Awesome thread resurrection from eleven years ago!
Another San Jose Mercury-News paperboy here from the early-seventies.
First year on a 3sp Sting Ray, which could not take the abuse. The saddlebags made the bike pop wheelies sometimes.
Got a proper Schwinn 26" beater cruiser with the beefy rack installed.
Did my daily evening route and Sunday mornings. Hilly terrain with around forty or so homes.
Humongous Sunday paper, so I usually delivered the funnies/ads/inserts section along with the thin Saturday edition.
Not a single customer ever complained, but imagine it took away some of their fun.
Stayed friends all these years with the kid who gave me the route, as well as the one who took it from me.