Well put, and anyone who flames you for saying what you said is the one with the problem.
Anyway, I'm interested - what kind of bike do you ride in order to cope with such continual all-weather (ab)use? Any special mods?
&roo
Cutting down the handlebars is common, makes it easier to fit between cars. Some couriers prefer to ride a single speed .. lighter, less parts to wear out. Protecting the paintwork on the frame is also important .. old tubes, gaffa tape and lots of stickers are some remedys. Mudguards are a must in winter. The best thing is to start with high quality components, and service bike regularly. Cheap stuff breaks/wears out very quickly when used for 40+ hours a week. The hardest part about weather abuse is the poor old rider. It can be very difficult getting out of bed in winter knowing you are going to be riding through rain for 8 hours a day for the next 5 days. Some guys swear by the hot/cold shower method .. when you have a shower, finish off with a cold shower every time, even in winter. This is supposed to (1) lower you core body temperature, (2) build up a tolerance to cold conditions (the martial artists will also say it builds your chi energy). It seems to work for some people. There is the old courier myth of the guy who used to drink a cup of his own urine, first thing every morning. Somebody asked why he did it, was it to restore a mineral imblance? He replied: "I get up every morning and drink a cup of my own [censored]. Then I think to myself - from this moment on, my day can only get better".
Cutting down the handlebars is common, makes it easier to fit between cars. Some couriers prefer to ride a single speed .. lighter, less parts to wear out. Protecting the paintwork on the frame is also important .. old tubes, gaffa tape and lots of stickers are some remedys. Mudguards are a must in winter. The best thing is to start with high quality components, and service bike regularly. Cheap stuff breaks/wears out very quickly when used for 40+ hours a week. - LB
Luther, I'm curious: do couriers in Melbourne ride road bikes or hybrids? I always thought road bikes were the go...drop handlebars and a lighter frame seemed like a logical choice. Then I noticed most couriers in Sydney (where I live) hardly ever rode road bikes, preferring hybrids with upright handlebars and fatter tires.
I'm considering becoming a courier (when I finish my damned uni degree) and will probably buy a new bike for the job. But the dilemma...road...hybrid...road...hybrid...
[ I'm considering becoming a courier (when I finish my damned uni degree) and will probably buy a new bike for the job. But the dilemma...road...hybrid...road...hybrid...
i used to courier for a while in sydney and i reckon go with a mtb, the roads aren't that good around sydney cbd and with a mtb you can jump up gutter more easily (which is a must IMO).
