L'Eroica Britannia!

[2volvos]

Hi

http://www.eroicabritannia.co.uk/

Very excited about this and have just pre-regisitered.

The Italian version always looked like a cracking event and should translate well to the Peaks. Hope they can arrange some Tuscan weather as well though...

[964Cup]

What a lot of rules. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

I love the idea that they think they can "expel" people who are riding on public roads. Possibly they need to get over themselves before someone else does.

[47p2]

said:

Be in the first 500! Secure your place on L'Eroica Britannia for £55.

After the first 500 participants have registered L'Eroica Britannia registration fee is £70.

We have issued a special rate for L'Eroica Britannia veterans of £45 (for riders over the age of 65).

Corporate teams are priced at £2,000 (for up to 10 riders including fully branded bespoke race day jerseys complete with your company logo).

Well I guess we won't be clubbing together and rushing in for a Pistonhead Corporate Team

[numtumfutunch]

Thats a nice fat profit

Anyone know who's raking the cash in here?


EDIT: 5 mins googling suggests these people:

http://www.thechimneyhouse.com/
http://www.lasquadra.co.uk/
http://www.nonnas.co.uk/

Edited by numtumfutunch on Monday 7th October 16:05

[TwistingMyMelon]

Dont normally go in for this poncey crap, but the website looks great, love the photos.

Tempted to tag along on my Apollo MTB with my Sports Direct Muddy Fox clothing on...

[MikeTiger]

Cheaper than Etape Pennine or any other in that series!

[numtumfutunch]

MikeTiger said:

Cheaper than Etape Pennine or any other in that series!

Sorry - Im just a bit naive about the business side to my hobby

Wiggle kilotogo events = 30 including a decent goody bag and proven exemplary organisation
Etape Pennines = 63 and you get to ride 84 miles on closed roads

This event = 70 and you get to have your bike examined to see if you and it are worthy and are given a tent pitch in a field in Bakewell town centre for a few nights, it looks like you get to ride on some bits of the Chatsworth estate but TBH unless youre on a CX bike Im not sure which ones are navigable

The publicity says theyre looking to start 5,500 riders:
500 @ 55 = 27,500
5000 @ 70 = 350,000

Total = 377,500

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anonymous-user]

So I have to have a pre-1987 frame, down tube shifters, 32 spoke wheels, brazed lugs and toe clips but I can also use my Garmin as per Article Three because thats totally in keeping with the period right?!?

Having been burnt by the Silverstone 24 farce, although it looks like we'll get out entry fees back through the credit card chargeback process, I'm very sceptic about new events so do a bit of digging now. The phone number on the web page is for a hired meeting room a;beit it a posh looking one. Now the company who own the meeting room might also be behind the event because the web sites are similar but then again, maybe not...

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 7th October 20:05

[Some Gump]

What a load of pretencious bks.

[Birdthom]

Some Gump said:

What a load of pretencious bks.

That was my impression, too. Nevertheless, it's harmless enough and looks like a fun day out if it's your thing, so best of luck to them as far as I'm concerned. The more successful events there are the better IMO. Variety is the spice of life and all that.

[yellowjack]

L'Eroica said:

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.

So if it's not a closed road event, how do they intend to enforce this rule?

If a cyclist who is "unsuitably attired upon an ineligible bicycle" joins these pretentious halfwits mid-ride, with a cheery 'Good morning!' and rides with them for a short distance, will he/she be ambushed by moustachioed men in tweed plus fours and deerstalkers at the next junction? What a complete pile of steaming dung. And that from a fan of proper 'classic' bikes.

Also, who has delegated the investigative powers of the Police, and the Courts to L'Eroica's organisers??? Last I heard it was up to the civil courts to determine who is responsible for causing damage in the event there is a dispute over blame.

[ewenm]

It's just bluster to try to prevent lots of people joining the ride without paying. I hope they have fun but on those roads next summer there are going to be lots of cyclists in the build up to the start of LeTour, so there will be plenty of overlap between this event and people just out for a ride.

[TheFungle]

It all looks like it is trying just that little bit too hard.

From what I've read of the original L'Eroica it doesn't seem be quite as pretentious sounding.

[Beyond Rational]

How many corporations would:

- Spend a minimum of £200 per rider to enter an event with no pedigree?
- Have maybe more than 3 or 4 employees (so £500 p/person) with a qualifying "heroic bicycle"?

[2volvos]

Hmm detecting a bit of negativity here...

To me it looks a bit like a cycling equivalent of the Goodwood Revival. That has its rules and regs but is no worse for that and the atmosphere it creates is wonderful for those too short three days.

Ok so it's new to the UK but the Italian event has always looked great to me.

Add in a couple of nights camping, some decent grub and real ale and I'm looking forward to a very relaxed, interesting, tasty weekend based around a load of classic bikes and good company.

Can't be all that bad can it?

[Soop Dogg]

2volvos said:

Can't be all that bad can it?

Agreed.

It's not like there's any other cycling events that are designed for those of us with old bikes that we've spent loads of our time restoring who want to join with others who have the same interest.

Surely nobody can begrudge us that?

And as for the rules, they look to me as though they've been lifted straight from tbe original l'Eroica event. I'd have thought the Italian l'Eroica has something to do with the british one or they'd be all over this for various copyright infringements.

I'm another who is looking forward to riding with lots of others who have stories and histories between them and their bikes.

[donfisher]

Soop Dogg said:

Agreed.

It's not like there's any other cycling events that are designed for those of us with old bikes that we've spent loads of our time restoring who want to join with others who have the same interest.

Surely nobody can begrudge us that?

It's more the tone IMHO. I agree with what you've said but on another ride I did last year that was not exactly brilliant on the organisation front, they seemed to do this better. They offered more incentives for people to turn up on the older bikes but didn't stop anyone turning up on whatever they felt like.

What if you've got a lovely old bike that breaks in the week before and you decide to do it on your modern road bike?

I think they’d be better off offering cash discount or goodies incentives and perhaps tailor the route so it’s more suitable for the kind of bikes they want to see rather than excluding a load of people (and their money) who would probably be exactly who they want to turn up but don’t quite have the right bike. It smacks of trying to make sure it gets good internet photos to me.

To stretch the above Goodwood analogy, if your 60s sedan isn’t going to make it over and you take the Golf, you still get to go, you just can’t park with all the other classics.