Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - messenger club

I saw a bike messenger's bike chained to the railing leading into our administrative hearing center here in Chicago. The bike, a fixie, had a laminated card glued to the spokes of the front wheel.

The card had the acronym IFBC. The F had a crank coming out of the bottom and a lightening bolt on the end. The messenger said it was a club.

Anyone know what the club is?

Tom O.

PS, she probably got a ticket for riding without a helmet.

the card also said "we are watching you!"

Tom O.

Those laminated cards are used by racers in alley cats (kind of like a number plate). The "club" she referred to may have been her way of saying "if you don't know what it means then you aren't in it". Or, it may really have been a club ;)

rule number one of messenger club is you do not talk about messenger club.

rule #2-
buy messenger club lots 'o beer (and then see rule #1)

Those laminated cards are used by racers in alley cats (kind of like a number plate). The "club" she referred to may have been her way of saying "if you don't know what it means then you aren't in it". Or, it may really have been a club

Thanks, now I feel really old and out of it. The messenger girl is hip and I am not (nobody says hip anymore).

Tom O.

rule number one of messenger club is you do not talk about messenger club

she looked as though she had just come from fight club

tom o

Those laminated cards are used by racers in alley cats (kind of like a number plate).

I give up. What are alley cats.

Tom O

alley cats are races... (http://www.bikesummer.org/2002/events/alley.htm)

also: this. (http://www.amryl.com/a-zpage/alleycat1glow.jpg)
and: this. (http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/cats/images/alletcat1_a.jpg)

tom o-
was this female riding a white spicer track frame?

It was red, she was pierced, I was in my lawyer outfit and she was ignoring me to the best of her ability. tom o

Lawyer outfit?
You mean heavy shield, helmet with horns, large sword? Wait, those are vikings...what does a 'lawyer' look like?

Blue suit, white shirt, red tie, pompous look on my face... the required uniform for hearings.

tom o

I am swedish but I gave up the horns and shield years ago.

Originally posted by tom o
Blue suit, white shirt, red tie, pompous look on my face...
Yeah, I saw a lot of those guys in the Enron hearings.:D

That's us.

tom o

I like that 2nd type of alley cat.

tom o

Oddly enough, I have a good friend who is a lawyer and she does not look the part. So I was just ribbin ya, tom o. Mybe someday you'll see me speedin past you in the morning.

Funny thing, Tom- I was just riding past state court and looking at the Picasso. I used to be a library rat in the Daley Center back when I was a law clerk at my firm. I wonder if I've run into you.

If you work for Winston and Strawn, I'm kicking your butt!

;)

Koff

I know, lots of lawyers don't wear a uniform. When you spend a lot of time in court there is an expectation that you will follow certain norms just to be taken seriously.

I have bucked the trend over the years but it is just so much easier to conform while on the job. I dress how I wnat when I am at home.

I still shovel snow in shorts and a sweatshirt. Sometimes even in sandals.

tom o.

I work for myself. I write wills and trusts. I work a lot with families with special needs children. I have a day job which I will be delighted to tell you about off-list.

tom o.

I=Interbational
F= Federation of
B=bicycle
C=couriers

An assoiation to sanction and help organise courier

That was my only freebie on messenger topics

Lawyer outfit?
You mean heavy shield, helmet with horns, large sword? Wait, those are vikings...what does a 'lawyer' look like?


I bet if you wore your viking outfit people would think you were hip.

I=Interbational
F= Federation of
B=bicycle
C=couriers

An assoiation to sanction and help organise courier

That was my only freebie on messenger topics
*********

Thanks for the input.
What else is there and what is the fee?

Tom O.

I bet if you wore your viking outfit people would think you were hip.


I tried that but the horns keep getting caught on low hanging tree branches and those goat skins are not as warm as they look.

Tom O.

I am swedish but I gave up the horns and shield years ago.

Swedish SS riders of CHicago unite!

Swedish SS riders of CHicago unite!

It does not seem like there are many Swedes left in Chicago. Andersonville is now full of wonderful Middle Eastern restaurants but the Swedish food is no longer in sight. Oops, forgot Anne Sather's in Andersonville and Swanson's Swedish Deli on the far Southwest side.

Where does a Swedish cyclist go to carbo load in your section of town?

Tom O.

It does not seem like there are many Swedes left in Chicago. Andersonville is now full of wonderful Middle Eastern restaurants but the Swedish food is no longer in sight. Oops, forgot Anne Sather's in Andersonville and Swanson's Swedish Deli on the far Southwest side.

Where does a Swedish cyclist go to carbo load in your section of town?

Tom O.

That's an easy one and there are a few options in the city; although nothing in Roscoe Village, where I bed down for the night:

1) Tre Kronor, a Scandinavian Resturang on Foster, mid-way between Kedzie and Kimball. (My mom owns the Sweden Shop across the street.)

2) Wickström's on Clark Street in Andersonville

3) Erickson's on Clark Street in Andersonville

4) Ikea in Schaumburg has a nice deli, too, complete with tastey frozen meatballs, sil, cheese, etc.

Are you from Chicago, originally?

Where's Swansons?... Being a born and raised northsider, I have no clue about down south.

the ifbc is the international federation of bike couriers. Check out http://www.dccourier.com/links.htm for more courier info.

what? a bike gang.

what? a bike gang.


Yes. They will kick your Arse and your Colnago to greener pastures. All for way less than $100.