Will I be back in Gaiole next year? I don’t know. But if I want to, I will choose to do so.
That’s how my last post in October 2018 ended. I had just finished Eroica Gaiole and was contemplating about life and opportunities it presents. Obviously at that time no one could foresee that life’s opportunities would turn into challenges rather quickly.
I haven’t posted anything in a while but I’ve been attending vintage cycling events in the last three years – despite Corona. So it’s time to recap!
Eroica Limburg 2019
In June 2019 I finished the long route (194km) of Eroica Limburg. I was suffering. A lot. It was so bloody hot and one thing I don’t like is heat. I don’t mind rain, even snow is fine. But what I really can’t stand is this damn heat which is so exhausting for my body. Anyway, somehow I managed to finish the hell of Limburg.
Tour d’Alba 2020
Tour d’Alba is the local vintage cycling event in my home province of Vorarlberg, Austria. It’s probably my favourite annual cycling event, the one I do not want to miss. This one is not about endurance or suffering but rather having a good time with friends in a very relaxed atmosphere. What was special about the 2020 edition? I didn’t happen. Unless you know the right people, of course 🙂
In Velo Veritas 2020
After having completed the long route of In Velo Veritas in 2018 (with a total distance of 235km including an unplanned detour) I returned to the Weinviertel in 2020 with my wife and a befriended couple. This time we opted for a shorter and more relaxed route (80km). What I like about IVV is the changing location from year to year so there is always something new to discover. To date, my ride in 2018 is the longest I’ve ever ridden. However, this is supposed to change pretty soon 🙂
Styroica 2020
Styroica has been on my bucket list for quite some time but somehow I never managed to participate – one reason being a scheduling conflict with Eroica Dolomiti. In 2020 I could finally tick the box on this one. I took my wife to Styria and we enjoyed a beautiful day of cycling along the famous Weinstrasse close to the Slovenian border. In fact, at one point we did cycle on different sides of the border (but still next to each other) with my wife cycling in Austria and myself in Slovenia 🙂
Tour d’Alba 2021
Tour d’Alba had been cancelled in 2020 due to Covid but was officially back on the calendar for 2021. What a day it was. Beautiful weather, lots of friends and another great Tour d’Alba experience. If someone is wondering how the event came to its name: it has nothing to do with the Italian city of Alba (Piemonte) but rather with a small village in Bregenzerwald called Alberschwende. In local dialect we call it Albaschwende and that’s how the name was born.
Eroica Germania 2021
I came up with the idea to participate at Eroica Germania as soon as I noticed the date. It was scheduled for the weekend of my wife’s 40th birthday and therefore predestined for a surprise party. Obviously she became suspicious when I loaded the old bikes on the bike rack of our car. But she only realised that we were on the way to Eroica Germania when we passed Mannheim. What she didn’t know was how the reception would be in Eltville. Some friends were already waiting for us and the surprise turned out to be a big success. We even managed to get a picture with Mister Eroica, Giancarlo Brocci.
Eroica Gaiole 2021
As with Tour d’Alba and many other events, Eroica Gaiole had been cancelled in 2020 due to Covid but was back on schedule for 2021. I had a booked a starting place for 2020 which was still valid a year later. I was accompanied by my brother Robert and my friend Christian who was looking forward to his first Eroica Gaiole experience. The motivation was high which means there was no discussion about which route to tackle: L’Eroica Lungo. After experiencing some technical difficulties along the way (my break handle fell off, for example) we missed the cut-off time at Pianella and had to take the short-cut back to Gaiole. This obviously means unfinished business – we’ll be back 🙂
Next chapter: London Edinburgh London