Come, now, you omit an essential part of the story. Surely riding through Chianti involved sipping a bit of the same, Classico of course. Are the Italian wineries generally open to visitors, with the opportunity to taste their products? I'd think this would be a great addition to a cycle touring vacation.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Edward Albert <ealbert@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
I thought the list might be interested in my recent experiences in
riding LEroica in Gaiole in Chianti, Italy. Let me begin by saying that
in my 30+ years of riding and racing bikes this has to be considered one
of the most challenging events I have yet to participate in (maybe I am
getting old? What do I mean maybe?). The event takes place in one of the
most beautiful places I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Chianti
is just magnificent. Vineyards and olive groves as far as the eye can
see, rolling hills, and old farms and villages that seem to have been
there forever. On Saturday, the day preceding the event, the organizers
staged an exhibit of vintage bikes in the gym of the towns school.
Although I was hoping an advertised swap meet would materialize (I had
my list of unobtainables that I was sure I would find) that did not come
to pass. However, the cycle exhibits (all placed by individual
collectorsl) were mind boggling. We started at one end and were
immediately treated to the bike ridden by Maurice Garin in winning the
first Tour de France, and it only got better. I wont bore you all with
a list but we as we wandered around we were confronted by bikes of every
configuration including Bianchi Folgores, Paris Roubaix, Compione del
Mondo, Legnanos similarly configured, a stunning Gloria, a Dei,
innumerable Frejus irons, Williars, and bikes of similar quality whose
names I had never heard. Irio Tommasini was there with an exhibit of
various bikes and a pair of French cyclists set up with two stunning
Singers and an immaculate René Herse tandem and another chrome tourer.
On the walls around the perimeter of the space hung literally hundreds
of vintage jerseys. Interestingly enough, few of the bikes were
restored. For the most part they remained in there very used condition,
patina intact, although this was not always the case. My favorite, the
Gloria, was completely redone but retained its absolute originality. The
bright chrome on those fantastic lugs just knocked me out.
My wife Brenda and I had met up with Mike Barry from Bicycle
Specialties, his wife Claire, and Mikes original partner in the
building of Mariposas (back in the early 70's) John Palmer, and we all
made the rounds somewhat in awe. Mike succeeded in buying a Vittoria
Margerita derailleur from one of the few people selling. I think that
between us, two Americans, one Canadian, and two Canadian expat Brits,
we were the only English speakers present. And, with the exception of my
wife, we were the only North Americans to be riding the event the next
day. Needless to say we got quite a few surprised looks.
The next day, Sunday, at 7:30 or so four of us met to tackle our
respective distances. I riding a 1970 Schwinn P-15 with a triple, Mike a
Mariposa he had built in 1970 using a Paris Roubaix deraileur system,
Claire was on an old Peugeot (whose model escapes me) and John on his
early fifties Gillott with a flip flop rear hub - fixed on one side and
freewheel on the other). This was the same bike he used to ride time
trials on when a kid in England. Mike and I, intending to ride the 130
km loop, took off together and, although we somehow got separated along
the way, ended up riding what amounted to a 50 mile course. At least 30
of those miles were on what the Italians call white roads, meaning
dirt and stones, ungraded both up and down, and absolutely murderous to
ride.......It was wonderful. What amazed me was all these guys (I saw
very few women riding this particular route), on their incredibly
beautiful vintage mounts, had no qualms about tossing them about on
roads built for horses. For them, these were bikes to be used. One
really got the feeling of what it must have been like in the era of
Coppi and Bartali. Truly hard hard men.
A few of the dirt climbs were really HC in character. 1 in 4 (25%+)
would be no exaggeration and riders were off and walking in many spots
(especially those on the one gear bikes or the Cambio Corsas). I have to
confess that on one climb, in my smallest gear, going maybe 3 miles per
hour I just fell over. I tried to get to my tightened strap to get my
foot out in time but missed and went over like a cartoon character.
Luckily, no damage done to bike or rider. All of us finished our
respective rides and Mike and I just looked at each other in disbelief,
not only at the challenge the course had posed, but that we had done
it......Next year the real Eroica, 200 km or die. (NOT!)
At this point Mike and his companions were off to Verona to the Worlds
to watch Michael (U.S. Postal), his son, ride for Canada and his
daughter-in-law Dede Demet (T-Mobile) ride for the U.S., and Brenda and
I back to the States. Enough said......BUT, a vintage bike tour to
Chianti run by professional cycling guides and culminating in LEroica,
is now in the planning stages for next year. More to come.
Edward Albert
Chappaqua, NY