L'eroica Britannia 2016

yup, as long as my attempt continues past the first hill this year, without decision to revert to the more social 55!

This is nearly upon us. What's everyone riding this year?

I've formally decided to go on the tandem with my 9 year old. This probably means doing the short route.

I might try to do it twice...

Ohhhhhh, what sort of Tandem is it?!?

Sick fadez, disc brakes, that sort of stuff.

Either that or an 80s Motobecane like this (but not as nice):

Yellow Pennine for me,

Me & Mrs Conker will be on "Margery", our Dawes Street Style (©1989) which I have just backwards engineered so it doesn't have indexed gears anymore

Can't remember from last year, is there anywhere in particular to chain up bikes? Last year I kept them in the back of my van in the car park but thought it would be nicer (and more beer friendly) to ride there from our guest house in Darley Dale

Does anyone have a spare ticket to ride?

There were assorted railings and signs but nothing official.

One week to go,,, excited

Quite excited really! Stem bolt washer broke on the bike that my brother will be riding yesterday. Que new one being made on the Talbot lathe today. Titan, why you make shit that breaks!
Last minute rush to get stuff done as usual!

Shoes

If any one needs a new pair of William Lennon Shoes , Size 10, then do let me know

I appear to have lost the bit that goes on the end of the brake cable to hook onto the Mafac canti front brake of my tandem. :( I might be walking it.

I do...not going to make it. Signed up for the 55mile.

Yours if you fancy sneaking in under my name.

I found the brake bit.

Forecast says dry.

New battery for the camper arrived today.

Things are looking positive.

#jinxesit

I'll be there for the third time running. Was going for 100 but realised I'd be happier socialising with chums Sunday afternoon than grinding up Winnats pass so will do 55 again.

Womens Tour of Britain just went by my from door. 90 bikes in about five seconds. Boring! Eroica is much better fun.

Top tip: Get an early start so the early former-railway-line sections can be taken flat out while there are few dogs, children, ramblers and huge bunches DofE kids - looking like Vietnam LRRPs - to get in the way.

If you see a Red Carlton with chrome forks and yellow bar tape - say hello!

List of bieks, kit, camp etc. to aid spotting others from on here:

. de_Selby: Red Carlton, chrome forks, yellow tape.
. Hefty: Blue Motobecane tandem, blonde 9 year old stoker, rust/white bay window VW bus with green awning.
. 7VEN: Brown bike with ticky rear wheel, possibly walking it up the steep bits.

If you do any of Eroica flat out you are doing it wrong.

7VEN: Brown bike with ticky rear wheel, possibly walking it up the steep bits.>

Definitely walking up anything that looks like a hill. If you see me pushing this, say hi!
Will hunt your camper out as my daughter loved it last time.

That's so effing cool.

Re epilepticfridgeboy: You go at your pace and I'll go at mine. The misty, early-morning rail trails are sheer heady, intoxicating fun taken flat out; and the last 10k or so down Longdale to the first food stop at Hartington are the most exhilarating road miles you'll ever get in Blighty.

After that, suitably fortified, I ease up and become sociable. Eroica is fun however you go; nobody is doing it wrong.

Love that Osgear Hobbs up there!

I think we are after the same experience, in previous years I just found it so refreshing to take it easy, enjoy the scenery, bikes & people. It's rare to have a ride with the same ideals as others and not have most out for themselves & not caring about average speeds or frickin Strava. The only thing I'd say is that the Monsal Trail is shared equally with others and it isn't really safe to be doing anything approaching 20mph IMO, apart from as you say when there's absolutely no one around, including other cyclists. Also the scenery on the trail around Monsal Head is some of the best on the ride.

Agreed to that. Monsal Trail is a friendly warm-up. But there’s a good bit of railway line, around Sparklow I think, that’s dead level or even a slight descent, plus Longdale.

Another good bit is the descent to Chatsworth; in 2013 this was like the Isle of Man TT for me and my riding buddy, but last year we were held up by slow-travelling motorhomes.

I note there are a few slight modifications to the route this year.

I’m not a Strava man myself but I’m not averse to getting on the rivet when needs must!

I’ll be on the line at 7.15.

A warning from a friend already on site: bring wellies!