Backroads® (28 years in business) does an amazing job with their wine
country multiday tours. Back in the 1980s, as a sales bonus for a successful SUPERSALE, Bill McCready of Santana Tandems and Bud's Bike
Shop sent all the employees on five day wine country tour run by Backroads (did this two different years). This was when he owned five bike shops so there were a lot of employees for the trips. Couldn't imagine better rides or better food and beverages (lots of wine).
Started at Bodega Bay (Hitchcock, The Birds location) and headed up the Russian River over to Healdsburg and then Berryesea (Hub Cap Ranch) and Sonoma with lots of climbing like Trinity Grade etc. Visited LOTS of wineries and rode on lots of TINY roads. Weren't looking for gravel roads on those trips but I'm sure there are lots in the area. Maybe have Jobst Brandt map out a ride that is all dirt
and gravel roads?
Anyway, I'm sure Backroads could organize a multiday L'Eroica in their sleep!
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
Brett Horton wrote:
> Can anyone suggest a competent ride organizer in the California
> wine country? I know the organizers of L'Eroica in Italy quite
> well. A similar ride in the California wine country held with their
> blessing would certainly garner enthusiastic coverage in the
> European press. Let's show the world vintage steel is alive and
> well in the U.S.!
>
> Brett Horton
> San Francisco, CA
>
>
> Jay Van De Velde wrote:
> "L'Eroica in the California wine country. Great idea! Are there
> any "white roads" i.e. gravel
> roads up there? The fire roads in the surrounding hills are fun on
> a mtn bike, but may be a bit much
> for the old road bikes, even if its supposed to be a sufferfest. We
> should contact the L'Eroica
> organizers and show support for an event in NoCal.
>
>
> .