UK Eroica takes itself very seriously

ukdavvy

This event caught my eye having always fancied the Italian one but the closer I look at it the less Italian it seems and I am now wondering if its less of a trip down memory lane than a commercial money making exercise

I can only guess how many riders they're expecting but if the first 500 get an early bird discount then I imagine the final projected number is orders of magnitude greater than this, even if its 'just' 500 the local trails and roads will become pretty choked.

The rules make pretty good reading too:
http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk/file/rules

I have several favourites, excluding me from riding on the Monsal trail or any other public road and right of way when they are also on it being my current number 1

Nice little earner though, good luck to them.........

ugo.santalucia

They are being a bit greedy for year one... not sure they will get the numbers they expect

DeVlaeminck

Have the organisers been along the Monsal Trail in June? Assuming this is a weekend event they better be along there about 9am or evening as it gets pretty busy with families, dog walkers, leisure cyclists etc I know it's not a race but people are going to be wanting to ride at pace not keep stopping because there are groups of people in the way every 30 seconds.

oldmuthariley

Check out the slating they are getting on retrobike

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 2&t=249280

fnb1

apparently my 1985 dia compe aero brake levers are not welcome :-(

cougie

It's a nice idea - but how many people have a bike that qualifies ?

fnb1

might find some buyers now for some of my old, er I mean heroic vintage ;-) kit on ebay

ugo.santalucia

oldmuthariley wrote:

Check out the slating they are getting on retrobike

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... 2&t=249280

Oh yeah, we did a bit of that...

Monty Dog

Debated long and hard a few weeks ago sitting in a cafe in the rain in Gaiole the day before the real L'eroica. The general view was that was costs in the region of £15-20, how can they justify £70? The commercialisation of L'eroica in Gaiole is very apparent - but they have the benefit of a great location and very obliging population and it will continue to attract riders from all over the world. I'm less sure about the appeals of riding in the Peak, particularly with the Tour arriving a few weeks later. The killer for me is Retro-Ronde is the next week - 20 Euros for a fantastic event in a great location and where the organisers are focussed on creating a great atmosphere rather than making a fat-profit.

mpatts

Monty Dog wrote:

Debated long and hard a few weeks ago sitting in a cafe in the rain in Gaiole the day before the real L'eroica. The general view was that was costs in the region of £15-20, how can they justify £70? The commercialisation of L'eroica in Gaiole is very apparent - but they have the benefit of a great location and very obliging population and it will continue to attract riders from all over the world. I'm less sure about the appeals of riding in the Peak, particularly with the Tour arriving a few weeks later. The killer for me is Retro-Ronde is the next week - 20 Euros for a fantastic event in a great location and where the organisers are focussed on creating a great atmosphere rather than making a fat-profit.

I (genuinely) don't get the obsession with the price of it. £70 (although I seem to recall pre register is £55) for 3 days camping, some food, and a bike ride - sounds OK to me.

tornandfrayed

Does anyone know why these events use the 1987 cut off point?

I have a British Eagle Randonnee built in Newtown Wales 1989. It seems to meet all the other criteria - steel frame, down shifters on the downtube etc but is 2 years too young.

I posted the details and a photo here a couple of years ago if anyone's interested.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161617

ugo.santalucia

tornandfrayed wrote:

Does anyone know why these events use the 1987 cut off point?

I have a British Eagle Randonnee built in Newtown Wales 1989. It seems to meet all the other criteria - steel frame, down shifters on the downtube etc but is 2 years too young.

I posted the details and a photo here a couple of years ago if anyone's interested.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161617

It will be fine. Nobody will try to date it using C14... so long as you have downtube shifters and old fashion pedals, you can use a replica frame made yesterday

mrc1

ugo.santalucia wrote:

tornandfrayed wrote:

Does anyone know why these events use the 1987 cut off point?

I have a British Eagle Randonnee built in Newtown Wales 1989. It seems to meet all the other criteria - steel frame, down shifters on the downtube etc but is 2 years too young.

I posted the details and a photo here a couple of years ago if anyone's interested.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161617

It will be fine. Nobody will try to date it using C14... so long as you have downtube shifters and old fashion pedals, you can use a replica frame made yesterday

Although you will have to live with the moral guilt of bike doping

mpatts

tornandfrayed wrote:

Does anyone know why these events use the 1987 cut off point?

I have a British Eagle Randonnee built in Newtown Wales 1989. It seems to meet all the other criteria - steel frame, down shifters on the downtube etc but is 2 years too young.

I posted the details and a photo here a couple of years ago if anyone's interested.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161617

You should go in principle - it will drive anyone from retrobike there NUTS.

I'm thinking of putting some columbus stickers on my reynolds frame. Hope they have first aid on hand.

ugo.santalucia

mpatts wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

Debated long and hard a few weeks ago sitting in a cafe in the rain in Gaiole the day before the real L'eroica. The general view was that was costs in the region of £15-20, how can they justify £70? The commercialisation of L'eroica in Gaiole is very apparent - but they have the benefit of a great location and very obliging population and it will continue to attract riders from all over the world. I'm less sure about the appeals of riding in the Peak, particularly with the Tour arriving a few weeks later. The killer for me is Retro-Ronde is the next week - 20 Euros for a fantastic event in a great location and where the organisers are focussed on creating a great atmosphere rather than making a fat-profit.

I (genuinely) don't get the obsession with the price of it. £70 (although I seem to recall pre register is £55) for 3 days camping, some food, and a bike ride - sounds OK to me.

Some might not want to camp in a field... imagine you have three days of wet... do you really want to camp and crap in a portaloo for a full wet weekend? If you leave it to the last minute, you won't find a room within miles. Sounds like a pretty miserable experience.
That leaves 70 pounds for a ride and a bit of finger food, which is what you spend per person for a three course meal in a Michelin star restaurant, give or take.

More importantly it is the principle: nobody knows these people, they have no track record of running big events and it might well end up being a complete disaster... why would you pay 70 pounds? The Eroica has only just started charging big money, but for 15 years it did charge 10-15 Euro

slowbike

I like this rule:

Cyclists not registered for L’Eroica Britannia will not be permitted to join groups on the day of the
event, on pain of expulsion. In case of accident they will be held responsible for any damage caused

Considering the event is on open roads I'm not sure how they intend on expelling anyone found in a "group". Also, they can't pre-determine the responsibility of an accident like that ...
Anyone not in the event isn't bound by those rules anyway so it's pretty meaningless ... !

ugo.santalucia

Slowbike wrote:

I like this rule:

Cyclists not registered for L’Eroica Britannia will not be permitted to join groups on the day of the
event, on pain of expulsion. In case of accident they will be held responsible for any damage caused

Considering the event is on open roads I'm not sure how they intend on expelling anyone found in a "group". Also, they can't pre-determine the responsibility of an accident like that ...
Anyone not in the event isn't bound by those rules anyway so it's pretty meaningless ... !

That kind of prompts me to join the party without paying...

slowbike

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

I like this rule:

Cyclists not registered for L’Eroica Britannia will not be permitted to join groups on the day of the
event, on pain of expulsion. In case of accident they will be held responsible for any damage caused

Considering the event is on open roads I'm not sure how they intend on expelling anyone found in a "group". Also, they can't pre-determine the responsibility of an accident like that ...
Anyone not in the event isn't bound by those rules anyway so it's pretty meaningless ... !

That kind of prompts me to join the party without paying...

Only if you've got a brand new BLING bike with deep rim carbon wheels ... oh - it has to be 11 speed electronic shifting too ...

tornandfrayed

mrc1 wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

tornandfrayed wrote:

Does anyone know why these events use the 1987 cut off point?

I have a British Eagle Randonnee built in Newtown Wales 1989. It seems to meet all the other criteria - steel frame, down shifters on the downtube etc but is 2 years too young.

I posted the details and a photo here a couple of years ago if anyone's interested.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=161617

It will be fine. Nobody will try to date it using C14... so long as you have downtube shifters and old fashion pedals, you can use a replica frame made yesterday

Although you will have to live with the moral guilt of bike doping

I'm looking at doing the Retro Ronde instead, after doing the 'Beer cycling contest' I don't expect I'll have any morality left.

http://www.retroronde.be/en/173-program

Philip Whiteman

Please excuse my ignorance but is Eroica something particularly special or is an ordinary sportive?

tornandfrayed

Philip Whiteman wrote:

Please excuse my ignorance but is Eroica something particularly special or is an ordinary sportive?

The Eroica is for vintage bikes generally defined as pre-1987 with steel frames, gear shifters on the downtubes etc. It is expected that the riders will wear clothing of a similar vintage. The L'Eroica in Italy is the original and most famous event of this type but they are becoming more popular all over Europe.

Monty Dog

L'Eroica isn't just about the ride, it's about the Tuscan location and atmosphere plus a very obliging town that's prepared to virtually shut-down for a weekend - I'm afraid I can't think of any location in the UK where that's likely to happen, never mind the drivers you have to share the road with. L'Eroica benefits from extremely quiet roads and the only traffic you encounter is people supporting other riders.

ugo.santalucia

Monty Dog wrote:

L'Eroica isn't just about the ride, it's about the Tuscan location and atmosphere plus a very obliging town that's prepared to virtually shut-down for a weekend - I'm afraid I can't think of any location in the UK where that's likely to happen, never mind the drivers you have to share the road with. L'Eroica benefits from extremely quiet roads and the only traffic you encounter is people supporting other riders.

Exactly... I have seen the course they aim to use and it goes through towns like Whaley Bridge... now, I go to Whaley bridge frequently as I have a friend living there, there is a great fish and chips shop, but there is also a gridlock type of traffic at weekends... not sure how they plan to get thousands of cyclists through the busy roads of the Peak District.
Bakewell itself is a complete gridlock at weekends all year round, even more in June.
Closing the roads is impossible, as tourists outnumber cyclists by a long mile and bring more revenue... marshalling will be unpopular too... don't go there expecting friendly locals cheering you on the road

bigpikle

I just dont see why people think they can take the name/idea from a top European event and syndicate it in the UK? It just doesnt work like that....

European events have something the UK will never have, whether it be the mountains, strada bianchi, weather, historic routes, crowds 5 deep cheering you through the towns etc etc and it doesnt matter if you call it Etape this or Eroica that, its just not the same. They just become (expensive) sportives and events like many others in the UK, which is not to say they are bad or anything, but its just not going to appeal to many people in the same way. There are so many well established UK events with a character and appeal all of their own that I'd choose every time over this syndicated wannabe stuff....

ugo.santalucia

Bigpikle wrote:

I just dont see why people think they can take the name/idea from a top European event and syndicate it in the UK? It just doesnt work like that....

European events have something the UK will never have, whether it be the mountains, strada bianchi, weather, historic routes, crowds 5 deep cheering you through the towns etc etc and it doesnt matter if you call it Etape this or Eroica that, its just not the same. They just become (expensive) sportives and events like many others in the UK, which is not to say they are bad or anything, but its just not going to appeal to many people in the same way. There are so many well established UK events with a character and appeal all of their own that I'd choose every time over this syndicated wannabe stuff....

This is a very good post that sums it up... I agree and I don't think it's possible to recreate something with a franchise model

slowbike

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Bigpikle wrote:

I just dont see why people think they can take the name/idea from a top European event and syndicate it in the UK? It just doesnt work like that....

European events have something the UK will never have, whether it be the mountains, strada bianchi, weather, historic routes, crowds 5 deep cheering you through the towns etc etc and it doesnt matter if you call it Etape this or Eroica that, its just not the same. They just become (expensive) sportives and events like many others in the UK, which is not to say they are bad or anything, but its just not going to appeal to many people in the same way. There are so many well established UK events with a character and appeal all of their own that I'd choose every time over this syndicated wannabe stuff....

This is a very good post that sums it up... I agree and I don't think it's possible to recreate something with a franchise model

Whilst it is not possible to recreate the european events it doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to have our own equivalents - but they should stand on their own merits...

ugo.santalucia

Slowbike wrote:

Whilst it is not possible to recreate the european events it doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to have our own equivalents - but they should stand on their own merits...

There is an event for vintage bikes already, very british and not a franchise, it's called the Pendle Witches ride or something similar. It's ran on Easter day, which is obviously an unlucky choice if you are looking at a big turnout. Nonetheless, more than 100 riders turn up for that. Modern bikes are allowed, as they were in the Eroica up to 2008 and they don't take themselves too seriously. They charge a few quid, charity money and you're on.
The thing with this Eroica Britannia is that it mushrooms out of nowhere, charging big money with the backing of a logo and promising something that frankly it's hard to deliver = an Eroica-like atmosphere

slowbike

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Whilst it is not possible to recreate the european events it doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to have our own equivalents - but they should stand on their own merits...

There is an event for vintage bikes already, very british and not a franchise, it's called the Pendle Witches ride or something similar.

The only thing vintage on my bike is me ...

ugo.santalucia

The Eroica in italy is so good that you often spot former PRO riding it... I rmeember Andy hampsten and Roberto Poggiali... I have seen Moser more than once and this year a friend of mine has a photo with Eric Zabel (although I wasn't there).

Can you see Boardman riding the Eroica Britannia together with Robert Millar and Stephen Roche? I don't think so...

Bobbinogs

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Whilst it is not possible to recreate the european events it doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to have our own equivalents - but they should stand on their own merits...

There is an event for vintage bikes already, very british and not a franchise, it's called the Pendle Witches ride or something similar. It's ran on Easter day, which is obviously an unlucky choice if you are looking at a big turnout. Nonetheless, more than 100 riders turn up for that. Modern bikes are allowed, as they were in the Eroica up to 2008 and they don't take themselves too seriously. They charge a few quid, charity money and you're on...

...and very good it is too. Cracking route (which is well marked and takes in the Nick O'Pendle climb) and the departee/arrivee is a pub that has a very bike friendly landlord. The chap who runs the event fills the pub with bike memorabilia (TdF shirts, etc.) and when you get back there is a free pie and peas, which can be washed down with a decent pint. All proceeds go to a local hospice and cancer research (with no deductions for big name event organisation). British event at its best, IMO, and all for £17.

ugo.santalucia

Bobbinogs wrote:

...and very good it is too. Cracking route (which is well marked and takes in the Nick O'Pendle climb) and the departee/arrivee is a pub that has a very bike friendly landlord. The chap who runs the event fills the pub with bike memorabilia (TdF shirts, etc.) and when you get back there is a free pie and peas, which can be washed down with a decent pint. All proceeds go to a local hospice and cancer research (with no deductions for big name event organisation). British event at its best, IMO, and all for £17.

The only issue is they insist on doing it on Easter Sunday...