paris messengers
 

There is obviously a huge messenger thing in the US, and I think London has quite a few... Anyone know if Paris has messengers? (and/ or posengeurs :D )
I hope to spend some time there later in the year and it could be an awesome way to work a bit and get to know the city.

I didn't see any. I only saw a handful of SS bikes, and no fixed bikes... then again, downtown Paris is where, exactly? There are all sorts of motor scooter deliveries. I saw no track bikes used on the streets. Most people have commuter bikes, and they are far to practical to bike fashionable.

BTW- I wouldn't exactly call the messenger thing "huge" in the US.

If you don't speak French- god help you find a job- of any sort.

You can take your bike on the RER, but not the Metro.

here ya go a link to Paris messengers :) http://www.messengers.org/contacts/#ca

I think that everywhere has posengeurs.

Do they look like this?

http://www.theatrebreaks.com/partydi.../frenchman.gif

Paris has messengers, but they are all on scooters/motorcylces. My old company had a branch there for a while, it didn't last long.

I am not sure if Joel has updated that messenger site, but it says 20 on there. Talking to him not to long ago, he said it was 5, so it may be down. But 'bicycle' messengering is almost impossible due to the city size and of course the scooter.

doesn't breakaway have paris offices?

Nope, not anymore, that was the company I was referring to. I think it maybe lasted about a year.

At the many messenger events I have attended I have only met one Messenger from Paris. His name is David Milliere and I am not sure if he is still working on the road or not. His e-mail is dmilliere@hotmail.com. If he is not on the road still I am sure he can hook you up with someone who is. K.

I noticed this too. They are terrifyingly fast and have big boxes attached to their vehicles. It makes sense when you see how bad most of the streets are, there are more cobblestones than asphalt. My experience is that the US has the best urban fixie culture, most of the bike messengers I've seen in Europe ride mbts with slicks and most commuters ride those awesome three-speeds.

I think the whole bike messenger thing is much bigger in northern europe. Southern europe including france has more scooter messengers. . . they are much faster and can carry much more than bicycles. There is one company here in madrid, but I have never even seen one on a road bike. They all have these mountain bikes with the big knobbie tires. Southern europe is just weird.

Strasbourg's finest.

http://www.tomahawkmessenger.com/image/photo_dec_24.jpg

Whatever the french got goin on, its gotta be cooler by virtue of being french. Umm, Le Tour?

Allez! Allez!

ex bike messenger in paris
 

hello i am david, ex bike messenger in paris and london, and also philadelphia for a couple of weeks.


you can reach me on davidmilliere@gmail.com

urbancycle.fr is the only bike messenger service as far as i know in paris.




david.

Too bad that's not Strasbourg in the background....

Paris is actually not as big as you'd think. Also there are so many cobbled roads, which is a shame, cause there are tons of back alley ways to traverse, especially around the latin quarter. Still, it would be a fantastic experience to be able to partake in such a job. Comme disait encore, j'espère que tu sais le français si tu veux y travailler...(en Paris)...

Where is it? I think I recognize it, but not sure.

this is sort of to piggyback off the this whole conversation, but i'm going to paris in a couple of weeks and was wondering if it was worth bringing my bike (cobblestone streets, sheer size, etc.) and if there was anyone to hang out with while i was there....

just wondering!

Found these pics at a blog.
http://magyar.mashkulture.net/wp-con...amigoride2.jpg
http://magyar.mashkulture.net/wp-con...wantedcat1.jpg
http://magyar.mashkulture.net/wp-con...213friday1.jpg

I think its in France but the blog aint french me thinks.
http://magyar.mashkulture.net/category/radar-barnie/

Pignonfixe.com
Constantly updated. Rides, alleycats and polo meetups. Helps to know the slang. There is an alleycat on March 7th.

Paris Fixed blog
Most of these guys speak some remedial english and you can try to email Yann and find out where the rides are. Ths big avenues and roundabouts are fun but scooters are a force to be reckoned with. You'll find less cobblestone to the south of the 5th & 6th. The north is hilly. Less traffic in the posh 16th & 17th. The central artery that goes along the Seine is closed to cars on Sundays for a few hours and is open to bicycles, skaters and runners only. Nice scenery. I love that city more than anything else in the universe.

Cyclope The premier bike shop.
Paris Brakeless

rad links, baron. i'll shoot out some emails. the more i think about it the more i'd really rather try to ride there than not (and seeing that pink and yellow bike (same exact color scheme as mine) doesn't hurt either).

thanks guys!

Apparantly there is a group ride every Thursday night. FixedgearParis.com

They have links to map/route.
There was aTunnel edition

yeah, i just joined the paris forums and yann got back to me right away. funny though, i won't be around for either of the thursdays i'll be there.

i thought this:
http://www.yann-g.com/blog/wp-conten...2/img_5038.jpg
and this:
http://www.yann-g.com/blog/wp-conten...2/img_5041.jpg
were really funny

hey! it's my pictures! a really cool ride Paris to Versailles. Every thursday we ride in (or out…) Paris. You're welcome.

take care

yann-g.com