Bike Blog NYC » Messenger Culture/News

Heading to Guatemala?

Michael Green — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:16:56 +0000

So who’s heading to Panajachel for the 18th Annual Cycle Messenger World Championships?

More info here.

Nadir will be Here

Michael Green — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:40:03 +0000

(Nadir Olivet, on the right)
So Nadir Olivet, former messenger superstar, owner of La Carrera Cycles in Toronto, and one of the organizers of the next Cycle Messenger World Championships will be here in NYC for a week. Back on the road for Squid at Cycle Hawk Couriers.

I don’t think he’ll be riding this though:

But he will have paperwork on him to register people for the 2010 CMWC in Panajachel Guatemala.
If your interested give him a shout: (647) 299-1203 or email: wooracer@hotmail.com

Maybe you just want to hang with some old school couriers who were never in a cult.

That’s one way to get to Panajachel.

Another, would be to win tickets at the Squid’s 5th annual Velo City tour which is taking place in LA (May 1st), San Francisco (TBA), Chicago (TBA) and NYC (July 3rd) This is were urban riders and messengers compete on the track to win paid airfare to the CMWC.
More info: Cyclehawk.com.

This will also be in conjunction with a great fun ride based on the cult classic: Escape From New York.

Follow along at www.escapefromnewyorkfunride.blogspot.com

On Sunday, April 18th will be a screening of the movie at the bike friendliest bar around in Brooklyn, The Second Chance Saloon 659 Grand St.

the King is back

Michael Green — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 04:58:57 +0000

Known for his death-deifying skitches, long distance wheelies, alleycat victories and messenger skills…Felipe is back in NYC.
The KING, THE KING!
(photo by: smashenger.blogspot.com)

Video from Diablo:

Felipe King of NYC is Back from URBAN CYCLIST WORLDWIDE on Vimeo.

Messengers in the News

Michael Green — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:35:09 +0000

Here are some bike messenger related stories…

Joe Hendry of Mess Media posted a story about Couriers in Toronto.

Couriers the latest free-enterprizers on two wheels
By Reuben Sokol
Toronto Observer, April 7, 2010

(about photo: Andrew Parker, Amy Dyer, Steve Beiko and Marli Epp (left to right) huddle on Mar. 25 at the end of a long day of riding.–Photo by: Reuben Sokol/Toronto Observer)

Amy Dyer makes her living on two wheels in Toronto … unless those wheels get damaged.

“If one of my wheels on my bike decides it’s had enough … and blows up, unless you build it yourself, you have to pay the mechanic to build it … That is upwards of $200,” Dyer said.

“We buy special Gore-Tex socks so you’re not going to get wet and cold, and you’re not going to freeze and die of frost bite.”

On March 25, fully dressed in several layers of winter clothing, Dyer and five other bike couriers sat at the roundtable in downtown Toronto.

Some are members of the Toronto Bike Messenger Association (TOMBA), a non-profit organization set up for the benefit of 500 bike messengers. They’re planning an emergency fundraiser for May 1 and 2. Dyer explained the purpose of the Bike Messenger Emergency Fund.

read the whole story here.

Joe also posted a story about bike couriers in in Dallas, old school…like back in 1923.

This is a picture of my wife’s grandfather, Gordon Mackenzie, as a young Western Union messenger boy in Dallas circa 1923 (third from left). Gordon died last year at the age of 96 but was a messenger from the age of 12 to 14. He’d tell us stories about his Western Union days, and wearing down three different bicycles while working for the company. His bicycle of choice was a Pierce-Arrow which was outfitted with a shaft drive instead of a chain.

Bike Theft in the age of Twitter

Michael Green — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:33:48 +0000

found from Joe Hendry from messmedia.org

A Bike Theft in the Time of Twitter
By J. DAVID GOODMAN
New York Times, March 9, 2010

Austin Horse thought he was just leaving his bike for a second when he ran into the lobby of an office building at 28th Street and Madison Avenue last Tuesday afternoon to make a pickup.

Mr. Horse, a messenger since 2005, expected a quick turnaround — run up to the desk, get the package, get back on the bike — and locking his bright orange track bike would just slow the whole process. “I had it fake-locked,” he said, describing how he had placed a U-lock through the back wheel without closing it, as a decoy. “Normally, a pickup like that, it takes 30 seconds.”

But there had been some confusion at the company, and the package was not ready for him. Ten minutes passed, with Mr. Horse standing around the lobby, watching the bike through large glass windows, growing increasingly antsy. Finally, the package arrived, and he went to the desk to get it, turning his back to the windows.

A minute later, the bike was gone.

Read the rest of the article here.

Ten Nine Radio-New episode

Michael Green — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:28:38 +0000

(photo by dublinmessenger)

Ten Nine Radio is a podcast about messengers.
Check out their new episode (#3). Extended Program with Messenger of the Moment Shawn Bega.

“Episode Three February 1st: In this special exteneded broadcast we share a bunch of time with Shawn Bega as our Messenger of the Moment who was able to give us much more than we thought we were looking for and we get to many of your music requests. This is an informative program on CMWC Guatemala, The Messengers Mailing List and much more and hey we are always looking for submissions so let us know if you want to get in on some of it.
Thanks for tuning in, please pass this along to anyone you think might enjoy it.
Peace OutBikerBill”

Take a listen– 109radio.com

What the Huck? London magazine has courier fashion spread

Michael Green — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:07:52 +0000

Fashion magazine from London Huck has a photo piece on bike messengers who are always ahead of the trends.

Check out more from issue #14: Rules of the road, here.

Bike Messenger Radio

Michael Green — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:32:56 +0000

Bike messenger radio now at TenNine Radio.com. They’ve got two shows already posted about bike messenger culture, Check it out.

Event in 2010, alleycat in Mexico City

Michael Green — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:06:09 +0000

For those who don’t know, this year’s 2010 Cycle Messenger World Championships will be held in Guatemala, making new connections and bring the world’s couriers to this amazing South American country which makes for a unique travel destination. This event is being held from September 3rd-13th with lots of time to see sights, meet old and new friends and compete in amazing events like bike polo, track bike skills and of course the main race. It is being orchestrated mainly by Toronto’s own legendary: Nadir Olivet, owner of La Carrera cycles in Toronto.

There will be a series of events leading up to Guatemala including an alleycat in Mexico City, with the help of Mexico Fixed.

For more information, contact nadir@guatemala.com

Amsterdam maybe for 2011, CMWC

Michael Green — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:03:28 +0000

Not to think too far ahead but if the world is going to end in 2012,
Maybe Amsterdam isn’t a bad place to go out with a bang.

Looks like their working on a bid:

www.cmwc2011amsterdam.blogspot.com/