kids aged 8 – 14.  see more info on the previous post.

ladies skill session – after the success of the previous ladies skill session, it is returning this holidays.  aimed at ladies that are either new to riding, or want to improve their skills, please see the previous post and contact leigh for more info.

spr watertower challenge – save the date sunday 26th october.  more details coming soon.

cycling safari – want to race overseas???  check out this opportunity that mark is organising for anyone in the club.  see the previous post.

lighthouse to lighthouse – if anyone is interested in doing an organised ride down south, the lighthouse to  lighthouse ride is coming up.  see the previous post for more details and leave a comment if you are thinking of heading down.

ride routes – a real chance of rain for the saturday ride, but the rest of the long weekend is looking good.  see if you can put in some big k’s in celebration of our old queen.

saturday 27th september

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

development group – novice shelley 36.06km spr saturday

transitional – trans mosman 40.39km spr saturday

fast & main groups – alexander drive 50.46km spr saturday

sunday 28th september

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

tranny – flat ride up to 60km

short – wlsh weir 62.23km spr sunday

long – wlsh obs cam goose 88.67km spr sunday

monday 29th september

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

early lap – south stock 33.76km spr monday

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

(fast/main/trans-m3) – public hol 58.97km spr special