While a few listmembers were enjoying the original Tuscan version, Australian riders of vintage and pre 1980 classic cycles were enjoying the inaugural Australian L'Eroica event based in the historic town of Beechworth in the state of Victoria.
After a 600 km drive on Friday, I arrived in Beechworth with my Australian built c1947 Rob Special Racer set up with a SA 3 speed hubgear. I joined some 40 other riders on everything from a 1893 Humber racer (Paul Farren) through to a number of 1980ish road and track bikes (a fair few of the fixie messenger crowd had bought along their classic steel), with everything in between. Probably half or more of the bikes were of Australian origin, with a smattering of classic British and 1970's era Italian. Fellow CR listmember Lynn Miller was also down from the Sydney area on his last minute rebuild of a c1972 Peugeot Rando/Touring bike.
L'Eroica Downunder was a two day event combining elements the Tuscan original (dirt roads, wine, ) with elements of a similar period of Australian racing (dirt roads, handicap and stage racing.)
Saturday morning saw the riders congregate at the Beechworth campus of Latrobe University for briefing, showing and photography of bikes and in my case the purchase of a new woolmix jersey with the classic look (button up pockets etc).
After lunch (Italian style), I discovered the rear tyre of my Rob' flat only minutes before the ride out to the first stage. A quick tube change ensued, and I was able to get away with the group riding from the town out about 5 km to the start of the first stage which was about 25 km over very hilly dirt forestry roads.
The organiser John Hennessy had handicapped the riders into groups based on in general the age of the bicycle and it's rider, although there were a few riders handicapped on their known "form" as well. As in the style of traditional handicap road racing, 5 groups were dispatched from the start each 7 minutes apart. I was in the 4th group, starting 21 minutes after the limit mark.
The first 3 groups disappeared into the forest and then my group was off. I headed for the front wanting to avoid the dust, to find myself starting to climb a steep hill. I attempted to changed from my 46/18 direct drive (69") to my low gear (52") however only found a neutral. My immediate thought was that in the comparitive haste of removing my wheel when I had the flat, had caused me to reinstall the gear cable incorrectly in relation to the adjustment locknut. Therefore I just stood on the pedals and honked but a combination of gradient on the rough and loose surface and the too high gear saw me stopping and getting of the bike on the climb. Believing the problem was just a minor adjustment issue, I attempted to get my low gear back, only to find that I now had only a high gear of 92". It was with increasing frustration and walking of climbs I finally made the 8 km control/foodstop at the small village of Stanley.
Figuring that it was going to be "one of those days", I decided to partake a little of the red wine on offer, and it was whilst imbibing that refreshment, that I noticed that the gear cable stop clamp on my pencil seat stays had slipped down due to the fact that the tape I had wrapped around those stays in order for the too large diameter clamp to fit, had had softened during that morning in the sun, allowing the stop to move down the stay under cable tension, resulting in insufficient cable pull and therefore loss of gears.
A quick but substantial adjustment of the cable indicator spindle had all 3 gears again and I departed the control determined to regain some of the lost time. The roads were flatter now, but if anything rougher, and the downhill run on Stockyard Road was only at about 10kph as recent 'improvement' by the Forestry had seen smaller sized gravel complemented by what seemed mini boulders ever to my 1.1/4 rear and 1.1/18 front tyres. However I was passing a lot of riders now, most on the road, but rather too many who were busy repairing punctured tyres. Eventually I arrived at the finish back in Beechworth to find that I was third over the line, and had the second fastest time for the stage.
Dinner was held at the renowned Wardens of Beechworth restaurant that evening, with typical Italian fare and quite a bit of both Italian and local wine. After heading back to my Motel room, I cleaned up my very dusty Rob' and replaced the insufficient tape under the gear cablestop clamp with my appropriate Cateye cloth handlebar tape from the end of a almost used roll.
Sunday saw breakfast at the locally famous Beechworth Bakery, before about half of the riders including myself took the option of riding the 35 km out to the start of the official stage at Milawa by way of a paved section of the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail, and then some local roads. The Rail Trail is over a now disused railway line and is excellent cycling due to the gradual gradients originally designed for trains.
Lunch was more al fresco fare at a winery near Milawa (I can't recall the name) before we rode out 7km to the stage start at the commecement of the gravel. After my efforts of yesterday, the handicapper had me on the back mark (scratch) with Peter Taylor (whom I race with in the ACT Veterans(Masters) Cycling Club, although Peter is a faster rider and in a higher grade) on his 1940's Whippet with 81" fixed/72" freewheel double sided hub and 3 other riders. We gave a 43 minute start to the front markers, and that was over only 41 km stage so I expected a pretty fast pace.
We got the go from the starter, and one rider whose name I do not know, on a singlespeed Speedwell dashed off to the lead of our group in what was fairly heavy gravel with traction issues. Peter followed and I settled back allowing them to draw away, although I was myself drawing away from the other two riders behind me.
Soon the two riders ahead of me were out of side on the course with its many turns, the gravel improved, then was followed by some sections of Pave which would have done the Paris-Roubaix proud. Dirt road, then more gravel followed on which I passed Peter repairing a puncture. Soon I was at the control/foodstop, but due to the heat of the day, I passed on the wine, refilled my small handlebar mounted bidon with water, and was on my way again. Peter had not stopped for water/food so was out on the road in front of me chasing down the guy on the Speedwell.
The low gear was of much assistance climbing Cook Gap, and I was starting to catch more early starters, mostly riding rather than changing tubes, probably due to the fact that overall the road surface was much better today than on Saturday.
The last 20 km or so was only mildly undulating and I was able to maintain a good pace of around 30 kph in a 69" gear on predominately dirt and gravel road. Eventually I arrived at the finish at the La Zona Vineyard at Cheshunt, about 10th over the line, but with 3rd fastest time for the stage.
Lunch followed, with wine, presentations, much camaraderie and promises of doing it all again next year before most of us headed back to Beechworth on a bus towing a bike trailer, before starting our respective trips home.
A few further thoughts:
Tyres: Forget tubulars (known as singles in Aust), Unless you have some extremely heavy duty, wide section, treaded cross tyres that you are prepared to wreck. I had no punctures or tyre troubles enroute (the flat before the start was as a result of a defective valve in a cheap 28/32C tube - it seems you can only get quality tubes in 19/23/25C in Australia). 1.1/4 or 32C tyres are recommended, 1.1/8 or 28C if you want to chance it a little more. I'll use 1.1/4 front and rear next year. Heavy treads are helpfull for traction in loose (at times almost sand like) dirt.
Gears: I had planned to use a 3 speed Cyclo Oppy Derailleur, however a gear mech I obtained from the UK via Ebay arrived without it's promised and needed chainstay mounting clamp. Correspondence with the seller promised to send the clamp, however 4 weeks later - nothing. As a result I mounted up a Sturmey Archer AW 3 speed hubgear with 92", 69" and 52" ratios based on a 46/18 chainwheel/sprocket. If I use an AW gear next year, I'll probably use a 44/22 combination for 72", 54" and 41" ratios. If the Ebay seller comes good, I'll be testing the limits of the derailleurs ability as far as rear sprocket teeth go.
Frames: The Rob Special has around a 71 degree head angle with the normal generous forkrake typical of the time. Seat angle is around 70 degrees and wheelbase is generous. Very stable, and it's element on gravel roads. A far better bike for this sort of event than say a late 70's Colnago with criterium geometry.
Thanks: To all that made it happen, especially John and Jill the organisers. Also thanks to Brooks, and the various sponsors from the local area who provided support.
Photos: More to come, but at this time there are some photos by Andy White at this address:
http://www.fyxomatosis.com/
Photo leroica016 shows the bars/bidon and a little of the pinstriping on my Rob'.
Peter Tutty Londonderry NSW Australia.
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