I was a paperboy for exactly 1 week. Hated it and then quit.

I do have a story though of a paperboy from my hometown. Every town has its characters and my hometown that was much like Mayberry had its characters too.

The local paperboy or legend was a man named Pickles. No one knew how he got his name either. My father was born in 1920 and remembers Pickles delivering papers when he was a kid. I came of age in the 60's and can vividly remember Pickles riding around delivering papers. He delivered 7 different papers throughout the day. He delivered 6 days a week, winter, summer, rain or shine.

What makes him a legend is the fact of not only did he deliver papers for over 60 years but is also where. I grew up in SW Pennsylvania. It is very hilly there and to have these routes and deliver on a fixed gear bike is beyond belief. He had one of those large wire baskets on the front of his bike and he wore faded green Dickie pants. Never wore sneakers either. My HS AD said he was the best conditioned person he ever knew. I did a basic estimation on his routes and mileage and came up with a conservative figure of over 100k miles, all on a fixed gear bike into his 70's.

I did take my road bike back home and rode around town and believe me, it was some tough sledding even though I have climbed Mt Mitchell in NC about 5 times and ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway. I really can't believe this guy did this and to think he did this for his whole life and 6 days a week. Many said he would pass out from shear exhaustion at night from the riding. The town's people tried to get him on a scooter when he got older but he tired one and did not like it so it was back to the bike.

The local resident long time writer ended up writing a book about local fokelore and included a chapter on his life. Man what a story. Long live Pickles, a great paperboy but maybe one of the greatest cyclists ever!

john