That’s one thing my collection missed: an “Eroica bike”.
This bike dates back to the early 1970s. They told me that it was purchased during the Austerity period, so when you used to travel only with alternate plates and stayed at home on Sundays, we would say today in lockdown, and then this bike came just to travel with the whole family.
In times of crisis, the bike never cheats.
It was worth it to restore it because it has a nice Campagnolo Valentino Extra gearbox. The derailleur – as well as – remarkable. Derailing levers are stock. In short, it is a beautiful bicycle, it deserved to come back to life. We repainted it, changed the gears, the chain, the toe clips. It was in bad shape… from the original chrome, we only saved those of the head tube.
Keep in mind that not all vintage Eroica bikes were nice bikes on their good days. There were bicycles that – as it happens today – are a little low-priced. I mean, that’s not all you find in historical cyclists is gold and shine. Sometimes bicycles are restored which were also quite modest at the time. Then, if it is an affection a memory, so be it. In the case of this bike, though, I think it was a real standout model, and I’m happy to have restored it.
Now, let’s try to make some historical cycles. I hope I can take part in the Eroica. But also to the Intrepida di Anghiari and obviously to the Cortonese, which I care a lot about. I will update you on my next adventures, even vintage from now on.
