L'Eroica 2011

yeah, you can run 9 speed and a triple and i would reccomend it - i rode with a guy yesterday on a 78 with that exact setup
i have a 46/52 front end which is just bearable but i am particularly skinny - i will however be buying a much bigger range cassette than last year

and get big tyres, my 36h wheels and 25c snapped 2 spokes form the white roads so will be running a lower pressure 28 or 32 this year

I'm just doing the 135km route but will be doing it on a single-speed. It probably means that I should have my head examined, but I see that all these much older riders have done the full monty on very old ss bikes... Anyone else on here with a damaged brain?

One thing that I learned whilst BMX racing (ages ago) is that when rolling on unpaved surface, it is better to have a wider front tyre in order to minimise the risk of getting the front wheel jammed in the dirt or gravel. (I once installed in front the thinner one meant for the rear and learned a painful lesson. Luckily, I did not crack my collar bone but my arm was immobile for about 20 minutes; I had to walk the rest of the heat just to cross the finish line so I won't be disqualified.) I think that I'll be wearing a knobbier 32 in the front and 28 in the rear. I might even go 35 in the front but not sure.

am afraid the shoe guy is in Italy and it requires a visit for a full measurement- we could plan a trip together on that weekend?

Sounds like a plan, albeit I don't know yet when I'll be arriving on Saturday.