I'm at York university, but things didn't turn out so great in this terms exams. As such, I'm planning an escape should next terms marks not be enough.
I cycle a lot and spent a rediculous 1,400 on my BMX last week. I try to run a few miles every night and have essentially zero fat on me. A cycle courier seems like something I could enjoy.
There are two drawbacks to my fantastic plan. A.) I've never lived in London, and so wouldn't know my arse from elbow at first, but am confident that embarassment and rage at having wasted my time going the wrong way will soon make me an expert. B.) I have no idea how much you can reasonably make a day, and I know it can be shit expensive to live down there.
The only thing I've seen is someone mention from £1.50 to £2.50 a delivery. But I have no idea how accurate that is, or how many you can reasonably make in a days cycling. I usually try to overtake anyone who's in front of me on my bike, including cars. But am concerned I'm going to have to absolutely nail it all day to make enough to just pay the rent.
'A 2006 study stated that the average daily wage of London bicycle messengers was £65 a day, and that of bicycle messenger in Cardiff was £45.[16] The UK legal minimum wage is £5.52/hour.[17] Based on a 9 hour day, this gives a legal minimum daily rate of around £49, before deductions.'
That's before you have paid for the bike, clothing, food, bag etc
About 200 pounds a day. Spend most of that time sitting about talking shit with overdrive. Rattatttattat! Zack fires off a few rounds from his kalishnakof. Buff is critically injured and taken to Saint Barts for urgent medical attention.
I'd stay in York. There are a hell of a lot of riders out there earning a lot less than £325 per week. In my experience, more than 80% of cycle couriers in London earn less than £300 per week...though most of those on here probably earn more than £300 and a few pull £400+ every week (WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE!) I used to make £400 per week at West One in 1987-1989, when it was a £2.25 and £2.50 minimum (Went up to £2.75 in January 1990, I think, and is now back down to £2 at City Sprint, as West One are now called.) and a legit room in Camden cost me £35 per week - all in. Prospective recruits to the profession have missed the boat, but if you do your homework and find a decent firm, being a cycle courier isn't a bad life while you look for a proper job. You most certainly do not have to be fit to do it....Being a top cyclist will probably earn you 15% more than a shrewd professional pulls in, certainly no more.
its allot more about know where your going then going their fast. as a starter you can make between 250-300 a week (that for your first year) you might start making more after that if you follow the work from company to company, or get in with a controller who looks after you