The Truth About Being a Bike Messenger
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
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Between movies like Quicksilver and Premium Rush, edits from MashSF and Macaframa, and bike messenger influencers on Instagram, being a bike messenger has been a bit romanticized. I had a chance to sit down with full-time Singaporean bike messenger, Lutfi, to chat about the fixed gear scene and what it's really like being a bike messenger.
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I was a messenger for 13 years. I started in 1976 in New York, rode for three years then moved to San Francisco and rode for ten years there. The best part was the people, my fellow messengers. The worst part was the people we lost to accidents, addiction, and in one case, suicide. Goodbye Kimberly Katastrophe! After quitting the job (and getting sober) I became a nurse and I’ve worked in a medical detox in SF for the last twenty years. I still ride, although I’ve had so many broken bones from bikes, motorcycles and skateboards that I can’t afford any more, so I recently switched to a recumbent trike. It feels good pedaling again. You never get it out of your system.
"I'll do it fast, but I'm not gonna do it stupid fast." -Lutfi
Words to live by...
yooo thanks fam
@Max Paine my hat off to you. Takes physical and brains. You have to know the area.
But I don't wear a helmet fuvking hot and Singapore dam hot lao later I become roasted pig
You all prolly dont give a damn but does someone know of a way to get back into an instagram account?
I somehow lost the account password. I love any assistance you can give me.
Lol legit as I read this comment the guy said it in the video 😂
Worse things about a bike Messenger... flat tires and people glued on their phones while walking, Best thing..... Everything else.
The worst thing about being a messenger is hearing about a friend getting killed by a driver on their phone. a face full of stitches isn't fun either, but I'd take that all day if it brought just one of those folks back.
@@breadbutt too real bruhh. That is why I always say "Ride safe" to all my friends who ride, life is too short.
Yea foreal people are like sheep and the amount of people that cross the road without looking is unreal. But yea so many positives I can't be bothered to list them. If I die doing what I love and feeling free I'm at peace with that.
Former NYC messenger here. I was a messenger prior to the onset of fax machines, and the internet. Back then we paid no tax, and you could write your own check. Not to mention all the 1/4 bags I was slinging back then. Today is a whole different deal. If you have the burning desire to be a messenger, then go ahead. But think of it as showing up for work with 3 strikes against you. Dealing with building security, competing against the internet, fax, and then trying to make your bills on what may not even be much more than minimum wage ( yes, you are entitled to min. wage regardless of how bad your week goes. Do yourself a favor. Stay in school, and when you graduate, take a break, and do it for 6 months to a year. If you get trapped in that business, you will have a very difficult life.
David Pierce damn dog, tell em how you really feel. Ive had some rough moments in Boston, still full of joy though. The people make it
We have no minimum wage in Singapore.
L H that does suck. Minimum wage, and the cost of living in NYC is almost as bad as having no income at all
Jody West It is a great way to spend a year, or so, but it’s just not the kind of job you want to make a career of. People get old.
@@jodywest9044 woof. Boston winter must suck to work in
I was a messenger in NYC for 4 years. Loved every second of the job. The best thing I personally found is that every day you'll see a friend of yours on a bike doing the same thing as you and the culture is so expansive. I know amazing people that built a life on the bike. First dates, relationships, marriage, having kids. Being a Messenger isnt just a job, there is an entire lifestyle behind the romantic title. Some of it is pretty crappy, bad weather, starting out with bad equipment, irate customers, really bad pay, (at least at first). If you can get through that. Its the job for you. One of the best Careers in the world
Is it a career or a job?
I dont really know how to answer that. Depends on how much it runs your life I suppose.
How do you do being a messenger on snowy icy winter. Does that mean its a seasonal job? How do you survive not being able to work in the winter
@@carlosbahista you just adjust the way you ride and dress for the weather. Not to mention you'll probably find yourself finding all the places you can warm up in and not get chased out.
I love the format of this video!
It would be cool to see more interviews like this with locals wherever you go. It's awesome to learn from culture and more about cycling culture in other countries. I hope you like the idea.
I do deliveroo in London on single speed and roadracer yea he explained it really well. It's addictive the feeling of freedom no stress and you don't dread work like most people. Dealing with the elements and the danger is the hardest thing but if you stay alive long enough you gain the skills and mental and physical toughness. It changed my life and perspective on capitalism and many aspects of life. I work for freedom not money. Bike life everyday
I’m a part-time messenger in Atlanta. Has been great to have the freedom and get paid to work out while I finish up school. The worst part is definitely the danger of cars and rainy days suck !
to all bike messengers out there you have my mad respect such a dangerous job with a crappy pay
Former SF messenger. I did it working my way through school. I had a lot of fun, got hit by a cars a couple times and the pay was laughable. No regrets about doing it. Wish it paid better.
Now I work in tech, can afford groceries and miss living in the saddle. It’s a fair trade. I’ll settle for commuting and weekend rides.
Was a bike messenger in Boston. Learned that brakeless fixie with road tires was easier to cut through snow. Learned how to make people feel guilty for their shitty driving, too.
Patrick Roldan Boston messengering is FREAKIMGNG LIFE. windy winter can be tough, but now that pots legal WHEWWWWW
I really enjoyed this interview. Zach, you should interview more bike messengers.
Really nice job editing the interview, liked it a lot. And a great interviewee of course.
Part-time doing food deliveries was the best and lowest-stress job I’ve ever imagined. Not sustainable for the long run, but was EXACTLY what I needed while I was in school.
why is it not sustainable?
@@michaelochoa3628 It was not enough for a career for me but it really was the best part-time job of all time
I like how this is an interview. You ask good questions!
Thanks for this segment. I really enjoyed it.
I was offered a job as a messenger on the spot on my ride downtown.
The crew there said they pull about $150 a night in tips. I explained that I have a full time office job as Lead Designer/coordinator for our pipe drafting firm. He said I can choose my hours… and to give it a try a couple nights and see what I think.
Imma give it a shot. 🤷🏻♂️
How it went?
@@geg_otmopo3 unfortunately my full time job takes up most of my time. So rather than “work” and cycle, I’d much rather have that time to unwind and relax while on the bike.
Awesome interview !
"What you see in New York does not apply here because the average traffic speed is way faster"
I've been trying to explain this to people in Chicago all my life because traffic moves faster here as well. Kids watch those videos of crazy fixie riders blowing through lights and they think they can do the same. It can work in some areas but it's a lot more safe in NY were traffic moves slowly
AWESOME VIDEO. Insight type vids are nice!
I rode more than 10 years and never got hit. My god I was lucky!! Good point about the aggressive and animated body language, it is a good tip. That and the golden tip (after helmet) is 'fast, but not stupid fast'!!
Philly messenger here
Loved this video and how much it shows what a courier should be and act
I worked as a messenger in NYC for about 4 years straight. it is a young man's dream and a man over forties nightmare in a lot of ways. still, it was no doubt a pivotal time in my life. and I know the city in ways that people who don't ride it never will. that said, there is a romanticism around the job of late that causes me to scratch my head trying to ponder what could be going on. when it's 15 below and u have two 20,000 dollar dresses to deliver in rain forty blocks and up a dozen stories, to a blind seamstress, the thrill gets gone quicker than a NY minute.
If it's 15 below it ain't raining.
Bruh. It's me, the guy with the 40$ njs bike. I want your fixie points review for it haha.
Great interview😁
Great interview and cool dude.
keep it up Zach. I enjoy your vids
In my excessive bike messenger experience of 2 days I’d say there’s a lot of truth to the not riding fast thing - I’ve been riding way more chilled while I’m working than I was when I was just commuting and riding around for no real reason. Honestly it’s pretty nice.
I’m a full-time messenger in Seattle, WA. Most days I work 8-5 riding a bullitt cargo bike. We deliver lots of paper dealing with real estate and stuff. Also catering from cafes and Peach which can be a pain in the ass. Some nights I work caviar for dinner after so I work anywhere from 9-12 hrs a day, 5 days a week, and can make around $200+/day. I like how I can keep moving and see the entire city, not stuck inside in the same room all day. The hours are nice and I can work as hard as I want or just kinda cruise by. It can be a somewhat thankless job, but the messenger scene here is pretty cool and I’ve met allot of awesome friends riding bikes. I totally agree with what this guy says in the interview. It’s not about working hard, it’s about working smart. Routing and time management are key. I’m always in a hurry but not about to injure myself and be out of work for weeks/months. Big ups to all you fellow messengers. Keep it safe and make that bread!
Some good points you are making. For rest of the world outside US your income doesn't say much, rather what you have left after paying bills - a day in London, to say, has completely different costs than in UK countryside and even bigger diff in, say, Ukraine.
When I think about drone development, yeah, some day they can took away big, quite big part of messenger jobs. But also all then eggy-heddy stuff also eases messenger work right now - phones and apps to deal with assignments, the maps (for a starter, at least), cameras to have a proof when being hit by a driver.
$200 a day is more than double what I'm making. I literally wouldn't have $ trouble with that pay. But I have no idea if that's good or bad $ in your area.
I make 300- 400 dollars max in a month :) Greetings from Bulgaria, the only 3rd world country in Europe .
Mexico city bike messenger
Worst part? Earning like 5 dollars a day while being in constant danger because of reckless drivers
Rodar en CDMX debe ser una completa aventura.
Yo tambien soy de México Carnal!
Y si, está de la verde que aquí sea el doble de riesgo y la mitad de paga
@@danieleduardovaladezmartin8004 Ojalá fuera la mitad. Hay días en los que gano 15 o 30 pesos
Rueden con cuidado (ya sé, no es culpa nuestra, pero pues, que no haya ciclistas menos :c )
So basically the worst thing about being a bike messenger is being a bike messenger
@@MrHenreee being underpaid shouldn't be, it's not being part of any job, especially when the part that hires has the possibility of paying not a big, but a fair amount of money.
Don't get me wrong. I love this, but the pay can't cover any bill. I even have to dumpster dive for components and repairs.
When i do my own independent deliveries, even tho it's just a few a month, I really enjoy the thing. But being paid less than a dollar for a +15km, 10kg delivery is bullshit when the company is one of the biggest book stores on the country, or when the big promotion bussines just evades the pay day
I'm a bike Messenger from NYC, even though it's rough some days it's great to have the freedom and it always depends on which company you work for too.
What kind of gear do you wear when it rains? Also, what do you wear in the colder brutal months of Jan-Feb?
@@AneudiD78 It answer your first question I wear water resistant cycling pants with water resistant shoes and breathable rain jacket. Yes I'm out here in the winter too.
@@AneudiD78 The Second question I wear under armor under my winter work clothes.
which company you work for tomo?
@@Luis-gh3in Currently working at Breakaway, but I've worked free Lance & apps as well.
Thanks for visiting Singapore.
great video. Would love to see future Fixedgear/Courier content covered over there
over where?
great vid!
I've done it for a while in the Netherlands, the worst part about the job here in NL is rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain rain
We don't really have seasons, just a freezing cold rainy period with no leaves on the trees and like four months where the rain is warm.
I just said we don't really have seasons, but I have to clarify, we get about two or three weeks of winter with a little bit of snowfall and we do have a summer, it's my favourite day in the year!
For me the most important piece of protection is (motorcycle)gloves. I've never ever hit my head in crashes, always (without exception) landed on my hands (also allows you to punch cars harder).
Without gloves I feel naked on a bike.
Also important, glasses! To keep bugs (and sometimes small rocks thrown up by cars) outta your eyes.
I loved your comment. You have a nice sense of humor. My favorite one was the one about summer..."It's my favorite DAY of the year." lol
@@BEEBEE159 thank you
Liked your comment for 1 reason. Gloves. To many people are stupid enough not to wear them. Even the fingerless ones are better than none.
Glasses, well I have to wear them anyway.
@@pspot7419 if you can get where you are, go for Bollé. They have normal looking shades, but are actually safety glasses.
I don't know current prices, but they used to be between 30 and 50 Euros.
@@pspot7419
I wear Oakley.
I do app delivery in MN, USA. Some days are rough with very little business other days are beautiful and busy. No matter the condition I always come home with a big sense of accomplishment and feel good about the fact that I'm helping cut down on Co2 emissions. I hope to join an actual courier service once I have some more experience mashing pedals.
Toriano Jones what city I’m from Mn as well I wanted get into
Courier from miami . I smile cause i can relate to this so much .
Been a bike messenger for nearly 30 years. Tried other work but always come back to it. Seen the fax, email & the cloud all eat into earning potential & the gig economy make the pay even worse but we survive. Stay safe, keep riding brothers & sisters. MESSFAM
I read an article about Adrian Knight doing messengering in Sydney?
That's about 200 years in bike messenger years. Mad props.
I ride my bike for uber and I couldn't be any happier. I make some money but just the freedom of being on the road no one yelling at you and not dealing with annoying coworkers, Fucking beautiful..
NYC bike messenger here... Love the job and the people.. and ya the pay can suck.. but it takes time before you start making some decent $$. But I'm with several co-op and private messenger groups but that didnt happen over night. Started with food delivery then worked up to the big messenger companies.. to now. Bike messaging is more then a job.. its community and lifestyle.
Did four years of this, Victoria BC Canada 86-90. Suitable for someone under 25 like I was at the time, when my monthly expenses were probably below $500. Now cost of living is 6 times that! It was great to be outdoors and riding, unless the weather was bad. Biking in the rain sucks, snow makes it barely possible. I was in the best shape of my life but also in constant danger of injury, and can recall a few bad accidents that happened to other people. Got hit by a motorcycle once and had several very close calls. While I was young enough to handle the physical demands and still basically thought I was immortal, it was a pretty good gig.
Bike food courier here in Toronto. The best part is the feeling of accomplishment you get after your day is done. Personally I love the work out and pretending that I training for something.
BUT the worst that totally fucked my confidence are the two crashes I had in the summer due to the train tracks that we have all over the city. I feel they are a more dangerous hazard than drivers and other cyclists.
Lotfi does a great job explaining the in’s and out’s and the dos and don’t of the job/industry.
A word of advice is ride very defensively, conservatively and with a little bit of “stress” for a lack of a better word because I think this helps keep you safe and in control.
Finally to track my total KMs traveled and calories burned during my shift I use an app called Bikos (absolutely no affiliation whatsoever BTW) and I absolutely recommend it to everyone because the KMs you earn, you can redeem them for free stuff.
Who’d you ride for Dude.
I rode for the Messengers & Zip for some time. Covid has killed my other job, bartender and now I think I need to get back on the road just to feed myself.
Yeah man I do Uber eats in Phoenix, AZ. And it's not bad: summers are brutal but right now it's perfect weather. I feel like I'm still getting things dialed in but the more i ride, the smaller the city gets. I was tracking my miles on strava (@Christian O) but it drove me nuts thinking about how many miles I rode. It ended up being like 50-70 miles a day, sometimes even century days. But overall, it's the hardest job I've had but the funnest/best job I've ever had. 😏 pay does suck but at least we're out here living.
The Homie Lufi definitely hit home with how you need to ride in the city (knowing where your going, no headphones, pacing yourself not racing yourself). He's reminded me I need to slow down, because I been getting buck lately 🚴🏽💨💨💨💨 Thanks man
And thanks Zach, your vids are great homie.
yo its lutfi. nice to know i helped you brother. have a good one
Hey Zach I love your channel, always great content. I have been curious about your Wabi bike, how did you come up with the name? Very kool name.
Maybe you already mentioned it in a video and I just haven't seen it yet.
1:46 the way he got off was so smooth
Chicago part time messenger.
Best things: comraderie with fellow messengers and the general freedom with being outside and moving around
Worst things: shitty motorists and shitty weather (cold af during long winter months)
what company do you ride with? are there part time positions
@@escamillaa8839 Foxtrot, and yeh they do part time
Hi Zach. I love your videos although I ride geared road bikes. I would love a wabi frame but I need my gears. Do you know of any options for me? Thanks!
I'm a bike messenger in Chicago. Love being outside and finding cool new things, winter sucks a bit tho :P
Balls deep bro 👌
Baik lutfi ! Represent SG!
Bike messenger from Ukraine here.
The pay is good.
The worst thing - poor bike fit that causes the lower back pain.
And winter, of course.
I try to switch to another kind of job when winter comes.
Everything else is beareble :)
I'm not an all time bike messenger but I have replaced bike messenger friends in Paris occasionnaly when they were sick and I was unemployed.
Doing it a few days is pretty hard but fun, but having done it a week last winter, doing it from december to march seemed really miserable.
former SF messenger. y'all can talk traffic all you want, but try regular pickups/drop offs up 33% grade. Some of that shit isn't even a street, you just have wooden stairs to a house, like 100' of stairs. In the rainy season, your brake pads wear out like their butter. You can ride fixed, one of the guys I worked with did, but have fun buying new tires every week. I only did about 45 miles a day when I was working. Got hit, got stitches, saw friends die, so I raced at NACCCS 2007, qualified, had a lot of fun and quit to sew messenger bags and backpacks. Lotta respect for anyone working as a courier anywhere. There's nothing quite like being outside on a bike all day long, but fuck traffic and fuck cars. Too many dead friends. I prefer riding trails and quiet roads now. Steep as fuck dirt trails that kick your ass win a million times over some shithead in a benz too busy texting to watch where they're driving.
stay safe, get hot and keep the rubber side down friends.
Amen Bro....AMEN!
Peace
👍
I have a question for you. How come I am faster on my fixed gear with 77 gear inches over my hybrid road bike with 94.5 gear inches? This just doesn't make sense to me. It's just a little faster, but it it consistently faster
Question of the day,
No, I work at a regional airport. I would consider it part time to try it out. This was a good video.
Did it for a while in London... if I was to do it again I would spend a lot more time getting to know the area REALLY well! Was fun but pay sucked... definitely a lifestyle choice.
ever since i was a kid and saw that movie quick silver with kevin bacon i thought it would be a great gig. but i've always been a smoker with weak boney legs. living in the sticks there was no such thing as bicycle messengers. so over the years i forgot about quicksilver. i got into freestyle but i wasn't any good. while some of my friends could have went pro. they were building new half pipes in the back yard every year. it was discouraging watching them bunny hop over trash cans and doing cherry pickers and what not so i ended up giving it up. i just got a used 6 speed last month for $45 and started riding again for the first time in years. i still hate going up hills but down hills and flat roads make me feel young again. specially when i do something stupid and crash into a rose bush in a grocery store parking lot trying to avoid a speed bump
What front rack do you use on your Wabi bike?
I'd like to try get a job as a messanger, but it's not really common around here and I still have to learn my city's ins and outs.
Yeah same here
Hey love your vids
Come visit us in Portland Oregon ,I work with Cascade Courier Collective.
Thanks this was cool
did it in d.c. mostly the pay sucks unless you work your way up to getting stuff like court filings to deliver. mainly its a good job for day drinking in between jobs with your bike homies in the park near the bums.
I'm 50 been doing it for over 20 years but in London the money is good if you work 7am till 6pm ish ..... but now i take every summer off to go holiday for 3 months
Good on you man...BRAVO.
👍👍
Here in Toronto I’ve been a bike messenger since 2015/2016
Done paper, food and everything in between.
You can make decent money here in Toronto. Some companies offer $120 guarantee, with food we can hit $15-30/hr on a normal day. More up around $20-25 being the average. I’ve hit $40+ in a hour before too.
We have a good culture here.
Baltimore messenger "20GRIT crew" love and respect for my bike couriers brothers and sisters.
Bruh you do it in Baltimore? Respect to you, with the terrible pavement and batshit drivers I wouldn't even ride for fun lol
@@brickvanexel for real baltimore is tough af to do bike work in. doesnt help that addicts harass you all the time either lamo
The best thing about being a bike messenger is that you get to ride your bike every day duh! the worst is that pay is bad and my company personally ended up ripping me off of a LOT of wages on top of that.
I've always admired the skills of a fixed gear rider,sometimes I think they must have balls of steel to match their bike frames.
Thanks
They're either really really good, or stupid, or a mix of both. But the ones who make a good example for other riders like the dude being interviewed deserve it all the more.
@@possibly8180 I've seen a lot more stupid than "really good." There are some seriously skilled riders out there who know what they're doing, but there's a lot more kids and dumb adults who don't know what they're doing
@@carstarsarstenstesenn fair point. Where I live it's usually the fixed gear riders who get a bad rap for being pretty flashy riders, on public roads.
@@carstarsarstenstesenn takes one mistake to go from skilled to idiot, lol.
bad weather is the worst when you are working.
where can i buy cages for my bike ?
Off subject i know but what is the bike with the fatter tyres on? i ride fixed and would like the option to get wider tyres but i just can't seem to find a frame that will accommodate fatter tyres AND mudguards, mudguards are a must too as i'm an all year all season rider. my bike maximum is 28c with mudguards, without mudguards 32c i think. i've been considering buying something like a gravel bike and fitting fixed gear wheels but i don't know if they will fit.
I have a cinelli mash work bike and it fits 35c might be work a look
The one in the video? Subrosa FGFS bike. I sold it to Lutfi about a year or so ago. xD
in the video? its a subrossa fgfs bike and I'm using 40c tyres
Thank you guys! with the research i've done on your suggestions the surly steamroller is the only one i can obtain where i am (uk) apart from the cinneli mash but i'd rather the surly out of the 2. Thank you so much guys!
7:42 i believe i have seen shah cruising around singapores cbd.. hes always riding chill and in a flat cap
its shan. haha. nice to meet u
I would love to TRY to be a bike messenger, idk if i would be cut out for it but would love to try, i was formerly a bike mechanic and loved mentality of the whole bike community and being a messenger looked to be the next step, unfortunately I live in kansas where it is easier and faster to deliver somthing by car rather than bike so the need for a messenger service is not there, I have been to NYC and loved the city and would love to shadow a messenger there someday... maybe lol
I have never been a messenger but i where working with my bike for more then two years is repair technician on call.
NYC Bike Messenger .... Freedom .... Great Video
"Wat da fak bro" 3:57 man this guy is funny 😂
I love his accent lmao
I remember the time I was doing uber eats and got hit by a guy and my back wheel spoke tension was totally messed up. The guy offered to pay for any repairs to my bike needed but in the moment I had thought my bike took no damage as it was dark and it didnt bend till I tried riding it. Also was in a hurry. I ran back home and grabbed my other bike but that Made me very annoyed because it cost 100$ for repair
Damn, atleast he offered to recoup for the damages. Get hit in my country and you're pretty much toast since "yOu'rE oN a BiKe" regardless of whose fault it actually was.
Nice!
great guy
As a bike messenger in Switzerland I'd say that the pay is ok and I don't have to deal directly with a boss or unpleasant collegues for more than a few minutes before I had back on the road on my own. The unpleasant part is to have to ride late in the evening especially in winter when it rain or snow. As I'm employee I cannot say fuck it it's too cold I'm not gonna work tonight.
cold weather sucks enough said.
The bike/lurk session that never ends...copy that
Yoo Zach first time riding in Singapore already riding on the Nicole highway LOL
its all about the lifestyle baby...i be in SF for most of year, 1099, still finding my pace at times..totally in love with the city..strong as shit now...and when Im on the good foot..i swallow hills...sorry no fix ;p
I've done it and made enough to live on barely , I'm not in a city rn but I'd do it again
My dream job, just riding bike :D
Only in Germany its raining like 9 month of the year, haha
Being a bike Messenger here in New Zealand is great. I love riding my fixed gear for a job. Only bad part is dork pedestrians glued to their phones and walking out in front of you. It’s still the best job though.
I guess Auckland? Sydney here :)
@@andrewzhang2621 Wellington, New Zealand :)
Thanks!
Veracruz México, bike messenger here, worst part is the heat, like 30 celsius and more almost always, best part, the city is mine
Chicago uber eats messenger. I ride free wheel. What I hate the most about the job is being exhausted and needing to stop when I really don't want to
Being a bike messenger for 5yrs and 3 months in London.
The downside is obvious the pay including no holiday pay (well for some companies) no sick pay if you get injured whilst working, pedestrian crossing without looking or glued to their Pokemon Go style phone, drivers cut you up from not checking their mirror before making a lane change, turning without indication or/& late indication... And most stupid situation are some silly security tried to talk to you through the main building glass glazes window. Had to constantly flick my ears to tell them “I can’t fucking hear you. I’m not bloody deaf”. They could at walk out & talk like a real person would & not treated like I’m deaf lol 🤷♂️
Oh yeah dealing with cold misery bad weather wondering if you should continue or just head home or don’t bother go out all together.
And positive working as a messenger is you’ll get to enjoy being outdoor on a good day, stress free, get to hang out with fellow messenger after you finished or either at the an annual events like a European Cycle Messenger Championships, get to talk to nice receptionist on daily basis lolz and courier discount at certain supported bike shops..... And you get to know your city well.
And you don’t need CV (resume) whenever you’re planning to change companies just only what experience you had and your knowledge of the city.
It is true being true being a bike messenger isn’t for everyone cos if you don’t know your city or even don’t know where you’re going than you’re fucked. And you’re willing to ride 40-60miles a day without any complaints.....
I would really like to and I'm looking for something like ekart or express buzz. There are hardly any bike messengers in Kolkata and not a single bike messenger company
Start the 1st
@@sdansley ❤️
Sick video. I wanna ride with that guy
Bike messenger here from PH
Toronto bike messenger for 15 years. Off the road for 8 years. Mostly agree, especially his comments about no brakes. It's the best for messing.
It's a fun job, except in Canadian winters, and except Toronto's streetcar (tram) tracks.
The bad: money sucks, hitting the pavement (5 broken bones over the years).
The good: jamming with traffic (Toronto core is way heavier than in the video), getting a Bullet off on time, THEY PAY YOU TO RIDE A BIKE!
Im a courier in Toronto too and ive gotten fucked twice by the tracks this summer (1. southbound Ossington went to emergency but no injuries, 2. King past Spadina, also no injuries). You got tips on how to avoid getting your front wheel getting caught in the tracks?
@@GSBiZZ maybe ride tires slightly wider than the tracks? This has always been the deterrent for me riding downtown
@@GSBiZZ Tips to avoid the tracks? Well, always hit them at least 45 degrees. But that's not always possible. Especially on narrower streets and a door opens in your face. And those narrower streets are usually older, so the pavement/concrete around the tracks is badly broken and really dangerous.
So what else? Bunny hop the tracks. Get between the tracks and let the cars behind you wait. And take alternate streets where you can.
Whatever. Sometimes no matter what the tracks are going to get you. It's a right of passage for Toronto messengers.
where you buy the front basket?
pizzbasket .
90% people would not last doing this job. even if they think that they would like it.
More like 99.9 wont last. Dead end career.
totally agree, that's why in the video u saw there's only a few of us.
I mean more like open ended to next step career. Lol, bike shop awaits
I would love to be a bike messenger but i don't live in the city and such a job doesn't exist where I live
I'll buy him a beer (pay-pal or whatever) if he can show me how to corner so sharp that you break the deraullier
My guess is you gotta hit a curb or a large piece of rock for that to happen. Highly unlikely but possible.
Interesting guy
Whats the black rubber in his chain stays?
its my extra bar tape lol
@@kozzyjepun Thanks! Much love and I learned a lot from u. Ride safe!