ask me about being a bike messenger.

[skunkworks]

[ QUOTE ]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2yg...ed&search=

the couple seconds around 3:25 defy all understanding

[/ QUOTE ]
wtf sick.

[kidcolin]

OP,

I'm glad you take a wise position on the no brake fixie thing. It's about the dumbest thing I can think of. Basically, when it comes to fixie stuff, if Sheldon Brown says it's dumb, then it's probably dumb.

My questions:

1. Do you think the messenger community is a little too cliquey?

2. How do you feel about fixies getting SUPER popular? They got real big in Boston when I was there. Then I moved to Sac, and there were a few around town, but not many. Within a 18 months they were all over the place. Since the messenger crowd has such a large overlap with the punk/hipster/underground crowd, I know there's a lot of resentment when what's unique and cool to them gets popular, whether it be clothes, music, food, whatever. Corporations like, suck man! In the case of single speeds, though, I say the more the better. Cheaper, easier to maintain commuter bikes? Awesome.

3. Are you required to get a license in Pittsburgh? I had to in Boston, though my messenger job fell through between the time I was hired and the time my license came through. I'm still bummed out about it to this day. I was sooo looking forward to that job.

4. My converted Puegeot a friend built for me sucks bad, french bikes are a pain, and I suck at building my own. I'm thinking about buying a new swobo sanchez fixie, though my interest is definitely based on the hype. Your thoughts?

5. Critical Mass, yay or nay? I went from yay to nay after about 6 or 7 rides.

[99killed]

[ QUOTE ]
OP, what's your position on the claim that cycling causes infertility in men? Do your employers have any policies on this? Can you or your co-workers sue if they can prove that cycling made them infertile? Also what's the male to female ratio of bike messengers?

[/ QUOTE ]

i havent knocked up any sloots yet, not trying to though. i wrap that [censored] up. don't know much about that.

here in the burgh, there have been a 7 or 8 girl messengers since i've been riding (almost 6 years), none right now. in philly and NYC, its prolly 10-1 men. its easier cuz of how flat it is. so chicks can get their street cred points up faster.

[Victor]

do you have a computer/odometer on there or is that considered lame?

just wondering how many miles you do in a day/week.

[ChipsAhoya]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
OP, what's your position on the claim that cycling causes infertility in men? Do your employers have any policies on this? Can you or your co-workers sue if they can prove that cycling made them infertile? Also what's the male to female ratio of bike messengers?

[/ QUOTE ]

i havent knocked up any sloots yet, not trying to though. i wrap that [censored] up. don't know much about that.

here in the burgh, there have been a 7 or 8 girl messengers since i've been riding (almost 6 years), none right now. in philly and NYC, its prolly 10-1 men. its easier cuz of how flat it is. so chicks can get their street cred points up faster.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think he's talking about how sitting on the bike seat might cause pressure on and constrict the blood vessels that feed your [censored] so you can't get it up as easily, not actual infertility...

-ChipsAhoya

[99killed]

[ QUOTE ]

1. Do you think the messenger community is a little too cliquey?

[/ QUOTE ] not here in pittsburgh but i could def see that elsewhere. i def been called "one of those bike messenger ***holes before".

[ QUOTE ]
2. How do you feel about fixies getting SUPER popular?

[/ QUOTE ]
half the ppl who ride fixies use thir bike as an accessory, something to be seen with, like a nice purse. lame.

[ QUOTE ]
3. Are you required to get a license in Pittsburgh?

[/ QUOTE ] no.
[ QUOTE ]
4. My converted Puegeot a friend built for me sucks bad, french bikes are a pain, and I suck at building my own. I'm thinking about buying a new swobo sanchez fixie, though my interest is definitely based on the hype. Your thoughts?

[/ QUOTE ]

dont know much about swobo. looking to pick up a Surly Steamroller myself - speaking of fixies.
[ QUOTE ]
5. Critical Mass, yay or nay? I went from yay to nay after about 6 or 7 rides.

[/ QUOTE ] its a good noble idea but doing it during friday rushhour just pisses ppl the [censored] off. and the bikers most involved act like total uppity jerks when they get in any confrontations (police, roadragers, etc)

the ppl they piss off friday at 5:30 and aiming to run us over monday at 9am.

i've ridden in a few but havent in years. nay.

[99killed]

[ QUOTE ]
do you have a computer/odometer on there or is that considered lame?

just wondering how many miles you do in a day/week.

[/ QUOTE ]

used to have a computer but we do some heavy boxes sometimes 50lbs+ on our handlebars so they just get in the way.

typical day/week - 30-50miles. ~200miles/wk.

[IWEARGOGGLES]

OP,

teach me how to ride bikes and I will teach you how to beat 2/4-3/6?

[kleinstadt1]

[/ QUOTE ]

i know when why they roll up their pants, when they're riding a bike. maybe it's just denver, but if they're in a bar or club or restaurant they keep their 1 leg rolled up.

[/ QUOTE ]

After I lock up my bike, the first thing I do is unroll my jeans/pants/whatever.

I'm sure you guys were dying to know that.

It just seems ridiculously ostentatious to me to leave them rolled up. Plenty of people here do the same thing to proclaim their counter-cultural status. Your scorn is well-placed.

And I can see why people have switched to nay from yay re: Critical Mass. Makes total sense. That being said, it's still pretty fun to stop traffic for ten minutes and go on a leisurely bike ride. Presuming you don't get arrested, like last Friday's ride.

[Victor]

op, what type of pedals do you use, clipin, toestrap, or straight platform?

whats most common for messengers?