BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6, saw thousands of Eroica lovers gather in Tuscany for two days of vintage cycling.
The official regulations call for wool clothing, styled like vintage racing gear. This is where a partnership between Eroica and Sidi was born—a collaboration based on “shared values, history, and a passion for cycling. A glance at the past to inspire the future of cycling”.
Tenacia is the first shoe designed and produced specifically for Eroica, by any company. The shoe is now on sale, retailing for €189, via both Sidi’s e-commerce site and at the Eroica shop in Gaiole in Chianti.
Sidi has created and produced the Tenacia shoe, a model specifically designed for Eroica, reflecting the brand’s heritage. Its design specifically recalls the 1970s, when the company invented the first clip to be mounted under the shoe – a nod to tradition in its construction, aesthetics, and functionality, but with modern materials.
The new shoe may sport retro looks, but the construction is entirely modern, made of microfiber, featuring a specially tapered shape, paired with a flat sole for use with the bike’s toe clip. The Sidi logo is embroidered on the heel, and the Eroica logo is embroidered on the tongue.
A Tuscan adventure
The festival of cycling was hosted at a symbolic location – Gaiole in Chianti, home of the Eroica shop – from where five routes begin at dawn, including the “long” course, a 209-kilometer ride through Chianti, the Crete Senesi, Montalcino, and the Val d’Orcia.
For those keen to experience Eroica, but not the biggest day in the saddle, riders could also choose from a 46-kilometre “stroll,” an 81-kilometre “short” ride, the “century of radio” at 106 kilometres, and the “medium” at 135 kilometres.
With a festival of cycling in mind, route planners aimed to provide a continuous up-and-down journey through hills and dirt roads, full of challenge, a love of adventure, and stunning views.
The Eroica story
Founded in 1997 by Giancarlo Brocci, Eroica is not just a vintage-inspired cycling race, but also a community built around a shared passion for cycling and a movement dedicated to preserving the white roads of Tuscany. Eroica represents deep roots in the territory, a sense of community, passion, and well-being. It’s called Eroica because riding those roads with classic equipment is undoubtedly a heroic feat.
