All posts by elPrez

Ride routes 27th Mar – 2nd Apr

saturday morning at south perth

The end of and era.
Like any good TV show, at some stage it is easier to do a reminiscing “clip” show than write any new content. So after 13 years of writing a blog, this is my final entry… for now.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/01/04/where-this-all-began/
Before SPR, I was running group rides out of a shop. There was very little organisation but also, very few people to organise. This is the very first post. Previous to this, I used to email out the ride routes.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/01/13/sunday-13th-jan-greenmount-parkerville-mundaring/
Some of the early blog posts were just recaps of the group rides. This is how I would spend my afternoons after the rides. So glad we stopped doing this. It was exhausting.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/03/03/jersey-design-part-01/
We started talking about a jersey for the group (Still not a club). Check out the comments on this post to see where the name came from.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/03/31/jersey-design-part-02/
First design of a kit.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/05/08/ride-routes-10th-11th-may/
First ride from the current starting location. At this point, I had no idea if anyone would turn up.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/10/04/saturday-4th-oct-spr-breakfast-ride/
Holding a quarterly breakfast was one of the events that we established early on. It was about getting the group together and supporting each other. There was food, coffee and lucky door prizes. These were held at my house until we had too many riders to fit in.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/03/05/ride-routes-7th-8th-mar-plus-inaugural-meeting/
The first post about becoming a club. Welcome to the South Perth Rouleurs.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/03/09/inaugural-meeting-of-the-roulettes/
Early meeting of the SPR Chicks. Back then they were the South Perth Roulettes. Some old faces and some young faces in these pics.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2009/05/11/1st-anniversary-the-year-in-review/
One year down and a review shows how small and naive we were. No way we could have predicted where we would be 10 years later.

This only gets us to the end of 2009.
I do, however, have 838 individual posts on this blog, so if you are really keen you can cure your insomnia pretty quickly.

https://southperthrouleurs.com.au/2008/06/27/how-did-i-get-here/
This is my personal story as told just after the start of SPR. How little did I realise that my life and cycling would become more intertwined.

As I said at the start, this is the end of an era, but I am confident that I am leaving the running of the club in safe hands. Both Daniel and Ballam share my vision for what SPR is meant to be and I trust their judgement explicitly.
Whatever happens in the future, I am proud of what we have built from nothing and thankful for all the wonderful people that have supported it’s growth over the years. Thank you all for being part of my journey.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Club AGM – Voting is currently open for this years AGM. The new committee needs endorsing and there are some changes to the constitution that require a vote. If you want a copy of the reports or have any questions of the outgoing committee, please use the links in the voting form and register so we have a tally of members that have voted. More info and links to the voting form can be found on the previous post.
The AGM on Saturday after the club ride will just be an information session based on what the results are from the online voting.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Congratulations to all those who took the ride leader quiz challenge last week on the subtle changes we made to avoid the roadworks on Kalamunda Rd over the Roe Highway. Feedback was really positive with some suggesting that it should be a permanent change to the route. It’s a sometimes route for us but we will consider it for next time we schedule it up again.
This Saturday we will be heading the exact opposite way towards Freo. Got to take advantage of the forecasted light ESE winds but we will finish with whatever strength the wind with it pushing us home.Sunday sees us trying to avoid the various routes offered in the Damns challenge. Most of these are to the south, with the 5 damns course pushing the furtherest north as it heads back up Welshpool. For those SPR regulars doing the Damns ride, good luck, looks like it’s going to be really nice weather for you. For those that want to join us, we will be sticking to the Kalamunda/Gooseberry area.
Whilst we are on Sunday rides our slower more social Sunday Hills ride group will continue as a trial through to the end of May if the numbers in the group stay strong. So if you still want to give hills riding a go or if you are keen to continue to build fitness, this is the ride for you. Keep a look out for the group which leaves from Coode Street after the other groups from 7am

Saturday 27th March

Sunday 28th March

Monday 29th March

Tuesday 30th March

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

Wednesday 31st March

Thursday 1st April

Friday 2nd April – Good Friday

2021 SPR AGM Voting

VOTE HERE

At last years AGM we introduced electronic voting as a way of negotiating the Covid restrictions around the size of gatherings. This year we wish to continue that as we feel that it gives better transparency on who voted in meetings and what their vote was. In a coffee shop scenario, a show of hands doesn’t guarantee that only financial members are engaged in the vote.

There are a couple of issues that need resolution from the membership and we are calling on all financial members to cast their vote for us.

The first is endorsing the new committee. As our constitution requires that the entire committee nominate each year, all positions need endorsement from the membership. This year sees 4 of the committee stepping down but luckily 4 members have put up their hand to serve. As such, the vote for committee is not so much to choose which members, but rather formally endorse them.

Secondly, as previously mentioned in the blog, there are a few minor modifications to the constitution that require members endorsement. These deal with the changes to the governing body for cycling and allow us to continue to operate and attract new members as we always have. An overview of the changes can be found on this previous post.

The survey itself is quite short and will be open till the end of the week. At that time, the new committee and changes can be formally presented at the official AGM on Saturday. There is also a section that allows any member to ask questions of the outgoing committee. So if you have any issues that you think should be raised in front of the membership, then feel free.

The electronic voting is via Google Forms and can be found here.

Ride routes 20th – 26th March

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how i write the blog post this week as there are a few things that need to be discussed. Primarily it is the AGM that we are holding next week in which we not only vote in a new committee, we also ratify some changes around how we operate, i.e. our constitution. As discussed last week, we need to make sure that we have a good cross-section of people representing the club so that all aspects of all quarters are taken into account. As such, I would request that a few more people from the novice to main 2 riding groups stick there hand up. You may notice below that there are a couple of vacancies. The more nominations we have, the better the democratic process. We require nominations to be in by tomorrow, Friday, as we will open up electronic voting this weekend to run for a week. That way the first order of business will be to ratify the new committee.
Another thing you may notice is that my name is not appearing on the list of nominations. I have had quite a few in depth discussions with a number of people about the club moving forward and I have decided that it is time for me to step away. Over ten years ago when we setup the club, there was no way that we ever envisioned that it would look like it does today. It is a testament to the hard work of the many, many people that have served on the committee over the years to have such a strong club. Not just in numbers, but also in the general organisation and running in which the cornerstones of the club can clearly be seen.
The last few years for me have been a bit of a juggle between work, family, training and the club. I said last year that I recognised that I had been a bit distant and made sure that re-engaged as much as possible. The Watertower Challenge, ToMR and Beverley was the big push at the end of last year but i guess that after so many years, I am just tired.
Some of the discussions that I have had, have been around succession planning and you will see that Daniel Harvey has nominated for President with Andrew Ballam as VP. These two individuals have not only been integral to the running of the club over the past few years, but I know that they have the best interests of the club at heart. I know that with these two, the club will continue to operate with the same ethos in which it was established. However, as per the constitution, anyone can nominate for any position, so we can, in fact, have multiple nominations for any of the 4 named positions.
This is obviously not good-bye from me. I am not moving away or stopping riding altogether, I just want to be part of the club and not feeling like I am the club.
So, we need a few more nominations to kick off 2021 and you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address. Don’t be surprised if a few of the current committee put the hard word on you before tomorrow.

Current Nominations –
Daniel Harvey – President
Andrew Ballam – Vice President
Shirley Vine – Treasurer
Sam Flockhart – Secretary
Greg Jones
Claire Tyrell
Steve Burns
Amanda Nabi
Tom Goerke
Vacant
Vacant

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

2021 State Criterium Championships – You have until 7:30pm tonight to register for the state criterium championships. Held down at Rockingham and run by the Peel Districts club, there are both open and age group races to cover all. If you can’t race, head on down to watch and cheer on the riders a they compete for a state title. Entry is via the EntryBoss link here.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – We have just announced the date for this years club AGM as the 27th March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved.
Similar to last years Covid restricted voting, we will again hold our voting via an online platform. This allows all members the opportunity to cast their vote during the week leading up to the AGM. The new committee is then announced as one of the first orders of business at the start of the official AGM on the day.
Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.
Check out the previous post for more info, but you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – So this week there will be a quiz delivered to all riders by the ride leaders for our main ride . But I’m going to give you all a heads up on what the question will be. It’s one that you’ve probably heard many times if you listen in to the ride leader briefings, so you should be able to ace the exam this week. The question is: “Who’s familiar with the ride route this week” or the variation “ Who knows the ride route for this week”. If you answer “Holmes Rd” without looking at the route first, you will get only a half mark. If you answer, Holmes Road but with a variation to take out road works on Kalamunda rd and Tonkin Hwy, you can claim bragging rights! So please note for this ride that the group will be turning right from Kalamunda rd into Midland rd and NOT going straight ahead into the road works zone. So please do yourself a favor (and probably for those that don’t read down this far), please note the subtle change to the ride route and turn down Midland. And please pass this note on to your fellow riders if they do not know. It will save confusion and potential crashes if you do.

Saturday 20th March

Sunday 21st March

Monday 22nd March

Tuesday 23rd March

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

Wednesday 24th March

Thursday 25th March

Friday 26th March

Ride routes 13th – 19th March

Left to right: Mike Bonner, Luke Ellis, Anna Massey, Jordan Brock, Peter Mah, Meg Thomas, Andrew Ballam, Daniel Harvey, Julian Johnson

This is a photo of the 2013 committee being as dysfunctional as possible. It is the earliest photo of a committee that I could find on the website but it does show a couple of things. Firstly is consistency as there are a few members that that are still on the current committee and have been part of the journey from the early years. Secondly is that people are helping and directing things, which is exactly what the committee is about. It may often seem like things take a while to get done, but this is because we are always making sure that everyone’s interests are being taken into account. The committee is making decisions on how the club runs, looks and acts. It is important that we get a good cross-section of our membership to be involved. We are now calling for nominations for the 2021 committee so if you would like to get involved make sure you put your name forward. If you think that you are part of the club that is under-represented, make sure you get someone nominated that will be your voice. There is a state election this Saturday and regardless of whether it will be a whitewash or not, it is your chance to have a say. Our election is only a couple of weeks later and it is also your chance to influence the running of the club.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – We have just announced the date for this years club AGM as the 27th March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved.
Similar to last years Covid restricted voting, we will again hold our voting via an online platform. This allows all members the opportunity to cast their vote during the week leading up to the AGM. The new committee is then announced as one of the first orders of business at the start of the official AGM on the day.
Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.
Check out the previous post for more info, but you can send your nominations through to the club admin email address.

Change to the Constitution – The change to peak body of cycling last year has meant that we also need to update our constitution. Not necessarily because it was written so specifically, but more updating certain language and affiliations. Changes to the club constitution must be passed at a club meeting and the AGM is a convenient time to get the members to act on this. There is a long, detailed post that Ballam has put together to outline the changes, but simply it has to do with how we define a member and payment terms. It is nothing too stressful, but if you have any questions, please send them through to the club admin email address and we can answer them before the AGM.

Renae’s Race & Henk Vogel Snr Memorial – Entries close at midnight tonight for one of the biggest criteriums of the season. Both races celebrate the life of people that made in impact on cycling in Perth. Similar to last year, the premier women’s race is sponsored by club/committee member Teneal Attard through her Chaotic Energy gym. Run by RCCC these races will be held on a closed course at the Driver Risk Management Centre at the airport. There is already a big contingent of SPR riders entered and the tent and van will also be onsite for support. Check out the entryboss page but remember, you only have a few hours left to get involved.

Thursday Group 3 & 4 – The last few weeks we have been formalising and supporting the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday. SPR Thursday has a reputation of being a hard and fast ride and the size of the first group today was a good indication of it’s popularity. However, we also want to provide an opportunity for people to develop and progress through the ranks, so to speak. As such the group 3 and 4 rides on Thursday now have ride leaders assigned to them to help guide people. The expected average speeds for the groups are 34k/hr and 30 k/hr or less average, respectively, so you can make a call as to which will suit you best. Organically developing rides to provide for what the needs of the group is what has contributed to the growth of the club. This is just another step along that path.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – So if you’ve been riding in Perth at all over the last 10 days, chances are that you’ve noticed a bit of moisture in the air. Conditions like this can be so deceiving that you don’t drink enough but lose plenty! Argh! Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we would miss those dry easterlies. (Got me thinking as a cyclist are we ever completely happy with conditions) ????
Well thankfully it appears we are in for a change back to the dryer conditions for our Saturday and Sunday rides this week.
Whilst we are taking about Sunday Hills rides, feedback from the riders on the slower hills ride last weekend was really positive and numbers were good. So if the humidity was a factor in you not trying it out last weekend, this weekend should be a lot better. We are hoping that this ride becomes a “regular” during the coming months and that relies on the numbers showing up from a safety point of view. So if you are thinking of it, the plan is for it to be on again this weekend.
Whatever riding you choose to do, make it a safe and enjoyable one!

Saturday 13th March

Sunday 14th March

Monday 15th March

Tuesday 16th March

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

Wednesday 17th March

Thursday 18th March

Friday 19th March

Ride routes 6th – 12th March

As if life for a cyclist isn’t hard enough. We are abused by drivers for being on the road and abused by pedestrians for being on the path. Now even the paths don’t seem that safe for cyclists. A number of cyclists in our group have had run in’s with the scooter riders using the path and on Wednesday, I did as well. They were travelling along south bound between Raffles and Mt Henry spitting at people as they went by. When I saw them line me up I gave them a squirt in the face with the water bottle. Apparently, they can dish it out, but were not happy to have it back at them as they decided to chase after me. However, doing a U-turn on a scooter with 3 people, whilst on a bike path is not the easiest thing, so i was up over a bridge before they caught me. So, yes, their actions can be dangerous, but make sure your actions do not put you in a worse situation. Being collected by a scooter at speed would not be a nice way to end a ride.
For the non-moving hazards on the paths, the City of Melville have installed speed humps on the path on the south-west side of the Canning bridge, adjacent to the rowing sheds. Now if these were hot mix humps that are similar to the path, it would not be too bad. They are however, hard plastic bolted down and in a pattern to cover the extent of the path. These are the type of humps that can easily throw inexperienced riders over the handlebars or, if wet, cause their wheels to slip out from under them. Not only that, they are not safe from a pedestrian point of view as they create a significant trip hazard (the very people they think they are protecting).
So, if you are using the road, be careful. If you are using the path, be careful. If you are riding a bike, be careful.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Sunday Hills Ride – As the days start to get shorter and the sun gets up later, the Sunday hills ride has now moved back to a 7am start. The weather has not been quite as hot so we can get a full hills ride in without it being too overwhelming. Also, who doesn’t want a “sleep-in” every now again.

Club AGM – Keep an eye out for details of this years club AGM to be held in March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved. Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Looks like the weather is finally going to clear for riding this weekend and the current forecast is for light winds which gives us a lot of choice for this weekends ride routes so our main ride will be heading north this Saturday for a ride route we haven’t done in a while – Scarbs Beach and the double header hill up Hale road.
Speaking of hills, we have a few extra options for members and riders this weekend. It is the first Saturday of the month so we will be offering the Saturday Hills ride leaving Coode Street car park at 6.30am, so if you’re keen, lock it in.
Also this Sunday we will be offering up a slower paced short hills ride. Whilst it will follow the same route as the other short hills group, it will be at a slower pace to the main group and we are hoping to attract any riders who haven’t ridden in hills for a while or any who want to give it a go. It’s expected that you will be able to ride M3 pace comfortably and aimed at M2-M3 riders. We’ve also chosen a short hills route that is relatively quiet (no screaming car engines heading up Welshpool) but nonetheless has its challenges (ie Ridgehill, Zig Zag and Mundaring Weir rd). If this sounds like something you want to try, join us at Coode Street on Sunday at 7am.

Saturday 6th March

Sunday 7th March

Monday 8th March

Tuesday 9th March

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

Wednesday 10th March

Thursday 11th March

Friday 12th March

Ride routes 27th Feb – 5th March

Calm sunrises with a bit more than a hint of humidity make for fast mornings on the bike. For the weekday earlybird rides, lights are now mandatory and please remember to set them to solid (non-flash) to minimise the discomfort to other riders. As for the weekend, the Sunday hills will have it’s final 6am start as we move back to 7am starts from March onwards. The expected sunrise times are now later than 6am and the days should start cooling down. The SPR kit order also closes on Monday 1st March so anticipate that cooler weather meaning you will need arm warmers or long sleeve jerseys. Make sure you get your order in as every year, those that start riding over summer get caught out on that first cold morning.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

SPR Chicks Friday Ride – Social ride starting at the Narrows Bridge (city side) 6AM and ending in Kings Park at Fraser’s restaurant for coffee. This is an approx 25km distance, 25km/hr easy pace, no drop ride. End of ride coffee is the key priority ☕️???? This will be an organised club ride (last Friday of each month) and be posted to the SPR club page. The ride route will be posted on both the main club website and also on this chicks FB page. All riders are welcome and encouraged. Flat bar, roadies, MTB does not matter. Come and join us! Event details here.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Club AGM – Keep an eye out for details of this years club AGM to be held in March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved. Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.

SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Alright! It’s a long weekend (you gotta love the first half of the year don’t you – all these delicious public holidays!) For us cycling tragics that just means enjoying a few more hours in the saddle with friends. The club caters for all 3 days with riding options so if you are at a loose end, come and join us on the Saturday main ride, followed by a “jaunt” in the hills on Sunday (Greenmount hopefully more quiet on a Sunday over a long weekend) and top it off with our tried and true reverse river loop ride on the Monday. Do all 3 and you’ll be nudging 200ks. Add the EBRs in then you’ll be really cracking on towards your yearly distance goals. Or perhaps just choose the ones you want to. Oh yeah! Heads up ! Over Easter we are looking at the possibility of introducing another public holiday ride route option but more about that closer to the time. Whatever riding you choose to do over the weekend, hopefully it includes one of our options. Happy AND safe riding!

Saturday 27th February

Sunday 28th February

Monday 1st March – Public Holiday

Tuesday 2nd March

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

Wednesday 3rd March

Thursday 4th March

Friday 5th March

Ride routes 20th – 26th February

All good things come to an end. Even though a few weeks ago I wrote about the Beverley weekend no longer running, I thought it was still important to recognise what made it a successful event. Besides Toby Hodgson’s tireless efforts to turn and idea into a full cycling weekend, it was the elements that I see in this photo that epitomise the event. The stark blue skies, and dry countryside were evident for a number of years (expect the year the hailstorm hit). The rolling hills and dead roads are so typical of the area, well of most country roads really. People like Daniela Tommasi have been involved with the event for years and have captured many a great picture to act as a reminder. And finally, the green. The event would not run without the teams of volunteers that returned year after year to make it run smoothly whether it was a road race or ttt. And of course the teams themselves. Teamwork makes the dream work.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Club AGM – Keep an eye out for details of this years club AGM to be held in March. As per our constitution all committee positions are vacated and must be nominated for each year. If you feel like you would like to help with the running of the club or think you have a skill-set that the club could benefit from, then have a chat to any of the current committee to see what would be involved. Alternatively there are a number of sub-committees that operate as working groups for areas such as racing, kit or training and development. The commitment is usually a bit less than the club committee and could give you a insight into what is involved with running a club.

SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – I love the honest feedback you get from the conversations after the ride. After last week’s choice of ride route (hands up those who noticed the golf course 😉 ) I got the full range of responses from “it’s a great hill isn’t it” to “I hope I never see that thing again (you know who you are)! I think I’ll push my luck again this week because this one is “the quiet achiever” as far as elevation goes. Ostensibly it appears to be flat but that’s only after the half way mark. For those groups that go flat out, doesn’t really matter what you throw at them, it’s all an opportunity to go fast, hills or not. But this one gets the heart rate going in it’s second quarter with good old Stock Rd and the undulations around O’Connor. If you’ve got anything left in the tank after that, then it tests you with fast roll throughs along its namesake, Nicholson Rd and finally the Albany Hwy. Yes – it’s a favourite of mine, yes it’s South Street! Been waiting for those strong easterlies to settle before scheduling so this weekend it’s forecast for light winds. Enjoy!

Saturday 20th February

Sunday 21st February

Monday 22nd February

Tuesday 23rd February

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

Wednesday 24th February

Thursday 25th February

Friday 26th February

Ride routes 13th – 19th February

It was certainly a little cooler on the ride this morning and definitely darker for the 5:30am start. As we head towards the cooler months make sure that you have the right kit to tackle the earlybird rides. The current kit order closes on March 1 so this is your opportunity to make sure that you get the cold weather kit BEFORE it gets cold. Every year we see the same thing. People that have taken up riding over the sunnier, warmer months turning blue on the first real cold Saturday morning. They only do that once. 🙂 Don’t underestimate what a difference an undergarment makes to your comfort on a ride. Branded to show that you bleed green.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

Transition week – The period between full lock-down and what we had before is our current transition week. Most places will be open, but masks will be required when not doing vigorous exercise. Community sport for up to 150 people is allowed and we can travel outside our neighbourhood for more than an hour. This is a small price to pay for the freedoms that we have been allowed especially in relation to other countries or even other states. One more week of positive outcomes and we can return to the lifestyle which we have grown accustomed to.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

EDIT: There has been a bit of confusion around the clubs relationship with Westcycle as some people have opted for a Westcycle licence and have linked to SPR as their club. Our club is affiliated with the national body which is AusCycling, but we do have a tenuous link back to the state body which is Westcycle. We are currently working out what that means for members in regards to the rights that they have within the club (voting, committee positions, etc). Until we clarify that, just be assured that your insurance is still valid and you are still free to ride with the club.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – Hopefully last weekend’s weather event pushed the reset button on those wicked easterly winds that have dried out our environment. It’s nice to see the color green return to our lawns and hopefully there will be lots of SPR green seen in the hills this weekend as we offer our popular (but delayed) Saturday morning hills option. Great timing for all those training to ride the Kalamunda 100 for the following weekend. If you are planning to go, don’t forget departure time is 30 minutes earlier  from the car park to get you back to the coffee shop in time. We will also be running the same Sunday Hills ride options (Zig Zag) that we had scheduled up last weekend which nobody rode because of the weather.
For those who want to stick to the metro main ride, we will be enjoying watching the green fairways of the Western Australian Golf Club slip buy as we climb Cresswell road (I’m sure that some don’t even realise there is a golf club to you left as you climb the hill !). Whatever you choose, make it a safe and enjoyable ride and don’t forget to pack your mask if your planning on stopping for coffee. Hopefully we also get to push the reset button on the restrictions after Saturday as well !

Saturday 13th February

Sunday 14th February

Monday 15th February

Tuesday 16th February

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

Wednesday 17th February

Thursday 18th February

Friday 19th February

Ride routes 6th – 12th February

As per the premier’s announcement last night, the restrictions on Perth will be eased at 6pm tonight (Friday). This means that we are no longer limited to the 1 hour exercise, with housemates only, within a 5km radius of your home and fully masked up. What we will be moving to is a week of transition. A week where business’s can open and community sport can resume albeit with some limitations. We still have a week of masks, but you do not have to wear one during vigorous exercise. This means that we will resume group rides and during the rides you DO NOT have to wear a mask. However, before and after the rides, if you are standing around talking you MUST have a mask on. If you are going to the coffee shop afterwards, you MUST have a mask. So therefore, if you are going to come on one of our group rides, you MUST have a mask with you. We understand that some people may not be comfortable with group riding yet, and that choice is yours to make, but political statements or conspiracy theories about masks or Covid-19 will not be tolerated. If you want to ride, bring a mask with you. Let us negotiate through this week and hopefully we can then enjoy another 10 months of semi-normal lifestyle.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

Transition week – The period between full lock-down and what we had before is our current transition week. Most places will be open, but masks will be required when not doing vigorous exercise. Community sport for up to 150 people is allowed and we can travel outside our neighbourhood for more than an hour. This is a small price to pay for the freedoms that we have been allowed especially in relation to other countries or even other states. One more week of positive outcomes and we can return to the lifestyle which we have grown accustomed to.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November last year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to facilitate any expected changes to gathering rules, the Saturday start location were modified when group riding resumed in 2020. We still want to maintain the separation between groups as much as possible and as such will continue to start the fast and main 1 on one side of the carpark with main 2-3, trannies & novice on the other. If you are new to our Saturday group rides, click on the photo to see where each group needs to congregate.

From the Ride Coordinator – They say a week is a long time in politics, well politics has got nothing when your under restrictions of a pandemic. But with restrictions easing enough to open up a ride and the community shutting down to prepare for a deep low to hit, is anything normal anymore. Whilst not exactly the same, we are delighted to advise that we will be running our rides (not quite under normal conditions) this weekend for those who want to brave the conditions. So if you’ve been cooped up or on Zwift all week, this may be your first chance to ride in a while. Enjoy it, but please ride safely and in line with regulations.
Note: Dome will be open at the end of the ride, but please understand that masks will need to be worn after the ride, you will need to have the QR scanning code and there is the 4sqm rule reapplied so please be aware of these things.
Please note that this weekend’s Sat Hills ride option will be delayed until next weekend.

Saturday 6th February

Sunday 7th February

Monday 8th February

Tuesday 9th February

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

Wednesday 10th February

Thursday 11th February

Friday 12th February

Ride routes 30th Jan – 5th Feb

Wow, the end of January already. As we move into the end of summer, there is still lots of racing and riding to go. Both Peel and RCCC have crits on around Rockingham and Baywater as well as the West Coast Masters races for those that are old enough. For those that want a challenge without the race number, Feb and Mar give a good opportunity to train up for the Dams Challenge. Make use of the nice weather and get stronger by riding into that damn easterly.

The Rules – just a reminder that it isn’t business as usual.

As we progress through WA’s phased approach to reopening, how the club interacts within itself and the wider community will also change.
Rightly or wrongly, the lack of community transmission in the state has meant that a lot of the social distancing rules have disappeared. As such we want to streamline what the requirements are from a club perspective. Basically there are 3 main things we want people to keep in mind.

  • The virus can spread via human contact, so minimise the amount of touching between people and each others bikes/helmets etc.
  • No spitting, snotting or sneezing within the group. If you need to, move to the back of the group, but please look behind you to make sure that it is clear of traffic. That is all traffic, not just bikes. We don’t want some dash-cam footage of someone blowing their nose on a car.
  • Personal hygiene becomes very important in the spread of the virus so make sure that you either wash your hands whenever you can or carry a small container of hand sanitiser. Limit your exposure to common surfaces (chairs, tables) and don’t be sharing items.

SafeWA registration – As the state opens up to more interstate travelers, the risk of community spread could possibly increase. Contact tracing is an important way to contain the virus in case it finds it’s way into the community. If you want to sit down for a coffee you must register your details at that premises. There are 2 ways to do this, register on a paper form, or scan a QR code on an app.
So, how do i get the app? Download the WA Government free app – SafeWA and sign up as an individual.
– Android users click here
– Apple phone users click here
We have had it pretty good in WA so far. Lets make sure that we can open up safely.

SPR Chicks Social Ride & Coffee – Social ride starting at 5:45am at the Narrows Bridge (city side) and ending in Kings Park at Fraser’s restaurant for coffee. This is an approx 25km distance, 25km/hr easy pace, no drop ride. End of ride coffee is the key priority.
All riders welcome and encouraged.
Please congregate on the bike path under the bridge and try and keep out of way of oncoming cyclists / pedestrians.
This is an easy pace ride, conversational pace .. no puffing required!
A ride leader will give a short briefing to each group before we set off.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to post a message!
Ride route is here and Facebook event here.

SPR kit – The latest run of the kit is ready to collect from R&D Speedshop or has already been mailed out to you (depending on what you selected). If you did miss out on that last order, or have realised that by the time the next order arrives the weather will be colder, then the next order closes on the 1st March. The portal is open now and more info can be found on the club kit page.

AusCycling Memberships – As of November this year, Cycling Australia ceased to exist and AusCycling was formed to combine multiple disciplines of cycling together. To be part of the national organisation, our club has joined Auscycling and memberships and renewals are now available though it. As such we have updated the memberships page to reflect the membership types and approximate costs. There are now 4 types of licence – Lifestyle, Race off-road, Race all discipline & Non riding. On top of this there is also a Club Add-On where you can join SPR if you are a member of another club, like Peel or RCCC. This is similar to our Extraordinary membership (which still exists for other orgs) but has been formalised a bit.

Licence renewals – Most race licences will expire at the end of the year, or a bit after. Due to the change over between Cycling Australia and AusCycling, your membership will not automatically renew. Please make sure that you ensure that you are covered and renew you licence as soon as possible. You may not worry about racing for a while, but if you are still riding the group rides, then it will make sure you are covered till then. You can also take the opportunity to change clubs if you so desire – by that I mean change to South Perth, not leave us for another club :(. See the link to the membership page above. It is all pretty easy to follow, but reach put of you have trouble.

Tandem Pilots needed – NOW RECRUITING VOLUNTEER TANDEM PILOTS FOR VISION-IMPAIRED CYCLING – Next skills clinic Sunday 31 January.
Visit www.watcac.org/events for details and to register interest. We are a tandem cycling community that supports blind and vision impaired road cycling. We welcome all enquiries but particularly from women cyclists for this intake. We pair new pilots with blind and vision impaired riders for our fantastic 2021 Sunday cycling program. On Sunday 31st January our morning clinic will teach you how to ride up front on a tandem and partner with a blind or vision impaired stoker. No other prerequisites, just a willingness to share your love of cycling.
Can’t make the 31st? Then follow us on Facebook @WATCAC Western Australian Tandem Cycling Advisory Council or visit watcac.org

Our commitment to Core Values – We are a diverse club that made a point early on of committing to a number of core values to which we have built everything upon. These are – Safe, Inclusive, Organised & Social. It is under these values that we want all club interaction to occur, whether on the road or in cyberspace. Please read the previous post so you understand what we as a club, expect from you as members.

Where do i need to stand again?

Saturday Start Locations – In order to adhere to the new gathering regulations, we need to slightly change the meeting points of the groups. There is a 100 person gathering limit and when all groups are combined, we often exceed that when everyone is waiting for the start. There was a discussion about different start times for different groups, but what we settled on was moving half the groups to different sides of the carpark. This is not ideal as there are usually more cars using the eastern most parks, but we will just have to work around that for now. We understand that the COVID risk isn’t high, but it is more about how the club is viewed from outside. So, please congregate in the assigned locations, so we can continue to hold group rides in the future.

From the Ride Coordinator –  Didn’t take long did it! This time last week we were celebrating the reprieve from the easterlies. Well they are back this weekend so we are heading East early in the ride again to hopefully enjoy the cruise home with the wind behind us.
For all you “flat trackers” I’ll issue an apology straight up ! So whilst Hale and Ridgehill do not carry the title of the hardest hills to climb it’s fair to say it’s not flat country out that way and there is some elevation to navigate from the turn of Hale Rd to the bottom of the ZigZag. However, when you get to that point just know that most do the pain will be forgotten by the time you get back to the coffee shop as you cruise home. Enjoy one of our more challenging rides!

Saturday 30th January

Sunday 31st January

Monday 1st February

Tuesday 2nd February

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

Wednesday 3rd February

Thursday 4th February

Friday 5th February