What Is Eroica? A Vintage Bicycle Retro Cycling Celebration!

This is the weekend of Eroica, California, so to celebrate we take a fifty-mile ride on vintage bikes and discuss what Eroica is, along with its history and meaning.
Music: Seaside Piazza - Aaron Kenny

[@leslieyoung5234]

I’ve been wanting to participate in this event for years but glad that I’ve learned from you and the commenters that this ride just isn’t up to snuff. I’ve suffered bad logistics on America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride and the Death Ride (a couple of free floating green grapes ina tray of melted ice and a diet 7-Up was all that was left atop Daggett despite being on 5 pass pace).

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hi Leslie, Most of the folks that have had problems with Eroica California have moved on. There are still a small number of folks that enjoy the event even though they realize there are problems. I feel your pain. On a hot day, 50 miles in at the second rest stop, there wasn't even any water to be had the first year of EC. From reports from later rides, the problems persist.

[@douglas1559]

Thanks for sharing,looks like you guys had a good time🤗 those are my kind of bikes🆒

[@bikestrikesrazors]

They are lots of fun, Douglas. Kind of a way to step back in time again to my young adulthood. :)

[@D11Alpha]

Vintage fun requires vintage aspirin! Always fun to see equipment from years gone by. Love seeing this stuff.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

I resemble that remark, Douglas. Although, I seem to be going to the pain killers more often, post ride, these days no matter what I ride. :)

[@D11Alpha]

@@bikestrikesrazors, wine, beer are great analgesics, post sport activity, for those of us with less flexibilty and slow on recovery. Lol. Which is why Count Psychula would slap those with recumbent trikes, who choose to rode vintage cardiac killer uprights, in the head! Stay on 3 wheels. Your entire spinal column will thank you. 😆🤣

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@D11Alpha The Count agrees. :)

[@evanking920]

My father had an Allegro Special he bought new in 1958. The big innovation was the placement of bar end shifters instead of downtube shifters. My brother still has the bicycle, hopefully we will do an Eroica event in the future.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Evan! My Allegro had the bar end shifters on it when I rescued the bike from the scrap yard, but unfortunately they were too far gone to save/use. I should’ve hunted down some new ones, as you’re right. That seems to have been an Allegro innovation. Your father had good taste in bikes! :)

[@evanking920]

@@bikestrikesrazors I actually am hazy on the date he bought the bicycle. Sometime during the late 50s to early-mid 60s. The finish was a glossy but pale sage green with some type of smoke swirl accent. Pretty cool, eh?

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@evanking920 Yep, those smoked finish model were (are) amazing!

[@barty8980]

Hope to see you and your vintage bikes at Eroica California 2023.

[@Olyphoto7]

You always do a great job presenting historical information. Thanks for sharing.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks very much for watching, Dan!

[@curtisducati]

@@bikestrikesrazors This has been ruined by Goodwood cancelling the event just before everyone came , all booked hotels at £250 a night and refused a refund , some have lost thousands , and many people are angry saying never again and that Goodwood has ruined it in the UK ...Even people in Italy have lost thousands on flights and hotels .....

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@curtisducati Yes, I heard about that. Very unfortunate. It sounds like it was working well in the original area they were holding the event and some folks were upset they were moving it to Goodwood as it was a more expensive place to stay.

[@joesch1733]

Cambria had nice weather this year for L'eroica CA and it was a nice turnout. The people are great and the bikes are super impressive. The event needs more help and volunteers with the management and the website and the response to emails.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Joe! Yep, I think everything is more difficult now for the organizers as it appears they’re trying to do everything from Italy without a liaison in the U.S.. I can only imagine how much more effective/easier it was organizing the whole thing when they had Wes in charge, full time, in California. I think they’re ultimately going to have to find someone in CA to work as a sort of ram-rod again to get things into a good place. You’re certainly right about the great group of people that attend the event. Even if the Eroica organization decides to give up on California, I’m positive that a large group of riders will pick a date and make their own event down there, one way or another. I also suspect that the Eroica organization lost lots of cash by having to cancel and carryover entries from the previous two years. I’m guessing they likely couldn’t get back all that money for permits, insurance and such, so they may have had to dig into their own coffers just to hold an event this year. Hopefully, next year, with a fresh start, things will go great!

[@garyseckel295]

Always entertaining and educational videos!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks, Gary!

[@markfeldman6509]

Looks like a blast. Time to break out my 1980’s bike, clean it up and give it a spin….if I can! It will be a real change of pace after riding Catrikes the last 5-6 years and a high end specialized road bike. It’s worth a try. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Mark! Anything to keep from getting bored. :) I think that’s why I’ve managed to stay interested in cycling for so long- Lots if possible variations for potential rides. :)

[@phyllisboone8957]

I started riding seriously in 1981-82. No metal water bottles are recalled! But I rode some wonderful lugged steel frames by Miyata, a Japanese company. I quickly became adept at shifting with downtube shifters, my husband using them while Captaining our 1989 Santana Team/Cronos Tandem bike. (Currently for sale, took a long time for us to think about parting with it after his stroke 11 years ago) Sounds like a great event!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@phyllisboone8957 Hey, Phyllis! Yeah, I don't think anyone was still using metal bottles by even the 1970's, but I thought they looked cool, so I went not-period correct. :) Pretty sure that by the 1970's everyone was just using clamp on cages or maybe even had bottle bosses. Those vintage Miyatas are nice bikes (so are Santanas)! Has your husband tried a recumbent trike? I know several riders that have suffered strokes that kept riding with a trike (and trikes are lot's of fun, too).

[@phyllisboone8957]

@@bikestrikesrazors Yes, we love our recumbent trikes. We live near the headquarters of Terra Trike here in Grand Rapids, MI. They had a large billboard advertising their trikes next to the local expressway for several years, I noted it but it never occured to me to see what they offered until 11 years ago just after my husband had his stroke, leaving him paralyzed on the right and with impaired speech. I then thought of the trikes, long story short bought a pair of TOUR II's and his modified to accomodate his disability. They have been absolutely wonderful to work with! We sold both original trikes last summer, upgraded him to a TT Grand Tourismo and I bought the TT Grand Tourismo Sport-both wonderful, enjoyable rides. I'd like to electrify his but $3000 for the Bosch, which won't void the frame warranty, is pretty steep for us right now. So we've got factory 2x11 gearing, left sided hand controls and accessories putting needed items within reach. We also bought an enclosed trailer to haul them. I test rode a Spyder and if I had the money and time, that would also be a fun ride! I found them nimble and fast! The GTS is also a great deal of fun in a different way. I found and enjoy your videos after getting our new trikes and being retired now, I have time to enjoy! Thanks!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@phyllisboone8957 Sounds like you have a great stable of trikes! Enjoy! :)

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

Just did 110km or so today on my 85 Trek560, including a gravel river crossing....took a wrong turn...My only criticism of eroica is the fixed cut off date, it should advance with every year bringing new and interesting bikes out of peoples garages...and I've said it before but that vintage helmet still looks really good today👍

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Breathestrong! Yep, the Eroica cutoff dates always seemed a bit arbitrary to me, also. In defense of Eroica, CA, as opposed to the Italian version, no one really seemed to care what you were riding, at least for the two years I attended. I saw several guys on the starting line with clip in pedals and no one called out anyone for anything. I think they were just happy you were there and making some kind of an effort. I love the vintage helmets, but Rich and I seem to be the only ones willing to take things that far. Some nonsense about needing a new helmet every two years. ;)

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

@@bikestrikesrazors that sounds like a marketing scheme from the helmet manufacturers😉😄

[@barty8980]

Eroica’s rough cutoff date is 1987 or earlier, or newer steel bikes built along the same lugged construction (keeper of the flame-type bikes). Aero brake levers are allowed, and gearing modifications are suggested for those (of us who are truly vintage too) that require it to cope with the terrain - notably Kiler Canyon and Cypress mountain have stretches exceeding 10-12% grade on dirt or gravel, so challenging for many. And of course, what goes up mist come down and the Cypress Mountain descent can be treacherous without solid braking power from vintage brakes. See other videos of the Nova Eroica modern bikes attacking the descent. Hope to see you at the 2023 event. Bart

[@frankgrape4]

I wish they have a motor scooter where they can lend of vintage tires for bicycles who had flats. So that riders won’t have the anxiety of delays and just have fun. Optional to replace your tubes yourself, but the idea of sag support moto for flats will be great for this event.

[@N1inSK]

Vintage my, er, donkey. I have been riding an Apollo Prestige since I bought it new in 1984. The chain rings are hard to find, and the rear gear cluster is a weird combination at the moment; and sadly, I haven't been able to ride it because of balance issues. But I WILL ride this weekend!

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Have a great ride on that cool bike, Neil, and thanks for watching!

[@N1inSK]

@@bikestrikesrazorsTHnks! It was a good ride: short, because it was the first ride in three years, and because my muscles aren't used to cycling. .But I found I can still do it. Definitely wish I could afford a recumbent trike, though.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

@@N1inSK I go through phases. I'll ride the trike for weeks, then switch and go back to the road bike. Can't decide which I like better. :)

[@acamparargentina]

so nice to see actual bicycles, not fighter jets with pedals which jusrt about everybody can ride without efort

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Thanks, Acampar! They certainly make for a fun alternative to modern bikes!

[@ChuckHatt]

Get off my lawn

[@toshaveornottoshave-4804]

Classic…

[@jensenhealey907efi]

So can you provide a better explanation of what you dislike about the Eroica California event?

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Jensen! It's been pretty well documented that they've had issues with the quality of their rest stops, route signage and overall organization and event execution. Back when the event first started in California, the Eroica organization had put local vintage bike enthusiast Wesley Hatakayama in charge, and although he still had some issues, he was more on top of things, and overall, I think things were getting better under his supervision. Unfortunately, Wes was "let go", and I think things have gone downhill since. It seems now that the Italians are trying to organize the event via long distance (from Italy), which is never going to work out all that well. I still hold out hope that the event will improve in the future!

[@zoufyj185]

@@bikestrikesrazors I did my first in 2022 and I won't say I had a bad day, because it was a great ride and a rare opportunity to change the cracked tires on my '81 Marinoni, lube the chain and ride the reenactment. However, the Italian organizers really dropped the ball on some basic things-imagine my frustration at getting lost, alone for over an hour even with my phone because my chosen route was "cancelled' without notice, so some of the already sparse signage was removed and I had to backtrack nearly 10 miles to find a sign to another route. Key rest stops had nothing, not even water- I rode for nearly 20 miles at one point with empty bottles on a warm day in the hills. Kudos for the volunteers who went way overboard to make up for it, the guy in a van cruising the roads looking for lost riders and giving verbal directions out the window, the bike shop owner who bought a case of cokes out of his own pocket and others. But the Italian organizers who btw were running a for-profit event as part of a larger sports group company based in Dubai were useless. 6 people selling overpriced Italian wine at the finish, but nobody to even provide water? This clusterf*** has happened both years these guys were in charge, with no apologies or even acknowledgement that anything went wrong. Arrivederci, non tornare.

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Hey, Zoufy! Yep, unfortunately, these are the types of issues I was referring to in the video. I personally will likely not attend EC again unless I start hearing some good reports about how things have majorly turned around, but I'm really not expecting the organizers to get this thing right after the many years of getting it wrong. Many enthusiasts are still willing to attend, even admitting/accepting the issues and just bringing their own supplies, expecting the rest stops to be insufficient or non- existent. It's really a shame, and quite a bit confusing to me, as the organizers seem to do a fantastic job with the Italian rides. Yes, admittedly, things may be more expensive in California (permits and such) but that's really no excuse for the types of shortcomings we're seeing with this ride. I don't think things will turn around unless some local individual/individuals with some talent for event organization get tapped by the Eroica organization to get things in order, are given an appropriate budget and are compensated fairly for his/her/their efforts. Hope springs eternal!

[@taiwan1895]

I'm ashamed to admit that when I first read the title I thought it had something to do with the adult film industry...

[@bikestrikesrazors]

Ha! Well I guess we know where your mind skews. ;) I know someone who referred to this ride as “Erotica” for years. Don’t think he was joking, either.

[@taiwan1895]

@@bikestrikesrazors Can I redeem myself by saying I thought at first you were referring to Beethoven's Symphony No. 3? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJmrlKevbrSAY5I