Monday, September 29, 2008

cold + rain = no show...

i usually come in about an hour after the other bike dispatcher shows up. some days cats will call me right away and sometimes it takes a while for them to check in with me. not a big deal...we're both very capable of handling the board. today...well, there weren't many bikers to share.

why? maybe it was cause the bears played the sunday night game? maybe people are trying to get a jump on playoff tickets to watch my cubbies play? maybe personal emergencies? maybe...well, lets face it...it was raining and cold. who the f*ck wants to work in that?! we had about 14 cats check in but it is a deceiving 14. 2 are rookies...1 of them isn't soooo much a rookie but he's new to our company and from the looks of things, not the fastest. 1 cat shows up late cause of school. 3 are walkers so they don't play a huge role in helping clear the board up quick and efficient. have you been doing the math? that leaves us with 9 to 10 cats to work with on a cold and rainy day.

funny thing about these days...the staff gets low and the work starts to pile up. clients call in solo after solo(fastest service). i didn't have time to give cats time to relax. it wasn't till about 1615 or so that i was able to say..."stand by". thank you to all my crew that did show up to help us out. i know it wasn't easy today but me and scott don't forget the cats that show up to play. the days of summer have left us. cold days ahead and trying to keep a crew happy gets hard. sure there's work but first you have to convince yourself that working in a rainy cold day is worth doing. as 1168 puts it...

"it can only get worse before it gets better"...peace.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

buttons...

i've passed out a few here and there but now you can get some at yojimbo's...



wait...does anyone even want any? oh wells...peace.

Friday, September 26, 2008

that sucks...

well...the week was kind of slow. it had it's moments...mainly cause cats have been showing up randomly and not as scheduled. it sucks for us, meaning the dispatchers, cause we have to clean up the board but without a proper crew even ten runs seems like alot. eh...it happens from time to time and with work being slow i understand cats not really wanting to show up to work. actually, it's funny how it works sometimes...some cats won't show cause they need a day off for when it's busy and sometimes they don't show cause of how slow it's been and they need a day off to just think sh*t out.

the point of this post wasn't really to complain but i figure i would throw some in just cause i still belong to the messenger community and if there is something we're good at it's complaining. that being said, i got a call from 6646 the other day...

6646...four-six.

j.dot...what up?

6646...man, you won't believe the last half-hour or so i just had. i don't know what happened. for now, let me get you these p.o.d.'s

j.dot...so, what happened?

6646...first this man almost doored me and we got into a yelling match. he threatened to kill me or something. then as im coming into the alley for 135 this construction worker pulls me off my bike, literally. he points up to the air at something saying i should be careful but when i look i don't see anything. anyway, my phone fell and fucked up for a minute.

...honestly, what do i tell him? poor kid. i laugh because...well, it was funny when he told me the story and i reacted. i did ask him if he would like some time to chill cause i don't want a biker out there all pissed at the world and stuff. thats when most accidents happen or when cats get banned from buildings for taking their anger out on some security guard...not good.

today i got a call from 6706 around 1500...i think. anyway, all i hear is, "i got doored"...sh*t! here's one of my good guys from the crew going down. not that there not all good but this cat is pretty damn fast...

6706...yeah, im ok but i have to take care of this.

j.dot...you sure your ok? umm...well, how's the bike?

6706...the wheel is a taco but yeah, im good.

j.dot...alright, get all the info. i believe you get 24 hrs to make a report of an accident. so take care of that and make sure you get an estimate. then call up the person who hit you and call them up and see if they want you to file with the insurance or if they rather pay out of pocket.

...i try to do my best to tell cats what to do but ultimately it's up to them. the main reason i tell cats what moves to make is cause after an accident they're probably not thinking straight...rightfully so. he tells me he's going to jump on the bus and take care of his bike situation...if he can. i hear from him later that all is well...sort of. bike is still down but he's ticking and still ok and the bike can be prepared...no damage to frame which is always good. new wheel and fork or some sh*t...im sure everything will be fine with the whole situation. as long as cats walk away from accidents it's always a good day.

eh...actually, it still kind of sucks...peace.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

holy sh*t!!

part two showcases dispatchers...f*ck yeah! also, thank you(and sorry for stealing your post) dublin messengers for putting me on this sh*t...too nice. how come the bff doesn't have films like this?

part 1...


part 2...


part 3...


part 4...


part 5...


is it me or do all cities tend to have the same messengers...they just look different...ha! btw, there's a cameo by chicago cuttin' crew. oh yeah, jean michael(spelling?)...just cause you raced doesn't mean you ain't a rookie...ha!

thanks again to dublin messengers for the heads up on this and i apologize for the rip...peace.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

advice.v3...

every once in a while i get e-mails asking for advice on messengering. young cats trying their luck at making the job work for them as opposed to the other way around. i would hope that through my silly storytelling cats get a sense of the good and bad this industry has to offer. i would hope that cats that read this understand that, like every job, there are good and bad things but, unlike many jobs, sometimes the negatives outweigh the positives.

i've given advice a couple times before here and here but this time i decided to show cats how messengers get treated...obviously i can only show some pics here and there and add some words but, well, i hope you gain something...


the hancock...

look at it...second tallest building in chicago(actually, i am being told that "the can" or 200 east randolph wins by a few feet but this info is from shipwrek so not sure how reliable) and top five buildings, shit, top three buildings messengers hate, including me. there're several ways to access the lobby to this building but messengers don't have the luxury to them.


pedestrian entrance...


pedestrian entrance...


messenger entrance...

...wtf?! we/they get one freaking staircase that leads to the underground. not the lovely emerald city-like entrance but the dusty, greasy, dark underground. then you have to check in and yadayadayada...it sucks!


525(pedestrian entrance)...


525(messenger entrance)...

...another building similar sh*t. pedestrian entrance looks pretty cool, right? big open windows. lots of light, space, and so on. messengers...go through the alley and check in at the dock. then, similar to the hancock, wait for the one freight elevator that you get access to. oh yeah, you have to leave your bag downstairs when you check in...why? i have no idea but you do...guess what? security doesn't really make sure no one takes what isn't there's. i could walk in and grab three bags and they would never stop me...sucks!


135(pedestrian entrance)...


135(messenger entrance)...


135(messenger entrance)...

...the minute i say 135 over the radio i can see the faces of my crew just cringing. this building is horrible. you have to walk through a specific door on the side of the huge garage door to get to the where the huge garage door leads...wtf?! did that make sense to anyone cause if it did...no one likes you. once you get in you have to check in and leave your bag. this wouldn't be so bad except that the guards there care very, very, very little for messengers. they take their sweet-a** time filling out the building pass. once you make it through that then you wait in line to take one of two freights. i said two but they service different floors so you actually just take one. even then, the building is constantly being repaired or renovated or something which means the elevators stop at every freaking floor and gets jammed packed with construction cats along with messengers...f*ck!!! i should state that this building was also the inspiration for the naccc's shirt this year. bird crapping on 135...priceless...


pic by amy...

do you cats see a pattern here? now i know why i would be somewhat grumpy at the end of a shift. now i know why my crew gets all angry quick at the simplest things. messengers do not get treated right. im sure many have heard the ol..."to get respect you have to give respect". well, if these buildings want messengers to act right why don't they treat them right? sh*t...just from these silly pics you can tell how much darker and filthy messenger access to a building is. most of the time it's through alleys or underground or sorts. this isn't good...at all.


200 s. wacker(pedestrian)...


200 s. wacker(messenger)...


300 e. randolph(pedestrian)...


300 e. randolph(messenger)...

i hope i was able to paint somewhat of a picture as to what my crew and others deal with on a daily basis. much respect goes out to all the soldiers out there putting up with the sillyness chicago throws at them. keep up the work people...safe ride home...peace.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

1st day...

you know...there's first day for alot of things but some 1st days just stick in your mind. i had done a small intro of myself but never got around to tell my very, very first day experience. as long as i have been around i know that messengers, for some reason, never forget their first day.

well...like i said, im shady on the exact time but i believe it was in the spring when i started. yes, yes, i was one of the early signs of summer coming our way...ha! anyway, i jumped on my rusted rockhopper with splattered paint job...i think it was from toys-r-us(does that even exist anymore?). i didn't quite know my way around the loop yet. i have lived in chicago all my life and i still didn't know how to get to 1313 west randolph...the address of the first company i would work for. i also had last ridden a bike when i was 9? it had been a while.

on the way to work my chain kept skipping gears...wtf?! i was getting pissed. i hadn't even made it to work yet and already i was having trouble. i pull up to the base sweating and panting like i just finished up a triathlon or something. i roll up to the window and the first person i see is mike...

mike...whats up? can i help you?

j.dot...o.man.im supposed to start today but my bike is messed up. the "gear box" keeps messing with my chain.

..."gear box"?! i would later, in my career, find out that it was actually called a "derailleur"...ha! mike just looked at me funny and after speaking with angel(manager of sorts), was told to not worry and just come in the next day. the whole time im freaking out cause on my first day i already look bad. the funny thing is that, in reality, they could care less...turn-over in this industry is high.

well, now what do i do? i don't have a bike cause my "gear box" is jacked. i talk my sister into letting me use her pink huffy...you know, just for now until i can buy my own. little did she know i would be using her bike for several months and running her bike into the ground. as i would find out year in and year out...most if not all messengers have trouble on their first day(s).

ok...so does that count as my first day? lets move on the the pseudo-first day. i show up on the sporty huffy. what does the company do? they pair me up with one of their veterans and fastest cats. that cat rocked a 55/13 or some ridiculous shit. single speed badass. he said to me...

badass...alright. we're going to 53 west jackson to pick up. you know how to get there?

j.dot...umm, not really but i'll try to keep up.

...he looked at me and smirked. shit! i knew i was in trouble. i was already tired as hell from biking the previous day to work and biking to work the next...now i gotta follow this cat? well, he takes off...literally. i can tell he's taking it light but he was 3 or 4 blocks ahead of me the entire time. he would occasionally look back to see if i was still alive with the occasional pointing as to what direction he was going to turn. i was so dog tired...i couldn't breathe and my legs were going nowhere. i did this routine for about five deliveries...the entire time i felt like crying. i kept saying..."one more and im done".

on the way home i nearly passed out. how many deliveries did i make that day? i think about 11 but don't remember cause of the passing out situation on my hands. i got home and took a shower. my mom, yes i was still living at home, looked at me and said to just quit. it was dangerous and looked painful. i think thats what sort of made me get up the next day and do it again...i was too stubborn and wanted to prove people wrong. i got up the next day sore as hell...little by little, the soreness went away.

btw, another important 1st day i will never forget...the first day i met my jessica. the first day i took her on a date. the 1st day i told her i loved her. the day i said "i do"...not that you cats care but...well, im married!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

3 flats later...

alright...i keep looking for the damn pic but can't find it anywhere. as soon as i come across it i'll post it so that you kids know im not telling an overblown story. anyway, i don't know his number cause he works for another company but i had heard this story through one of my messengers so at the naccc's i took the time to ask adolfo about what really happend...

he was headed west on adams and a cab was giving him trouble. they kept doing the whole chicken side-to-side bit...you know, im gonna hit you, im not gonna hit you routine. it's a horrible routine but unfortunately sometimes it happens...cars swerve at messengers to scare them. well, adolfo was starting to get pissed and had decided to make a stand and show the cab how he felt about the whole threatening with the car situation.

as they are passing franklin on adams the cab is stopped by the red at wacker...if you're from chicago you know that our nations tallest building is at that corner...the sears tower(not that it has anything to do with the story i just wanted to talk about chicago). anyway, he speeds up to the cab and swings at the mirror...damn! any other day this would have been perfect but there is a slight up hill at that intersection...sh*t! adolfo loses his momentum on the swing...the mirror goes flying and he is left standing still cause his legs are having trouble peddling away. the cab slams on the gas but it's too much gas that it swerves all over the place. he hits the messenger causing his bike to fly in one direction and adolfo goes in the other. meanwhile...the cab is still swerving and hops up on the curb causing three flats to his ride...POP! POP! POP!

the driver gets out and is about to fight with the messenger. a huge crowd gathers and tries to separate yet hold down the messenger. the entire time he just wants to leave cause he knows this could only get worse. tempers are flaring...adrenaline is at an all time high. adolfo locks up his bike and begins to run. the crowd has focused their attention on the cabs fare...yup, there was someone in the cab. apparently the passenger slammed his face on the glass inside the cab and is swelling like a watermelon. the cab driver tries to chase the messenger down but is in flip-flops...flop! flop! flop........flop..............flop!

well...the messenger receives a radio call from his company a few minutes later. apparently after the cops showed up and all eye-witness accounts have been taken the cops have decided that the messenger had the right to press charges. he said to forget the charges and he just wanted to act like the whole thing didn't even happen.

the cab company decided to throw their own lock on the bike waiting for the messenger to return and perhaps give some justice of their own. the messenger waited a few days and finally just manned up. snipped the cable lock the cab company put on the bike and loaded his bike on the company trailer.

j.dot...so what now?

adolfo...i have no idea. as far as i know everything is cool. i started wearing my company bag again. eh...i think it's over but who knows...

...peace.

Monday, September 8, 2008

helper!?!?!

man.o.man...there's quite a few things that bother me when im dispatching but the number one thing or, at least, top five would have to be...

city dispatch...hey scott, julio...you got a helper?

...damn it! the last thing me or scott want to do is lose a biker to help move a van load. first off...who knows where the job is at. for all we know we can lose the biker from 30 minutes to 4 hours...who knows? you can never plan it out right. you have to be willing to lose a guy for an extended amount of time with the notion of possibly losing him for the entire day...f*ck!

well...we look through the usual suspects. 6629, 6612, 6463...6612 is the ideal candidate cause he's a walker. he's one of two walkers we have. the main reason we have him is so that he can help the car boards life easier. you know...pick up packages and deliver packages for drivers so that they don't have to go around in circles looking for parking. two-nine is also an ideal candidate cause he isn't very fast and probably would make more loot helping with a van load and we would be ok on the bike board. i know that sounds sh*tty for me to say that the man isn't fast and stuff but the reality is that he's a bit older and part-time for a reason...oh wells.

sometimes we're stuck to having to give up one of our better guys...6689, 6731, and whatnot. that really sucks cause if the bike board gets hit with a huge rush we get stuck trying to cover the work with half-a-crew and not a full crew. we go from not losing a guy who rocks out 2 packages per hour to losing a guy who rocks 6/hr.

oh well...i guess thats just the way things go sometimes. in the end the work has to get done at any cost. just figure it out is the mentality of the higher-ups and don't come up with excuses. we try to make it happen but sometimes making it happen comes back to bite us in the a**...peace.

Friday, September 5, 2008

they come and go...

well...fall is upon us. not quite here but i know it's very close...how i can tell? well, it's not the leaves or the weather but instead it's the changes in the crew. 6637 has decided to move on with his life. what he is doing i have no idea...i didn't ask the man. at this point i've seen many say good-bye to me that asking would just be routine instead of me genuinely wanting to know. i know that sounds harsh but it's true. i do wish the man luck...i had the pleasure of enjoying a couple brews with the man. although he may not remember...ha! he's good people and again, i wish him the best of luck...it will be difficult to replace a man that was at work day in and day out without one complaint.

we also lost 6745...she's decided to listen to people and finally try and get an education. many messengers join the industry while finishing up school or with the promise of wanting to continue/begin there education. unfortunately, not many make it all the way through and come back. i know, i know...im talking sh*t on the industry i've been a part of for a while...why? well, you can make this job work for you but for many...the job ends up working them. i wish 6745 luck...im more than positive i will bump into her around town.

in other news 6717 has decided to come back...wtf?! like i said before...i have no idea why she left but it was nice to see her come back. especially when we lose two good messengers it's good to get another good soldier back in the ranks. so...welcome back seventeen. i know scott is happy to have you back.

another familiar face came to apply for a job the other day...i rather not say her name. as you cats can tell i usually stick to numbers...why? well...just cause i guess. anyway...i know she starts soonish. i won't be around but i know she'll be in good hands with the other bike dispatcher while im gone. i've known her for a long time and was happy to see her come in. i've never worked with her in the same company but have shared many stories within messengering. can't wait to get back and test her skills...ha!

my same old phrase of "they come and go" has never been more suitable...peace.

to lighten the mood up...

i really like these pics...


6706 getting it done

check out more of trevor taylor...peace.

comments...

again...stolen from moving target...augie's comments on the naccc's situation...

this is likely a horrible idea for me to weigh in on this in any public forum, but i’m kinda tipsy after a shitty day at work, so fuck it. i just wanted to clear some things up. i did ask both kim and austin, face to face if they are current messengers after some concerns were expressed by a number of folks present at the naccc. they both gave me a yes and i was fine to take them at their word. i also inquired about jojo, as she is apparently from europe and perhaps no longer a messenger, and i really don’t know everyone on the goddam planet. i was assured that she is currently working part time and going to school in NYC.

i’m willing to take all of them at their word as i couldn’t imagine that any of these folks would be able to live with themselves for taking the opportunity away from an actual working messenger representing north america at the CMWC. by the way, as far as i’m concerned, anyone who’s taking a break from the job to sort shit out, take a sabbatical, etc. is all good in my book.

as a side note, i was really impressed, though, with some of the former chicago messengers that are no longer in the game that told me that they wouldn’t be registering as messengers as they’ve moved on. that’s some fucking class to step aside and let the folks out there dodging cars, putting up with bullshit attitudes, and doing what makes sense to them to get by in the world for the time being get the opportunity to represent their town, country, etc at the CMWC.

this sucks, by the way, and takes away from the joy of putting on a fairly successful weekend of friends and friendly competition. if anyone is bullshitting me, fess up please, ‘cos i’m prone to obsess and now i’ve got a focus and i really need some fucking sleep.

i’m sure this book is as boring to you as it is to me by now. who gets a check? augie.

p.s. c’mon, seriously?



augie...i hope i haven't said anything to piss you off. personally, if their word is good enough for you then it's good enough for me. i do hope no one is lying but...peace.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

oh sh*t...

i apologize for stealing this from moving target but i had to...i am also a fan of drama...

I’ll be the first out here to say it.

And, I say this out of not disrespect, disdain, or even dislike for the lady, but I’ve been encourage to express the frustration and shock that most of us back in new york feel over the fact that Kym Perfetto claims to be a New York bike messenger.

More than anything I think we are shocked that our friends have been lied to and our community duped.

Personally I feel that this has gone on too long to stand by and say nothing for a third year in a row. I think most of you will find that many of us working everyday agree about this (I encourage them to say something as well).

After the Philly NACCC – after being challenged that kym had never worked a day as a messenger – she did take a four hour, once a week shift sporadically at a company called streetwise. I saw her as much accordingly. In December she was hired at elite, a chance for her to work at a well reputed company in new york, and – as my dispatcher put it this morning – worked a few times in about two or three weeks. She has not been back to elite since. I work there. FULL TIME.

Apparently, are several other companies she claims to work for. I find it hard to believe that so many full time messengers have failed to see her on the streets.

I understand the complications this raises about what constitutes actually being messenger, ex messenger, etc etc. I know this may get into an ugly debate. But I believe these are issues that need to be discussed when people start working the bare minimum to be qualified in races we work tirelessly to throw for the hard working and talented in our community.

As one of the few women out there, I find this particularly frustrating as there are so few of us out there who love this job, fewer who work everyday (for god sakes, even part time), and even fewer with the kind of talent in takes to place in a national/international race. I would like to honor those ladies in this message.

I appreciate those who may take the time to respond or refute.

Sincerely,
cassandra
Elite Messenger
New York city

“Messengers for a Messenger Championship”


Lord knows chicago shares alot of this drama. i rather not name names but there are those who classify themselves as messengers even though they are not currently working messengers. honestly, i think it's a shady move. i don't know kym at all and i don't think i spoke one word to her so i cannot weigh in on whether she is or isn't a messenger. what i can say is that if she isn't then she's gotta (wo)man-up and give up the title and the prizes. messengers rarely get a light to shine on them...it's the little simple things such as a national messenger championship that can brighten one's day up. i keep wanting to say "we" but those days have come and gone for me. by being a dispatcher im still a part of the messenger community but would feel guilty/bad claiming to be a messenger and taking advantage of it. im pretty sure there was a non-messenger category...why not race that?

the industry rarely gives a messenger respect...clients, cabs, security, and, well you get it. no need to disrespect them by taking what isn't rightfully yours. there are plenty of races dedicated for any and all in the bicycle community throughout the world. this one is named the north american cycle courier championships...COURIER.

kym...i would love to hear your side of the story so if you read this please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail so i can post it for you and clear your name or simply comment. sh*t...i guess you don't really have to say a word but...well...peace.

interview...

well...the weekend was insane. i didn't get to participate in all the functions but all the events i did get out to were fun to watch and participate in. anyway, i present 542 or you can call him aaron. i had to pleasure of knowing him when i did messenger and i also had the pleasure of dispatching the man. definitely top 5 cats i've dispatched. i asked him 10 questions but he decided to only answer 9 of them...what a jerk!! actually, after reading all the responses i can see why he skipped the first question(although it probably was just a mistake)...the man is a lifer and has never thought of doing anything else. he loves this sh*t we call messengering...he's no summertime warrior or "it looks like fun" type of cat. he loves it and doesn't want to do anything different.

1.why did you decide to messenger?


2.when did you start the biz? has the time been straight or on/off?


I started in november of 2004. I was forced to take two long stints off. the first time i was arrested and had to spend four months in jail. from june of 2005 to october 05. man i couldn't wait to get out on the streets again. then i worked until march 9, 2006. that was the date I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. I went through chemo therapy and three surgeries. man i couldn't wait to get back on the streets. i was medicaly cleared in november of 2006 and have been working straight through ever since.


3.what bike did you start on? what are you rocking today?

I was fortunate that gary had a trek 1000 road bike that was to small for him. He sold it to me for $150 bucks. I curently rock two bikes. I have a cannondale road bike and a raliegh rush hour fixie. I like rollin the fixed gear because i feel like i have more control especialy in bad weather. Its also fun to skid and show off a little.




4.you've seen many come and go...any stick out in your mind?

the messengers that i miss the most are probably the old standard crew. merril, joe, dewey, mike, and chris. I also miss seeing bobcat, hurricane, duce, anzie, and elija. I cant forget my boy ryan boudreau who past away august 13, 2007, i definitly miss him the most.

5.what's your greatest day messengering? worst?

I can't think of a best day because there have been so many great days. what can i say, i love my job. one day does stick out as my worst day. it was the week before thanksgiving 2004 and i had only been a messenger for a week. I didn't know how to dress for the cold rain/ sleet that was coming down. i was cold, miserable, and thought about quiting like 5 times. I would get a package on and during the ride to deliver it i would tell myself that this was the last one. I would warm up a little at the drop and tell myself i can do one more. I got through the day and have learned how to dress for those occasions.

6.you had to battle cancer in your life...did messengering help you get trough it? if so, how?

I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in march 2006. I had immediate surgery to remove my left testical and started chemo therapy to try and fight the tumors in my abdomen and neck. after four cycles of chemo the tumors shrunk in half but didn't go away. Cook county hospital wanted me to do another round of chemo so I inquired into getting a second opinion. I was really lucky to get in with Dr. Einhorn in Indianapolis. He was one of Lance Armstrongs doctors. After meeting with him he told me it was a teratoma germ cell that does not go away with chemo and has to be removed surgically. He recommended Dr. beck, who cut the tumors out and i have been well ever since. i think messengering helped me because i was physically in the best shape of my life at the time. I also loved my job and how my life was going. those two things helped because going into the battle i was mentally and physically very well.


pic by steve vance...

7.if you weren't messengering what would you be doing?

If i wasn't messengering i don't know what i would do. I love being a messenger. I was thinking about becoming a teacher. Maybe 4th grade or something. That way I can be a messenger in the summer when I am not teaching. I just want to be able to be a messenger for the rest of my life.

8.whats the one thing you really want changed for messengers?


I would like to change building security specifically in chicago. rules to get in and out of buildings vary according to what building you are in and what security guards are working. Its hard to keep it straight and i am trying to follow their rules but it is constantly tying me up. I want a set building security so i can just get in and do my job with out asking them what they want me to do today. I am waiting for the ring of fire i have to jump threw to get in a building. Its ridiculous. for all messengers i would like to see us treated more like employee's than private contractors. My status is a private contractor but i can't chose what time i get in or what kind of work i have to do. I have to be in by 8 a.m. and do the work that is given to me or they will punish me by giving me the shitty work.

9.when you head home what do you do? any hobbies we don't know about?

when i go home i am usualy tired so i eat, take a shower, and go to bed. I like to skate board, play video games, watch movies, listen to music. You know the normal stuff. I like to throw down some beer with my boys and crack jokes.


pic by steve vance...

10.any advice for rookies?

I would tell anybody that was starting as a bike messenger to stick with it. It takes time to learn the streets, building procedures, and you have to build your self up to take the punishment of riding your bike all day. Once you learn that stuff then its mostly effertless and that is when it becomes really fun.

...thanks aaron for coming through on the silly interview. the man has been around for a while and from the sound of things he'll be around some more. the man hardly ever complained. i remember when he had to leave us to serve his sentence in indiana for some silly sh*t and he didn't complain. he did his time and came back. he got cancer when i moved into the office and instead of complaining the man apologized for not being able to work...wtf?!! how crazy is that?!! i wish i had a whole crew filled with 542's but...well...there can only be one...peace.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

naccc's 2008 event report...

this actually won't be much of a report...why? well, i didn't make it to all the events but i'll break it down the best i can...btw, the polo tournament was/is a whole different beast that i know nothing about. i apologize for not having any info on that sillyness/madness. all i know is that the competition was nuts...

friday...

5pm to 8pm - Registration at Mother Hubbards - 5 W. Hubbard. Then from 8:00-kick us out o'clock we're moving it to Av-Aerie at 2000 W. Fulton where we party until you're sure you have ruined your chance to qualify.

i usually get off at six but got lucky this friday cause i've been dispatching the car board a bit and was given the option of leaving at five. i jumped at the opportunity with the intent of checking out who was in town...

6745...yo, you coming out tonight? there's messengers everywhere out here.

j.dot...o.man.not sure yet...i'll get back to you later.

6745...yeah, there's a some sort of race tonight.

...apparently there was a last minute alley-cat race set up. i bumped into five-o the next day and he told me the race was fast and quick but alot of fun. something about five bucks...winner takes all. apparently most cats took it light because they knew they had all weekend long to get silly and a race to represent their city was at stake the next day.

saturday...

?-10am - Figure out what you must do and do it. We recommend a hearty breakfast.
10am- 4pm - Qualifiers in Garfield Park. You will be able to register until qualifiers are done.
4pm-5pm - Worst stopper! Balancing on a bicycle without going anywhere! All that other stuff you like to yell at! (aka Skids, Trackstands, Footdown, Bunny Hop. Shit, you guys know the deal.)
8pm-2am - 4th Annual Chicago Messenger Prom at the Bottom Lounge


only two of the things on the schedule took place...why? racing took all damn day...not saying anyone is to blame for this all im saying is that i think the organizers didn't expect the races to last as long as they did. not a big deal...the day was still a blast.


pic by simon...



top 50 from the qualifiers got to race the following day...

check out more pics here and here...also, although boring, here's a vid of the first day of qualifiers...



...at about 24/25 seconds you see me pull up to complain about my flat that i talk about in my race report. i didn't quite make it to the messenger prom cause...well, i am old and weak and could barely move from racing but i hear it was the usual fun times chicago knows how to have...


pic by kym p...

sunday...

10am-3pm - Finals!! Gett Hott!
3pm-5pm - Open Forum/Labor Forum. Let's talk about next year's NACCC and figure out what we can do to make our working lives better. Members of 4 Star (Chi), Cupid (SF), Magpie (PDX), and Cycle Hawk (NYC), and more. Click here to get a copy of the flyer for the Labor Forum
8pm-2am - Awards ceremony back at the Bottom Lounge.


...i took my sweet a** time getting up for sundays events. i figure it would take the finalists a long time to finish up...much the way the qualifiers were. again...no big deal. the main reason for me attending wasn't so much for the finals, skids, tricks, and so on...i really wanted to be part of the forum and hear what other cities had to say and/or talk about. before i get to that...the finals were intense. i saw cats sweating, cramping, cringing, burning, but in the end, having a good time. the finalists had to finish up 5 total manifests...wtf?! sh*t...i was suffering trying to finish up two and that took me over and hour and a half...now imagine 5 of those f*ckers. no thank you. mad love to those who were out there representing their city, company, crew, themselves. after the finalists were done going around in circles it was time to get to what was missed on the schedule for saturday...


footdown...


trackstand...


skids...


sprints...


and tricks...

it was nearing six p.m. and i couldn't stick around any longer. i heard the forum still went down but am sorta glad i wasn't there for it. let's be serious for one minute...cats have been out in the heat for a long a** time and many of those cats have been drinking. sh*t...i don't blame them but what im trying to say is that the forum would be pointless. instead of having an intelligent conversation i know how those things end...everyone bitching and swearing and saying how much they f*cking hate the industry but in the end...well, time to wake up and go to work again the next day. i've seen it happen many times so i decided to skip that part and just head home to chill cause th weekend had been long enough...thank God for labor day cause i needed a day off from the weekend...ha!

as you know...i didn't make it to the final party on sunday night. im sure everything went well. haven't heard any bad reports from the event. prizes were given out and this years champions were named...

Top Mens Messenger: Austin Horse from New York. Top Woman's Messenger: Kimberly Perfetto from New York. Top Men's Non-Messenger: Stan Schultz from Chicago. Top Woman's Non-Messenger: Anzie Nelson from Portland, OR.

...congratulations to all who participated but especially to those who won. that sh*t was brutal and you cats get mad respect for winning. a personal thank you to everyone involved in putting this event together and making it happen. so many things could go wrong with an event this big but somehow or another the chicago crew got their act together and made it happen. a huge thanks to augie for making this happen and bringing the naccc's to my backyard. i had a fortune cookie today and it gave me this fortune...

"if you fail to plan...you plan to fail"

how appropriate...everything was just right with the event. the weather was great, the company was great, the racing was great...i'll leave you cats with one final vid...



...peace.

Monday, September 1, 2008

naccc's 2008 race report...


alright kids...this is a race report not an event report. i'll give my thoughts on the madness later. well, let's start from the beginning...i woke up really early. i think it was about 745 or 8am or some sh*t. i was a bit hungover from the brews the night before. no, i didn't make it to the naccc's friday festivities but i still managed to get festive for a different occasion. anyway, i wake up early and shower but jump right back in bed. i can't stay awake and am beginning to regret even considering racing. the lovely miss casual wakes me up at 945am and lets me know thats it's time to man-up and do what i set out to do.

i should have known the race was going to start late. i don't think i have ever attended a messenger event that started on time. no big deal because it provided alot of time for many, including myself, to run the course a few times. warmed up the legs and took mental notes of the check points and the nasty turns. the course was alot more brutal than i expected. if cats that raced had any experience in cross racing then this race was definitely suited for them. me on the other hand...well, let's just say that this past weekend i rode my bike more than i have in the past couple of months combined.



i make another round just to say goodbye to marcus before he leaves to open up shop. when i get there i notice some other cat asking them for a sharpie and he starts to write things on his forearms...wtf?! why didn't i think of that? i grab another sharpie and write out the course...

I.nside - 2/6/9
M.iddle - 4/5/8/1
O.utside - 7/3

now i know which lanes to take for each of the nine checkpoints...genius!! i stroll to the start/finish and augie gets on the horn to notify that the race will start at 1145...it was supposed to start at 10(ha!). the time comes up and they ask us to line up. 10 riders go out every ten minutes they yell out. mike mo notifies cats that we have to pick up in the exact order provided in the manifest but we can drop in any order we see fit. the first couple of heats leave and i start inching up...i figure it's better to just get it over with then to prolong the misery.

they call out for the next ten and i immediately make my way through the crowd. i look around and notice we have a whole chicago contingent racing this heat. some heavy hitters if you will but as al put it..."we're not just racing the ten of us". they give us the manifest...man.o.man, i put the dispatch skills to the test. i begin to write up in chronological order which checkpoints to hit when. the only way im going to be able to keep up with cats that actually still messenger is to use my other skills.

the countdown begins...10.9.8.7.6.5.4.3...2...oh sh*t, am i really going to do th...1. f*ck..."go, go, go!!". i literally run out of breath and i still haven't made it to my first pick up. i roll up to the first pick and already my heart is on fire but it's too late to turn back now. my goal was to try and qualify...im sorta lying...my goal was actually to just finish. anyway, my dispatching was working out. i was hitting the picks and drops in the order i wrote down on the manifest. everything is beginning to flow and then i pull up to check point nine. i take my bag off to grab my package and realize i have dropped the package somewhere through the course...f*ck!! now i have to go all the way around and pick up the package to make the drop. i roll out of the inside lane and into the middle lane and as i pass the start/finish i hear the voices of friends cheering me on while i yell back..."i dropped a package!!". some packages i don't even bother putting in my bag. i roll up a few and put them in my side pocket. i was trying to think of anything to get moving quicker.


pic by steve vance

checkpoint five was brutal...it wasn't many steps but it was enough to annoy the sh*t out of me. then once you made it to the top you had to free-lock on the other side of a cart that was set up to the east of the check point. once i made it i got all kinds of sh*t from the minnesota twins fan who took her sweet a** time to stamp my manifest because of my cubs shirt. same thing happend at checkpoint 2...damn it! why did i wear this shirt today? checkpoint five treated you like a messenger dealing with building security in chicago. had to show i.d., wait in line, wait for the package to come out, and get yelled at. if your bike touched the tape you had to get out of line and take it off and get back in line. it was madness...especially if many cats showed up to drop or pick at the same time...that line seemed endless.

well, i pull up to the final check point on my manifest and notice i have two packages still in my bag. i know what you cats are thinking...he cheated. nope...i have no idea how that happened. i doubled back for the dropped package so maybe i grabbed that one twice? maybe i grabbed more than one package at another checkpoint? maybe im getting really old? maybe...well...in any case i pull up and ask augie if he would like for me to make another round to drop the two in my bag or just call it a day. he says f*ck it and just keep going...

j.dot...wait! what?! keep going?

mike...yeah, give him the other manifest.

j.dot...wtf?! another manifest?! you have to be kiddin...fuck it! im out.


pic by simon...check out his flickr here

...i had no idea i had to do this sh*t again but at this point im hitting a groove. everything but the dropped package was flowing well. sure my legs were hurting but it wasn't messing with me enough to give up. i roll up to the dreaded checkpoint 5 and as i start the motor to roll out i see rene next to me...damn, just like the old days. we're coming up to a turn when...POP!! a f*cking flat! that literally took the air out of me...mentally. i hop off the bike and am ready to give up. i begin to walk the bike and have it in my head to just throw in the towel and walk the bike to the start/finish. as i stroll along i pull up to a shady area...it was hot as hell out. i flip the bike and man-up. gotta fix it at some point anyway and the goal was to finish...i can still make that happen.

i get it done and roll on...im tired and more tired. i feel myself slow down. the legs are beginning to go on me. there's nothing i can do. all i want to do is finish. here it is...one more drop and it's over. i pull up to the start/finish and turn in my manifest praying they don't make me go again. i look down at my forearm and notice the sharpie cheat sheet i had made is almost all gone from the sweat. after going around in circles for over an hour i had memorized what and where checkpoints were.

i pound down gatorade eat some hot-dogs and relax in the shade with friends. im feeling like sh*t and if i don't head home now im going to pass out...literally. i ask mike about the results and he lets me know that they will post them later. i roll out. later in the night i check to see if i qualified...nope. you would think i was bummed but i was thanking God the entire time. the last thing i wanted to do was punish myself all over again. im not saying it wasn't fun but i am saying my body didn't have much fun. i finished with a time of 1:44:54 and the cut off time was...1:27:18. considering my flat and the dropped package i think i did very well but as i stated...am very happy they happened cause Lord only knows if i would have made the qualifiers.