Cyclists from all over the country are gearing up for the fifth annual Eroica California, and this year it will be in Cambria for the first time.
The event was created by a Paso Robles native, Wesley Hatakeyama, and is similar to an event that happens in Italy every year.
Hatakeyama said he started his own version of the event because he wanted to make it more accessible to people in the U.S.
“It’s a vintage cycling event, that we dress vintage, use period correct bicycle, an old bicycle and you ride mainly on the gravel road and kind of get a feel of the cycling back in the old days,” Wesley said.
The routes available this year feature ocean views, demanding inclines and miles of gravel and dirt roads.
Cyclists start their journey Saturday morning and can choose routes at lengths of 35 miles, 75 miles, 82 miles and 110 miles.
This year Eroica California is opening a new event for modern road and CX bikes called NOVA Eroica California, which will be on Sunday. The 80-mile ride will have several different components including a group ride.
