La beauté de la fatigue et le frisson de la conquête

Terms, Conditions and Rules of 2020 Eroica California

 

Article 1 – Date and Place

Eroica California™ is a non-competitive cycling event (hereinafter also defined as "ride" or, improperly, "race") taking place in Cambria, San Luis Obispo County, California from Saturday September  26 to Sunday September 27, 2020. The ride is inspired by historical cycling and the routes include long segments of gravel roads. Cyclists must ride “Historical Bikes” (also named “Bici Eroiche”) or Vintage-Looking Bikes, as defined in Article 6 hereinafter, and in the INSPIRATION section at www.eroica.cc.


Article 2 – Routes and Start

Participants will have the option of choosing between four (4) different routes: 40 miles (“Short Route”), 73 miles (“Medium Route”), 87 miles ("Coastal Route") and 127 miles (“Long/Heroic Route”). 

Each participant has the opportunity to choose the route that best suits their fitness level. Each participant must indicate his or her route of choice at the time of registration. PLEASE NOTE: Participants will be allowed to change their originally chosen route, without incurring any penalty, until closing of the registration desk on Saturday, September 26.

Participants aged between 15 and 17 years will not be allowed to participate in the Long Routes. 

Routes will be sign-posted with arrows; nevertheless participants must familiarize with the Road Book and Route Map, which will be given at the registration desk and will describe the route, check points and rest stops. The route maps and GPS tracks can be downloaded from www.eroicacalifornia.com.

Participants starting before 7:00am must use front and rear lights on their bicycle in compliance with the California California Vehicle Code. If you do not have them you will not be able to start until sunrise. 

 

Article 3 – Participation 

Eroica California is open to all people who are least 15 years of age at the time of the event. Participants must be in good health. We strongly recommend and encourage every participant to have a health check by your doctor prior to attending the event.


  

Art. 5 – Registration

The registration process will begin on June 1, 2019 at 6:00am California time and applicants who registered their email address at www.eroicacalifornia.com will receive the latest news and first chance to register for the event.

 

Each individual will have 3 days to complete his or her registration and payment process. Enrollment in the Eroica California event shall be granted on a first come first serve basis. After the Eroica California registration list has reached its maximum capacity of 1,500 participants, the registration process will be closed. If additional slots are still available after the initial registration period, registration will be extended 7 days.

  

Article 6 - Criteria for Admission: Bicycles and Clothing

Eroica is an event for road bicycles, dedicated to cyclists wearing vintage or historically inspired gear, on ‘HEROIC BIKES’ (BICI EROICHE) or newly constructed VINTAGE-STYLED BIKES.

 

6.1 – Bicycles

Historical Bikes (also called Bici Eroiche, in Italian) are all road racing bikes built in 1987 or earlier, with or without gears, as those built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. These bicycles most likely have a steel frame, but also other types of rare frames are permitted, such as the aluminum frames built by Alan and Vitus, with screwed or glued joints, the Exxon Graftek frames of the late 1970’s with carbon tubes glued to aluminum lugs and Teledyne Titanium frame set made in the 1970's and some aluminum frames that were built in the 30's. 

 

The bicycles should be in line with the following general guidelines regarding components:

a) more recent bikes with gears and derailleurs, such as, but not limited to Simplex, Huret, Campagnolo, Zeus, Shimano, Suntour, etc. must have shift levers on the down tube of the frame; exceptions include pre-1980 non indexed bar-end gear shifters, Stem mounted friction shifters and rod/hand manual operated front derailleurs;

b) pedals should be with toe clips and straps or, for older bikes, as the original pedals; quick release, clip-less pedals are not allowed. You may ride the traditional pedals without the toe clips or straps. 

c) we prefer the traditional brake lever setup on the bicycles, brake cables pass outside and over the handlebars (cables can pass inside the top tube of main frame), however, starting in 2017, aero brake levers without built in shifters will be allowed.

d) older geared bicycles should have original shifters such as Cambio Corsa, Cambio Paris Roubaix, Cambio Vittoria Margherita, etc.;

e) wheels must have at least 32 spokes laced to a low profile rim (20 mm depth or less, except for the wood rims); the rims must be of either steel, aluminum or wood;

f) both tubular tyres and clinchers with inner tubes are allowed;

g) we invite participants to fit saddles from the same period of the bicycles, so a model of 1987 or earlier, or a vintage model of modern production such as Brooks leather saddles, Cinelli replicas, San Marco, etc;

h) the change of the gear ratios is allowed due to the difficulty of the ride;

i) there are no particular rules on the type of brakes as long as they are in line with the construction period of the bicycle and that they are efficient for safety reasons.

Of course, older road racing bicycles of the early 1900’s with single gear or flip-flop rear hubs don’t need to comply with the above criteria as long as they have their original components.

"Vintage-Looking Bikes" with steel frames from new or recent construction with vintage look and characteristics may be used only if they are assembled using vintage components or replicated parts similar to the original as described above. In particular if the bikes are inspired by the design of road racing bicycles of the 1970’s and 1980’s, they must comply with rules a), b), and c) above, regarding shift levers, toe clips and straps, and brake cables.

Exemptions regarding the type of bicycle will be granted to participants with disabilities, as long as they make a specific request to the organization at the time of registration.

For the short route, other types of vintage bicycles will be admitted, such as the postman's bikes, military bikes, general working bicycles, leisure bicycles, etc. as long as they were built in 1987 or earlier.

Mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes and time trial bikes are excluded from all routes.

Any registered cyclist who arrives at the start line or found on the route on the day of the ride with a bicycle/components that do not conform with the criteria set forth by the event organizers may face an immediate disqualification upon discovery.

 

NOTE: Many people have asked the reason for these rules, specifically with regards to pedals and brakes. In our opinion, aero levers and clipless pedals are the sign of modern-age cycling. Both became popular in the mid-1980s and they forever changed the look of traditional road racing bicycles. Therefore, our founding members have decided not to allow them at our events. However, at 2018 Eroica California, we have decided to allow the aero brake levers with brake cable routed under the bar tape (only the brake lever function is allowed on the levers) to encourage more people to participate. Many of our participants simply swap pedals to comply for the event and switch them back. You can read how to do this in our 'News' section of our website on the homepage. 

 

6.2 – Clothing

Participants must be dressed in period or period looking cycling clothing, in particular we encourage to wear wool jerseys and shorts. Reissued wool or non-wool vintage-looking jerseys and shorts are allowed as long as they look proper. Technical underwear is allowed as long as it is not visible. The event organizers reserve the right to give warnings to any participant whose clothing is viewed unsuitable or inappropriate for the event. If such clothing is discovered on the day of the ride the event organizers reserve the right to deny admission to or remove any person wearing attire that is considered inappropriate.

 

6.3 – Accessories

Consistently with the vintage spirit of the event, participants are invited to carefully select all accessories of their bicycles and clothing. In particular we invite participants to use leather cycling shoes, traditional cycling caps, aluminum water bottles, etc. The only modern cycling accessory, which is allowed, is a safety cycling helmet, which we invite everyone to use.

All cyclists must bring along a puncture repair kit and other essential tools for small repairs.

  

Article 7 – Safety and Use of Helmets

 

The 2020 Eroica California event shall not be supervised by law enforcement officers and regular traffic along the Routes shall not be blocked, except at the major highway crossings where California Highway Patrol officers will be there to assist the cyclists.

Due to the features of the ride, participants are advised to get a physical examination before participating in the 2020 Eroica California event, and receive their physician’s permission to participate.

Additionally, Eroica California’s organizers strongly recommend and urge participants to wear proper helmets while riding your bicycle at any time, anywhere. Please make sure that the helmet you will be wearing at Eroica California meets either the current U.S. Department of Transportation or U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standard for bicycle helmets. By law, bicycle riders under 18 years of age must wear the proper bicycle helmets while riding on public roads. All participants shall wear their helmets per manufacturer's directions. By entering the Eroica California event, participants agree not to sue and to hold harmless the event's organizers from any and all claims arising from the use of, or improper use of any particular helmet.

  

Article 8 – Compliance with Laws, Regulations and California Vehicle Code

Eroica California is a NON-COMPETITIVE, LEISURE RIDE on paved and unpaved gravel roads open to traffic. Cars and other motor vehicles can drive on the routes. All participants on Eroica California shall comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements, including but not limited to applicable California Vehicle Code. Please visit https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/vctop/vc/vc and familiarize yourself with the laws and the safety tips while cycling in California. For your convenience we will include this info in your Musette (“Goodie Bag”) and will hand this to you at the registration desk. 

 

Article 9 - Registration Fee and Waiver Form

Participation in this event is granted only to those applicants who have paid the registration fee and have signed the waiver form. A parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the waiver for any participant under 18 years old. The waiver content must be accepted when completing the online registration. Printed waiver forms will be available at the registration desk in Cambria before the ride, when cyclist will pick up their goodie bags and race numbers. The waiver forms must be signed by all participants before picking up their goodie bags. You do not need to print and bring the waiver forms with you, but please read and understand the content prior to submitting your payment and before arriving at the registration desk. Participants who refuse to sign the waiver form will not be allowed to pick up the race numbers and participate in the ride.

Cyclists who have not registered for Eroica California will not be permitted to participate on the day of the ride, and will be held responsible for any damage caused during the ride.

Registration will not be accepted from participants who have been disqualified from their respective cycling federations or clubs due to the use of drugs or for any other reason.

Participation in Eroica California is by registration via the internet and/or the organizers (Eroica USA Ride and Festival, Inc.), who shall in any case retain the right, in their sole discretion, to decide whether or not to accept the registration of any applicant at any time.

The registration fee, regardless of the amount paid, includes:

-The “Goodie Bag” (Musette) with the following items

-Numbers for the jersey and for the bicycle;

-ROAD BOOK to be stamped at official check points;

-Event info and souvenirs;

-Right to attend the refreshment stops depending on the chosen route;

-Post-Ride Pasta Party at the end of the event (vegetarian options available)

   

Article 10 – Payment Methods

Payment of registration can only be made online at www.eroicacalifornia.com by Credit/Debit card or Paypal. 

Checks or other forms of payment will not be accepted.

Cycling teams must pay with one combined payment with the full name of the group leader with his/her contact information (email and phone number) followed by the list of team members and their residential addresses and contact information (email address and a contact number). 

 

Article 12 – Confirmation of Registration

Registration will be considered complete only when the registration fee has been paid in full and the information requested above has been provided. In case the payment has not been received by Eroica California’s organizers within 2 days from the time of application, the registration will not be confirmed and the spot will be sold to someone else. 

An updated list of participants (First name initial and last name in full) will be published weekly on the website. 

 

Article 13 – No Rollover Rights, refund or Cancellation. 

Cyclists enrolled in the 2020 Eroica California event who are forfeiting their participation will not be allowed to transfer their registration or transfer for the following edition of the event.

No refund will be issued. 

EXCEPTIONS.

1) Sudden illness/Medical emergencies: You must submit a note from your physician to be considered for a refund.

2) Military duty calls: We must receive an official notice/proof to be considered for a refund.

Please contact us at info@eroicacalifornia for more information. 

 

Article 14 – Collection of Goodie Bags and Race Numbers

Goodie Bags (Musettes) and Race Numbers will be distributed inside the registration tent.

To collect your Race Number, you must present a valid ID (Driver’s License or Passport, Military ID or Student ID). The Musettes will only be handed to the registered participants. No other person may collect the Musette on behalf of the registered participant because participants must sign the waiver forms at the desk.

  

Article 17 – Stamp at Checkpoints

The only evidence that the designated route has been completed is by obtaining all the required stamps on your Route Book at the rest stops/checkpoints on your designated route. This is the only evidence that the designated route has been completed. You must obtain a stamp at the starting line to be eligible and all the stamps must be in order as you approach the various checkpoints throughout the day up to the finish line.

In order to receive the finisher’s gift you must have all the stamps in your Road Book in the right order.

 

Article 18 – Prizes and Awards

Each participant who completes the chosen Eroica California route will receive a finisher’s gifts at the final checkpoint. To receive the gifts take your bike and fully stamped Road Book to the designated area at the finish line.

 

Article 19 – Complaints

In the event of a complaint please send an email the organization at [email protected] within ten days of publication of the list of participants who completed Eroica California. 

 

Article 20 – Contact Information

Eroica California

USA 

email: [email protected]

Website: www.eroicacalifornia.com

Global website: eroica.cc

Facebook.com/eroicacalifornia

 

Concours Inquiries to:

Wesley Hatakeyama

[email protected]

 

Registration, Bike, Media, Sponsorship & Exhibitor Inquiries to:

Kaori Peters

Eroica California

[email protected]

 

Article 21 – Cancelation of the Event

In the event of cancelation of the 2020 Eroica California event due to severe weather conditions, acts of God, war, terrorism, disaster, earthquake, government regulation and/or for economic/financial reasons or other or uncontrollable circumstances; the registration fee shall be applied to the 2021 Eroica California event, only, and shall be non-refundable and non-transferable.


 Article 22 – Variations

The organization reserves the right to make changes to the rules and regulations at any time without notice. The websites www.eroicacalifornia.com and eroica.cc are the only official sources of information regarding the event. Therefore all official communications will be available only through these websites. Please note that we do not recognize or correspond through Facebook. 

 

Article 23 – Violations and Disqualification

The behaviors listed under this Article 23 shall be strictly prohibited and cause immediate disqualification:

-Use of equipment or attire not in compliance with the requirements set forth under Article 6;

The offenses listed hereinafter, in addition to causing immediate disqualification, will result in ban of 2 years or more from participating in Eroica California:

-Participants wearing the NUMBER of another participant or BIKE NUMBER of another participant's Bike; 

-Make duplicate(s) of another participant’s Rider/Bike number(s);

-Participants found on unauthorized detours or shortcuts;

-Participants behaving/speaking inappropriately to, or threatening/insulting, physically, sexually, or emotionally abusing the staff, ride judges, volunteers of the event, or other participants, making non-consensual physical contact, or using obscene language or gestures;

-Participants throwing/leaving trash/debris outside of the designated areas and the rest stops. We appeal to everybody’s sense of civic duty/common sense to keep the territory clean;

- Participants being intoxicated or drinking beyond the legal limits during the ride;

- Participants facilitating consumption of alcohol or illegal substances by a participant under the age of 21;

- Participants disregarding traffic signs and rules, or the rules of the road set by the California Department of Motor Vehicle, not following safety instructions issued by the organizers, or behaving recklessly with disregard for their and the other participants' or third parties’ safety;

- Participants causing any intentional damage to other participants or third parties, or private or public property during the ride;

- Participants found in possession of, transporting or distributing illegal drugs or substances;

- Participants whose bike or equipment has been found, in the organizers' sole discretion, not to be in safe working order.

In severe cases, at the discretion of the organizers, a lifetime ban can be enforced and law enforcement officials may be called to handle inappropriate behavior.

 

Article 24 – Privacy 

If you decide to register for the 2020 Eroica California event you will be asked to provide certain information about yourself including your name and contact details. By submitting your personal information, you consent to the collection, use and transfer of your information in accordance with the terms of this privacy policy. If you choose not to provide personal information you may not be able to register for the 2020 Eroica California or to complete the activities thereto. 

Your personal information will be used for the following purposes:

- to enable us to provide you with access to the Eroica California Website, use its services, and download information and materials from the Eroica California Website; 

- to complete the Eroica California registration process;

- to contact you with relevant information about Eroica California;

- to receive updates, newsletters and other email updates.

Your name, address details and all other personal information will remain confidential at all times, and we will not disclose any of your personal data to any third party, except to the extent that we may disclose your personal data to third parties for purposes in connection with the Eroica California event organization.

The event organizers may need to contact the participants before, during, or after the ride, in order to communicate important information about the ride, including but not limited to safety issues and Route variations. Forms of communication may include text messages or emails. 

In addition, Eroica California’s organizers, sponsors, their assigns and successors may be recording and using the participants’ names and bio information, photographs, and images for promotional materials, advertising, and publicity. 

A privacy statement and consent shall be included in the Eroica California Disclaimer, Waiver and Release.


Article 25 – Governing Law 

The present terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the California State Laws, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws. Any dispute which may arise between the parties concerning the interpretation or execution of these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of California and, by using this website, you hereby submit to the jurisdiction of such courts for such purposes and waive any and all objections as to jurisdiction or venue in such courts. By consenting to these terms and conditions, participants waive their respective rights to a jury trial with respect to any dispute arising out of or relating to these terms and conditions.

 

26 – Amendments and Waivers

Any provision of these terms and conditions may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by each of the parties or, in the case of a waiver by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.