L’Eroica: Chianti’s Vintage Cycling Event
Tuscany’s L’Eroica bike race in Italy is a regular occurrence, for races are everywhere, every weekend. But each fall since 1997, Tuscany’s Chianti Region is host to a special kind of race, L’Eroica, a vintage Cycling event. Italian roads are typically silky smooth pavement represented as yellow lines on maps. But the map’s white lines, or “Strade Bianche” in Italian, are dirt roads, sometimes worn smooth, sometimes hideously bumpy and potholed – and most certainly always full of surprises. These are the roads for L’Eroica, the same cycling roads used for the professional Eroica course in the spring. But instead of carbon fiber, lycra and race radios – the L’Eroica of the fall is a game of steel frames, lugs, vintage wool and hairnets. It is a celebration of the sport, its rich history, and of the heroic efforts made by those who have raced in what may be the most grueling of all sports.
We decided to spend the afternoon at the finish line enjoying the many characters who came to participate. L’Eroica is not just a race, it is an opportunity to show off all things around the history of the bike. If you love cycling, this is something not to be missed. There is little doubt that next year I will return to Chianti, Tuscany, but I’ll be lined up in wool kit, hairnet and straddling a 12kg bike.
Absolutely beautiful work. Thanks.
Really great piece of work… The sepia look would make me think a couple of those were taken before you were born
Thanks for sharing!
James Forte
Nice, you guys. Love the style, subject matter mix.
Hey Guys-
These shots are amazing! So artsy and I love the sepia tone.
Hope you are both well. We are loving the change of weather here on the Eastside. Fall is my favorite season here. Our little man is growing everyday and so much fun.
Miss and love you-
Keri
Love these photos! What a great way to highlight how far the sport has come, while honoring the past.
Fun is the new genre. I like it!
If fun is the new genre then we have a real specialty. We’ll certainly pursue the niche.
nice stuff Dan classic…
Hi Dan,
Love the creases/wrinkles/scratches/artifact treatment on these photos. Very cool.
My brother (of Tuscan descent, now living in Germany) was there… sans hairnet!
Excellent blog, BTW… it makes me feel sooo homesick! (I live in Denver now, but grew up in Milano, roaming all over the places you are enjoying now). The Rockies are certainly beautiful mountains too… it’s what revolves around the Alps (in this case the Appennines) in terms of culture, history, folklore, etc. that is so different here. As your recent blog about the hut culture also did an excellent job of underlining! I miss it!
good pictures, thanks. but I think they dont need that artificial photoshop treatment.
Simplemente precioso !!!
Superb photos. I am currently rebuilding a c. 1983 Raleigh pro racing bike in order to participate in l’Eroica 2010. I’ll have the wool jersey, but plan to wear a real helmet rather than a hairnet. I am trying to figure out how I will get a nice sepia tan in the meantime.
A sepia tan can be done in Photoshop! but a few days riding in Toscana prior to the race is better.
Hello everyone, I would like to know the dates for the Eroica 2010 if anyone knows. Have they been published already? I can’t quite seem to find such info.
Thanks and see you in Toscana
Angelo, they don’t seem to have dates up yet on the website, but I would imagine it will be the first Sunday in October
http://www.eroica.it
Dan
What amazing pictures. I wish I looked that stylish on my bike!