Time to start thinking about these rides again as EB is on the weekend after next! I am entered for the 100 miler, with a start time from 6am. Then the following weekend I'm planning a 3am start for the 300km Mighty Corinthian in the Lake District!
Re Gearing , the chainset on my retro bike is the original 52, 42 I think, but I managed to get a 5 speed hyper-glide block which is something like 14-24, then a huge leap to 34!
That works well with the friction levers and gives me 42 x 34 low gear for steep climbing.
I have sourced some nice brake hood covers (in white) , which match my retro saddle. Also I have some Gravel King tyres (26's), as I found on L'Eroica that the 23's led to a couple of pinch punctures.