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Not going this year and very jealous - will be back next year. Have fun all and post reports.
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superbly beautiful but a *&%$#@#$ tough course, the heat made it even tougher. my mate had to give up at 165, and because I had waited for him on top of every climb before, I had to race to make the time limit of 20.00hrs. came in at 19.30. took a spill on the white roads (sometimes descending at 15%, phew)
saw Junoface (who made it) and Tika (not sure), nice to meet some forumengers in the flesh!
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Wow! What a week I've had, and a fantastic weekend. Back to earth with a bump at work today unfortunately.
The 205 was probably the hardest ride I've ever done. I could have been a bit better prepared (mechanically as well as physically!). I took 3 punctures, first a pinch flat but my spare inner tube was missing the valve, and my repair patches weren't sticking, so I had to fix it twice more before I managed to buy a new inner tube off the mechanics at the control. A 42 / 24 smallest ratio also was not ideal for some of those climbs, but I did make it up them all (slowly). Should also have set off earlier too because I finished in 13.5 hours!
The bean stew at lunch and dinner was a life saver, but I daresay it put anyone off sitting too close to my rear wheel for the remainder of the course. I made a point of having a glass of wine at each of the 8 controls which had a pleasant dulling effect on the brain.
The ride was fantastic and Tuscany is really the most beautiful place for cycling, the event itself was a great and colourful celebration of cycling culture, and I could have (in fact very nearly did) bankrupt myself at the market.
Next year I think the sensible thing would be to do the 135 and enjoy the spectacle and a few more glasses of wine at the end, but in all likelihood I'll want another crack at the 205 when it comes.
It was nice to meet peter_v and tika during the course, sorry to have missed the rest of you!
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For a newbie who's planning on going next year. How do you get there? Where do you fly to, and how do you travel the rest of the way?
Never even taken a bike with me on a flight, so i guess that'll be a adventure in itself.From all stories, photos and videos it seems amazing. Can't wait.
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Fantastic Weekend and the hardest ride I've ever done !!
Intended to do the 75km but got talked into doing the 135km. Woefully under trained I walked up as many hills (steep white ones ) as I rode, but even walking it was grueling, the heat, the dust and the never ending Santa Maria !Huge respect to those who rode up all/most of the hills, they had to work sooooo hard on those old bikes, veins popping out of their head, screaming at themselves as they forced themselves up to the submit. Looking like dead men at the top and only to do it again 200 yards along the path while the pushers trudge up looking and feeling like a defeated army coming back from the front line !.
It was great fun though willing the climbers on and giving those gnarled old (ancient) Italians a push as they came passed.
Highlights were climbing in the dark with the singing and chattering Italians ,riding through the twinkling tea lights and watching the stunning Tuscon sunrise paint the Landscape Ochre yellow for a new day. Control stops were spot on though I had to say off the red wine as it really wouldn't have helped my cycling. The last control (135) was very welcome as was the fountain where I cooled myself down (very tempted to jump in !)
I met some great people including Jimmy Stone and Martin who had a nasty fall but completed the ride, though ended up in hospital in Sienna on Monday for a small op on his arm. Also had a brilliant time with Peter M (205 hero !)who I shared the hotel room with, thanks for all your help and advice mate and the other Peter who I enjoyed a few glasses of Chianti after the ride, Bliss !
Hope to be back next year though probably doing the 75km and training a little harder.
Cheers
Neil
PS, I heard somebody died on the route, is that true anyone ? -
For a newbie who's planning on going next year. How do you get there? Where do you fly to, and how do you travel the rest of the way?
Never even taken a bike with me on a flight, so i guess that'll be a adventure in itself.From all stories, photos and videos it seems amazing. Can't wait.
I did easyjet Bristol to Pisa, carhire to Goale where I stayed, Radda is also a good place to stay, apparently.
Not cheap, but easy, and I also left enough time to lay on the beach near pisa for a few hours before flying back, Badda Bing !!
Neil
PS, only mistake was putting my presentation red wine in my hand luggage and having it confiscated at security, Gutted !! -
psee you need a bike box.. to travel by plane..
i have one (in London) if you ever need it..
flights to pisa are probably the most frequent
and car hire the most straight forward option..siena is not the easiest place to get to, but it would be
worth it.. i love tuscany, i also have access to a place in
Palaia a beautiful hilltop town 30 mins south of Pisa..L'eroica is on my wish list, one day
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wow junoface, i think you might have whizzed passed up mt santa maria - to ride up everyhill is indeed impressive, it was never going to happen for me after crashing 40km in and taking it very easy for the remaining ride...
some pics
Untitled by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr"]here[/URL]
Untitled by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr -
i think you might have whizzed passed up mt santa maria
Hah! I definitely wasn't "whizzing" I had a bit of an incident on Mt Santa Maria actually. I had to stand on pedals for the steep bit and completely lost traction with my rear wheel in the gravel and I ended up on flat on my arse with my feet locked into the toe clips (I have those "suicide cleats" that are hard to get out of) and it took me a while to untangle myself!
I'll try and get my photos up soon too.
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Moronic question, but I just want to be clear. A bike built in 1987 doesn't count right?
Have one of these (red at top) and wondering if it's eligible?
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Murakami, that bike would be absolutely fine - it has exposed brake cables and shifters on the downtube, which is what they like. To be honest, there was no bike check at all when I left at 5.00 am in the first wave! You might need (as I did) lower gears to be comfortable, eg smaller chainrings or larger cogs at the back.I had 42/34 as lowest gear, and used it too!
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make sure you don't pack too much though... i may have overloaded my saddlebag
picnikfile_9jTX9i by monomaniac(tom), on Flickr -
Readers Digest version:-205k in 14.5hours with 3500m of climb and over 50% on the white gravel roads .Thanks to Snapper 65, Peter C, Keith, john, Matt and Alex, Jimmy and Martin, and all the others who I met.
Fuller account here in my blog http://peteblog1.blog.co.uk/
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Murakami, that bike would be absolutely fine - it has exposed brake cables and shifters on the downtube, which is what they like. To be honest, there was no bike check at all when I left at 5.00 am in the first wave! You might need (as I did) lower gears to be comfortable, eg smaller chainrings or larger cogs at the back.I had 42/34 as lowest gear, and used it too!
Thanks, I'll have a look to see what my options are.
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Readers Digest version:-205k in 14.5hours with 3500m of climb and over 50% on the white gravel roads .Thanks to Snapper 65, Peter C, Keith, john, Matt and Alex, Jimmy and Martin, and all the others who I met.
Fuller account here in my blog http://peteblog1.blog.co.uk/
Where did u stay? Great ride as ever, I'll be doing it again next year, hoping it won't be so hot though, took me 1.5hours longer this year, though i felt fitter overall. Certainly marathon not a sprint.
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Where did u stay? Great ride as ever, I'll be doing it again next year, hoping it won't be so hot though, took me 1.5hours longer this year, though i felt fitter overall. Certainly marathon not a sprint.
Up the hill from the start, at the 10th century converted monastery Castello di Spaltenna - very well located for the start, but need to book very early...I booked in Feb.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/it/castello-di-spaltenna.html?aid=327218;label=postbooking_confemail
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My photos of L'Eroica 2011 are here
https://picasaweb.google.com/103516038499036836792/LEroicaRetroBikeWeekend2011#5660515626896121090
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found my finish pic. now i'll have to convince the guys at fotoeventi (perfect, who wants to search 16,000 photos....) that I didn't get it at the pasta dinner like they promised...
btw my utmost respect goes out to this guy, saw him a couple of times along the way, did the 205 in classic attire on a single gear heavy arse bike:
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I made it but got there at 20.20, I found a nice italian guy who had made l'eroica in the last 5 yaers and knew the course so we completed the 205 km, even though we got the place where we had to choose 205 or 135 a bit later than 18.00h. monte santa Maria was the most difficult for me and I almost pass out as it was sooo hot. The climb to Montalcino wans't easy either but as it was in the shadow it felt better. I started really late at 7am
Northern_Graeme
stedlocks
peter_v
shredder
bummeln
psee
snapper65
almac68
Murakami
Mr_Spintoofast
105champ
tika-
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About
L'Eroica 2011
Posted by
@tilover
hehe
tnrc represent!
say hi to Marley :)