L'eroica 2014

Left my bike (in parts) at shop to have it assembled, seen the progress yesterday- the only thing that's left is cabling of brakes and gears, some adjustment, bartape and gluing tubs.
I'm a little afraid of riding in toeclips - having never used them for longer than a day and going clipless for ~6 years.

Is anyone else camping? Can't seem to find the camping booking.

getting close now, quite excited! just looking for new tyres as my newer frame has space for a much bigger pair

fnar

You can camp on the football pitch for €5 per night.....it's a perfect location, just a short stroll from the village, with decent showers, plug sockets for your phone and a clubhouse that does good food cheaply too :0)
That's where I was for the last two years......I'm not going to make it this year though, unfortunately.

Did you have to book it in advance or just turn up?

Just turn up mate....they only need booking for motor homes :0)

sorry to spam but just got a new bike bag for this years trip so have the old one spare if anyone needs something heavy duty for a larger bike? it's a DAKINE like this
This is big enough to fit 29ers and DH bikes. small tear on flap but works 100% ok
£90 delivered

I have two pairs of cranks, 170mm and 172,5mm. Which one should I use? I can only have minimum of 28t on the back and 42 at the front so would longer crank be better as it would give me more leverage going uphill?

I'm also considering camping. Is there a place to store your tent/stuff for the duration of the event?

i always run long cranks so sure, leverage is ace but doubt you'll notice 2.5mm

if you are doing the long route it will save you a lot of energy if you just buy a mega range cassette for the back, up to a 34t or similar? i run 8 speed 12-34 with an '82 campagnolo short cage derailleur and 42/53 on 175mm strada cranks, that is a great range for me and gets me up every hill without pushing (assuming i've eaten/drunk enough )

Ok, that's what I thought. I don't know if my shimano 600 derailleur would work with cogs that big. Anyways I'm still contemplating about going tubular on wheelset with threaded hubs so it might be difficult to find a suitable freewheel. I think the biggest i've seen was 28t.

yeah much more unusual, cheaper to buy a triple chainset then

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAMPAGNOLO-VELOCE-TRIPLE-CRANKSET-30-42-52-175mm-/390815154167?pt=UK_sportsleisure_cycling_bikeparts_SR&hash=item5afe65fff7

I can't bear the thought of a triple crankset on a vintage racer. I'm sure I will regret the attitude later.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with the flights and the accomondation. Do you think is it feasible to still catch a flight from eg. Rome on the same evening? Of course that would mean I would need get somebody to drive a rental car for me. I was planning on doing the 135km route, but I suppose I would be on the safer side if I turned back earlier. The start is early I've understood and if 75km takes 4h I guess I should be back at Gaiole by two even with some longer breaks as long as there are no mechanicals.

@tilover a 34? with a short cage Campagnolo Super of Nuovo Record? ehhhhhuuhh? how?

@Rox Specialites TA cyclotouriste (double) cranks are also nice & classic and will let you choose a very wide range of front chainwheels

it stretches enough @peter_v, the cage length is just to take up chain slack and assuming i am in the right gears it's not been a problem. One year i however did accidentally shift into 54/34 which resulted a bad situation. :)
@Rox it's not really doable to get a flight the same evening from rome, from pisa is no problem - but if sods law dictates if you need to be somewhere at a particular time and you are on a vintage bicycle the gods of the strada bianchi will make it hard for you and your frame will probably snap in two or your brakes will catch on fire (both of which i've seen)

Ha ha reminds me of a few years ago Mr Spintoofast telling me how he was getting (mainly good natured) abuse from many old school Italians for rocking a Megarange. Not suffering enough apparently! Me and Nick will be back for the 4th in a row, as usual getting in on the Friday for preparation (shit loads of chianti at the tiny wine bar up the little hill in Gaiole). Any one else docking early?

Heh, I have had my share of mishaps and bad luck with old racers so you are probably right. Missus needs to be at work Monday morning so I don't think I can risk it. Maybe I could get flights out from Pisa. I would fly direct to Rome I don't bike get lost on the way to Gaiole.

@Dossco, great @tapsnbath and I will be there Thursday night.

Looking forward to this even more than usual!

Hey, those who are going, look out for my sister Helen, she's doing the long route on a yellow and chrome Eddy Merckx corsa extra. I went with her and Kazakh to train last month, we did the full 150 miles but over two days. Averaged about 15 mph.

The toughest thing is controlling the bike on rougher descents, hard on the hands and upper back. Hopefully it wont be too hot for you guys– we were getting through about a litre of water an hour. Watch out for the bits where it goes from tarmac to rubble with no warning! hitting a loose surface at 30mph is pretty hairy...

Always found the downhills harder than the climbs - even worse when a born to it Tuscan blasts past you without a care in the world. Humbling

hm, not that I'm an Evel KNievel type of descender, but I usually have to slalom between loads of native Italians with firmly clenched buttocks and brakes mumbling 'mamma mia!' :-/

the downhills are the best bit!, the italians descend like old ladies :)

haha

this lady will make an appearance too btw, as well as her entire team + mechanics

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^ amazing!

I am heading over with my wife on the Friday and will be there for a few days. Just using a rental bike but I will also have a new steel bike for other days of riding. Staying in castellina.

We are moving to London soon, so if anyone is keen to go for a ride, we will be out and about and happy to meet some new people.

Hard at work planning away. Apparently I will be flying to and from Rome. Saturday noon arrival at Rome and hoping to make it by the evening somewhere around Gaiole. If somebody wants to share the ride let me know. Anybody know if it is possible to park the rental car in Gaiole for the weekend or do I need to arrange a cab from where-ever I'm staying?