mountaindave 

@Alex Moll, how did you and @northbend like your Dugasts? Better than the Challenges?

EroicaCA

Hello Everyone,
Thank you for coming and thank you for posting the photos and comments.
This was our first year and we only had 3 1/2 months to organize this event but, we were able to pull it off and we believe that the event was a success. We are receiving many suggestions and comments and we will come up with a much improved event in 2016.

We have received positive feedback already and we will make the following improvements for our 2016 event (and more).
We have learned a lot from this year's event and now we know what we must do to make the event better.

For Saturday:

1) Offer more vendors (it was hard to attract the vendors since we only had 3 1/2 months of preparation and our registration started in mid Feb)
2) Offer Beer and Wine at the park (we did not have resources to hire the security and licensing needed to serve alcohol this year, but we will next year as we have more time to look for sponsors.
3) Swap meet (we just did not have enough time to organize this, but we can do this for 2016).
4) Offer vegetarian and gluten free meals at the SAT dinner and pasta feed. (we had a vegetarian dish for Saturday, but they weren't enough).
5) Start the pasta feed later and keep it open longer.

On Sunday:
1) Improve the signage on the routes (number of signs, size of the signs). We have to take people who are not familiar with the routes to help us post the signs. We are all used to riding the routes and that did not help.... but now we know.
2) Improve the food at the rest stops (we will offer more variety and rider/route friendly food)
3) Better hours at the rest stops (The opening hours for this year was based on our test runs. We tested the routes several times and we were close, but not perfect).
4) Offer a 98 mile route including the ocean view. We will offer a route without the eastern side of Paso Robles. This means we will have 4 choices just like in Italy.
5) The longer routes will offer more water stations. We were not expecting it to be this warm, but we must be ready.
6) Stock more tubular spares at the mechanical stations.
7) Earlier start time for the medium route riders.

If you would like to contact us please use: info@eroicacalifornia.com

EroicaCA

We had just about 700 riders. The numbering started at 001 (Luciano Berruti) and the first 10 numbers were reserved for the original members of L'Eroica Italy, VIP and #172 was reserved for Andy Hampsten. The rest were placed by our software. Your number was coincidental.

northbend 

I'm still on the road Dave. I write something up when I get home this weekend.

mountaindave 

I kind of figured you weren't back yet.

Catnap 

nice shot of one of my Zunow tattoos! thanks for the post.

Catnap 

I had a wonderful visit to L'Eroica California last weekend. In the week ahead of the event I was frantically working all night in my shop every night after work to assemble my newly re-chromed Jo Routens bike. I finally had to take a day off to get it done. Even though I test rode it for two days prior to heading out to L'Eroica, I wish I had tested it more thoroughly.

The Concours was awesome. Some many beautiful and rare bikes to see. One quickly overloads - seeing a single one of those bikes anywhere else would have demanded at least a 30 minute inspection plus conversation with the owner. At the Concours though, every one of the bikes on display was beautiful and fascinating. I got to see some Rene Herse and Caminargent bikes up close for the first time, as well as a small army of Jack Taylors and Cinellis. I also saw one lovely purple Zunow!

The next day I rode the 100K medium ride, and it was one of the hardest rides I've ever done. The shifting on my Routens was all over the place because the largest chainring was out of true. It wasn't a problem when riding around NYC, but when I needed it to perform on the climbs at L'Eroica, fuhgettaboutit. It changed gears, but with loud complaints and unpredictable results. It would have been a tough ride on more modern bike, but it was downright brutal on the Routens since it was hard to find a comfortable and reliable pedaling cadence. That said, the views were beautiful and the rest stops were all great in my opinion.

All in all, the only feedback I have is that there should have been more vendors on Saturday / Sunday. I mean, I would have spent more money on components, memorabilia, and tchotkes if they were available.

Alex Moll

Hey Dave!

Yes. The Dugasts performed flawlessly for us. I think we both have a few hundred hard miles (including plenty of gravel) and they look new so far. I saw a number of FMBs on the ride that also looked to be in perfect shape.

mateophx

I cant wait for next year! I used Panaracer Gravelking 28mm and they were awesome. Low gearing was 34 x 28 and it was perfect.

mountaindave 

I should have bought more.

Mr. Spadoni 

Pretty much everything that I want to say has already been said by others but I had such a great time that I want to that thank everyone involved: organizers, volunteers, support people, and riders.
There are parts of the ride that were so amazing, that if I never got on a bike again in my life, those would be the memories that I would want to keep with me always.

Here's my perspective on the California ride. I have had the good fortune to be able to ride the Italian event and the California event. Sure, there were some things that could be improved, but Wes has already addressed them. There are also some things that California did much better like packet pick up and water. Climbing back over the coast range, I had a support car offering water! Made me feel like I was in the Giro!

I can't wait to come back.

repechage

A good raconteur Mr. Case is but less than truthful. The freewheel on the DeRosa is a 28, not 26... Not that heroic, don't exaggerate. Now to many modern bike guys, a 42 x 26 is still way bigger than a 39 x 26 or 34 x 26 that a compact might have...
Note the image of the bike also shows Dual Pivot calipers... Shimano or Century Finish Campagnolos... So, he had better braking than most at his disposal.
As to selecting 22 mm tires. Well, beggars can't be choosers. he could have got the magazine to spiff for four... Including two spares.
And did not some of the rest stops have tires? Maybe packing it in was the easiest thing to do... Return next year Mr. Case and get prepared, you did find a pair of shoes at least...

Peter_B

Yes, I drank sips from it from pickup at the Cass Winery rest stop until the winery water stop at about mile 50 where I finished it off. Drank water too. ... Peter

davester

Not a case for suffering, but a case for being prepared when going on a long ride. Mr. Case was not properly prepared. Given the road conditions expected, I would think that a minimum of two high quality spares or a spare and a velox patch kit would have been de rigueur, rather than the single decrepit spare he took. I rode clinchers but still took two spare tubes and a patch kit. It's a little tricky, but I've patched many a tubular sitting by the side of the road while on long tours, back when all I had was tubular wheels.

repechage

He complained about the lack of brakes but had dual pivots... No integrity.

I will admit that the modern glue is a problem, old Clement Red was great as it would retack really well providing the spare had a trace on it when a tire change was necessary. The old regime was to mount a tire, ride it a bit then remove it and make it a spare, that way when you put it to work as a spare in short order you were secure. The new adhesives just don't do that nearly as well.

davester

I have found that dual pivots do not provide improved braking over single pivots, rather, they merely provide a slight decrease in hand pressure needed for equal braking force. It's more likely that his bike had worn out lined or unlubricated regular cable housings and/or old hardened pads. Those maintenance issues are the primary factors that are responsible for poor braking performance on old bikes. The dual pivot thing is a red herring.

repechage

I have two bikes with Campagnolo good dual pivots, one with Shimano DuraAce. You are correct, way less lever force for the same braking power. I can also modulate them more, so I would describe the feel at the limit much better, I can haul myself to a stop on the 14% grade from my house- period, with single pivots, and even good fresh pads I must apply the brakes all the way down to stop at the probable red light at the bottom of the descent. On dirt the better modulation helps immensely. I ride the vintage calipers all the time, but there is a performance deficit. When I ride with the guys on mod bikes, I reach for the dual pivot equipped bikes, even friction shifting is less of a hold back, but I want to be able to match the "group" behavior.

Oldairhead 

Some new pics posted on the Eroica California website.

2015 Gallery

That's sure a good looking old Beemer. Hey wait, that's mine!

bikingshearer 

IMHO, which is based on my experience (which is less than either of yours but still significant), dual-pivot brakes do, in fact, work better than single pivots. A year or so ago, on one of my regular riders, I swapped out a set of Campy Records (the old "regular" reach kind that go out to about 57mm) with Mathauser pads and replaced them with a set of Tektro of similar length (539s, I think), and changed nothing else (same Campy brifters, even same cables and housings). The Campys were good enough, even at my considerable bulk, but the Tektros are better. Somewhat better max braking force, much better modulation and significantly less grip strength needed.

The Universal 51 sidepulls on my Eroica bike are a whole 'nother story. They are not brakes - they are "speed attenuaters," to borrow a phrase. I put Mathauser pads on them, too. But 1951 technology with old Universal non-aero levers was a major downgrade in braking performance. Also, Campy brifters are pillow-comfy compared to their fairly-wide-for-the-time Universal levers. I am not complaining - I remembered old brakes, and I adjusted my riding and expectations to match what the Universals would (not) do, and it was all in the spirit of the ride (which I enjoyed immensely). But for function and comfort, the modern stuff beats the old stuff.

For Eroica and a few other times a year, the "cool factor" of the old stuff definitely outweighs the function advantages of the new stuff. But not for my regular weekend rides. This applies to brakes, gearing, and pedals - especially pedals - but most decidedly not to frames - lugged steel forever!

Oldairhead 

I have Universal side-pulls on a 74 Legnano. On L'Eroica style roads stopping is sometimes simply not possible!

northbend 

I loved your moto and the idea of riding to Eroica on it from Utah. That in my minds eye was the ultimate road trip, good show!

I think I may have passed you on the ride up Kiler Canyon. Legano Jersey? I should have said something.

I think I see forumites djkashuba in Cayucos posing with the woodie wagon and delicious riding with a big ol' smile on his face in the gallery photos...

Oldairhead 

I don't want to ruin the heroic image you have of me riding the old moto in from the desert of Utah, leather jacket, goggles, bugs in my teeth etc. But we trailered the bike in. My wife and I rode it around the area on Friday, tasting wine and olive oil. On Saturday I left it at the concourse along with my Legnano for others to enjoy. The moto is unrestored and original with less than 10k on the odometer. I don't like to put big miles on it because it is pretty rare in that condition. I do ride some of my other motos more. Next year I hope to support the event on the old bike and mingle among the riders a bit.

Legnano jersey, yes! Passed me on a climb, very likely. I ended up finishing the long route in 12 and a half hours which was probably mid pack based on what I observed.

Great event, great fun, great photos!

juvela

WHAT A PICTURE!

what be that hydration device Emilio is wearing? appears similar to a Colorol but obviously something other...

cycledog1

well stated! everyone else is riding a vintage with side or pure centerpulls, everyone is in the same boat as far as stopping ability - I'd much rather ride with canti's than single pivot campy's, but thats the brakes(sorry) and we all go by them. haven't done a L'roica event...yet, but will, as soon as I rebuild one of my vintage frames with the campy set that I have. look forward to it, painful saddle and all...

cycledog1

hey everyone, have a great time in a few days, this event in'16 is off on a roll --------------- good luck to you all that are riding again, and those of you doing it the first time. just go prepared, these are old rides, some with good looking but possibly fatigued parts, so go out with your eyes wide open.