MELVYNR7

Do the Chinese not make all the frames in any case, much like German cars are manufactured in different other countries to save costs? Could it be that the "brand" being labeled onto the end product is what makes it "cheap" or not? Just asking as a layman.

I have always maintained this notion. Cycling is the most "barrier breaking, human uniting, look past the *!^$#& in our lives, etc. sport. It is a family of completely misunderstanding and frustrated members who always find a solution. So you win either way..........at least in my part of the family. Giving is and will always be GOOD.

These skelms are not alone. I think the "buyers" are waiting in the wings hence the particular pieces of luggage going missing. Nkandla comes to mind............

When I asked one of the riders just shy of Smitswinkel about conversing while cycling (as I was used to in training) he suggested to not do that out of concern for the disturbance it may cause to some

I cramped so much even though I felt like I was going extremely well in the first of my attempts. Yet from top Smitswinkel to bottom Suikerbossie it had gone so bad that the medics strongly recommended abondoning the race. That was devastating and I could not accept. my legs had medium potatoes sized lumps all over with severe pain, excrutiating, actually. Nothing on offer helped me. the ice rubs and massages caused what now looks like graze wounds. I took a slow walk up Suikerbossie and almost freewheeled the rest, barring the little up at Camps Bay. as a new cyclist I would really like to know more about this matter.

That sounds great, but how does one get "used" to the hills. I tend to struggle a lot more than most other people I encounter on the way.