b00gnish

greetings all...

well a proper introduction is probably the first step here....i've been in the biking community for a little over a year or so now, been a courier in Chicago for a year. i'm 29, grew up in chicago, and have been thinking that at some point, before i get TOO old to do this anymore, that i'd like to take my newfound abilities and skills to San Francisco...i've always liked northern cali; have some buds and a special ladyfriend in that area that i'd like to get closer to; and i've always thought that i'd leave chicago for an extended period time only to return with a newfound sense of appreacion for my home city. I'm a full on bikey type now, even if i don't know all the lingo - my first race was the Tour Da Chicago 2 days ago.

Can someone fill me in as to the messenger community "scene" out there? Is it exclusive? do the hills absolutely sap your mental and physical energies? What are the differences between the 2 cities? Rent comparisons?

and is there anyone out there that's thinking of making the move towards the end of this coming summer?!

onetwentyeight 

Rent is higher, the hills are rough but you learn how to go around them. I don't know about the messenger community, but the fixed gear and biker community is big and strong. Never been to chicago so I can't compare them, sorry.

pitboss

there is a decent-sized messenger community out there and some opportunities - if you can prove your speed and abilities.
You don't get paid to ride a bike, you get paid to ride a bike with speed and skill and deliver reliably. It is like that in most cities that have messengers/couriers. Unless you want low pay and crap tickets...that's on you. I didn't see anything in regards to exclusion (and since you have messed before, it may prove easier to gain an "in" for a job).
There are maps that show the hill grades in varying shades of red - VERY handy! Then when you get comfortable, you can take on the smaller ones, etc.

SF has a large track/fixed population overall - ranging all skill levels and so on. Pretty friendly, yet somewhat clique-ish - moreso than here in Chicago (and LA, which has a great bike community from my very brief experience...Go Bici Cocina!!!). But that did not detract from my visit to the Bay Area as it was more "heard of" than seen in my opinion.

PS> Oakland is warmer and the BART will get you to SF in no time.

caboater

I grew up in Chicago but now live in S.F. The realatively great weather is reason enough to move out here. Back there, I felt dead half of the year. The people are great but I need to be outside.

Don't fear the hills! I need to move to sanfran. (video)