gomango

That DS is gorgeous.

If I ever have one built, I would be quite tempted to use the same color scheme.

merziac

"up on cripple creek"

73StellaSX76

Some great pictures posted by those above, I'm a snapshot photographer so bear with mine. This was one of the best ride experiences I've had.

A couple shots from the Mavic pre-ride on Saturday


Brett and I rode the 87 mile option. Some mud build up on the first dirt climb, Kiler. I was able to pedal the whole ride with a 42/28 low, but only just.


The eats were fantastic, almost finished my burrito and virgin margarita at Cambria before remembering to snap a shot, oh well.


Cambria and last pass before the long downhill back to town.


Brett and his Paramount on the Strada Bianca.

danaconstance

Here are a few pictures from this weekend's Concourse and the Coastal ride. Fantastic route though "Killer" Canyon definitely lived up to it's nickname. I thought the rest areas were thoughtful and pleasant, the volunteers really nice and the fellow riders were fantastic. But I must admit that the post-ride festivities seemed rather par for the course with most organized rides I do here in California. After hearing so many great stories of L'Eroica festivities in Tuscany from friends, I was hoping for a bit more...

AldPixto

When I signed up for the medium route it was described as 55 miles. Participants know that route morphed into 73 miles a week or so before the event. I was demoralized by what to me seemed like a Saturday morning training ride pace set by the starting group but soon settled into my own pace but with the added stress of riding alone for many long stretches and feeling anxious about getting lost. Actually my pace was okay, but I had fallen into a quiet zone between a fast group and a slower group. The lack of riding company, except at the rest stops, was disappointing. I woke up at 3am that morning and drove a little over two hours from the SF Bay Area, and that combined with my stress contributed to my decision to abandon the medium course after the second rest stop and return via the short course. I was disappointed with my performance, even though I climbed every hill except for the Olive Ranch driveway.

My happiness level, on a scale from zero to ten, started around a six, dropped to two, maybe hit seven or eight along some especially scenic gravel sections, then finished at a six. It would have been nicer to stay locally and wake up at 5am or 6am. I wish I had worked out riding with my friends instead of finding them after the ride was over.

Around the same time I thought I was lost and hating the ride, I was glad I hadn't wasted money buying expensive bike shoes with cleats or other things that for me would be Eroica specific. What I paid for my wool cycling shorts would have paid for half a hotel room, and I don't think anyone cared that I was wearing a generic USA made wool Jersey and not a replica vintage Jersey from Italy.

For the past ten years I've been a volunteer at two large Century rides in the Bay Area. The registration fees for these rides is $65 -$100 and they far more logistics and better catering. I hope a nice portion of the $150 Eroica registration goes to the local Hospice charity.

Some participants obviously spent a small fortune trying to create the most perfect museum quality restoration of a 198x Italian racing bike. If they want to spend $200 on a brand new, still in the original glassine bag, pair of binda toe straps, then who am I to stop them.

I rode a 1970s english frame that has served as a race bike, a touring bike, a commuting bike, and now an Eroica bike. It has a rag tag collection of authentic scratch and dent 1960s and 1970s brakes, cranks, derailleurs, hubs, rims, seat, etc... and new handlebar tape, brake and derailleur cables, and tires. It took me much longer than I thought to find the correct small parts - the cable ferrules, non-torn brake lever hoods, brake arm washers and nuts, etc., but I was happy with the end results even if it looked as though I didn't do any work at all.

I heard that last year a woman rode the short course on an English Three Speed bike. Now that's Heroic !

carbomb

That. Was. Awesome!

I did the 87 mile Coastal route with my buddy clad in matching blue/white Orbea jerseys. I got a flat from glass on AT THE STARTING LINE! Talk about a tale of things to come. Luckily the guys at the Wally's Bicycle Works booth were setting up and sold me a tube (I didn't want to use the extra I packed so soon) and offered to instal it for me in time to leave with the group at 6:30.

Then there was the course. Let's see, I've never ridden in gravel, mud, dirt, or anything of the sort really. Only 8 miles in, as I descended quickly some sharp rocks sliced open my back tire. Replacing a tube and lining a sliced tire with 3 one dollars bills while it's all covered in fresh mud was absurd. My buddy laughed whole hardheartedly at that. Fate though would laugh at him as the cheap aluminum welds on his bottle cage rattled until cracking so he had to carry his bottle in his jersey. Luckily the first 10 miles were our only technical problems. We did find ourselves occasionally tightening our headsets that were also rattling their way loose. Maybe I should've dropped some psi on my tires... next time!

I almost made it up whatever the most absurd climb of the day was on my bike, but when I realized I was going as fast as I would be walking, well I walked. I was in my granny gear and it was still killing me. Everyone was ridiculously friendly and the course was gorgeous. I'm already preparing my vacation requests to do this in another country. My friend and I both think it was for best we were so ignorant of the challenge or perhaps we would never have done it.

It definitely made me appreciate my bike and the whole classic/vintage bike culture around it even more. Next time I'll take more pictures. I was pretty overwhelmed just trying to accomplish the task at hand.

carbomb

@AldPixto - ugh, I think I can relate to the whole "riding alone" bit. If it wasn't for my buddy with me I would've lost my mind. There were really long stretches before we got to Cambria where nobody was around us. We didn't see anyone ahead or behind us and we'd occasionally ask each other, "Do you think we're lost?". Alone, yes, I would've panicked, but with a friend we just told each other, "whatever, just keep pedaling man, we'll find out I guess". That being said they could work on their signage just a little bit more, that would help.

rccardr 

...so get ready. First off, had a great time, saw some amazing bike porn, a terrific movie and interview, met many nice people, did what was probably the most difficult ride EVER, and got truly exhausted.

On Friday drove down from San Jose, where I stayed with friends after flying in Thursday night. Things were just starting to set up around noon, but was able to meet up with a few C&V folks and look at the swap meet parts, vendor tents, etc. Some nice jerseys, used bikes, small parts, etc. Friday night was the free viewing of Breaking Away, shown uncut in its entirety, followed by an interview with Dennis Christopher and Eddy Van Guyse (the Cinzano rider who put the pump in Dave Stoller's front wheel). Great stories about how Dennis wasn't a biker at all but spent time with the guy they hired to be his stunt double and imitated his moves. Eddy told a great tale about how he got his team mates from Chicago to be hired as the Cinzano guys. Good stuff.

Saturday was the day for bike porn and more swap meet viewing. Concours tent was simply astounding. Had a chat with one of the judges about how they were scoring each bike. Clearly a lot of work had gone into many of the entries. Around noon about a dozen of us (including about 6-7 C&V folks) participated in a warmup ride led by Janell Holcomb, former pro rider and now brand ambassador for Mavic.


Saturday dinner was excellent pasta made by a local restaurant, followed by the concours prizes and an auction.

Sunday was the ride. I did the 87 mile Coastal Route, 7500+ feet of climbing, most of it on what they euphemistically called 'gravel roads', but what I would call nasty, rutted, slimy dirt tracks covered in many places by loose dirt or gravel. Many of the roads were privately maintained and used for local farming and vineyards. Really tough surfaces in a lot of places. Because the long routes started early, we were dealing with light rain and heavy dew on Kiler Canyon (aka Killer Canyon), which made the surface very slippery, especially towards the top. One, maybe two good lines to take, and when the guy two up from me fell when his rear tire slipped out, everybody in line had to stop. Couldn't get started again due to the slipper surface, so a bunch of us wound up walking most of the last couple hundred feet. My understanding is that the later riders had a dry surface and were able to more easily ride the whole thing without walking. Cedar Mountain Road was the next big climb, also on gravel, but with a somewhat better surface. Here the challenge was how steep the hill was, and many riders walked at least part of the way up. Coming DOWN the other side, however, was a real trip- same road, same steepness, but descending. I think I used up several thousand miles of brake pad on that 7 mile drop.

Then we had a lovely ride along the coast, often within sight of the water, before turning inland for the final climb up Santa Rita. 6 miles, about 2,000 feet of climbing, on a local gravel road that had a lot of runoff channels cut into it, which made picking your line critical so as to maintain forward momentum. Again, a very tough climb, lots of riders resting on the side of the road or walking up the steeper sections. Note that on all of these climbs, there were sections with 17-20% grades! Once we cleared the last climb, it was 20 miles of downhills and rollers, lovely countryside (actually ALL of it was quite beautiful) and then arrival at the finish line back on Paso Robles. Followed by exhausted collapse.

Now, on to the pics. Masi exhibit was incredible, lots of Masi bikes on display:

This is Dennis Christopher's actual bike from Breaking Away, which he still owns:


Lots of cool Cinellis:

A Lotus Competition:

rccardr 

A Brambilla:

A Bonvicini:

rccardr 

Wally's Bike Works in San Luis Obispo had bikes to rent:


Lovely Legnano:

rccardr 

Parts!

Parts!

Parts!

More parts!

Pretty neat older Merckx:

rccardr 

Even the bikes on the cars just parked nearby were pretty neat:


Nice Eisentraut:

Joe Spttle (aka kabuki12) with the guys from Citizen Chain

non-fixie 

Thanks for the reports and the pictures! You are all heroes to me.

rccardr 

Route map. Note the elevation changes...

During the climb up Santa Rita

Top of Santa Rita. That's Oldairhead at the far right, he provided SAG support with his vintage motor bike and sidecar

View of the water from Route 1

Pair of Fujis ridden by a couple of Japanese guys who flew over for the event. The orange racer was ridden by a 75 year old guy who also did the coastal route.

rccardr 

This is Devon, who rode a Centurion Pro Tour, worn out 27" tires and all.

After Halter Ranch:


Davester's Ron Cooper.
Top of Kiler Canyon. Guy in the burgundy jersey and in the black with his back to the picture came over from Steel Vintage Bikes in Berlin.

non-fixie 

Sorry about the interruption, doc.

rccardr 

Top of Kiler Canyon. One of Davester's riding buddies had problems with spoke tension & they spent quite a bit of time getting things back in true.



Andy Hampsten! We started together in the morning, great ambassador for our sport!

Finis!

Classtime 

I did the long route and plan on returning next year. My wife came with me and we stayed in town. She did not get bored between seeing me off at 6am and my return a little after 4pm. I am glad that I tried to get through it with my 42/52 - 13/24. I walked two short slippery pitches on Kiler Canyon, the gravelly steep part of the climb on the first loop, and I tipped over on a slippery AND rough patch on Cypress Mtn. The 52-13 was fun on some of the descents and I wouldn't want to miss out on that next time so that rules out using the 48/36 in the front. Maintaining seated momentum is key when it gets slippery due to gravel or mud and if I am not stronger next year (always my plan), I'll add at least 2 more teeth to the big cog (probably 4). I also didn't feel comfortable with the toe clips and I wasn't locked in like I am accustomed with my usual clipless. This prevented me from maintaining a smooth pedal stroke. I did much of the ride alone after losing my saddle bag before the first winery and going back for it -- leapfroging with a few guys much of the day and getting in a 3 man paceline in the windy part into Cambria --NICE. The stream side wooded roads to and from the coast were so enjoyable. I saw my first wild turkey cross the road and replayed in my mind that video of the deer that takes out the cyclist. I do STRAVA and since my dog ate my garmin, I needed the phone to record my ride. Next time, I will take more pictures. I would have captured that deep red Paramount, the chrome ones too, and the black Raleigh Competition.

Bikegeek1968

Here is another pic of you for the record. It was nice meeting you, if only for a minute!

GhoulweTim

Did the long route and had a great day touring with David and Lee.


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Cassave

I did the long route with a friend from my local club. No problems all day until he had a minor mechanical in Cambria which cost us about 1/2 hour.
Beautiful scenery, tough dirt climbs, a little less sun than I'd have liked.

@jcb3 - We were at Halter Ranch at the same time. That's me far right in the grey/yellow/red jersey, my bike far left in silver and yellow.
Had the very spicey fish tacos.

I'll be back next year but maybe do the Coastal route instead, the 40 mile tour of east Paso Robles was nice to do, once.

justin1138

Rode the long route again this year. Just as epic as last year, and this time I took some photos!

First bit of gravel.


Halter Ranch.


Cayucos & beer for the win!


The climb up to Santa Rita.


The bike at the top of Santa Rita.


This is a short, visual summary of my ride. I'm working on a blog post with more pics. I'll post a link when I'm done.

eschlwc

@justin1138, what camera are you using?

jcb3

I'm glad @justin1138 got a shot of "tex" with the cowboy hat, cutoffs, checked shirt, and timberlands - 70s for sure!

that guy was riding a really nice raleigh comp gs and was really a strong rider

justin1138

@eschlwc From this set, the photos up to Halter Ranch are shot with a Panasonic LX7. All the others are shot with my iPhone 6S. Everything gets a round of Photoshop.

@jcb3 "Tex" definitely had the most memorable outfit of anyone else I saw on the ride.