Hi, Yes, the wind average on 40km/h in the morning but it normally drops down a bit later during the afternoon. Some days you'll get the 50 -60 km/h winds as well. Yes, the carbon wheels is fine but I recommend that only in races, where it can be shielded against the wind. You'll definitly struggle with them in the wind, but seeing that you will be here in Jun, that should be the ones to use in the winter league. W/L races starts at 14h00 in the afternoon and the season runs from May to Aug. This races is SACF orginised and not WPPPA. This is the races were you have to be a registered riders with a official club and SACF. We don't have circuit races as in Belguim. Yes, I think the postal srvices is reliable now that their is a free market and lot of smaller overnight parcel delivery componies. 16 Spoke rims, if you brake a spoke, you'll wait for the pickup vehicle or walk home, as seconding is not allowed in a race. 2 Set of rims should be fine. (The mavic Carbone and something else to train with). I also would recommend that you join the WPPPA for a year (about 15 $ us).This will ensure you of a seeding start and a timming chip. After every 3 races you can call them and request a higher seeding (if your previous race results justify it) and that will cost you about 4$ us. Hills???***************<br /><br /> Read this...**************<br />Now it depends not only on the event, but also what stage of the event. <br />E.G. Lets look at the Tour De France. <br />The first week of this 3 week race is always &#8220;flat&#8221; and fast. <br />The sponsor of the Polka dot [White jersey with Red spots all over it] or known as the King of the mountains jersey [KOM] needs to get a leader of this competition as soon as possible so the sponsor can get exposure on the podium after every stage. <br />So, the first hill that resembles a climb that they come across immediately gets given a 4th Cat status. <br />Now, if a similar hill/climb [same length and altitude difference] were encountered in the second week while the cyclists are in the Alps (completely different terrain from week one) it would never get a 4th Cat status. [It would be far too small a climb to warrant any Cat status] <br />There are no hard and fast rules that determine what constitutes a First, Second or Third Category Climb! <br />It depends on the event and what relative climbs that event will encounter! A First Cat climb in the Tour De France, will be a Alpine or Pyrenean climb of note! We do not have any climbs in SA that would compare. [Well maybe God Help Me Pass in Lesotho] **************<br /><br /><br />However, in a Tour of SA, we would have a number of First Cat climbs and possibly even one or two &#8220;Out of Category&#8221; climbs. ****************<br /><br />1. Hekpoort climb- 2nd Cat<br />2. Hill Top Climb [Stage one of the Jock]- 1st Cat<br />3. Boulders Pass [Stage two of the Jock]- 1st Cat<br />4. Robbers Pass- 1st Cat or Out of Cat. [From Pilgrims Rest side] <br />5. Long Tom Pass- Out of Cat. [From Sabie side] <br />6. Outanika Pass- 1st Cat. [From George side] <br />7. Ou Kaapse Weg- 2nd Cat. [As in the Argus] <br />8. Suiker Bossie- 4th Cat. <br />9. Hels Hoogte Climb- 3rd Cat [From Stellenbosch side] <br />10. Hyde Park Hills- 4th Cat [As in the 94.7] ****************<br /><br />Lets look at these ten climbs if they were in the Tour De France; [In weeks two or three of the Tour] ******************<br />1. Hekpoort climb- 4th Cat<br />2. Hill Top Climb [Stage one of the Jock]- 4th Cat<br />3. Boulders Pass [Stage two of the Jock]- 4th Cat<br />4. Robbers Pass- 2nd Cat. [From Pilgrims Rest side] <br />5. Long Tom Pass- 2nd Cat. [From Sabie side] <br />6. Outanika Pass- 4th Cat. [From George side] <br />7. Ou Kaapse Weg- 4th Cat. [As in the Argus] <br />8. Suiker Bossie- No Category status. [It&#8217;s seen as a &#8220;bump&#8221; on the route}<br />9. Hels Hoogte Climb- No Category status [From Stellenbosch side] <br />10. Hyde Park Hills- No Category status [As in the 94.7] **************<br /><br /><br />However, if we had a three day Tour in and around Cape Town; <br />1. Ou Kaapse Weg- 1st Cat. [As in the Argus] <br />2. Suiker Bossie- 3rd Cat. <br />3. Hels Hoogte Climb- 2nd Cat [From Stellenbosch side] <br />I hope these examples above have helped to explain how climbs are categorized in perspective for you. <br />