L'Eroica South Africa

[quintonb]

A few hubbers and I have been chatting about a Classic/Vintage road bike get together.

With all the new interest in older road bikes, and myself and a few of the guys being vintage nuts, we thought it might be nice to see all these old classics together in one place.

 

Italy and now the UK have these events(See Links), so why not look at something here.

 

Right now all we are trying to do is get an idea if there is enough interest for such an event.

 

www.eroicafan.it

www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

 

We would look at 2 or 3 distance options. The venue would need to be fairly centre for everyone, with enough accommodation, we have an idea of a venue with quite roads.

 

Feel free to make suggestions or comments.

[Guest DieBees]

This would be good.

[Blackbeard]

Cool idea. Do it!

[HeyYou]

Do you guys think it would be beneficial to use a Poll/questionnaire to give a couple of options, as we've seen them so far?

 

You can then vote for:

1: having the event

2: dates

3. rules (how old etc)

4. distance options

5. venue

and a couple of other things we've been talking about.

 

and that means any HUBBER, would be nice to get as much input/advice as possible

Edited October 25, 2013 by heyyou

[quintonb]

I don't know how to edit this post to have the pole options showing..

Help anyone..

[Witkop]

I think this can be a cool social event. Start with a shorting chat and ride of about 20-40km say over klapperkop ext. Finish at a coffee shop type place (magnolia dell?) then have a criterium type racing for the race snakes followed by say a beer festival with micro breweries......

[HeyYou]

bump, get back in front

[quintonb]

Some nice ideas. Keep the suggestions coming.

I like the crit idea. Always good for spectators.

[CAAD4]

Some nice ideas. Keep the suggestions coming.

I like the crit idea. Always good for spectators.

 

Good idea, but if you want to name it after the original event, the route should surely contain some rough gravel roads, red wine, bread and cheese at the refreshment stops? The manicured roads around Magnolia Dell would dishonour the tradition and ethos of the original event. Rather then call it Le Tour de Dell Le Poeufteur et Poseur...

[quintonb]

 

 

Good idea, but if you want to name it after the original event, the route should surely contain some rough gravel roads, red wine, bread and cheese at the refreshment stops? The manicured roads around Magnolia Dell would dishonour the tradition and ethos of the original event. Rather then call it Le Tour de Dell Le Poeufteur et Poseur...

I agree, for now some feedback on if it's even worth it, how many guys have old bikes and how many would bring them out. I suspect there are a lot of guys out there with old bikes. It would be a massive task to organise everything and to officially call it L'Eroica may not be possible. Could be licensing issues. Don't want to step out of line. So there is a lot of homework that has to be done.

Edited October 27, 2013 by quintonb

[Witkop]

Slide a T into L'Ero(T)ica and voila no licencing problem (and lots of interest) For gravel we can use fountains/groenkloof area. Start in Groenies go out to fountains,turn around under the fly over or down by the river and back into groenies past the lapa and up the gravel road to the 4x4 pit and then back finishing at the lower braai area next to the stream. Lots of beer, red wine cheese ext at the finish. Possibly some "wild Boar" on the spit (Very Obilix) Alternatively get Moyo's to sponsor the whole thing and turn it into a novae art thing with some pretentious art fairy giving out prizes and hugs at the end.

[TALUS]

I will have to buy back the vintage Pegeot I gave to my gardener...

[RichB]

Hi Gents, I came across L'Eroica while riding in Tuscany last October and am almost certainly going to go over for it one year, if I can get an entry.

 

What an awesome event. We came across the riders at Montalcino which is about half way through their 209km Epic and rode part of the route with them - which was a pretty average dirt road. I think that over 80% of the original Italian event is on these sand roads.

 

Re doing one in SA, I think it's a fantastic idea and am going to chat to some mates who might be interested in organizing it. I live in KZN Midlands and know of a few great 100-150k loops on a mix of good dirt and tar roads starting/finishing in Notties which would be an ideal venue with lots of accommodation and things to do, eat and drink.

 

Will keep you posted.

[LeTurbo]

I've tried to interest a few guys down here about the idea before - I was going to call it "Heavy Metal". There's also the Camissa Classic Race held every month, but I avoid that 'cos it tends to be young bucks who swish their Viners and LeJeune's through red traffic lights and around blind corners.

[Velloen bike]

Alpina frame.......... Going to restore any advice

[quintonb]

Take lots of pictures of the frame before stripping the paint. Measure out where the decals are placed and document that. Get replica decals made before removing the old ones. I like to take bikes back to their original colour scheme. Although an alpina won't be that valuable to most, they have a history in SA and u like that. I have a '89 hansom which I fully restored, my folks bought me the bike when I was 16.once again not much monetary value, but a lot more value to me.

Plascon removall works well to get the paint off, try and avoid sandblasting, my painter hates sandblasted frames, more difficult to prepare.

Let's see some pics of the bike/frame.