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thx for the tip,
looks like an event worthy of forum representation, :-)
ps. about Bakewell / Eroica,
maximum-enjoyment of the festival site would seem dependent on family-appreciation (they bill it as a 'family festival') / bicycle-parts appreciation (from the jumble/stalls), or having a jolly there with your mates (the last of which seems to be the favoured recipe for many locals, judging by the overwhelming local accents in the beer tent and the surrounds - quite appropriately);
otherwise, guess its about appreciating the Peak District location (some great walking routes to be discovered), perhaps by getting there early and riding about a little on the Saturday like so many people were and making a holiday of it..
.. sunshine helps too!
contingency planning for rain/mud (via wood chip / hosing-down of bicycles at the end) would seem appropriate for a pre-1987 bicycle event!
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@ugosantalucia
You won't regret entering the Retroronde. I did it in 2012 and 2013 and always had a great time. Over the years it has grown organically and the organisers have made an effort to make it better year after year, ratherthan just bigger.
The main difference with Bakewell is that everything revolves around the bicycle: the bicycle is not an excuse to draw people in and make money, but it's the core of the all weekend. There are races for different categories of period cycles on the saturday afternoon and seeing folks racing the high wheels around the cobbled streets of Oudenaarde is a spectacle in itself.
The sunday ride is shorter, which means you can ride a bit harder than you would in the Peak District. There is a reasonable amount of cobbles to make it into a full on Flandrian experience. The mass start is also nicer than the 20 at a time kind of UK start for health and safety reasons.