The Riders Club

Six hardy TRC Winter Associates turned up this morning ready for the Bibra Lake Brrrr🥶! A clear, low wind, chilly morning was the perfect fix for both Gareth and El Pres and their lung evicting coughs (seriously, it sounded worse than it felt !). We were booked into Social Manna(Social Manna) for 0845 so off we went. It was quite overcast and as such this made for dark conditions until we got past Shelly. We pushed forwarded without any issues with the exception of a slow leak in Erick’s rear wheel . This was swiftly topped up by the new Towie Tyre pump and was enough to get Erick by until the coffee stop. We arrived at Social Manna at 0841, just before Towie Time! Social Manna was on target today as we have come to expect over time. Today was super fast service and I know this author has said it many times but the bacon and egg sandwich was extra special today. No argument for 5/5 Cogs! All done, it was time to head home with the group splitting in various directions. It had not warmed up too much so was once again it was a cold start !

All up, a good hit out today. We hope to see more back next week. So….

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

Saturday July 2026 Ride Routes

Saturday 11th July - Route Bibra Lake. Cafe - Social Manna Vic Park

Saturday 18th July - Route Perry Lakes Cafe - Little Banksia Kensington

Saturday 25th July - Route (New) Lewis Road - Cafe Gracie’s Forrestfield

Saturday 1st August - Route Stock Road - Cafe Dome Deepwater Point

Saturday 8th August- Route Brookton HWY / Canning Dam - Cafe Hidden Kelmscott

Was it too cold or was it the hills or was it something else?? One will never know! Five TRC “chilled” riders were present this morning. Due to lower numbers there was a general consensus to ride an alternate route than the scheduled route for today which was Mills Road East. We ended up making our way up Zig Zag and then down Welshpool Road ( yep, been a while and we had a tail wind!) to arrive and try a new Cafe- Gracie’s Cafe. This is located on Berkshire Road in Forrestfield. So, all up, it was pretty good. There is plenty of space in and out and for the bikes. The coffee was good and the sweet items were all home made as far as we could tell. The muffins looked particularly good ( El Pres also rates the Tiramisu!). It was not too busy when we arrived however none the less service was fast and friendly. For a first time visit I am going for a 4/5 Cogs. It actually felt like it was getting cooler by the moment so we got moving ( seriously , it was bloody cold!). The route home was as usual with Erick and El Pres peeling off along the way.

A good “chilled” way to start the day!

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

Once again we were back to nine on the line in readiness for the Fremantle loop. Super cold 🥶but clear conditions today with minimal wind made for some good riding. The Freo loop allows all riders to get want they want out of the ride with a good variety of terrain and a decent distance. With no issues to record on the ride itself, we made our way round to a new coffee stop for TRC - Beth’s Bakery (Beth’s Bakery) located at Bailee Hill in upper East Vic Park. It is fair to say that the place was cranking and it is easy to see why! A great location and fantastic in house fair ( I could have had one of everything - but settled on the London Fog. Definitely better than the London Fog I have seen!). Friendly service and we were able to find a place to sit for the whole group. For a first time visit it gets a big 4/5 Cog rating and yes (Beth 😂) we plan to be back! Done and dusted it was time to get warm again ( yes, it was still cold!) and head off. Here the group spilt either heading home or back to the store.

All up. A good day out in clear and crisp (very) weather.

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

June 2026 Saturday Ride Routes

Saturday 6th June - Route Reverse Zig Zag Cafe - Hidden Kelmscott

Saturday 13th June - Route Fremantle Cafe - Beth’s Bakery East Vic Park

Saturday 20th June - Route Mills Road East Cafe - Coffee Club Kalamunda

Saturday 27th June - Route Perry Lakes
Cafe - Little Banksia Kensington

Saturday 4th July - Route Waterwheel Cafe - Hidden Kelmscott

Saturday 11th July - Route Bibra Lake Cafe - Social Manna

Is it possible TRC riders have nine lives?? Perhaps not but nine is a popular number confirmed once again this morning! Possibly the only time to ride this weekend and stay dry, nine willing TRC faithfuls lined up for a little Midland Coulston Chaos. A brisk start but not a lot wind around so once we warmed up things started moving! We met Gareth at the bottom of the Zig Zag who was able to catch a few more zzzzz’s this morning and kept rolling quite smoothly from there. No incidents with a constant push to today’s new coffee venue directly across from the Zip Line at Burswood - Mizzica Mangiatoria! (Mizzica). No guesses that it is Italian! Good coffee and food, convenient bike parking and fast, friendly service. I think it’s a first, for 5/5 Cogs for a first visit ! All done, many of the group departed their owns ways with the rest heading back to the store . A good days out prior to some bad weather . Stay safe over the long weekend!

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

TRC pulling a Hat Trick today with the 3rd weekend in a row with 9 starters. It was a little difficult to tell who was present as everyone was covered from head to toe as it was…bloody freezing! We had Pickering Brook waiting - even colder!! We set off to avoid actual freezing and had a pretty good run to Brookton Hwy with low winds. The Brookton Hwy climb was also a good run until we reached the Petrol Station turn off. Here, Craige realised he definitely had flat shifter batteries as he was unable to shift to the small chain ring on the climb ( do they still have these?😂). “Battery Brad” - Elliott was on hand with not one but two 2032 flat batteries ( channeling Towie??). Unfortunately the problem ( not certain what it was in the end) persisted and as such we bid farewell to Craige for the day. Moving forward we made our way through Korang National Park which just has to be one of the coldest places in Perth!! ( seriously!🥶). We headed toward the Coffee Club Kalamunda (The Coffee Club Kalamunda) for our stop today. Welcomed by all, it did not disappoint. The photos tell the story! Having to hold true to the rating, it was another 5/5 Cog rating for the CC! All done, we once again got moving and faced the initial cold rush as we headed down the Zig Zag. Some went their own way with the rest heading back to the store. A very cold but clear, blue sky, sunny day. Winter is coming!

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

It seems nine is a popular number for the number of TRC riders present lately. Sure enough today we had the same! More than likely we would have had more however both Peter F and Marty were at the Seven Gravel, Kozi had the Flu and Kelly was still caring for his Hammy. We did welcome back Mike S and Lorelle though so all good. As for the day itself, clear, crisp ( it felt cooler than forecast) and little to no wind. Perfect conditions for the first time to ride the new Stock Road route. Pretty much a flat one, this is another that has some consistent riding making for some good flow. Stock road being the busiest section in terms of traffic and the need for some caution. El Pres was inadvertently airing a little laundry. A little behind on household duties, it is hard to explain to others not in the know that things do not dry as quickly as in Adelaide!(Tanya Elliott). As we proceeded we were exposed to The Mighty Mike Moohan unleashed! This lead to a comedy of errors at one point ( not the Shakespeare version!) as we attempted to call Mike back to a turn off. Independent Tour Operator Greg Towie ( Tours - Book online), attempted to case Mike down. El Pres then thought he was to follow and the rest is history with both Mike and Greg arriving at Dome Deep Water Point ahead of the rest. None the less, all were present at the Dome for what was hot coffee all round ( except GT!) and speedy and friendly service. A solid 4/5Cogs! As pleasant as it was with a very calm river as a backdrop it was time to depart. Some went their own way with the rest heading back to the store. All up, a great Autumn day out with absolutely perfect weather!

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

It was nine on time and feeling fine this morning as we lined up for Chevin Road aka Mills Road East! A little warmer than last week but with a little more wind around. We welcomed back Peter Feller and Marty today. Good to have you both back! We headed out via the normal Albany Hwy route. Uneventful in terms of any issues with everyone giving their best on the MR East climb. While re-grouping on Canning Mills Road I am pleased to announce that we found Pam! For those uninformed, Pam went missing in Cottesloe many years ago and has now resurfaced! Good to see you Pam! From here we were treated to a Towie Tour! A different spin on things and taking some new roads in, this turned out to be a good route, one to repeat! As is customary while in the area our coffee stop was Hidden (Hidden Cafe) Cafe. Hard to fault anything today (or ever really !). I am going for 5/5 Cogs! We headed out to head back to home base. It was a case of “what the heller, Peter Feller!” As Pete powered through the back streets. Perhaps buoyed up by the thought of an Elmars sausage and beer with Andrew 0! All up though we made some good time heading back. A good day out for all today!

Until next week

Ride Smart. Ride Safe.

El Pres

TRC May 2026 Ride Routes

Saturday 9th May - Route Chevin Road (Mills Rd East) Cafe - Hidden Kelmscott

Saturday 16th May - Route Stock Road Cafe - Dome Deepwater Point

Saturday 23rd May - Route Pickering Brook Cafe - Coffee Club Kalamunda

Saturday 30th May - Route Midland/Coulston Cafe - Mizzica Cafe Burswood

Saturday 6th June - Route Reverse Zig Zag Cafe - Hidden Kelmscott

Saturday 13th June - Route Fremantle Cafe - Beth’s Bakery East Vic Park