This is a few accounts I have written on the Carlton Cycles of Worksop Group Facebook pages.
It can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1495959500629283/
There re also a number of videos I shot on the day which can be viewed on my YT channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiCB7A ... 007cYet2kw
These are just my thoughts and observations of this years event. I took part in the 55 mile route. This is my second time at Eroica.
Eroica 2017 - a few thoughts... (Part 1)
My overall impression of the event is a positive one, with great weather, great people and great bikes. Not to mention the stands, entertainment and quality of the facilities.
Parking was a little easier this year, although H&S still precluded anyone from getting near their tent. Why not have a drop off point to ease things along? So glad we brought a wheelbarrow this year to help.
Camp site signing in was easy, stewards were helpful and even funny! Plenty of room of the site itself, although by Friday evening it was getting near full. The idea of opening early on the Thursday was a good one, and help avoid the huge bottle necks experienced by many last year.
Once on site the camp site where we were was literally a stones throw form the main show ground entrance. The ground was much bigger this year, spaced out more and allowed people to move around freely. A much bigger stage for entertainment was a clear indication of where a lot of thought and no doubt money had gone. The two bars - the 'Britannia Tavern' and the 'HQ' tent were great. The lack of Thornbridge ales and not enough staff on the bars did wrankle with me somewhat. The queues on Saturday and Friday were unacceptable at times. We went to the other HQ bar sometimes to get served quicker, which being the HQ tent had a more relaxed and conservative nature - at times!
Overall the beer was OK, the IPA London Ale by Meantime being a good session ale. Peroni was expensive at £5 a pint, everything else at £4.50, up about a £1 on last year and also while I am on the subject of prices the Eroica Times was up £1 too to £3 a copy. Both design and print costs have not risen 33% in a year. OK complaints over...
Friday was a cool day, with cloud and wind, with people still ariving the ground itself was quiet and I had a chance to look around the stands and the bike jumble. One or two bits caught my eye, alas a lot of stuff was out and out junk. Some goo complete bikes for sale as well as better parts and steeper prices. I was on the look out for a stem and saddle but nothing really screamed out at me to reach for my wallet.
Saturday started warm and this set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Man it was hot. After a busy Friday night, getting back to the tent about 12am, I had a breakfast and rest as well as get a bike ready to take with me to the show - a bit like walking the dog, but with a bike. I took the Sun CB 10. We got over to the ground about 12pm and had a mooch around, bumped into several members here and chatted. Since I was riding the next day I reigned in the beer intake just have 2 or 3 pints all day. Entertainment was in full swing by now and I have to say a real effort had been made to cover all tastes, with acts form brass bands, folk and rock right through to 80s outfit ABC taking up the stage. All good stuff and enjoyed by all. We went back about 4pm for a bite to eat and came back later in the evening to see ABC as well as a pint of two. A great day and with the temperature in the high 20s the whole placed was very busy. One more thing I should add, the registration was much easier this year with the desk split in to numbered chunks.
I'll put part two, Ride day in a seperate post!!
It can be found here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1495959500629283/
There re also a number of videos I shot on the day which can be viewed on my YT channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiCB7A ... 007cYet2kw
These are just my thoughts and observations of this years event. I took part in the 55 mile route. This is my second time at Eroica.
Eroica 2017 - a few thoughts... (Part 1)
My overall impression of the event is a positive one, with great weather, great people and great bikes. Not to mention the stands, entertainment and quality of the facilities.
Parking was a little easier this year, although H&S still precluded anyone from getting near their tent. Why not have a drop off point to ease things along? So glad we brought a wheelbarrow this year to help.
Camp site signing in was easy, stewards were helpful and even funny! Plenty of room of the site itself, although by Friday evening it was getting near full. The idea of opening early on the Thursday was a good one, and help avoid the huge bottle necks experienced by many last year.
Once on site the camp site where we were was literally a stones throw form the main show ground entrance. The ground was much bigger this year, spaced out more and allowed people to move around freely. A much bigger stage for entertainment was a clear indication of where a lot of thought and no doubt money had gone. The two bars - the 'Britannia Tavern' and the 'HQ' tent were great. The lack of Thornbridge ales and not enough staff on the bars did wrankle with me somewhat. The queues on Saturday and Friday were unacceptable at times. We went to the other HQ bar sometimes to get served quicker, which being the HQ tent had a more relaxed and conservative nature - at times!
Overall the beer was OK, the IPA London Ale by Meantime being a good session ale. Peroni was expensive at £5 a pint, everything else at £4.50, up about a £1 on last year and also while I am on the subject of prices the Eroica Times was up £1 too to £3 a copy. Both design and print costs have not risen 33% in a year. OK complaints over...
Friday was a cool day, with cloud and wind, with people still ariving the ground itself was quiet and I had a chance to look around the stands and the bike jumble. One or two bits caught my eye, alas a lot of stuff was out and out junk. Some goo complete bikes for sale as well as better parts and steeper prices. I was on the look out for a stem and saddle but nothing really screamed out at me to reach for my wallet.
Saturday started warm and this set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Man it was hot. After a busy Friday night, getting back to the tent about 12am, I had a breakfast and rest as well as get a bike ready to take with me to the show - a bit like walking the dog, but with a bike. I took the Sun CB 10. We got over to the ground about 12pm and had a mooch around, bumped into several members here and chatted. Since I was riding the next day I reigned in the beer intake just have 2 or 3 pints all day. Entertainment was in full swing by now and I have to say a real effort had been made to cover all tastes, with acts form brass bands, folk and rock right through to 80s outfit ABC taking up the stage. All good stuff and enjoyed by all. We went back about 4pm for a bite to eat and came back later in the evening to see ABC as well as a pint of two. A great day and with the temperature in the high 20s the whole placed was very busy. One more thing I should add, the registration was much easier this year with the desk split in to numbered chunks.
I'll put part two, Ride day in a seperate post!!
