wise decision on the pac. but be warned, they are huge bags! much bigger than most makers simply becuase they are made much deeper (about 12" deep on mine). i bought the smallest model they made and it carries in the neighbourhood of 30L.

i agree with Sam, let Pat do the embroidery for you. what's a few extra bucks put into that bag; it will last you forever.

Craigslist special, only $500,


https://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/234289264.html

I think he set his sights a little high.

Nope, guy.

BS? https://www.torontoist.com/archives/2...the_olympi.php

Sounds legit, but I'm surprised this is the first I've heard of it.

edit: https://www.messmedia.org/

Sam posted about that awhile back. It's legit.

The last one was awesome fun

what he said...

Gonna be AWESOME gotta be there HOT Chicks and Hot Bikes

Uh, holy crap, that is most excellent. It was held here awhile ago, sometime in the '90s, but I missed it then.

On another note, does anyone know if any of the messenger companies are hiring? What do they look for? Experience?

marinoni

one of you canadians should get that road bike.

marinonis are dime a dozen in canada. You can usually dumpster one on trash day; no reason to buy one from the US on ebay.

eets too small for me.

its my size but i dont have the money. somebody dumpster me a marinoni. i'll be in rochester for thanksgiving and christmas, i'll hop the pond and pick it up. ha.

In the winter? Of course they're hiring!

On messenger once told me ...

"They're like Papillon."

In other words like "butterflys".
They come in the summer and leave during winter.
Sort of poetic.

I tried applying for one company,
It was super busy summer.

To test you,
They give you a road map. with no labels.
You're suppose to fill in the street names.
East to west. North to south.

Alas I didn't get the job because there were just too many messengers at that company.
I got a job at a bike store instead which turned out okay

There are always messenger companies hiring. The trick is to get a job at one that you are gonna actually make money at. Many of the companies have really low rates which means you will have to ride yer a$$ off and be lucky to make $75 a day. Messenger experience in and of itself is not usually that important. Knowing the downtown core really well will help...including the names of the bigger towers ie: First Can, T.D. Tower, Scotia tower etc. Some companies will give you a little test to make sure you know yer way around. A good waterproof bag will make the job easier and at least a good Goretex or equivalent jacket. Look in the paper...most of the time there are listings for bikers. Some of the better companies...Critical Path, United Messengers, Messengers International, TCC/Speedy. If you end up at one of the lesser known, smaller companies make sure you keep track of the calls you do by writing down the waybill #'s at the end of each day, this way you will be able to compare your record of calls against the calls they are actually paying you for. Its very common for some to short you on your pay so by keeping track you at least have an idea if they are ripping you off. On the positive side by looking for a job now you have a better chance of getting a decent job as winter is coming and most of the fair weather riders/students are off the road so there is often a shortage of good bikers.

Yup....start in the winter and you will advance to higher zen couriers levels faster.

Caverns's bike messengers !

Good advice guys, thanks.

Ryand, keep an eye on the Toronto CL and tell us if there is anything on there that interests you; it is a slow time for bike sales right now (that Miyata for 85$ has been listed about 8 times now) and maybe the buyer would wait for you if one of us talked to them.

I had a Marinoni once, years ago, and it was a great bike, but I liked mountain bikes at the time, so I sold it. I didn't know anything about road bikes back then but I am guessing it was a higher end ride, probably SL or maybe even SLX. I used it for beer runs and I left it locked up in some very very shady places; ignorance really is bliss at times; now, I'd faint if I saw a Marinoni locked up at 4am in Chinatown.

Speaking of Marinonis.... This one is real small:
https://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/235211834.html

That is a nice one, I like the colour a lot, but I think that $400 is a bit much for a touring frame with so-so parts. Interesting though, I love '80s bikes and the great colours they had.

Paulie is selling his bike off

https://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/235004651.html

More frames like his to sell as well.

his store on Queen Street is full of stuff , I look in the window every day on the way to work but it is never open , $800 uhmm you could get a complete Langster for less

I've emailed him to see how much the frames are.

This is a great list if you just want to cold-call companies, not sure how updated it is though...https://www.messmedia.org/messville/TO-companies.html

Hit up some messengers you see DT, smoke em and ask them where to work and/or who'se hiring