View Poll Results: Would you ever consider being a bike courier?
Yes
34
25.95%
No
53
40.46%
Maybe
20
15.27%
Yes, if things like workman's comp, medical insurance, etc were offered.
24
18.32%
Voters: 131. You may not vote on this poll
How many of you would like to be bike messengers?
01-13-06, 09:58 PM
#52
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by DamianM
Off to Bali are you ?
didnt really get the job...dont think I want it nehoo.
01-13-06, 10:04 PM
#53
Peloton Shelter Dog
SIGN ME UP DUDE!!! $400 a week to risk my life on a bicycle in URBAN TRAFFIC??!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
01-13-06, 10:06 PM
#54
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by pedex
did 14334 miles in 2005, 16,500+ in 2004, about 12,000 in 2003 I think
Unfortunately one thing the job does do, is I dont fit in anywhere, we messengers are quite rare, especially the career long term veterans. There's 1.1 million people in columbus metro area, there's only 4 veterans with more than 3 years experience here now, and one of them is laid up with a torn ACL.
Unfortunately one thing the job does do, is I dont fit in anywhere, we messengers are quite rare, especially the career long term veterans. There's 1.1 million people in columbus metro area, there's only 4 veterans with more than 3 years experience here now, and one of them is laid up with a torn ACL.
you have my respect, I promise to not troll any of your posts 
. I think you would be a very handy criterium racer with all the stops and starts etc.
01-13-06, 10:09 PM
#55
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by patentcad
SIGN ME UP DUDE!!! $400 a week to risk my life on a bicycle in URBAN TRAFFIC??!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
01-15-06, 06:39 AM
#57
Good Afternoon!
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Originally Posted by soni_guin
that's the way it was here 10 years ago when I was wasting away a a courier... It used to be $5 a run, but some company came in and started charging $1 per run... everyone else had to cut their rates or give up their downtown to downtown runs.
Didn't happen friend.
Last edited by SamHouston; 01-15-06 at 01:50 PM.
01-15-06, 08:04 AM
#58
Cat None
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Nope, I make way more than that job would ever pay. I'll stick with accounting.
01-15-06, 08:11 AM
#59
Pedaled too far.
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I'd rather ride to work than for work. Seems like the working conditions and the pressure to be constantly moving would take the fun out of cycling.
If I were trying to be a pro racer, it might be worth it.
What the heck. Try it. You can always get another job later.
If I were trying to be a pro racer, it might be worth it.
What the heck. Try it. You can always get another job later.
01-15-06, 02:09 PM
#60
De-Couriered
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I think if anything, working as a courier has helped revive my love for cycling. I used to ride a lot with my dad but when I went to school the bike just collected dust. I started working as a courier 2 years ago in the summer. Yeah the money was bad at first, but you work your way up. In the winter months the amount of work went up. I was making close to $150 a day. That may be chump change to a family man, but for a single guy living in the city that's just fine.
I regret that Im not doing it anymore, but I know I will not be in Boston forever and I came to school to work towards a career so my love for the job has got to take a backseat to my love for my art and the future Im working towards. I have nothing but respect for the guys who are out there every day. Im glad I had the chance to work with them in all weather and I definitly feel envious at times. I may go back for a few months this year, but nothing is certain.
A big thanks to my courier friends, my dispatcher, and the city of Boston for getting me back on the saddle.
Now I commute by bike 18 miles each way and Im in training for the Trans-NH MDA ride. I wont ever lose my love for the bike again or the added handling skills I gained while working as a courier.
I regret that Im not doing it anymore, but I know I will not be in Boston forever and I came to school to work towards a career so my love for the job has got to take a backseat to my love for my art and the future Im working towards. I have nothing but respect for the guys who are out there every day. Im glad I had the chance to work with them in all weather and I definitly feel envious at times. I may go back for a few months this year, but nothing is certain.
A big thanks to my courier friends, my dispatcher, and the city of Boston for getting me back on the saddle.
Now I commute by bike 18 miles each way and Im in training for the Trans-NH MDA ride. I wont ever lose my love for the bike again or the added handling skills I gained while working as a courier.
01-15-06, 02:49 PM
#61
poser/hipster/whatever
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I"m a courier and i love it. every day is a new challenge. it's never the same. the money is decent. and it isn't that scary. keep your head up and your eyes open and you're golden. just don't be a wuss. show up and ride. hard. when it's cold, ride harder. and dress warm (but not too warm, overheating sucks) the only time it sucks is cold rain, but my dispatcher likens me to a dog: when i get wet, i get crazy. you get to hang out with a lot of like minded people when it's slow, and ride your bike when it's not. and hell, let's face it. riding through traffic is a hell of a lot more fun than riding on some empty road, one direction for hours, then turning around and going home.
-jason
-jason
01-15-06, 04:37 PM
#62
...
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Originally Posted by patentcad
SIGN ME UP DUDE!!! $400 a week to risk my life on a bicycle in URBAN TRAFFIC??!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
MY DREAM JOB!!! Oh man OH MAN!!!!!!!!!!
01-15-06, 05:07 PM
#63
Stooge
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How has the birth of electronic information changed the bike messenger industry? Has email and the internet made it harder to find work as a messenger?
The job sounds too tough for most humans, especially me. And the pay is not great. Gotta respect that job, seems like quite an endurance challenge.
The job sounds too tough for most humans, especially me. And the pay is not great. Gotta respect that job, seems like quite an endurance challenge.
01-15-06, 05:40 PM
#64
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Originally Posted by pedex
Takes a year just to get into decent physical shape, add another year to learn good handling skills and get fairly fast at it.
.Seriously though, I wouldn't mind doing it a few days a month, but it all honestly it would just be easier to the day off and go riding. I've banged all around Boston and Cambridge during my BMX days so I would be hard pressed to do it for a living.
01-15-06, 06:06 PM
#65
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by FormerBMX'er
I've been riding nearly every day for almost a year now and I use to BMX race so I got the handling skills. I think that should count for nearly two years .
Seriously though, I wouldn't mind doing it a few days a month, but it all honestly it would just be easier to the day off and go riding. I've banged all around Boston and Cambridge during my BMX days so I would be hard pressed to do it for a living.
.Seriously though, I wouldn't mind doing it a few days a month, but it all honestly it would just be easier to the day off and go riding. I've banged all around Boston and Cambridge during my BMX days so I would be hard pressed to do it for a living.
01-15-06, 06:16 PM
#66
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Originally Posted by macca123
why would you ride a bmx
Last edited by FormerBMX'er; 01-15-06 at 06:21 PM.
01-15-06, 06:21 PM
#67
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by FormerBMX'er
Because that's what we raced through the 80's, early 90's. I didn't start eyeballing my first Mountain Bike until mid 90's. It wasn't the fastest way to get from point a -> b, but it was fun and I can still J-Hop a trash barrel (standing up).
01-15-06, 06:31 PM
#68
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Originally Posted by macca123
u r really cool
01-15-06, 06:58 PM
#69
Banned.
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Maybe a more interesting poll would be:
Have you ever seen a bike messenger?
I'm almost 37 and I have never seen one.
Have you ever seen a bike messenger?
I'm almost 37 and I have never seen one.
01-15-06, 08:18 PM
#70
taking the piss
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Originally Posted by FormerBMX'er
right back at ya, with those massive quads of yours
01-15-06, 09:05 PM
#71
In Real Life
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Originally Posted by thebankman
How has the birth of electronic information changed the bike messenger industry? Has email and the internet made it harder to find work as a messenger?
The job sounds too tough for most humans, especially me. And the pay is not great. Gotta respect that job, seems like quite an endurance challenge.
The job sounds too tough for most humans, especially me. And the pay is not great. Gotta respect that job, seems like quite an endurance challenge.
I would imagine the electronic age has changed the bike (and walking) messenger industry to some extent, but in the legal field, they still need the original paper documents signed, and I also know that engineering documents need stamps on the original documents. There are likely other fields that also need original documents transferred, signed, etc.
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01-15-06, 09:10 PM
#72
CAT6 UTP 568B
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Originally Posted by mooncake
Seems to be a cool, maverick way to make a living, don't you?
01-15-06, 09:13 PM
#73
CAT6 UTP 568B
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Originally Posted by ovoleg
Hmm, stupid question. A bike messenger just delivers mail/messages from one office to the other?
Don't people use FedEx/UPS/Airborne/USPS now adays?
This is the first I hear of such a job
so be nice !
Don't people use FedEx/UPS/Airborne/USPS now adays?
This is the first I hear of such a job
so be nice !