SARA

It is kinda sad. I've met plenty of Americans that are really embarrassed about what their country represents and who represents their country for that matter. The people only know what they are told ie what the media, social and cultural systems tell them. They just aren't given the chance to know anything else. anyway u get cool bikes and bike bits from there so there must be a couple of descent people!

Is there any point in trashing other people? Just wondering. waste of energy. don't you think?

Er, um, squirm, thanks guys, that's um, very sweet? What do you want? Do I pay you all later, soft cash all right?

thanks, just keeping it real.

what if she is good enough and she just takes her clothes off anyway? because she can? It's her problem then that she gets THAT kind of attention. Doesn't bother me. Lucky her. Just wouldnt do it myself.

In my opinion... Being a minority in the sport we have become accustomed to it. You kinda have to! Also I think that most ladies in cycling are not your regular girls. Personally I find it quite amusing. I mean it IS the way men think anyway, at least they are being open and honest about it. and I know that deep down they are all really sweet, nice, sensitive souls that really want a nice girl with interestiing conversation and a fantastic personality. Right? ja whatever. Carry on.

hey I only recently found out what Dura-ace was... don't ask me ANY road bike questions I will fail miserably.

Cool different treatmnets work for different people as far as I can tell. For Julia (cyclist) it was rest and yoga also she had to change the way she thought and approached life. I guess just take it easy hey and listen to your body very carefully. This is an interesting general kinda article... http://www.majidali.com/Vol%201%20No%201%20CFS.htm

I've got loads of info. My flatmate has chronic fatigue and she's been down for nearly 6 years. Also have friend who was on her way to the olympics on a biek as a teenager and she got knocked out for a few years. Fully recovered now and she's been back on the bike for 2 years.

u are a strange boy.

ja Im pretty sure it was a molesnake, they have little heads too. normally im fine with snakes, used to catch the little slug eaters as a kid. As long as I can see them (the big guys) at least 5m away from me I dont mind. Ive often done field work with snakes chilling in the fields next to me. What do u do at the university by the way? Ive been meaning to ask u!

oi since when do u tease me? why on earth would I wear eyeliner. its just messy. i dont even OWN make up. that i know of. if im wearing it, I probably nicked ot off my flatmate or sister!

ja but Ti it's different in Europe. The mtns go straight up so its hectic to climb them, never mind descend but that's another story. Instead there are little ups and downs all along the tops of the mtns so it makes WAY more sense to enjoy that stuff with the awesome view. Here the climbs are much shorter so yip pedal people.

my eyebrows seem to be very effective. Im sure that's why we have them.

have u tried riding up it? that's loadsa fun too. bit nervous in Jonkershoek at the moment everyone is running into snakes incl myself. Thought I was going to be bitten and die alone in the mtns the other day. Was coming down the top single track and there was this fat black snake hauling ass towards me. argh hysterical girl like shriek followed by brake noises, followed by shriek (realising i didnt want to stop next to snake), pedalling, legs up, shriek, xtra hard pedalling...... it was probably just a mole snake. still.

I've been doing yoga twice a week for 3 months now. It's really good for strengthening your core. I can feel the difference when I ride, I hold my back with my tummy muscles. Any class like that will work pilates, callenetics ect. The point is you set aside the time to do it and therefore don't slack off on the exercises and you will build up your strength.

If you like I can show you it sometime? Another simple way of describing it's whereabouts is" Do you know the old single tracks that were built last year? The new one ends where the old one begins, just turn around and look up. Then u can ride up.. It's actually a lot of fun to ride up. The third single track has a little cairn of rocks marking it as well. don't be fooled by the dummies before it. Then there is the the 4th new track...So you pop out of number 3 and turn left heading back towards the gate. That last little climb before the descent to the gate? OK at the top look to you lef. There is a wicked technical section there. You could OD on single track.

Yip a fantastic event as usual, definitely one of my favourites. I love all the single track. I kinda got distracted by it and forgot I was supposedly racing. May have started getting cold shivers and goose pimples (ah I believe they may call that heat exhaustion) but it's all good fun. Hey Ti, I would have walked up that hill anyway, I HATE getting off my bike. Thanks for giving me a little extra motivation, there's nothing quite as motivating as someone waiting for you with a grin at the top of every hill.

ah yes that's the one. I only walked the bit over the stream cos it was all boggy. Rode the whole nasty hill, hence nearly throwing up.

excellent sounds like there are going to be quite a few of us at eselfontein. It is an awesome race, last year it was one of my worst races for my bike and best races for me, in spite of the ridiculously high temps. 3 punctures, leaf spring falling off stupid GT. But i loved it. Nearly threw up on one of the hill climbs cos it was so hard. You will know which one when you get there. One could nearly OD on single track....yay.

yip that was my one day of crazy big stuff and I think it will last a lifetime. or at least till someone twists my arm "Ah come on you know you want to" I was in Canada. There was a trail 60 km of downhill, did you know that can become exhausting? Phenomenal riding around there, cool northshore stuff, 7 hour singletracks. I had a map of the valley and all the trails. One month to ride them all. They all got little red crosses. Even though I had to tramp through the snow for some. On my own. with bears and cougars around. ja bit dum eh.

ah wish I had some of the ones from Whistler bike park. Of course in full body with a full face helmet and a 6 inch downhill bike. a girl can do anything. Esp if there are 4 guys shouting don't look Sa just get off the back of the bike and NO BRAKES. eish i was in tears from the adrenaline.