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Eroica Britannia switches to Goodwood from next year and will include motor racing venue’s iconic hill climb

Launch of 2022 edition of retro cycling festival took place at Goodwood Revival this weekend

Eroica Britannia, the UK version of the retro cycling festival that has taken place in Tuscany since 1997, has found a new home, the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex.

First held in 2014, previous editions of the event have taken place in the Peak District, drawing a owners of vintage bikes from home and abroad to Derbyshire each year.

> Eroica Britannia: best of British

Eroica Britannia 2022 launch (picture credit Marcus Dodridge) (5).jpg

The coronavirus pandemic means the event has not taken place since 2019, but next year’s event has now been confirmed for Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August 2022.

The announcement was made at the Goodwood Revival classic motorsport meeting this weekend by the estate’s owner, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon.

Some 150 Eroica regulars attended the event, taking on a lap of the Motor Circuit before heading out into the neighbouring countryside in a ride led by six-time Olympic track cycling champion turned racing driver Sir Chris Hoy.

The Duke of Richmond told them: "One of the things we love about the Eroica Britannia festival is its ethos. It celebrates the sheer joy of exploring the world on two wheels. I can see the passion you have for cycling right here. Your beautifully restored ancient bikes and vintage attire are simply brilliant.

“It’s a perfect fit with Goodwood and what we stand for. At this year’s Revival, in particular, we’ve created an immersive celebration of a less disposable world, where ‘make do and mend’ was a way of life rather than a casual slogan.

“The Revival is, at its heart, a celebration of craftsmanship and sustainability from an age when possessions were made to last and be cherished. It promotes a thoroughly modern ethos – to reduce, reuse, repair, restore and recycle’ – in the most authentic way possible. You are all the perfect embodiment of that ethos, so thank you for sharing your passion with all of us.”

Hoy said afterwards: “That was a tough ride, especially on a vintage bike! To cycle around the Motor Circuit and up the Hill Climb was a real privilege.

“I’m sure the Goodwood crowd will have appreciated the spectacle of 150 riders and their beautiful bikes – their enthusiasm for vintage cycling is infectious!”

Eroica Britannia 2022 launch (picture credit Marcus Dodridge) (12).jpg

Besides cycling, the family-friendly festival will include entertainment and food and drink outlets featuring local produce, and camping facilities will be open from the evening of Friday 5 August.

Tickets for the event will go on sale later this year, and you can sign up here to be alerted ahead of bookings going live.

Eroica Britannia 2022 launch (picture credit Marcus Dodridge) (3).jpg

Goodwood hosted the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in 1982, where the men’s title was won by the Italian Giuseppe Saronni, with the women’s race won by Great Britain’s Mandy Jones.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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19 comments

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johntry2Bgreen | 2 years ago
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What is the 'buy it now' price being a Sir! I live local 3 miles from Goodwood, every year as a local resident we the residents 'endure' the long weekend of Goodwood Revival, it s noisy, it s NOT at all GREEN and most times people attending have FREE tickets as the Goodwood Estate gets the revenue from the Televisual Rights. The local roads are at Gridlock during the event , the town is full of drivers 'revving up' around the City letting off 'steam' and the NOISE starts at 0700 with some ridiculous NOISY Spitfires flying about as if the Pilots flying them today actually 'won the battle of Britain'. What a complete UNGREEN festival it is with huge amounts of Carbon Fuel being used for the benefit of some few Millionaires to show off their Motor Vehicles, of course some poorer people attend but they are sadly in denial if they think they are ever 'in the Club!'. Now we have to put up with Sir Chris Hoy promoting a 'bike ride' at the festival, what nonsense, the Duke of Richmond Public Relations Team really know how to 'hoodwink' people and organisations, no doubt someone received some money in their Bank Account for selling their soul.

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brooksby replied to johntry2Bgreen | 2 years ago
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Isn't the Goodwood Revival meant to be a celebration of vintage motor sports?  So, old cars and old racing cars, and people who want to get a photo shoot in The Chap?

I don't think that the Eroica is being run as a green festival, and I can see how someone might have thought that Eroica would neatly fit alongside that, since it also has an element of dressing up to it (like the Tweed Run).

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Compact Corned Beef replied to johntry2Bgreen | 2 years ago
1 like

Heavens, imagine having to put up with noise a few miles from a racetrack. Consider my pearls well and truly clutched.

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Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
3 likes

Am I the only one who goes reads Eroica and immediately my brain goes Erotica which then neatly wraps back into Bike Porn?

Just me?  I'll get my coat.

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Captain Badger replied to Secret_squirrel | 2 years ago
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Secret_squirrel wrote:

Am I the only one who goes reads Eroica and immediately by brain goes Erotica which then neatly wraps back into Bike Porn?

Just me?  I'll get my coat.

Durty purvurt....

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wycombewheeler replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
4 likes

Captain Badger wrote:
Secret_squirrel wrote:

Am I the only one who goes reads Eroica and immediately by brain goes Erotica which then neatly wraps back into Bike Porn?

Just me?  I'll get my coat.

Durty purvurt....

In future years this will be marked as the starting point for the great squirrel badger war of the 2020s

Avatar
Captain Badger replied to wycombewheeler | 2 years ago
2 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

Captain Badger wrote:
Secret_squirrel wrote:

Am I the only one who goes reads Eroica and immediately by brain goes Erotica which then neatly wraps back into Bike Porn?

Just me?  I'll get my coat.

Durty purvurt....

In future years this will be marked as the starting point for the great squirrel badger war of the 2020s

Yeah well they started it...

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Owd Big 'Ead | 2 years ago
0 likes

Great.

So now the Eroica has been tagged on to a motoring event so that we can be part of their community.

No thanks.

I've always found the older gentleman in his vintage car to be the most inconsiderate of motorists out and about in the Peak District, Eroica or not

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Daveyraveygravey replied to Owd Big 'Ead | 2 years ago
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Great.

So now the Eroica has been tagged on to a motoring event so that we can be part of their community.

No thanks.

I've always found the older gentleman in his vintage car to be the most inconsiderate of motorists out and about in the Peak District, Eroica or not

[/quote
It's a different weekend to the Revival. Why not see how it works out rather than slightly it off almost a year before it happens?

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dolly replied to Daveyraveygravey | 2 years ago
1 like

Goodwood do what they do better than just about anyone, and this was no exception. An enthusiasm for all things motoring and all things cycling are not mutually exclusive. I know many people who love cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, and I am one.

The parade lap and display area were brilliant - some of the old bikes took me right back to my youth. Chater Lea cranks, Airlite hubs, a curly Hetchins with Sturmey Archer hub gear, all before my time but still around as I was growing up. There was a bike on the rack of the Peugeot 404 shown in the photos, and although it wasn't branded a Peugeot it had all of the correct components - Stronglight, Simplex, Mafac etc. A Raleigh from the late 70's/early 80's with a Shimano 600 groupset, with a Cinelli quill stem FFS - remember them? There was even an Alan aluminium. It was as though I was 14 again, working in the local bike shop in the late 70's. Just brilliant. 

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Eroica Britannia replied to dolly | 2 years ago
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Hi - so pleased you enjoyed the event, it was a real pleasure to see so many cyclists, clearly having a lovely time. We literally can't wait for the real thing in August 2022! Hope to see you there. Keep checking the website and follow us on social for all the latest news.... https://www.goodwood.com/cycling/eroica-britannia/

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bobbinogs replied to dolly | 2 years ago
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dolly wrote:

...There was even an Alan aluminium. 

I have one of those, inherited natch.  A few years ago I got in touch with the manufacturer's son (Alberto, the AL in ALAN).  He was very helpful and helped me date the bike.  Reasonably late in the day actually, a 1989.  Strange to find a glued and screwed alu frame.  It has all the strength of a swiss cheese but looks great!  A local fellow has a similar one but the tubes are carbon.  Now that is a rarity! 

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mdavidford replied to Owd Big 'Ead | 2 years ago
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Owd Big 'Ead wrote:

Great.

So now the Eroica has been tagged on to a motoring event so that we can be part of their community.

No thanks.

I've always found the older gentleman in his vintage car to be the most inconsiderate of motorists out and about in the Peak District, Eroica or not

Maybe mixing the two crowds might help to encourage a bit of fellowship and understanding between them, so that the next time you encounter them they're a bit more considerate.

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Captain Badger replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
3 likes

mdavidford wrote:

....

Maybe mixing the two crowds might help to encourage a bit of fellowship and understanding between them, so that the next time you encounter them they're a bit more considerate.

You've not been to a football match in Glasgow then.....

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mdavidford replied to Captain Badger | 2 years ago
1 like

Captain Badger wrote:

mdavidford wrote:

....

Maybe mixing the two crowds might help to encourage a bit of fellowship and understanding between them, so that the next time you encounter them they're a bit more considerate.

You've not been to a football match in Glasgow then.....

 Fair point.

I'm assuming they won't be pitting the cycle and motor enthusiasts against each other in a codified form of tribal pseudo-conflict though.

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Captain Badger replied to mdavidford | 2 years ago
1 like

mdavidford wrote:

....

 Fair point.

I'm assuming they won't be pitting the cycle and motor enthusiasts against each other in a codified form of tribal pseudo-conflict though.

Dunno, I was just going to go for a bit of a scrap...

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Eroica Britannia replied to Owd Big 'Ead | 2 years ago
2 likes

Hello - Eroica Britannia will take place at Goodwood on the 6th and 7th of August 2022 and will be an independent cycling festival celebrating everything we love about vintage bikes.

It will not be part of Revival next year.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you all for what is certain to be a brilliant weekend exploring the South Downs on two wheels and enjoying the very best Sussex food and drink.

To find out more about what we're planning, stay tuned on our social channels and the website: https://www.goodwood.com/cycling/eroica-britannia/

 

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Boopop | 2 years ago
3 likes

I bought a '84 Dawes Galaxy a few years back so I could do this ride as my dad and step mother live in the Peak District. At the time it was held five miles from where they live. Then it was moved to Bakewell (further away) with a limited number of entries. Now it's not even in the Peak District. I might give up!

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Eroica Britannia replied to Boopop | 2 years ago
0 likes

We'd love to see you at Eroica Britannia next year, it's worth the trip to Goodwood! 

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