Bee r, beards and bikes
I arrive on the Friday evening. The festival is already busy, with the food stalls and beer tent doing brisk trade. One thing that’s obvious straightaway is that the Eroica has attracted a real mix of people. As well as 20-something hipsters with beards, there are middle-aged men in blazers with beards, even one or two kids in period clothes sporting fake beards. Without so much as a moustache you could put on a bike and call a handlebar, I feel almost naked.
As well as showing off impressive facial hair, many festival-goers are wearing vintage clothes, and I regret not making a sartorial effort. The next day I wander around clothing stalls selling plus-fours, tweed jackets, deer stalkers and waistcoats. I limit my spending to an official L’Eroica jersey to wear on Sunday’s ride, and head for the bike jumble. As well as box after box of obscure bike parts, there are rows of old bikes for sale. Some are best described as in ‘original’ condition. They’ve been well used and wear their age with pride. Others have been immaculately restored. One Hetchins frame and fork, complete with the famous bike maker’s signature curvy stays, is for sale for £975. Even at that price it’s just as well the stall holder doesn’t take credit cards.
I head back to the campsite to take my own bike for a quick pre-ride spin. My 1959 Dawes Windrush was a Friday night impulse buy on eBay, and despite choosing a pristine machine which had just been restored, hardly a ride has gone by without something slipping, breaking or falling off. Fortunately a final test ride before driving up to Derbyshire was incident-free, apart from a constant rattle from the handlebar-mounted bottles (another late-night internet purchase).
Tyres pumped and chain oiled, I cycle back to the festival, turning green with bike-envy at all the immaculate machines which not only look great but actually seem to work properly. My confidence is boosted by completing a good half-mile without any mechanical mishaps, and envy turns to pride when I spot someone photographing my bike. Maybe the old girl is going to get around the course after all.
Afternoon turns to evening, and crowds gather at the bars and around the stage, with live music keeping visitors entertained. I get talking to the 3RT cycling team from West Yorkshire. They share some tips on pre-event nutrition, which centre around the consumption of