Got a vintage ride coming up this year? Events like L'Eroica seek to capture that golden-hued nostalgic feeling of the classic era of cycling. Wool jerseys, steel-framed bikes, white socks and a sense of adventure are de rigeur, and there are often rules about how old bicycles must be to take part.
However, for anyone who's concerned about spending several hours in a knitted jumper on a bike in the June sunshine, fret not. There's an ever-expanding array of modern cycle kit with a vintage feel, so you can have your performance fabric and channel the champions of yesteryear.
So whether you're planning on riding on the strade bianche at the original L'Eroica, or stopping for tea and scones at the feed stations at L'Eroica Brittania, it's surely best to look the part for less, so you've got more money to spend on goodies when you're there…
- Santini's retro-inspired Eroica collection
- Video: Retro bike culture at L'Eroica
- 30 reasons to take up cycling
Stop press! Exclusive BikeRadar discount code at Evans Cycles
Planning a spot of shopping? BikeRadar has teamed up with Evans Cycles to offer you a pretty darn good deal.
You can save an extra 10% when you spend over £100 at Evans Cycles on clothing and accessories. Just visit Evans Cycles, add your items then use the code 10BR.
The code can't be used in conjunction with any other offer, and can't be used on the following items or brands: gift vouchers, Ride It! events, Fix It! maintenance, Aftershokz, Altura, Bontrager, Endura, ENVE, Exposure, Garmin, Giro, GoPro, Rapha, Specialized, Stages, Fat Lad at the Back, Thule, Castelli, pedals, tyres.
Giro Siv Mitts £22.99 £20.59
Combining a cool vintage look with the benefits of modern materials, the Giro Siv mitts feature a moisture-wicking four-way stretch fabric that looks like a knitted glove. We love the colours, and the microfibre palm will help keep your grip steady. Plus, they'll look great with a china teacup at the feed stations.
Hoy Vulpine Trackside Cap £11.99 £9.59
Getting the right cap is almost as important as getting the right bike. Well okay, not quite, but it is an important of achieving that vintage look. We like this sunshine yellow cap from Vulpine, a snip at just under a tenner. It also comes in black, if yellow doesn't match your look.
Don't forget – spend over £100 at Evans and you can get an extra 10% off if you use our exclusive BikeRadar Evans code 10BR.
Selle San Marco Vintage Regal saddle £70.00 £55.99
Get your bike kitted out with a classic style saddle. This one from Selle San Marco comes in tan or white, and will finish off your vintage bike perfectly.
Elite Eroica Double Mount bottle cage £49.99 £44.99
For the real vintage connoisseurs out there, getting an authentic bottle cage is hard indeed. Original vintage ones are hard to come by, so Elite decided to make its own, lovingly crafted to suit vintage bikes and based on original designs.
It's available in a double-mount version (pictured) or a single mount version for £26.99.
Morvelo Exclusive Eroica 2016 jersey £60.00 £48.00
While not strictly a vintage reproduction garment, the Morvelo Eroica jersey is certainly inspired by classic design, with a button print on the rear pockets. The white band with the crossover back is meant to reference the practice of carrying a spare tyre on your person while riding, in case you were wondering.
Castelli Diverso Socks £16.99 £11.99
Available from Chain Reaction Cycles
No cycling outfit would be complete without a dash of argyle print… or it that just us? Either way, these rather fetching numbers from Castelli come in a variety of colour ways so you'll be able to match your bike if you fancy.
