OcTaLL

Breeze: I think maybe you must do my app for me. I went to Belgium 2years ago and last year when I tried applying my app was declined. Note: R55000 in bank, letter from employer. Reason for declined: insufficient funds and no proof of employment, but in the app it says that you needed R27000, they even worked it out for me at the consulate. We after fighting about 2 months with them got hold of the minister of foreign affairs's office. the answer we got from them was official: Belgium stated to them that if someone is going to "cycle" in Belgium they will be earning money and therefore need a work permit. The best thing is that the consulate told me that if I can get a letter from our SACF stating that I represent South Africa, they will grant the VISA, SACF inturn refused to give me the letter and said that it would be fraud. Note: I was in the SA Federation team at that time, in which I represented SA just a week prior to the incedent. We were told that if we want to contest it we must appoint a lawyer in Belgium and he must fight our case there. In my letter from the team at that stage it stated very clear that I would not be earning any money and that the team is an amateur club team. You must be very lucky in the sense that you can actually tell them you go cycling. The minister told us that he suggests we enter via another country because they have had many complaints over Belgium. I have been told by other people as well to try via Spain, they are the easiest to get into. Just a real petty our SACF would not help me. I spoke to a very well known cyclist from South Africa that was riding overseas and he told me they would not help him either.

I don't know. If anybody knows how to get a VISA or help me to get one without all this red tape of having a truck load of money. I tried the SACF and they simplee told me that it is my problem... Now that's promoting cycling in SA. HAHA

Is there anybody that might be able to assist cyclists who wants to ride in Europe with VISA's. Not everybody has 50K in their bank accounts to obtain VISA's to go and ride in Europe. I for one and I think there are many others like me were offered for the second year and a row to ride for a small semi-pro team in Belgium, but I have to get there on my own strength and finances. Once there I get full support from the team. I tried last year to get a VISA but I know that one must not even let the Belgium Consulate smell that you want to cycle there, they diss your app imediately.

I'd like to see that the cycle mags also get involved in this. How about a ver extensive article about what is grey, what is parallel and what is local and being ripped off. I bet they wont, how about every hubber send them a mail, get your cycle buddies to do the same, or are they caboets with these importers.?

We at Chris Willemse Cycles bring our stock in legally from authorized wholesaler in <?:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Europe, and we pay our duty and VAT. On most cycle equipment there's not duty, only VAT.<?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> We here at Marvuli as well, anybody is welcome to request our import liscences and documents if needed. I bought a pair of Diadora cycling shoes about ayear and a half ago for myself from a local bike shop. I needed some parts for the shoes, a shoe insert that works with the old SPD-R pedals. I probably contacted the agents in SA about...15 times via e-mail. NOT ONE REPLY. I sent 2 e-mails to overseas stores and in a week I had my inserts. Where's the backup service the Authorized agent is suposed to give, I got none, but now they are trying to firce me to not sell Diadora's in SA as well.

YIP, we also had the letter from the "BIG BOYS", or should I say the pansies, just have a look at our homepage, www.marvuli.com, we were forced to put the part on the left there, aparently by law we are required to do this. Just a petty not "O N E" other store in the " W O R L D " has this on their pages..... Here goes, have a look at www.chainreactioncycles.com, www.golorycycles.com, www.ribblecycles.co.uk, www.amazon.com. I could go on, why hasn't any of them got this notice? I simplee put the notice there because I don't want to waist any time and money on lawyer fees. And then the lawyers makes claims that their "client" says that they had to repair some of our import.... mmm, sound like defimation to me, as we haven't even sold one of this particular supplier's products in SA. CWC: Keep up doing the good work guys, if maybe the suppliers in SA wouldn't put the huge markups on their products more shops would buy from them. They forgot the main thing, SA is run by a free market system. I was told by the laywer that ALL online stores will be forced to do this, ya right! They told me that we are not alowed to sell their products in SA. He then e-mails me and says that any product sold through me or any of the other guys, CWC was also mentioned, does not have ny warantees what so ever. What a load of bull. I feel like publishing the letter the lawyer sent me but I don't know if I am allowed to. CWC: if you want a copy of the letter they sent me PM me.

OcTaLL2007-05-19 02:25:13

You can shop with us.....Tell us where you can get goods any cheaper and I will try my best to beat it. We are in SA but we'll try to beat anybody's prices.

Has anyone got a good diet, not the ones youe at rice cakes. Need to loose weight fast, about 5-10kg.Starting to do LSD this week as well.

Thanks for the kind words Bikemonester. Only happy I can help a fellow cyclist.

Get yourself some Mavic Crossmax's, for that price you have many to choose from

Kuota frames as great, strong like bull!!!

Now all we need is track cycling to build a offroad banked track. Belville isnt far off with the cape town side bank being so rough.

Depending on how thick the chain is, 9sp compatible or not, if it is to thick it won't work, just put a 9sp cassette on.

Check with TIME, because I received an e-mail a while back recalling some models, the problem was that the axle came loose. My mechanic says that working on look pedals is the best, they use that best bearings, and easiest to fix IF something goes wrong. I road for years with Time, changes to Shimano because I kept pulling my foot out, I now ride look because they're "simple" and easy to repair.

I heard this morning on radio that the petrol price will be going up next Tuesday with 72c (coastal). I wish everybody(the whole country) would just one day institute a stay away, National Strike. I am no economist but when I watch the news the fuel prices are going down and the R/$ stays relevantly canstant. What is the chances of contacting as many people as possible regarding this and starting "a movement against high petrol prices"? I don't know but personally I think we (the people of the country) can make a difference.