Roy Davis

I weigh 103 kg am not fat and had a set of Equinox carbons. Very nice. Rolled smoothly etc. but I just wonder if all the hype about carbon wheels is really justified. I think a lot of it is fashion but what is wrong with a good set of ally wheels? We never got the multitude of broken rims being offered for sale needing repair, on ally wheels. If you fancy you are A budding Chris Froome looking for a few seconds in a 40 km. ride and can afford the top aero carbons then spend your money otherwise it is just not worth it. Just my opinion. Many will object. Leuscher Technik cuts open bike frames longitudinally and we find that the brands asking for the price of a second mortgage on the house are mostly just brand bragging. They usually don't stand up to close examination and the established brands like Trek, Specialized, Giant and several others are often better made. We are often just being bu....sh...d.

They don't climb off the rim is glued properly.

Don't know if my previous post was posted so I will repeat it. Experts say that, if your legs get tired but your breathing is fine you are in too high a gear. If you are out of breath but your legs are fine then you are in too low a gear. No idea if this is correct or not.

The usual story is that you can't see or drive the car until you have paid for the car or a delivery fee. If so tell them to get lost. They take pic of a car in the street which they proceed to try and 'sell'. Someone tried to sell me a Mercedes CL65. He specified it was a four cylinder. Actually it is a 6-liter, twin turbo V12. Fortunately I know I know my Mercedes. Doesn't know his own car?? Unfortunately many people fall for it.

Many thanks for your encouragement. If I can find alternative medication without these side effects I will back on my beloved bike.

I had a stent put in my heart in about May and it is these are the meds causing the problem as well as excessive bleeding. I will ask the cardiologist but all of this stuff is basically poison and each one has side effects. I haven't been feeling too stable on the bike since my prostate op. May just be that I have only ridden about half a dozen times the last two years. My wife and tried to staunch the bleeding but no luck so I went down to the nurse at the local pharmacy and she has all the right dressings. Got to have it checked tomorrow. The family is worried though.

Sadly I have had to give up cycling. Had a bad crash on Wednesday. It's not that I can't ride it is the medication I am taking for heart problems. They cause dizziness, uncontrolled movement and loss of coordination. It is dangerous to continue.

I am a banana boy although born in Cape Town. Lived in Mouille Point. used to walk to to school where the stadium is now. Who could have imagined? Being a Durban boy for the last fifty odd years, at 73 (now 78), I decided I should ride the Argus, renamed The Cape Cycle Tour that very year, just once in my life. Got into a discussion with Capetonian cyclist in my group while we were waiting to start. He had done the Amashova and was complaining that 'they told me it was all downhill'. Having done it twice my answer was 'yes, like H..ll'. Which is the more difficult? Who knows or cares. They are both good fun. In the Amashova the beginning is more difficult. There are five hills just out of Pietermaritzburg. Some 'riders' are walking and pushing already. In one a faster rider came through and took out my front wheel and I came down. Fortunately no one came down with me. I was very worried about the fellows behind me. I had to ride 95 kms with blood running down my hand. In the CCT there is no doubt Chapmans and Suiker Bossie are the big ones. Tough climbs. So towards the end the Cape Race is tougher and the Amashova at the beginning.

Had a bike at 16 started again at 69. Don't sell your bike. Keep at it.

Tell your Dad to look up natural diy treatments, on the internet, for arthritis. Nature is a very powerful thing.

So sorry to hear about your Dad's arthritis. I am fortunate not to be a sufferer but age affects everyone in some way. Had to have a stent put in, in April. Put on heavy blood thinners. Then I had to have my prostate removed about eight weeks ago. Suffered heavy bleeding but it is over now. Just as I was going to have my first ride again yesterday the wind blew my bike over damaging the derailleur hanger. Hoping to get it back tomorrow now rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday. I don't enjoy riding in the rain.