PASO ROBLES, Calif. (BRAIN) — Organizers expect the third edition of the Eroica California to attract about 1,000 participants, most of them big fans of vintage road bikes and gear.
The event, set for April 8-9, draws its roots from the Italian L'Eroica, or "The Heroic," an event held annually since 1997 in Tuscany.
The California event includes a Concours d'Elegance on Saturday, where participants can enter their own vintage road bikes for a chance to win "Best of Show."
The event festival in the historic Paso Robles Downtown Park will include booths from local businesses and artisans, as well as a cycling fair with vendors of bikes and parts from all eras. Saturday will also include a screening of the film "Marinoni: The Fire In The Frame" that chronicles the life of champion cyclist and frame builder Giuseppe Marinoni. The day concludes with a Tuscan style dinner, complete with local beers and wine, followed by a benefit auction where all proceeds go to Hospice of SLO County.
On Sunday there are ride on four routes, ranging from 40 to 127 miles. Many riders will ride vintage bikes and wear vintage gear. All routes include scenic sections of gravel roads and rest stops located at farms and vineyards. The two longer options will take riders over the coastal mountain range and down to the towns of Cambria and Cayucos along the Pacific before finishing back in Paso Robles.
Registration is currently open at eroicacalifornia.com.
