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Eroica Britannia weekend will now include the Eroica Nova sportive, where modern bikes are allowed

The usual Eroica rules state that participants must use a bike built pre-1987; however the addition of the new Nova event to run alongside the ‘Classic’ rides allow entrants to use any bike over the 80 mile course

The Eroica Britannia vintage cycling festival, to be held over 15th-17th June in the Peak District, will now include the Eroica Nova, a 130km sportive where modern bikes are allowed.

The bikes and equipment at the Strada Bianche
Retro: Shimano and Campagnolo's greatest design blunders

The Eroica Nova concept was piloted in April last year at the Tuscan L’Eroica event, and following its success the ride has now been brought to the Eroica Britannia with plans to roll it out over all L’Eroica events worldwide. The Classic rides deem that participants must use old-school steel bikes with downtube shifters built before 1987, but the Nova permits those who might not own a vintage bike to get involved with the event too. Eroica Britannia say they expect the Eroica Nova to attract “an entirely new audience of discerning, affluent, well-heeled cyclists, and their accompanying tribes.”

eroica nova 2.png

The picturesque 130km route is a mix of tarmac, white road gravel trails and off-road tracks (28mm tyres are recommended) and features some of the most iconic climbs in the Peak District including Winnats Pass and Monsal Head, both of which are included in the 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs book by Simon Warren. While the Classic Eroica rides are traditionally mellow, some competitive elements have been introduced to the Nova such as time trial sections and a hill climb, so riders have the option to relax for the most part but still test themselves.

The Eroica Nova is on Saturday 16th June, with the Classic rides taking place on the 17th. You can visit the Eroica Britannia website here for ticket info. We also previewed some of the Eroica Brittania ride routes on both vintage and modern bikes recently. Check out this article + video to see how we got on...

We’re running a special Eroica Britannia comp until 5th March, giving away two ride passes, festival and camping tickets plus all the kit you’ll need to look the part during the ride. Click here to get your entry in!

Arriving at road.cc in 2017 via 220 Triathlon Magazine, Jack dipped his toe in most jobs on the site and over at eBikeTips before being named the new editor of road.cc in 2020, much to his surprise. His cycling life began during his students days, when he cobbled together a few hundred quid off the back of a hard winter selling hats (long story) and bought his first road bike - a Trek 1.1 that was quickly relegated to winter steed, before it was sadly pinched a few years later. Creatively replacing it with a Trek 1.2, Jack mostly rides this bike around local cycle paths nowadays, but when he wants to get the racer out and be competitive his preferred events are time trials, sportives, triathlons and pogo sticking - the latter being another long story.  

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5 comments

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alansmurphy | 6 years ago
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"Winnits Pass"

 

Where?

Avatar
dassie | 6 years ago
1 like

£80.  zoiks!

Avatar
Joeinpoole replied to dassie | 6 years ago
2 likes

dassie wrote:

£80.  zoiks!

Well they did mention money twice in describing their target market! They're looking for people who are both "affluent and well-healed".

Avatar
stomec replied to Joeinpoole | 6 years ago
0 likes

Although the cost does include entrance to the festival bit for the 3 days as well. If the weather and the music are good this is slightly better. 

 

Joeinpoole wrote:

dassie wrote:

£80.  zoiks!

Well they did mention money twice in describing their target market! They're looking for people who are both "affluent and well-healed".

Avatar
pockstone replied to Joeinpoole | 6 years ago
4 likes

[

[/quote]

Well they did mention money twice in describing their target market! They're looking for people who are both "affluent and well-healed".

[/quote]

Well that's me out, I'm as poor as a church mouse, and cursed with running sores. 

I always liked the idea of resurrecting my 1981 dutch racer and having ago at the Eroica. Not so sure now after reading that elitist guff. I hope they're overrun by Aldi clad cheapskates and blokes in Council Hi-vis tabards on squeaky BSOs.

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