Eroica California 2019 DNF?
 

With all the free time I have on my hands now, I finally got around to hanging my 2019 Eroica California poster. Having done so, I was looking at it and it seemed to me that the ocean was on the wrong side.

https://utahrandonneur.files.wordpre...6/eroica-2.jpg

Having ridden the Piedras Blancas route, I distinctly remembered approaching the lighthouse from the south. OK, so they took some liberties with the artwork to get better composition, right? But my brain doesn't let things go that easily, so I went to look at the routes to see if one of the others came to the lighthouse from the north. To my dismay, I discovered instead that the official Piedras Blancas route goes past the lighthouse on the way out, continues for another mile and a half before turning around and coming back. I absolutely did not do that. I cut the course! :twitchy:

Anyone else in this shame with me, or was I the only one?

I wasn't there but rules, schmules, you made it your own, better that way. ;)

If I had done it on purpose, I would absolutely agree with you. Instead, I just accidentally missed part of the ride!

Andy, if you got all the route stamps and they presented you with the finishing prizes and medal, then you officially completed the course, albeit maybe a little short. That will be between the internet, us and you!

reminds me of a Porsche car rally I did with my wife in 1992. We tried to follow the route instructions but there were many pitfalls and interpretations to make and experience. About one mile from the end, there was an instruction (or so we thought) to turn right down a 1/4 mile long road but up ahead we could see cars being sent back down the same road. I thought “this can’t be right, it must be off course or some kinda trick” so I made a quick U-turn and headed to the next checkpoint. Well it turned out that cars that reached the end of that street were given a quick stamp, and when I arrived at the check point, I lost time by not having the stamp. We did ok for our first rally, finishing 20th out of a field of 85 or so, about 220 points down in the non-navigational class. By contrast the best Navigation equipped winner (and as a team has won like 90% of all PCA rallies) finished just 6 points down.

I also remember some folks at Eroica said they missed a few of the route instructions and rode further before realizing their mistake. Doubling back or taking another route to re-intersect the course had them riding up to 4-5 additional miles. I guess they got their money’s worth for that route!

Rich and I rode only as far as the light house , had some fruit and water and then back down the coast. We got our cards stamped at the check point. I was not aware of any northern extension beyond that. We did however do the moonstone beach route that a lot of folks skipped and we did the climb to the last signal and entered town from the southern end. A lot of folks went into town the same end we left from. It was confusing and not that well marked, sort of a “follow the leader” ride. I would have liked a longer , maybe a bit more challenging, route myself. The Paso short route was perfect. I don’t know what the future holds for this event but I would be interested in going a bit rogue for a longer ride. I am just not up to 80 miles . I could do a half century and be fine with it. My wife and I stayed in San Simeon so I got some riding in to and from the event .

I'm pretty sure I've done the Eroica "three hills, no fries" route properly, but I did make a wrong turn second day of Cino, as @ollo_ollo will confirm. Unfortunately this added some additional climbing.

I don't think anyone cared.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tP...-no?authuser=0

Yup, it was foggy and still kind of dark when I missed this one - I didn't mind the extra miles, but it put me in last place and mostly riding alone.

I had an idea last year to go out with the Via Dello Salatore riders, ride as far as Cayucos and then turn around and be back in Cambria in time for the start of the Piedras Blancas ride. That would have made it around 70 miles but still very flat, and I would have gotten to see more of the coast. Then I had another idea that if I didn't do that I could sleep later, so I just rode what I thought was the regulation Piedras Blancas ride plus a little side exploration around Cambria when I was done.

Fixed it
 

FIXED
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...818f230124.jpg

Your Welcome

Barry

that would work!

Yep. Another rider and I found a yellow arrow marker after Mark rode off, up hill to the right. The other, (younger) rider tried to catch-up to gugie but returned saying he was too fast. A couple local riders rode up to confirm the left fork was correct. Don

I also thought the poster looked off, and didn't realize until your post that there was an extra bit of the ride north of the lighthouse! On the othe hand, my tandem partner might have mutineed if we'd had to go further with her very full bladder during the morning of the 2019 ride. No excuses though, because I actually made the same route mlstake TWICE the same day. My old college roommate and I were both turning 60 the week of the 2019 ride. Three of us rode to the lighthouse in the morning, my wife and I on a tandem and my friend on a single. Then my roommate and I did the 30 mile lighthouse route AGAIN in the afternoon so we could "ride our age" at Eroica. Missed the extension again past the lighthouse but we made our 60 mile goal for the day and had a great time. Of course, we could have headed south to Cayucus fom Cambia for our second afternoon ride. But we were old enough (and wily enough) to know we want a strong tailwind for the final return to Cambria! Worked out great, and I'm declaring a complete victory for the day, miesed mile and all.

Maybe the route was originally supposed to go past it but I never saw anyone do so. In fact when I got to the turn off there was a CHP Officer sitting there who stopped traffic so that a big group of us could make the turn.

Andy, in your place, I would only worry about lack of conformity if your bike also did not have any brakes. We can’t see the rider’s face, but I’m sure his eyes are big as pie plates. Funny you started this thread, because right around same time I came across my poster laying on an out of the way shelf and thought I need to do something with it.

He has a brake cable. Isn't that enough?

Its a forgivable offense. The rider in the artwork is riding a Bianchi. Its all i see.

Its a sweet poster.

Those are some skinny tires, but as most vintage bike enthusiasts already know, I see room for fatter tires and properly spaced fenders.

Bonus points for the fastback stays.

Illustrator license.

Now I'm wondering which vintage Bianchi has fastback seat stays and a seat post with a larger diameter than the seat tube.

Lol I'm trying to ID it too.

Lucky you. I didn't even get a poster last year. I asked at the check in and t-shirt booth, fairly early Saturday, no posters. I have one from every year, except '19, so I had no clue about the picture layout. Nice poster though. When we were at the Lighthouse, one of the docents suggested continuing up to Ragged Point to extend the short route a little. We didn't do it. Maybe next time ... if there is a next time. 🤔

Why does he have toe straps on block pedals from a Murray tricycle?

Your lack of a poster is the proper memorabilia for last year's organization level. :innocent:

The poster I have isn't exactly like the one in my post. Mine is portrait orientation and has a couple more clouds above the sun. That leads me to ponder another question -- why is the sun rising/setting in the south?

Speak for yourself balloon tire boy.