I delivered the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and my hometown paper, the Wakefield Daily Item. About half the time I used my bike, a 26" wheeled Raleigh 3-speed, with the papers lashed to one of those old Pletscher rear racks using the built in clamp and some bungie cords. I bought my first good bike (a Mercier) with the proceeds from that paper route. Was it Thanksgiving day that always had the biggest paper of the year? My route included a nursing home that smelled horrible and never did earn me much in tips.