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My bike Monday: The timeless Bianchi L’Eroica

Just in time for the L'Eroica Gaiole in Chianti

Bianchi L'Eroica
Bianchi L'Eroica
Bianchi L’Eroica

On Sunday, Oct. 2, the 20th edition of the L’Eroica Gaiole in Chianti gets underway. With five routes to choose from ranging from the leisure route of 46 km to the long route of 209 km, riders will tackle Tuscany’s white gravel roads in a ride inspired by the history of cycling and that looks to the past for inspiration. Vintage bike rides aren’t only restricted to Italy either with similar events now in Great Britain, the U.S., Japan and Spain

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Participants of these rides are only permitted to use pre-1987 bike technology, so-called bici eroiche vintage road bicycles, or recently constructed vintage-style bikes. With a whole host of modern top-end racing machines on display at The 11 Inc., the timeless Bianchi L’Eroica we spotted was a real eye-catcher.

The bike is a modern build but is constructed with a nod to history, referencing Bianchi’s own top race bikes from the 1950s and ’60s. The frame is handmade lugged Columbus Zona steel featuring chrome stays and fork. The quill stem, handlebars and seatpost are also all silver-anodized. The frame is hand-painted with Bianchi’s unmistakable classic celeste colour.

Campagnolo built derailleurs specifically for this bike and down-tube Dia-Compe Gran Compe shifters are of course used. The bike features a polished cold-forged aluminium 48/36-tooth crankset. To make contact with the white gravel roads of Tuscany or the tarmac, 25-mm gumwall Vittoria Rally tires are mounted on 32-whole Ambrosio tubular wheels. As per L’Eroica rules, the brake cables are externally routed to the Dia-Compe center-pull rim brakes.

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The finishing touches have also been selected carefully. A particularly nice touch are the cork bar-end plugs. The bars are wrapped with cotton handlebar tape and for your behind, the bike is equipped with a Brooks leather saddle.

The L’Eroica is a leisure cycling event and, as such, riders are also encouraged to ride in vintage clothing and use historically appropriate accessories. The use of modern road helmets is not obligatory (although organizers still encourage it) so riders are often seen sporting leather helmets or cycling caps.

The Bianchi L’Eroica comes stock and is available for $5,700 at The 11 Inc. giving you access to the pleasures of an authentic vintage experience with a swipe of your credit card but with one significant bonus, the bike and it’s components are new. The bike has been specifically crafted to allow cyclists to enjoy the timeless experience of riding gravel roads on a period-appropriate, vintage-style bicycle.