[CR]Re: Italy and the Eroica Part III

Topics: Events:Eroica
(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 08:08:26 -0400
From: "Edward Albert" <ealbert@bellatlantic.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: Italy and the Eroica Part III

Since the seven of us who were riding were all doing the 75km distance (really comes out to 80 but why quibble) we were lucky in that we were not allowed to start until around 8:30 AM. So, after a good breakfast we all piled into the van for the 30 k or so drive to the start in Gaole. Leo, our driver and all around director sportif, helped me put on my wheels. Of course in my usual rush to get to the sign in I pushed the front wheel on without opening the universal centerpull release lever and pushed a brake block out of the holder. Now, as you all know these 61 brake blocks don\u2019t slide in. There is no opening......anyway, Leo deftly used a screw driver to force the block into the holder....I put on my Bianchi cap, buckled on my leather strap helmet (even though my wife had \u2013 with good cause \u2013 much trepidation about my not using a \u201creal \u201c helmet, but you don\u2019t get photographed at these events if you\u2019re wearing plastic), stuffed this and that in my pockets, and we all rolled over to the long line to sigh in. Although a bit impatient to get going, waiting on this line is kind of cool. You meet people and everybody seems to enjoy the building excitement. In front of me were six or so guys all wearing Brooks jerseys. It turned out they were all from various German news papers and, as we stood there, one took out a pad and did a short interview with me. I think, at the Eroica, Americans are still somewhat of a novelty \u2013 you mean we really do ride and really are interested in vintage bikes? As we stood around we kept hearing what sounded like tires exploding. At first we thought guys had overinflated their vintage tires, but it turned out to be this guy who was firing a shotgun filled with blanks. I think he was riding an old bike fitted out for hunting. Finally, after maybe a half hour we reached the sign in tent and had our bikes inspected. The deal here is that only vintage bikes are technically eligible for any prizes or awards. They check each bike pre 1980 status, for downtube shifters and clip/strap pedals. Having passed muster I got a special stamp in my carnet that testified to the fact that, indeed I was doing the event on a vintage bike, then proceeded to the next station where we all had to sign in on a sheet next to our numbers, felt like I was in the Tour de France. Out of the tent, onto the start line, and within a few minutes off we went. I guess our group never really had any intention of riding the whole thing together, Some, like Doug, was treating it as a race and took off never to be seen again until the finish. Myself, I wanted a good time and, having ridden the event last year, was pacing myself for what lay ahead. And, what lay ahead was dirt, dirt, more dirt, and steep dirt hills. I settled into the ride, pushing hard but not too hard, passing guys, and riding in shifting small groups of similar ability. The thing about the Eroica is some guys climb the pavement well, some guys the dirt, some guys descend the dirt well, so the groups are always shifting as riders go ahead then fall back as there particular strengths come into play. Starting up real conversations is difficult. One because its it hard sometimes to talk, but mostly because Italian is the Lingua Franca of the ride and mine is, as I\u2019ve noted, not very good. Everything was going according to plan and I had hooked up with this guy who was riding a beautiful red Colnago Super from around 1972. We were of similar ages and ability and, although conversation was limited, we paced each other on the flats and each took turns finding the best line on the dirt descents and hills. I guess it was somewhere around 30 or 35 k that we came through the town of Radda in Chianti. As we descended a small his I went straight and he tuned left. I had missed the sign and heard him yelling to me \u201csinistra! sinistra!\u201d Left! Left!. I turned around as quickly as I could and started to chase after my companion. The road quickly turned down into paved switcbacks and I was flat out. Too flat out because one came up too quickly for me to brake and I lost it. As my front end skidded straight towards a metal barrier visions of Fabio Cassartelli (sp?) flooded my head. All I could think about was here I was on my side skidding toward a metal wall with a lousy strap helmet on my head. Well, since I am writing this you know the result. I came to a halt just before the barrier having just tapped my head a bit on the ground and bunged up my shoulder and thigh a bit. I was pissed however because the NOS soft and supple Universal brake hoods I had just purchased from Mike Kone were now no longer NOS! A minute on the ground to shake off the effects, some yells from passing riders checking to see that I was all right, straighten the handlebars, roll the front tire back onto the rim (that caused me pause in that now I knew I would have to descend carefully as my tire was no longer glued securely), and the game was afoot. To my surprise I actually felt ok and rode hard to try and catch my new found friend. Eventually we reconnected at the feed station where you take on Chianti if you choose, cheese and ham, bread and honey, and get your carnet stamped to prove you did the ride. Also at the station were three of my tour buddies who had ten minutes on me and were preparing to leave. Just Then my wife Brenda tumbled out of a van with Rita, Bob Freitas\u2019 wife. Needless to say she was not to happy about the crash and still less about the helmet. But, seeing I was ok she took some photos and off I went. With about 20 or 25 K to go you think you are home free all but.....don\u2019t go there. Now the hard part just starts with 12 to 15% dirt climbs that seem to go on forever...guys walking everywhere. And, even worse, steep descents that you try to do as fast as you can because you are who you are. Then on to a rather longish paved climb, a steep paved ascent, and a ten k run back into Gaoli. Finally, just as you see the sign that points to Gaoli 5K the Eroica sign points left and takes you the long way round over more dirt and downhill treachery. I was flying with some guys at this point when I threw my chain and had to stop. I just could not get that campy front shifter to pull the chain back up onto the inner 51 ring. Oh well that\u2019s bike racing. Finally, the last descent into town and check in at the finish were you get your card stamped. Doing so, I was pleasantly surprised to find that since I had ridden and finished on a vintage bike I was entitled to a bottle of great olive oil (bottle labeled L\u2019Eroica) and a wrapped cake called a panforte, with a picture Eroica riders on the front. Great Souvenirs of a memorable time. Sitting a the next table was Irio Tommasini who looked at every bike judging them on criteria that remain a mystery to me. Needless to say I did not win a best bike prize......That dam Gloria again! Hooked up with Brenda and my group and it was of to the buffet after race feed were we sat and congratulated each other on a wonderful time and a good rides. Into the van, and the ride back to the hotel in a half awake state. But not too sleepy to make Leo stop every time we saw a now unneeded Eroica directional sign. I have a bad habbit of collecting these signs from the Tour and the Classics and could not resist the tempation to get out the clippers and take home more, as the Omnipotent Despot JP call it, swag. I got three of them and am sending one to Bob Freitas to add to his collection of memorabilia and thank him for his good fellowship and the good company that Rita gave my wife. Next year I will definitely do the 135 K \u2013 he said truly believing it as least for the moment. Sorry but Installment four will have to wait till tomorrow or so. This one about the museums and Coppi mania of the Piamonte region south of Milan. Morgan Fletcher was kind enough to give me a place on the wooljersey site yesterday and I will try to get pics of the Eroica posted by the end of the day....if I can figure out how to do it without screwing the site up.

Edward Albert, still trying to keep the rubber side down, in Chappaqua, NY