Cycle Courier
 

Not so sure where I should put questions about cycle couriers, so I'm starting this thread (however if somebody could point out a better place that would be great).

I'm hopefully about to soon start work as a cycle courier (in Auckland NZ in the CBD and city fringe if you are curious), and so I'm still uncertain about a number of things. For instance I know that road pedals that I currently have will be useless for this, so I'll be needing more MTB style shoes and pedals. But I've really got no idea as to which of the many types I should pick and don't know too much about them (I come from a road racing/triathlon background, did Ironman NZ last month).

So what shoes/pedals are recommended for a courier??




Oh, seeing this is my first post here (altough I've been on the sidelines for a while reading a lot of the sometimes very interesting posts) I'll say a little something about myself. As I said above cycling wise I come from a road racing/triathlon background, however with regards to edurance sports I've got waaaaaay more experience as a runner. Also as my username might suggest I've done a *lot* of maths at Uni!!

Mathmo,

You should check out the singlespeed/fixie forum, that's where all of the messengers hang out. As far as shoes go, I would reccommend a good double sided clipless pedal and some mtb shoes with a lot of rubber on them as you will spend as much time walking as you will riding. I like the AXO Impact, inexpensive but durable. Good luck and remember to focus more on good route planning than going fast. It doesn't matter if you fly if you end up at the wrong building or have to spend all day back tracking. Get a good map and find out where the wierd streets and buildings are located. And finally find out your dispatcher's favorite kind of beer and get him a six pack come Friday. You'll be amazed at all the gravy runs that come your way.

Hope this helps.

Auckland is just one big mountain range from what I remember of it. Have fun :D

Indeed, it has been seeming like one continous ride of either grinding myself to death up hills , or flying down those same hills at speeds which also may cause my death!! :p :p

Was thinking at first I should post it there, but then I thought this had nothing at all to do with fixed gears or single speeds.

Strangely in nz riding around on fixed gears (and to a lesser extent single speeds) is extremely rare, that is to say I've never even heard of anybody who even wants to ride a fixed gear on the roads (except for myself! :p ) let alone actually rides one!! :eek: :p


Yup, I guessed as much (plus from my own experience and seeing the other couriers). Was looking more for the pro's and con's of each of the main ones??


Although it might be a while before I act upon anything said here, because I've just got yet another bike (a single-speed mtb) that came with mtb clipless-pedals! So I'll be using them for now as it saves me from spending money I don't even have! However once my first paycheck comes....