embankmentlb

I am sorry Mr Hinault & Mr. Lemond but your bikes do not fit with our program.

RobbieTunes

Could be worse, could be delirious.

gomango

+1

Mucho silliness of the highest order.

RobbieTunes

Yeah, but someone's getting material for psych 101....

iab

I couldn't explain the hobby any better.

gomango

True, dat.

TimmyT 

That's a bike from 1996, not 1986. I guess to be fair, brifters really hit the market big time in the early 1990s, but the initial groupsets that would form Shimano SIS start in about 1988. These morphed into the brifter groups.

bikemig 

My apologies; you're right. What the heck was I thinking, lol.

I edited my previous post and I'll try to keep my dates straight after this . . .

seypat

It might be the only ride where squeaking MAFAC Racers are a symbol of pride and honor.

seypat

Did the Italians ever make any attractive vintage triple cranks? It might be deflating to have to put a Stronglight or TA crank on an Italian bike to make it through the climbing. Oh the shame!

bikemig 

I'm getting ready to put a stronglight or a TA crank on an otherwise all campy bike pretty much for this reason. There's more shame in walking than mixing parts, .

seypat

It is hard to beat the beauty and function of the Stronglight star. I've got a 99 on one of my rides.

Salamandrine 

There was a campy record triple for a while in the 70s. Ofmega made a super light triple, more likely 'Avocet' if sold in USA. There were probably others. I think Italians would say if you need more than a 42 small chainring, you should ride more. And if you want to bike tour, well you shouldn't do that. Stay in a nice hotel....

Back to beating the dead horse: I knew/know enough old timer cyclists to know that these type of rides have been going in in norcal since at least the 60s. It's not entirely a snobby style thing. Old road bikes are perfect for rides that are ~ half on the dirt. Aside from antique aesthetics, 28c tires about optimum, as is vintage frame geometry. SPD pedals really are an improvement, and I'd recommend them for you rule breakers. Aero levers are an style thing entirely.

Kabuki12

I believe it is the intent of this function to have a certain period of cycling represented. I also believe that the main purpose is to have a good time. I have not been yet, but planning on attending this one in April. I am going with this in mind. I am not sure where the cut off year is for this type of steel lugged bike is. I have seen 1988 and up bikes that definitely match the period well. Just enjoy!

DiabloScott

If you were the rules checker - how about this? switch out the brifters for clamp-on DT shifters and exposed cables and put on some quill pedals.

But there's an internal cable routing through the top tube and the stem is external clamp. Pass?



Bonus - half the price of the Bianchi l'eroica

carbomb

If I were the rules checker I'd laugh and send that bike packing >=)

you'd also need different wheels because 32 or 36 spokes are required, not 28
the derailleurs and cassette are obviously modern, I don't know if those are even a hard rule, but I'd think it's a lazy F-you to the spirit of things
the threadless headset and lack of lug work in favor of tig welds says eBay, but I know it's a step up, probably Bikes Direct. I think Bikes Direct was 1988, tough break

That bike is to Eroica what a 2006 Toyota Camry is to the Japanese Nostalgic Car Club.

DiabloScott

You're right on the wheels, didn't notice that. It's a Wabi by the way... I guess more popular with the FFSG crowd, but a pretty good name; I didn't mean to try and stump anyone. And although it's certainly not to the image of l'Eroica, they do have a minimalist non-flashy kind of aesthetic. The "suggestions" on number of gears and such are not hard rules so I don't think you could deny it on that regard, and the rules don't mention threadless headsets at all - maybe they should. The kind of people who buy these bikes generally are going for that classic look but they also want brakes that work and stems that make sense... they might like to ride l'Eroica on one of these if they could.

steelbikeguy

can you get clamp-on down tube shifters for what is likely an oversize down tube?
Bar end shifters should be an option, I would think.

Seems like a lot of work, though, when you should be able to find an old bike for a relatively affordable price.

Steve in Peoria

DiabloScott

Oh yeah - this guy makes them in all sizes.



Personally I'd rather have a real vintage bike from the 70's or so for the Eroica... but I like having a different bike for different purposes. I figured maybe some people might want to get a modern bike with a retro look for every day riding that could also do l'Eroica on the same bike... the kind of people that would get the Bianchi except would rather not spend so much.

non-fixie 

I met a guy in Gaiole last year with an all-original early fifties Rotrax with a 48 x 24 lowest gear. He had to walk a lot. It may have been stupid, but it certainly was heroic.

bikemig 

Sure, I was pulling the other person's leg; it really doesn't matter as long as you're having fun in the spirit of the ride.

non-fixie 

True. And to be fair: I did put a 50/36 Stronglight on my bike for the event, so I wouldn't have to walk so much.

What remains is the question of who had most fun, the Englishman with the Rotrax or me?

steelbikeguy

pretty remarkable! Nice that there's someone addressing the presumably small number of people who want to do this.

Well, this sort of arrangement might meet the criteria.... I'm not familiar with the details of the criteria. I do think the rides are pretty interesting and I'd love to visit and take a look at the bikes on display. If it gets people curious about vintage bikes, so much the better. I have mixed feelings about people riding bikes that don't really fit the spirit of the event... I suppose it's a question of whether you are adding to the spirit of the event or detracting from it. Wear a suitable jersey and an outrageous mustache and you might get away with riding a carbon fiber bike.

Steve in Peoria

carbomb

Hah!! My lady had a Wabi Classic 650C for a week, maybe. I bought it as a surprise, but it still turned out to be too large for her. It's funny this bike turned out to be a Wabi. After reading how great they're supposed to be I thought it was odd they would look so blasé, just like an unbranded Bikes Direct bike. Luckily I got hers used because there was noway I'd shell out that much new for what is virtually indistinguishable from everything else out there. I think they should at least spend some time making an interesting tubing decal, a pattern or something; then optional of course. Just my 2 cents on Wabi bicycles.

I think ANYONE might like to ride l'Eroica, regardless of their bike, because it looks like a unique, casual, enjoyable affair. There's tons of other rides for modern bikes, but not so many where dressing up like an old 70's racer and sporting a skip tooth drive train isn't just going to get you dropped.

Similar rant: I go to Comic Con and I dress up whenever I can. Sometimes work is work and I can't make an outfit. If I don't dress up it's still a good time, but when I DO dress up I get invited to more parties, I make more contacts, and I think it's because it lets a niche group of individuals know, "Hey, I'm one of you. I'm not here to laugh at you, or be a tourist in your world for my own pleasure, I'm here because I'm genuinely into this stuff." If less people dressed up I think Comic Con would be as boring as any other industry trade show I've been to. That's like how I feel about Eroica. It is what it is because people go through the effort required participate, putting everyone on the same page to ensure the experience is mutual.

bikingshearer 

Please don't take this personally, and with all due respect, and Kumbayah and all that, but:

I hate that paint job. The color scheme looks like it was inspired by a pumpkin with gangrene. It encapsulates everything I hated about the '80s aesthetic.

YMMV, of course. But it shouldn't.