L'Eroica 2015 - pictures
10-07-15, 01:44 PM
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L'Eroica 2015 - pictures
Right, the pics.
Being flat-landers, mrs non-fixie and I thought it a good idea to travel to Tuscany a bit early and get some miles in to get used to the hills. This time we took four bikes with us, so the FIAT 500 wouldn't do. (I would have liked to bring along a different bike for each day, but was out-voted
).
We rode around for a week and stayed in lovely places like Sienna, Florence, Castellina, Volterra and Monteriggioni.
Just like the last time we were here, getting to Castellina was a bit of a challenge, as the road was closed because of the hill climb weekend:
My neck was giving me some trouble during the first days, so in Florence I visited Sergio Bianchi's shop for some upright bars for my touring bike:
There was some discussion among the locals about the results of my wrenching (to be honest, I wasn't thrilled by the new look either):
Anyway, they served their purpose and got me to Gaiole comfortably. Neck-wise, that is. The legs were another matter, with climbs like these:
Being flat-landers, mrs non-fixie and I thought it a good idea to travel to Tuscany a bit early and get some miles in to get used to the hills. This time we took four bikes with us, so the FIAT 500 wouldn't do. (I would have liked to bring along a different bike for each day, but was out-voted
).We rode around for a week and stayed in lovely places like Sienna, Florence, Castellina, Volterra and Monteriggioni.
Just like the last time we were here, getting to Castellina was a bit of a challenge, as the road was closed because of the hill climb weekend:
My neck was giving me some trouble during the first days, so in Florence I visited Sergio Bianchi's shop for some upright bars for my touring bike:
There was some discussion among the locals about the results of my wrenching (to be honest, I wasn't thrilled by the new look either):
Anyway, they served their purpose and got me to Gaiole comfortably. Neck-wise, that is. The legs were another matter, with climbs like these:
10-07-15, 01:51 PM
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On Friday we arrived in Gaiole, which was nice as the crowds had yet to arrive.
The market was still nice and quiet:
The rental bikes were being readied for the event:
Decorations were being placed along the main village road:
And the restaurants had all geared up, with the best of the local specialities, 'Tripa alla Fiorentina' being one of them:
The market was still nice and quiet:
The rental bikes were being readied for the event:
Decorations were being placed along the main village road:
And the restaurants had all geared up, with the best of the local specialities, 'Tripa alla Fiorentina' being one of them:
10-07-15, 01:55 PM
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Greta job so far, loving this report!
10-07-15, 02:01 PM
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The sponsors had brought along some nice stuff. Bianchi had emptied their museum for the occasion:
And GIOS had brought one of Roger's bikes:
Someone had brought this freshly-restored Gloria:
And there were all sorts of brands less familiar to me:
And GIOS had brought one of Roger's bikes:
Someone had brought this freshly-restored Gloria:
And there were all sorts of brands less familiar to me:
10-07-15, 02:03 PM
#5
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Love the humor! Glad to hear the neck settled down.
Rich food like that would lead anybody to jump on a bike. Food out of a can pales...
the bike market makes my eyes water from straining to see. Looking like you all had a great time.
Rich food like that would lead anybody to jump on a bike. Food out of a can pales...
the bike market makes my eyes water from straining to see. Looking like you all had a great time.
10-07-15, 02:11 PM
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On Saturday more people started arriving, bringing along nice eye candy as well.
The Brits, for instance:
I also enjoyed seeing this Inter 10 here, as I'd seriously considered bringing mine, instead of the Locomotief. It's such a comfortable machine:
Everybody was collecting their race numbers and getting ready for Sunday:
The Brits, for instance:
I also enjoyed seeing this Inter 10 here, as I'd seriously considered bringing mine, instead of the Locomotief. It's such a comfortable machine:
Everybody was collecting their race numbers and getting ready for Sunday:
10-07-15, 02:17 PM
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The car club came out and joined in the fun. If you're not sure what a 'bella machina' is, here are some examples. I should have taped some of the sounds (no, not noises) of these magnificent machines. Mama mia!
10-07-15, 02:21 PM
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Food was an important part of the scene. I tried the 'Lampredotto'. Nice! I still need to look up what it actually is. 'Inner part of cow', someone explained.
10-07-15, 02:22 PM
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Oh, boy - our first L'Eroica report 
Loving the pics and story so far - thank you! Looking forward to your complete saga!
DD
Loving the pics and story so far - thank you! Looking forward to your complete saga!
DD
10-07-15, 02:42 PM
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Sunday!
The weather predictions had not been particularly favorable (rain, to be followed by more rain), but the day started with rather nice weather. Cloudy, but dry and not too warm. Excellent weather for a bit of cycling!
We got to the start at 8:15 or so, and there were already a fair number of slightly anxious but very cheerful people waiting to get their first stamp of the day. Those riding the longer distances (135 and 209 kilometers) had long before left, so these were the amateurs.
In front of us:
And behind us:
We had a chat with two very nice gentlemen from Sheffield, each with a Stan Pike bike and a matching outfit:
Surprisingly it took us only forty minutes or so to get through the first control. I wouldn't have minded if it had taken all morning, there were so many nice bikes to see and people to talk with.
After getting the stamp, we we gave the bikes a final check, strapped our rain gear to our top tubes ...
... and left the Via Roma for the main road, in the direction of Brolio castle:
The weather predictions had not been particularly favorable (rain, to be followed by more rain), but the day started with rather nice weather. Cloudy, but dry and not too warm. Excellent weather for a bit of cycling!
We got to the start at 8:15 or so, and there were already a fair number of slightly anxious but very cheerful people waiting to get their first stamp of the day. Those riding the longer distances (135 and 209 kilometers) had long before left, so these were the amateurs.
In front of us:
And behind us:
We had a chat with two very nice gentlemen from Sheffield, each with a Stan Pike bike and a matching outfit:
Surprisingly it took us only forty minutes or so to get through the first control. I wouldn't have minded if it had taken all morning, there were so many nice bikes to see and people to talk with.
After getting the stamp, we we gave the bikes a final check, strapped our rain gear to our top tubes ...
... and left the Via Roma for the main road, in the direction of Brolio castle:
Last edited by non-fixie; 10-07-15 at 04:24 PM. Reason: trying to correct an error
10-07-15, 02:56 PM
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OMG! Don't just leave us hanging!!!!
10-07-15, 03:14 PM
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Alas, the excellent cycling weather lasted all of five minutes. After that it looked like this for about two hours:
This made picture-taking difficult, so you'll have to use your imagination for the next bit.
The climb up the white road to Brolio castle was a mess. Some idiots had apparently thought it a good idea to have their girlfriends follow them with picnic baskets filled with prosecco and provolone by car. Those ladies did not make many friends that morning as they honked their way up past the cyclists in their Victoria Beckham-styled Range Rovers on that narrow, winding, steep and slippery road.
Only to block that same road at the top, evidently to dole out the afore-mentioned prosecco and provolone to said idiots. If looks could kill it would have been a blood bath.
Anyway, at 11:15, just about when everyone was completely drenched, the rain stopped, and morale rose once again to festive levels. The roads were still wet and the white ones quite slippery, but temperature was nice. Mrs non-fixie poured half a pint of muddy water from her shoes and we continued to the lunch stop.
Lunch was excellent. Nice ladies in period dresses made sure there was enough food to eat and chianti wine to drink for everyone. As we were doing the short route we had ample time to enjoy it.
Muddy bike parking:
Mine wasn't too bad, BTW:
This made picture-taking difficult, so you'll have to use your imagination for the next bit.
The climb up the white road to Brolio castle was a mess. Some idiots had apparently thought it a good idea to have their girlfriends follow them with picnic baskets filled with prosecco and provolone by car. Those ladies did not make many friends that morning as they honked their way up past the cyclists in their Victoria Beckham-styled Range Rovers on that narrow, winding, steep and slippery road.
Only to block that same road at the top, evidently to dole out the afore-mentioned prosecco and provolone to said idiots. If looks could kill it would have been a blood bath.
Anyway, at 11:15, just about when everyone was completely drenched, the rain stopped, and morale rose once again to festive levels. The roads were still wet and the white ones quite slippery, but temperature was nice. Mrs non-fixie poured half a pint of muddy water from her shoes and we continued to the lunch stop.
Lunch was excellent. Nice ladies in period dresses made sure there was enough food to eat and chianti wine to drink for everyone. As we were doing the short route we had ample time to enjoy it.
Muddy bike parking:
Mine wasn't too bad, BTW:
10-07-15, 03:16 PM
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Fantastic pics, non-fixie! Really enjoying this so far. I don't see myself being able to go to L'Eroica in Italy in the near future, so I'll have to live vicariously through reports such as this. Keep 'em coming. 
10-07-15, 03:19 PM
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After lunch came the best part. The rain had washed the dust from the air and made the Tuscan autumn scenery breathtakingly beautiful. The pictures don't really do it justice:
10-07-15, 03:43 PM
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Arriving back in Gaiole all riders were greeted with applause and cheers from the many spectators, and well-organized logistics from the L'Eroica organization:
It was a wonderful day. I have no idea how the Italians manage to organize such an event for 6.000 people from all over the world in such a laid-back manner and yet have it go so smoothly. But they did it. My deepest respect for Giancarlo Brocci and his crew.
Cheers!
It was a wonderful day. I have no idea how the Italians manage to organize such an event for 6.000 people from all over the world in such a laid-back manner and yet have it go so smoothly. But they did it. My deepest respect for Giancarlo Brocci and his crew.
Cheers!
10-07-15, 04:14 PM
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Well done Non-Fixie, and great photo essay. Thanks for taking the time to stop and snap photos, feels like being back there.
10-07-15, 05:16 PM
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Great write-up! Love it! I was pretty much in area several months ago and was imagining how the event would look (I kept seeing the L'Eroica signs). You are correct that pictures do the landscape no justice at all...
10-07-15, 05:34 PM
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Very cool! Love it.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
10-07-15, 06:28 PM
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Looks like great fun!!
10-07-15, 06:57 PM
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+1 tutti bella, grazie!
10-07-15, 07:17 PM
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Thank you, non-fixie! Greatly appreciated. (It was over too soon.)
10-07-15, 08:19 PM
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Great stuff, thanks for sharing. I'm familiar with how inclement weather can make things unpleasant (I'm pretty sure I bring storms with me on vacation) but I think it also makes the experiences that much more memorable.
