L'eroica 2013

Just walk if you have to..... But not on the 'smooth' line up! :0)

this! we should translate this into Italian/German/French/Japanese, print flyers and hand them out before the start

I'm bringing a bell this year ;-)

New updated list is out peoples....http://www.eroicafan.it/images/iscritti2013.pdf

New updated list is out peoples....http://www.eroicafan.it/images/iscritti2013.pdf

Well, I'm still there so I suppose that's good.

extra 100 places just went on sale this morning.... €100 so not cheap but was gutted not to get a proper place.

No number (yet!).

1. Hilly Ben 375
   
2. Crackfox 567
   
3. Peter V 669 (205km)
   
4. Happytramp
   
5. DayTripper 331 (205km)
   
6. Dan W 722
   
7. Frostytheslowman 468
   
8. Freshideas
   
9. Danstuff 355
   
10. Saarf 905
    
11. Stedlocks 370 (205km)
    
12. tilover 374
    
13. Wouter van Wijk 912
    
14. Lewis62
    
15. Tapsnbath (75km)
    
16. Billundben
    

You may be interested in an account of my ride in L'Eroica last year. It can be found here:

http://ukcyclesport.com/features/site-featires/item/8943-l%E2%80%99eroica

There should be a fuller version on the Hounslow website soon, which will give more information on our costs and travel arrangements. I will post a link to this when it's up.

Is there any spare accomodation knocking about? If not, I'll bring a bigger tent this year!

Top Tip:

Was just about to book flights - London City to Florence return. It looked a bit steamy, so had a shop around. Have gone for Southend (!) to Venice return. Less than half the price - will spend the difference on some Tuscan hospitality.

I booked mine as soon as I knew I was in.... BA, as they don't charge for bikes. Flight+car for around £150..... I thought that was good, cheaper than easyjet anyway.

how likely is it that I'll be able to bag a place for this year?

I've done very little research (work internet is blocking the webpage...) not sure how/where/when tickets are available... really really want to do this ride... any advice?

apologies for shrill first-timer vibes...

Matt

sadly the registration process and lottery for getting a ticket is long over...

if you're over 60 you can enter at all times

Cheers Peter,

bugger... could I get an OAP to book a ticket and take their place?

ah well... next year...

enjoy!

1. Hilly Ben 375
   
2. Crackfox 567
   
3. Peter V 669 (205km)
   
4. Happytramp
   
5. DayTripper 331 (205km)
   
6. Dan W 722
   
7. Frostytheslowman 468
   
8. Freshideas
   
9. Danstuff 355
   
10. Saarf 905
    
11. Stedlocks 370 (205km)
    
12. tilover 374
    
13. Wouter van Wijk 912
    
14. Lewis62
    
15. Tapsnbath (75km)
    
16. Billundben
    
17. W11 & Mate ( Rob & Patrick)
    

i'm not going to make it sadly - run out of money for the year so will be bowing out gracefully :(

first time i'll miss it since 2008. booooo.

1. Hilly Ben 375
   
2. Crackfox 567
   
3. Peter V 669 (205km)
   
4. Happytramp
   
5. DayTripper 331 (205km)
   
6. Dan W 722
   
7. Frostytheslowman 468
   
8. Freshideas
   
9. Danstuff 355
   
10. Saarf 905
    
11. Stedlocks 370 (205km)
    XXX 12. tilover 374 XXX
    
12. Wouter van Wijk 912
    
13. Lewis62
    
14. Tapsnbath (75km)
    
15. Billundben
    
16. W11 & Mate ( Rob & Patrick)
    

^ Sad news! :(

At last I can give a link to our full description of our 2012 experience.

http://www.hounslowanddistrictwheelers.co.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Eroica-Sp-comp.pdf

This is a club magazine version, and has more information and pictures than the other publication.

^... Urgh, Im the last of the 4 mustketters left

^... Urgh, Im the last of the 4 mustketters left

boooo. john and i will be back 2014 though!

Hey Clubman, I think I met you at Pisa airport on the way back last year. We also stayed in Greve. We called our lodgings 'Chips' as in 'Chips in Greve'.

This year we seem to have bagged accommodation less than 1km from Gaoile, so we can ride to the start.

In fact, we're thinking of how to get from Pisa to Gaoile and it occurs that we could ride from the airport to Pisa train station - head to Siena and then ride the 20 miles to Gaoile. This only works if we hand our bikes to Easyjet 'whole'. As in, no bike bags, just pedals removed and RD taped up in the frame. Last year we watched a group from Bristol waiting to collect their bikes from baggage reclaim and they were just wheeled out for them covered in big plastic bags. The theory is that airlines don't specify you need to put bikes in a bag or box and they seem to take better care of them as a result. Be interesting to put this to the test.

All change again as a bit more research shows that Italian public transport appears to be very anti-bike.

Plus, our accommodation agent says she can arrange a transfer there and back for us and bikes, so I guess that's what we'll do. Would have liked to ride from Siena, but to be honest I wasn't looking forward to the return on Monday after the ride.

Has anyone got a 2013 entry which they can not use, I want one, anyone.

Question for those that have been before..And whilst I've got a decent bike for it all...The clothing bit is stumping me a little - would it be easy enough to get a full decent vintage outift on the market (I think which is on the Saturday?)

Peter V mentions that if you are over 60 entry is OK at all time, I am 65 and I was told it was full, unless you know better, how can I enter????

Question for those that have been before..And whilst I've got a decent bike for it all...The clothing bit is stumping me a little - would it be easy enough to get a full decent vintage outift on the market (I think which is on the Saturday?)

Yes, if you want something extra nice be prepared to pay through the nose though (e.g. if a jersey says 'Colnago' > €150 and up)

Peter V mentions that if you are over 60 entry is OK at all time, I am 65 and I was told it was full, unless you know better, how can I enter????

It's the 'at all time' bit that is not entirely correct, sorry. If you're over 60 and in time with registration you will not be denied participation, there is no limit to the number of riders over 60.

There are l'Eroica shirts for sale, which are deemed 'retro/vintage'.

I bought a cream one last year intending to use it on the day but when I put it on over the bibs you could clearly see the straps through the material. Seeing as this was 4am in the morning I had no choice but to ride with a modern jersey.

At the finish though I was denied the bottle of Chianti Classico and local 'cake' for finishing the 135km under the time barrier for not having a sufficiently 'vintage' jersey. After 10 hours in the saddle, bruised, battered and covered in strade I didn't have the energy to tell the card-stamper to go fuck himself. I just wanted a beer.

Dan W, there are lots of stalls with vintage and vintage replica jerseys and shorts on the Saturday. If you want to be more organised, you can try here:

http://www.vintagevelos.com/

I bought a merino Molteni replica jersey from them last year and it's lovely. A tad expensive but worth it, and the customer service I received was brilliant.