Eroica 2020 - vintage bicycles, gravel roads, good times.

[News bot]

In 3 weeks from now we’ll be in Montagu for our fourth Eroica South Africa - a celebration of vintage cycling culture, beautiful old bicycles, and good times. For those who are new to the concept, Eroica is an Italian event that pays homage to the cycling races of old. We ride old vintage steel road bikes on dirt roads, and we celebrate the cycling greats like Coppi and Bartali by dressing in vintage kit, and eschewing energy gels in favour of red wine and cheese. Eroica is not a race, rather a tough ride to reconnect ourselves with our beautiful sport, our marvellous machines and the landscapes we move through. Come enjoy a weekend of friendship and adventure on the edge of the Karoo in Montagu!

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[DJR]

To anyone who has, or can buy, rent or borrow (not steal) any old classic steel bike, all I can say is to JUST DO IT! Forget about the logistics, the cost, your lack of fitness, the chores at home, the wifes' frown, the kids' boring cricket game, JUST DO IT!

[Mamil]

It is a very special event. And the food stops are like stopping at someone's mum for lunch before going out to play again.

 

Really looking forward.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

To anyone who has, or can buy, rent or borrow (not steal) any old classic steel bike, all I can say is to JUST DO IT! Forget about the logistics, the cost, your lack of fitness, the chores at home, the wifes' frown, the kids' boring cricket game, JUST DO IT!

DJR you convinced me. But now you have to help me find a 6 spd Campag cassette with something better than a 21 tooth.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Entry is in, bike is prepped, guest house is booked...  looking so forward to my first Eroica experience

[DJR]

DJR you convinced me. But now you have to help me find a 6 spd Campag cassette with something better than a 21 tooth.

I don't have anything that can work.

 

What I did one year when I did it with a 21, was quite a bit of walking on the steeper hills     Which is easier in old cycling shoes than new ones. And I sure wasn't the only pedestrian. 

[Dirt Addict07]

DJR you convinced me. But now you have to help me find a 6 spd Campag cassette with something better than a 21 tooth.

If it is a screw-on hub, a new 6 speed Shimano MTB casette will work. I installed one with a 28 just for Eroica! 

[Stan Engelbrecht]

Hello friends. I’ve been getting so many messages from you asking about the possibility of an Eroica South Africa 2021. Yes, we have been planning an Eroica for this year, but of course with the current situation it has been very difficult to finalise anything. Thank you for your patience and understanding until now.

The good news is we have settled on 24 April 2021 for our next adventure. We are committed to this date, however we have to be realistic and prepared to be flexible considering government regulations and health considerations. We hope that it won’t, but if our date moves of course you will be the first to know. 

Entries will open mid-February. We’ll be in touch to confirm the date.

Considering the pandemic we also have to be mindful of how we run Eroica South Africa 2021. We have some ideas to change the event in such a way that we all have the opportunity to practice as much social distancing as makes us all feel comfortable. The safety of our Eroica community is of utmost importance to us, and so is the safety of the people of Montagu who we have to work closely with. 

With all these considerations we still want to make Eroica South Africa 2021 an unforgettable one. We will be avoiding big group gatherings and the normal mass start. But for this year we want to focus on giving participants the opportunity to spend the day out on their bikes with close friends and family, and structuring the riding in such a way that you can choose on the day how far and wide you’d like to explore. We’re looking at it as a choose-your-own-adventure type of day, with pick-up spots for picnic-style food packs. This way each rider or group can choose where they spend some time enjoying their food and drinks along their route. Each rider will have a map with routes and distances clearly laid out, food pick-up points clearly marked, and lots of potential picnic spots indicated. As always there will be great emphasis on good, fresh local food and refreshments, and of course our planned routes will be filled with beautiful views and adventurous detours. We will make up for everything we’re giving up because of COVID-19 by making every other aspect of the event even better. 

The NOVA component will still have a race aspect this year, with timed Strava race-sections, but the distance will be a bit shorter, with more technical sections. Please stay tuned.

Let’s work together to make Eroica South Africa 2021 the best one yet, even in the face of the global challenge we’re enduring. We’ll be in touch soon with more details on our Eroica South Africa 2021 adventure!