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Eroica California

May 19, 2017

Beautiful Paso Robles, the host of Eroica California. We rounded up an all-star team and went up to crank out some green miles on old steel-framed bicycles in the lush and vibrant wine country of California's central coast. All decked out in Italian made wool De Marchi team jerseys, Todd, Stefan, and Nevin did the brutal 87 mile Coastal Route while Michelle, Viv, Joel, Mitch, and Daryl did the less intense, but equally heroic 40 mile route. A team pact was made - no walking the bikes up the mountain climbs.

Todd Stopera was the team captain of the long route. Most of his friends know him as a Harley knucklehead hunter and chopper guy, but Todd wears lycra just as hard as his Buco leather. Crushing over 60 miles of Pacific Coast Highway on a weekly basis, he was well able and his Colnago did the job supremely.

Stefan's cycling roots go pretty far back. He worked in a bike shop in Denver CO before heading to Australia where he helped start the Cycleworks program at Deus Camperdown over a decade ago. Stefan's utmost qualification however, is the tattoo on his left leg, poked by Deus's very own illustrative witch doctor Carby Tuckwell. His golden Raleigh was the most stylish steed of the bunch [my opinion -Ed], with beautiful lugs and even sported a period correct tire pump, which luckily wasn't required on the ride because it likely didn't actually work. But it looked right, and its that sort of shit makes Eroica so neat.

Nevin was just glad the 2-speed boat anchor he found on craigslist for $40 held together for all 87 miles, though the endeavor was a struggle. Rider being the limiting factor, he did succumb to shouldering the bike and hoofing up a few unbearably steep sections. Clearly breaking the "no walking" pact, he'll no doubt regret this for the rest of his life.

The 40 mile team was a family affair. Viviana, our eCommerce captain and her husband Joel, and Joel's dad Daryl and brother Mitch that were in for a good time in the true spirit of L'Eroica. 100 meters after the starting line, they stopped and all had a shot of Tequila. Legends!

The best team uniforms on the ride were definitely the Hamm's Beer team, who were kind enough to share a few can's with us at the otherwise dry festival in the park. Deus has been riding bicycles ever since the doors opened in Camperdown Sydney many moons ago, with a little corner dedicated to the grassroots Cycleworks program run by Piero and Stefan. Bicycle Swap meets were a regular occurrence in those early days when the stoke was high and the gears were fixed, but the program went on hiatus as key individuals moved from Sydney. In 2013 Deus Milano joined the family and breathed new life into DeusCYCLEWORKS and they haven't looked back! Deus Cycleworks Italy has been participating in L'Eroica in the festival's founding homeland of Tuscany for the last three years and the stoke for steel is spreading global. With Eroica rides now happening in every corner of the globe from Cape Town South Africa to Mt Fuji Japan, its high time to dust off the old pushbike, put on a wool jersey and go! Photos by Stefan Wigand and Nevin Pontious

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!