Thalia949

Recently I got an email from the organizers on this event.

https://eroica.cc/en/cuba

Anyone planning to attend? I know that it is chaellenging for US passport holders, perhaps it is a sporting event and not subject to restrictions.

I'm wondering if it will be less organized than Eroica CA.

rccardr 

That’s very interesting. No climbing, though, pretty flat terrain.
I’m already scheduled for those dates but will be interested to hear from those who attend.

Andy_K 

That really sounds awesome. I'm very tempted. Unlike @rccardr, I find the lack of climbing to be a plus.

Apparently U.S. law still restricts travel to Cuba, but there's an exception for "public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions." I wonder which of those Eroica qualifies for. For some, athletic competition would be plausible. For others, maybe public performance.

jon c. 

There are no real restrictions on visiting Cuba. Multiple flights from Miami daily filled with US passport holders. You signify that your purpose is 'support of the Cuban people' and that's it. In theory you aren't supposed to patronize government owned hotels, restaurants, etc. but there is no check mechanism on this and no one has any idea what you do when you're there. American credit cards don't work so you need to bring plenty of cash.

From what I've read there are many problems with shortages of food, gas, and other essentials in Cuba now. You can always find food but variety is often limited. Tourist businesses are somewhat insulated from this so if the event is well run it may not be too much of an issue. But you should bring with you medicines, snack foods, and anything else you might need because you can't count on finding it there.

But Americans are free to travel there even without so interesting purpose.

Classtime 

I bet the Eroica folks picked a beautiful route(s).

rccardr 

Pedal Diplomacy!

JohnDThompson 

Looks nice, and it's on the western end of the island, which I haven't visited. Not sure I can go, though.

SoCaled 

No experience with Eroica but, I was in Cuba (Santiago) for Carnival 20? years ago with the Rebirth Brass Band. I would echo some of what is said above. Depending on where you are there is very limited "commercial" anything. Things we take for granted might not be available. Snacks (Cliff bars, etc) are a great suggestion as is medicine, I would go a step further and say bring extra of everything to share with locals. Cash is also an important note, American dollars are the currency of tourists and reliable ATMs were few and far between. Not only cash, but small bills, it can be hard to break bills even at major tourist centers and things cost less so small bills are key. I was there for a week and I have never felt more welcome in an unknown place, I was well taken care of by locals and felt safe every where I went even in the middle of the night (carnival and all). I would highly recommend visiting Cuba if you are interested.

Robvolz 

Ive been 3X. Stunning place and wonderful people.

Intersting fact: all their fish is imported from Japan. Why?

Castro doesn't like boats

Wildwood 

Only one opportunity to participate in the 'inaugural' anything.

but if you complain about anything..... it won't become a huge or recurring thread.

gugie 

And as a nod to Cuban history, they should limit bikes to those made on or before 1959.

Robvolz 

I spoke with the travel agent tryin to organize travel from America. Daiquiri tours: https://www.daiquiriusa.com/site/home

Miami based, they will update their site as soon as their lawyers give them the go-ahead, hopefully later this week or early next week.

From my understanding, this would qualify as an athletic event and as participants, exempt from USA's embargo.

Using direct flights will be much better than flying to Cancun, then buying individual tickets to Havana.

davester

This sounds pretty cool and I am very interested, especially since the Sunday ride in Havana is on February 11th, my birthday. Currently the website is incomplete, to say the least, with the registration page showing "Registration for Eroica Cuba 2023 will open on October 16 at 09:00 hours" but not much else and the only link on the site is on the travel page and goes to a form to fill out to apply for a tour that flies in from Milan, Italy. Not a good sign organization wise. I sure hope they can get it together soon...there isn't much time.

Robvolz 

They just opened registration

open to the first 1500 people, well 1498, since I grabbed 2 spots

chain_whipped

Kinda of regret not going. To heck with the 'winer's of Eroica Ca. This would even be more adventurous to play uber relic wreckless rickshaw.

Robvolz 

Bike in plane. Pistachio colored Senator.

Skip cabs! Gonna build it in the airport and ride away

what’s a senator? A Puch designed for Montgomery Wards. I’ll leave it there with someone.

Lots of familiar faces flying to Vegas for some dumb game.

​​​​​​Saw Dennis Rodman. He was wearing a Dennis Rodman shirt (which made me chuckle).

I have a box o parts to give to their version of a bike shop.

Anybody else here going?

Robvolz 

BTW, even this morning I saw flights from SFO to Havana via Houston or Miami leaving tomorrow for $300 RT. Visas are obtained at check in.

Classtime 

^Oopsie. Wrong sub forum.

merziac

Go Rob, Go!

Say Hi to Fidel.

Manny66 

Good for you Rob , Im sure it will be a very Interesting Trip/Event .

Its kind of ironic considering the conversation we had at the Bar in Cambria included a discussion on Socialism with "Our Communist Buddy" cycle Tourer . I was amused at the fact that He named his son after Che Guevarra (WTF) LOL , My Cuban girlfriend was not amused as her family was imprisoned by Castro and the Communist.

Good Luck out there and Have a Blast !

Robvolz 

It’s really effing tough to write about here with out going deeeeep into the political structure.

Arriving at the airport, all the luggage had been unloaded accept for my bike. An hour later, I got nothing more than “wait here”

they had misplaced the key to the big-arse x-ray machine meant for strollers, wheelchairs, bikes and Tobogans. .

finally, bike was in the X-ray and the operator asked what was in my seat tube(drugs??)

I had some CO2 cartridges in there for blowing up flats. And since you should let your air out before you fly…..

meanwhile random dude kept putting his hand on my cart, insinuating if I paid him $$$, all would be well.

I removed the champagne cork holding the cylinders and dumped one out. Screwed the lil adapter on and blew up the tires.

this is what amazes me about Cuba. And perhaps the x-ray guy isn’t a cyclist, but he wasn’t aware the technology existed.

please do not read into this that I think they are rubes. I have too much respect for the Cuban people.

meanwhile random dude….
anyone who actually knows me, knows I’m quick to offer a beer, wine, cider, salmon, var tools, etc.
But, asking/begging is a quick no. Especially if you are not the part of the wheel that needs to be greased.

Robvolz 

But first…

The first time I visited Cuba I was unnerved by the hustlers trying to get me to stay at their place. While in the secure part of the airport mind you. They showed us folders of apartment photos with corresponding maps.

then I learned how the top wage was $50 a month (heart surgeon) and if two families decide to bunk together, renting out their gov appointed housing for $25 a night, by all means!!

2nd trip to Cuba, I looked forward to picking my apartment in the secure luggage area. I knew which neighborhoods were cool.

3rd trip, well six little letters. Airbnb.

back to this trips purpose.
Built the bike and started my ride into town.

stopped by a lil bar I remembered. This bar, I figured their whole demographic was appeasing the cab drivers who didn’t get a fare into Havana (33km) but didn’t want to face their families yet.

anyway, remember when the X-ray guy was amazed by the CO2 tire filler?? (I remind you dear readers, not judging them. About to explain why)…..

so lil bar had some wines they offered by the glass. No shocker there…
EXCEPT they had a Coravin.

Don’t know Coravin (rube)?

it’s a system to pour wine by the glass that uses NO2 (or NOZ for you F&F people, nay, bros).

In wine-centric Portland I struggle to find the NO2 cartridges, yet here in rural Havana, must not be an issue.

some pics:

Gotta put the Senator back together


Coravin. In the middle-of-nowhere-bar

Military owned hotel. As a US citizen, not allowed. And, you can’t ride 2 blocks without seeing Che. It’s like the U of O dorms all over again. Every room has with a poster of Bob Marley or Che or both. So edgy.

The architecture will make you smile and cry at the same time.

The Senator rules!!

I don’t normally wear a helmet. Tomorrow I might not. No one else here does.

albrt 

Love that Puch green. Wish I had seen this thread in the Fall.

bikingshearer 

Thinking back some misadventures from my college daze, I know exactly why NO2 might be challenging to obtain without some effort and/or some sort of license . . . .

Re: seeing Fidel and Che: As a comparison, when I was in Nicaragua in 2016, you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a picture of Daniel Ortega (or just "Daniel!" - he had long since become a one-named phenomenon). It was an election year (without a shred of doubt as to who would win), and that contributed to it, but even without the campaign posters plastered all over there were tons of public paeons to him pretty much all over both Managua and the countryside.

No, I don't know what a Corvain is. Yes, I'm a rube.

Manny66 

I have a copy of "The Buena Vista Social Club" on VHS . Amazing how musical that little island is and the top notch musicians they have there . Have you had a chance to enjoy the live music yet ?