Hi again, CR list:
I'm very interested in organizing one or more L'Eroica-sister or - style events here in the USA. I spoke with the Brooks folks about this briefly at InterBike last year and plan to do so again later this month. That said, I really wish I were going to Italy for this year's L'Eroica as I have not attended one yet. Unfortunately I already produce three cycling events in October, so my schedule is crammed for the rest of this month.
Some of you suggested Sonoma County as a possible venue for such an event here in the States. Of course, the most important thing in creating a ride like this is the dirt/gravel farm roads, or something like that, as, besides the vintage bikes and gear, L'Eroica is all about the "strada blanca." I'm not sure sure if such roads exist in the Sonoma County area. I've been on some which one would probably call "mountain biking terrain" but they wouldn't be appropriate for these purposes.
Coincidentally, I was just up in Sonoma County this week, laying the groundwork for a new road cycling event I'll be hosting here next year and thereafter. It's a benefit century for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Through my company, AdventureCORPS, we already produce two rides on their behalf (actually, in partnership with them) in Death Valley and we used to host one in Monterey. JDRF wants to add a venue and I suggested Sonoma Wine Country, so Wednesday I gave a tour of the route to three of the JDRF folks, plus we toured two potential host hotels. Point being, I know that area pretty well, and can work happily and productively outside of SoCal and Death Valley!
Anyway, producing world-class sporting events, especially cycling, is what I do and have done since 1990. Our most well-known event is Furnace Creek 508, followed by the twice-per-year Death Valley Century and Double Century. Every event we organize sells out faster and faster each year. I'm thankful for that positive affirmation, of course, but bummed when we have to turn people away.
For a few years now, I've been wanting to produce some events which are not my usual "bread and butter" events, i.e. centuries, double centuries, and ultramarathons. L'Eroica really intrigues me on so many levels because of my love of vintage cycling and history, plus it would be neat to have synergistic tie-ins like the Italian event does, with wine, classic cars, and such.
All this is highlighted, or enhanced, by the absolute enjoyment I've felt these past few years as I've discovered the vintage cycling crowd, events, and VBQ Magazine. I've been lucky enough to have attended Le Cirque du Cyclisme twice and this year I rode the Lake Pepin Three-Speed Tour in Minnesota, plus I attended Chuck's Velo- Rendezvous a few years back, the one time it was held on my one free weekend in October.
Anyway, I'm excited by the enthusiasm of this crowd to support all these great vintage/historical-inspired events, magazines, get- togethers and such. I'm also excited that many of you would support a L'Eroica-type, or L'Eroica-sister, event here in the USA. Any insights or suggestions you have to share would be most appreciated (such as a great venue: both the proper roads, plus an accessible host town/city and hotel). And for those of you headed to Italy next week, feel free to mention my interest to the folks over there, if you're so inclined.
If you want to know more about my event production work, links to my websites / events are below my name. Also, here are links to slideshows I put online about the aforementioned vintage events which I attended (regular CR listers have seen these links before):
2006 Lake Pepin Three-Speed Tour:
http://www.adventurecorps.com/
2005 Cirque:
http://www.adventurecorps.com/
2004 Cirque:
http://www.adventurecorps.com/
Yours in sport, Chris Kostman -- AdventureCORPS Oak Park, CA 91377 USA
http://www.adventurecorps.com
http://www.badwater.com
http://www.the508.com