Not signed in (Sign In)

Vanilla 1.1.5a is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

London Bicycle Messenger Association: PLEASE HELP

Bottom of Page

1 to 15 of 15

  1.  
    •  
      CommentAuthorricochet
    • CommentTimeMay 30th 2007
     
    I am doing everything I can to become a cycling courier, this is just to see how fit I must be or become.
    I know it would obviously vary from person to person and day to day but could you give me some averages, i.e. the average of miles on a particular week you have travelled as a bike courier and please state how many days you worked in that particular week, and if its not 9-5 please say that to. I only assume you have an odometre and pay attention to it.
    Thankyou to everyone. :)
    •  
      CommentAuthorPapa44
    • CommentTimeMay 30th 2007
     
    count on doing about 30-50 miles a day.
  3.  
    I was doing a little more than P44, prob more like 50 - 60. So around 200 - 300 mile a week.

    If you become a messenger, you will get fit. Don't worry about that part.

    The problem you will have is finding a job.

    Now is the wrong time to be looking, as lots of people suddenly find life as free-wheeling spirit of the streets (© all media outlets) more appealing once the average daily temperature goes up.

    check www.londonmessenger.org/faq
  4.  
    "I am doing everything I can to become a cycling courier.."

    the only way to become a messenger is to jump in at the deep end and start tomorrow (assuming you can find someone hiring).

    You'll get fit on the job, especially starting with a shit company coz you'll be on donkey runs all day anyway. (that's usually long distance single drop non urgent jobs that sap your will to continue and leave you wondering if the pubs are open yet)

    I came to messengering from a love of riding a bicycle (i used to time trial) so i was fit to start with, (although a different type of fit to that required on the circuit)
    However some people come to messengering who don't even care about bicycles(???!!!!?????!!) and just get on with it without worrying about fitness.

    It took me a while to toughen my mind though.

    the numbers usually banded about are 50miles a day (give or take depending where you live), five days a week between the hours of 8 and 6 (although you can work longer and may have to if you haven't made your rent) Miles could be less once you get with a decent company and are doing short distance multi drop work £££

    I was also drawn to messengering because I needed a flexible job. ha bloody ha. I would have to do 5 days a week just to earn a crust.

    Have fun
    • CommentAuthorifbm
    • CommentTimeMay 30th 2007
     
    aren't there some companies who are happy with four days a week?...Cyclone was when I was there. Or is that a thing of the past?
    •  
      CommentAuthorPapa44
    • CommentTimeMay 30th 2007
     
    the past my friend... the glorious past...
    • CommentAuthorifbm
    • CommentTimeMay 31st 2007
     
    wow ....that's sad
  8.  
    Nah, Creative still do part-time
    •  
      CommentAuthorricochet
    • CommentTimeMay 31st 2007
     
    excellent very helpful, thanks to all you
  10.  
    make sure you take lots of easily digestible food with you or prepare to spend lots on buying it while you're in town

    to save money i started taking stuff with me from home but it's a lotta hassle carrying food around all day

    luckily the company i work for is pretty good and i could just cook loads of stuff and leave it in the fridge or freezer at work

    so the moral of the story is... find a company with a fridge and make sure they'll let you use it :D
    • CommentAuthorifbm
    • CommentTimeMay 31st 2007
     
    cool...last company I knew with a fridge accessible to couriers was Fleet st Flyers (and possibly pink, thinking bout it)
  12.  
    bananas from the market are cheap.... 25p a pound for fair trade ones... unfortunately the skin is inculded in the price

    theyre a good cheap source of quick energy but they wont last long cos theyre pretty sugary, not very starchy, and near enough zero fatty
  13.  
    The best energy food I found was dried bananas. They look like a turd, taste pretty nice, moist and not too chewy, and keep well in the back pocket of jersey on a hot day.

    The nut guy in Berwick Street sells them at 75p (?) a packet, 2 packets will last all day.

    Me and Krzys rode all through Northern France down to Basel fuelled by dried bananas, dried figs and cashews.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPapa44
    • CommentTimeMay 31st 2007
     
    i told you. hippie.
    • CommentAuthorMomentum
    • CommentTimeJun 1st 2007
     
    "Me and Krzys rode all through Northern France down to Basel fuelled by dried bananas, dried figs and cashews. "

    Good for your digestion...

1 to 15 of 15

  1.