More Photos Below!Gallery
Here’s a photo essay on a bike touring trip to Italy that an OYB customer took recently. Henry Roberts and his friend Reed Gregerson went over there for a tour and to ride the famous L’Eroica vintage bike marathon held over a challenging 205km route featuring the Strada Bianca — the white gravel roads that bike races used to be held along.
L’Eroica has a couple thousand riders, all on pre-’87 bikes (exposed cables, DT shifters, clips), many from the 60’s and 70’s and some from the 1800’s. Its name means “the heroic,” and you better be fit to attempt this ride, but the riders are everyday sorts…who’ve trained hard to survive this pilgrimage on their beloved steeds. It’s a convivial event celebrating the culture of the bike…and of Italy.
Henry said his 3 OYB 6-Way bags worked out dandy. I’m so glad they had the chance to be used for such a special event. He used all 3 bags in their weeklong tour leading to the event, then he used just one as a handlebar bag for the Big Day. I note that he’s the organizer of Cino Heroica, a 2-day “gran fondo” held in Montana. www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112710501068
Well, without further ado… let the pictures tell the story… (Well, my web-tool requires a caption for every pic, so pardon my little guessed blurbs…)
Oh, but first, here’s a YouTube of the Event, made by Brooks. Our hero gets a cameo at 1:36!
(For more pics, and high-rez, visit these links: www.flickr.com/photos/cinorider/sets/72157622426592773/ www.flickr.com/photos/cinorider/collections/72157622426572989/)
End of the line.
Commemorativo.
Reed’s bike, finale.
Henry’s bike, finished.
Finished!
A tough hill.
Feed stop.
Somewhat tired.
Courtyard. Break.
Food break, in the L’eroica style.
Break.
Thru a town.
Nearing evening.
Why not stop?
En route.
Gathering.
Might be a museum, might be ready for the ride.
Newsworthy handlebar bag…
On tour.
Mmmmm…
B&B
Grapes.
Wine district.
Mmmm…
The Italian way.
On the Italian way.
JRA. Just riding along.
Ready!
Mercian, ready for a light tour.
