Cycle California! Magazine

April Cycle California!

Vintage Rides come to California

By Joe P. Giannone

No one really knows when the concept of the organized vintage bike ride first began. It is certain, however, that the dramatic rise in the popularity of vintage rides began with the first edition of “L’Eroica,” held in Gaiole in Chianti, a small village in the province of Siena, Italy.

Celebrating Racing Heroes

The ride, which first ran in 1997, was designed to be a celebration of early cycling, harkening back to the days when racing greats like Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali thrilled cycling fans with their long standing rivalries and heroic feats of cycling strength, endurance and skill. The popularity of L’Eroica has grown over the years — it is still held in Gaiole first Sunday every October.

More Bike Goodness

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