L'Eroica - why 1987?

[nnc283]

Having searched the web site and Google, I still can't find an answer to the question, what is the significance of 1987?

Or is this one of those questions where the answer is so obvious no-one feels the need to explain it?

 

[pigman]

Re:

I think its an arbitrary date, but around that time clipless pedals were commonplace, as were concealed cables, more aluminium frames came into existence, carbon frames from vitus and giant were available ... and so on.

I know some of these came in before 1987, but I reckon that this is around the time they were used by the masses

just my idea though, there may be an absolute significance to 1987

 

[monty dog]

Aero brake levers and clipless pedals are two of the no-nos for L'Eroica - to be honest, there's no scrutineering so you're only kidding yourself if you don't follow the rules. Riding 200k with clips and straps on lumpy terrain with period gears is what I find the hardest, particularly Monte Sainte Marie

 

[t47b]

Re:

Eroica Britannia follows the 1987 cut off date from the italian l'eroica.

L'eroica started in 1997 so bikes had to be ten years old.

Sounds likely but this is only my guess

 

[Deleted member 24574]

Re:

Arbitrary choice but was the watershed for clipless pedals and aero cables.

 

[glpinxit]

When were indexed shifters introduced?

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

Not easy to specify when indexed shifting was introduced: Shimano were fiddling with Positron from about 1975, apparently. Huret had a go with Commander. Both of these were low end affairs.

Shimano's SIS was probably the first successful attempt at indexing that could be used for serious racing. It came out roughly around 1984, so close to the Eroica cut off.