Beechworth Gran Fondo & L'Eroica - March 29-30 2014

[Stuart]

I know it seems ages away but on 29th-30th March 2014 the fully closed roads 115k Beechworth Gran Fondo & the classic bike L'Eroica are on for the 2nd year.

Link to website

course map and elevation profile

Facebook page >> https://www.facebook.com/GranFondoBeechworth

10+ of us have already committed and booked accom .. but there's plenty of places to stay including camping if you're that way inclined. Check out Stayz

It's more low key than Amy's Gran Fondo but only 600k's away so more accessible - the Fondo is on the Sunday and L'Eroica on the Saturday for all those Valley Wheelers out there.

Plus there's great food & wine & Bright is just down the road if you fancy some hills!

Get on it. These events are excellent and deserve our support. Maximum Gran Fondo riders is 3000! They got *edit* 750 in 2013 (maybe across all the different rides) *end edit* .. maybe we can help the event prosper

Here's DHBC's lone Gran Fondo rider from 2013 at the start - guess who?

[JoTheBuilder]

Hi Keith.

Christian and I are in...

[Tonyoc]

Mr Windsor??

SPOTTED

[canthes]

Tegan and I are in, doing the gourmet food/wine ride on Saturday as well...it's all research really!
Cam

[Stuart]

Here's a great video produced by Drapac & the Beechworth Gran Fondo people .. also has very old steel bike + owner chatting about L'Eroica and Drapac on some of those hideous climbs out of Bright that Alpine Classic aficionados seem fond of. Also beer.

http://vimeo.com/57495653

[Stuart]

and back in 2013 ... DHBC did the L'eroica : Lindsay & Chris ..

[ratzzzzz]

Am interested in this, am trying to tie it in with work though so may not be able to commit for a little while - any educated guesses about if / when will it sell out?

Also anyone else looking for accom?

[Stuart]

Very unlikely it will sell out according to the promoter. I'm going to enter in early Feb.

[marc2131]

Handsome brute

[Stuart]

Has anybody entered the Gran Fondo yet? If so did you start a team for DHBC?

[Stuart]

*bump*
Our house of 10 is full again for the Gran Fondo on the Sunday as the Vice Pres is now riding; are any of the Valley Wheelers doing the L'eroica?

Training rides commence Sun 9th Feb (probably) with alternate RNP / West Head every Sun till the big weekend. If you've never done a Gran Fondo this could be the ride for you. All you need to do is draft Drapac and you could be on the podium

[samhagen]

Hi! New to DHBC, and thinking about doing my first GF at beechworth.

[Stuart]

Hi Sam - the more DHBC riders the better. There are plenty of accommodation options still available and riding on closed roads with 1000's of other cyclists is a fantastic experience (unless it rains)

[Stuart]

bump:
Are any of the Valley Wheelers doing the classic bike L'Eroica this year?

[marc2131]

bump:
Are any of the Valley Wheelers doing the classic bike L'Eroica this year?

Last I heard, potentially 3 so far.

[Stuart]

It's been cancelled. Completely. Totally f'ed up. Not Happy at all.

[Eleri]

It's been cancelled. Completely. Totally f'ed up. Not Happy at all.

What has? The Gran Fondo and the L'Eroica? That's late to cancel!! Do you know why?

Answered my own question - the whole lot and insufficient numbers. That's a pity ... and kind of hard to understand.

[Stuart]

email from the event organisers

It is with great regret that we announce the decision to cancel the Gran Fondo Beechworth event 2014, inclusive of the L'Eroica, Gourmet Fondo, Cycle Cross and Gran Fondo.
Entrant numbers, whilst booming when we launched this year's event, have not reached sufficient levels to allow us to proceed with the event. It is an extremely difficult decision to make, and it greatly saddens us to do so. Whilst we, and many of you, are passionate about the event and all that comes with it - cycling, food, wine and friends - we are unable to proceed with the event without the required attending numbers. We apologise for the inconvenience that may be caused for many of you, but we felt it right to announce the decision now rather than later.

As an already entered participant, you will, as a matter of urgency, be receiving a full refund. We will be in contact with you again shortly.

We encourage you to still visit and enjoy the area of Beechworth and its surrounds, and to experience all that it has to offer.

We thank you for initial support and understanding.

If you have any particular concern(s), please feel free to contact us via: info@granfondobeechworth.com.au

Yours sincerely,
The entire Gran Fondo Beechworth Team

[ratzzzzz]

I organised a week of work in the area and a few days of work after so despite everyone else pulling out I'll still be in Beechworth that weekend. If anyone has any ideas on some rides/ things to do/ cheap accom recommendations let me know. There are a few suggestions going up on the Fondo Facebook page which I'll keep an eye on.