Heading to Perth (WA)... Any tips..?

Hi All!

Heading to Perth in Western Australia in 1 week. Want to know of any good SS bike shops in the area for parts?
I read the previous post on Perth but no-one had any suggestions... Thought I'd ask again.
Any other tips on riding in Perth are appreciated too?

Cheers

Its a good bit south of Perth, but if you can go there for five days, or even a long weekend, check out Albany. Nice small town right in the south west corner of Australia. Probably about five hours drive. I rented a bike there from a hostel, bit of a banger hybrid but it did the job. Got some decent cycling in around the area, including the National Park nearby, also just sort of stumbled across Goode Beach and I was the only person there on a really hot midweek afternoon, scorching hot and plunged myself into the cool water after the saddle had been grinding the arse off me... It was the whitest sand I had ever seen, so incredibly fine, almost like flour; and the water was that clear blue like you see in Caribbean brochures. Well worth going down there.

Deffo try the Speeddome in Midvale, allegedly the worlds fastest indoor veledrome

A.I.S train there but it's really friendly and you can hire bikes and do a beginners session if you've never had a go before

I'm from Perth, although I've spent the better part of the last 13 years in Margaret River, a great, almost coastal town 3 hours south and the last 3 years in London I don't know if there is a track/fixed scene there as I only disovered it here but I can assure you there is some great riding. There is a velodrome in Midland and lots of hipsters in the center so I'd be surpised if all angles weren't covered by now.
You can do the whole coast from Fremantle to Hilary's easily, it's 30km, flat and scenic. There are also heaps of rides along the Swan River, again from Fremantle, up to the city and beyond at about 30km.
If you want to get serious then head to the hills, a big escarpment to the east of the city. A loop from Kalamunda, through Paulls Valley to Mundaring Weir up to Mundaring town and out and around John Forest National Park will get you up to the 120-140km mark and show you some stunning scenery. There are lots of short (and some long) steep hills here though so it's hard work. Often very hot hard work.
Enjoy it, it's a really pretty part of the world.

the coast road to Cottlesoe is aces

derny riding at the speed dome

Not cycling, but if you have time and are looking for a weekend or week out, then go down to Margaret River and do the wineries and stuff down there as well as the valley of the giants. I loved that stuff when I was there, especially if you can find freshwater white crayfish to eat which is a local delicacy from that region.

Hi mate, i'm from Perth and have been riding bikes from 12 all around the city/state there are plenty of great rides, but the SS/fixed culture hasn't really taken of here yet, there are a lot of roadies that ride SS once a week but no dedicated shops to my knowledge.

As the others have suggested, the Margret River region is simply breathtaking, the only problem is getting there and road quality, we call it Australian pave because it's so rough and rutted in sections, also be aware of cars because most roads are 90km/h and quite winding.

But defiantly head south if you wan't beaches, Esperance (even further south) has sand so white and fine it actually squeaks when you walk on it, truly amazing.

There are plenty of great rides depending on how far your wanting to go, there is the normal "River loop" which is about 45k's depending on your detours around the Swan River which is always lovely, just make sure you find a good coffee shop to go to afterwards :)

Deffo try the Speeddome in Midvale, allegedly the worlds fastest indoor veledrome

A.I.S train there but it's really friendly and you can hire bikes and do a beginners session if you've never had a go before

My old man rides there regularly, it's a great venue and last time I knew very reasonable on prices for using it.

It's not the most amazing route but there is apparently a dedicated cycle path the length of the kwinana freeway, so potentially you could ride from the city to Mandurah spending little time on actual roads.

My brother is living in Perth and passed on the following information to my by email, which may be of help:

If you wish, you can reply to that thread that couriers and ergo knowledge of SS/fixie can be found on the corner of King and Hay streets during the week. Lots of fixie people in Freo also, which is where a recent alleycat was held and, I think, most are. Organised by non-couriers but couriers do participate.

Enjoy your stay

Rottnest island off Perth is, I think, car-free and therefore probably fun if not challenging for bikes. (I'm not sure, you'd have to check.) Keep in mind that Perth, Margaret River etc can be incredibly windy, which can be good in the sense of keeping you cool, but hard going, and you can still get VERY sunburnt.

It is. Depending on when you go there will be rafts of drunk people on hire bikes though.

I got sunburned walking from the ferry to our hotel last time we were there (a distance of about 100 metres). My Nordic complexion fails again.

Rottnest island off Perth is, I think, car-free and therefore probably fun if not challenging for bikes. (I'm not sure, you'd have to check.) Keep in mind that Perth, Margaret River etc can be incredibly windy, which can be good in the sense of keeping you cool, but hard going, and you can still get VERY sunburnt.