3 main events...

every year there are courier championships throughout the world. every year the ones talked about the most are the 3 main events...worlds, naccc's, and ecmc's. this year is no different and promises to have some memorable events...



head over to warsawcarkillers.org for all the info needed to attend the worlds...taking place in warsaw, poland.



head over to www.naccc2011austin.com for all the info needed to attend the naccc's...taking place in austin, texas.



head over to ecmc2011.com for all the info needed to attend the ecmc...taking place in madrid, spain.

the bicycle courier championships that take place year in and year out are a great testament to how diverse this community really is. a pat on the back to all the organizers and volunteers. dont forget kids...while it is a lot of fun to visit other places, next year, the world comes to chicago...peace.

earn your stripes...

within the bicycle courier industry a lot is debated as to whether someone is a "real" messenger. i have my own feelings about the whole thing which has changed quite a few times throughout the years. this post isn't really to keep the debate going...maybe one day i'll bring it back up but for now, this is about how to earn your stipes quick and fast. the next two days will be the days messengers talk about...

Snow totals of 12-20 inches are possible between Monday night and Wednesday afternoon with locally higher amounts. Drifting and blowing snow will make travel dangerous and possibly life threatening Tuesday night.

personally, i think messengers should not try and brave these harsh conditions. if the storm really is as harsh as they are predicting...i say stay home. i know you guys wont listen...Lord knows you never listen to your dispatcher...ha! for those of you brave/silly enough to go out...ride safe. remember...i know you get paid to deliver packages but at what expense?

i know, i know...im contradicting myself by saying "earn your stripes" but stay home. messenger mentality is silly like that...if you're out there puttig your life in danger then you're one of us/them. if you stay home...well, it'll be a while before they let that go...ha? some of you have to go out there and work. some of you dont. all im saying is...weigh the pros and cons.

again...ride safe kids. Lord knows if its really nasty out im not driving to work...peace.

career courier...

im pretty sure i saw images of chicago...



for more info head here. for a better view of the trailer head here. great job kenton...cant wait to see the whole thing...peace.

a resolution for bike messengers...

i still look back at my days as a bike messenger...why? to be honest...it was probably the greatest job i had. i didn't have as many bills as i have today so there's no way i could do it again...it just doesn't pay but it really was a great job.

i remember having some really horrible days. you know...days where the weather was just disgusting, days when security was treating you like sh*t, days when the traffic lights weren't cooperating...you know, those type of days. i also remember the days when things would just flow, work was more than steady, i was getting free coffee at spots, i was getting that extra smile from the cute receptionist, the security guard at that one building wasn't working...you know, those type of days. then i think back at how many were good days at work and how many were bad days. to be honest...there just wasn't enough good days.

thats the problem with this industry...messengers have a short memory. well...there are other problems but i believe this to be one of the bigger ones. bike messengers only live in the now...which is great, for now but not for later. if you feed a bike messenger one days he/she is willing to be treated like sh*t for the next week or so because they only hold on to those nice days. the days they were fed. do you get what im saying? bike messengers only hold on to the glory days and seem to forget how crappy this industry can be on them. they dont realize that there is a future out there and they are a part of it.

sure...you made over 100 today but what about tomorrow? i've made over 100 in a day and i've made about 50 bucks in a day. i've seen it happen to many. sh*t...i've seen cats make about 50 for two days of work. are you serious?! the thing is...they forget the fact that they made that little because of the one day...that one single day when everything just flowed in their favor.

to be honest...i used to think, if you put your time in the money will be there. that just isn't true. if you put your time in...the money will be there sometimes. that sucks. so this new year i urge bike messengers to drop the short memory and think bigger. to think beyond the day they are currently in. to think beyond, next week, next month, and so on. will things get better? who knows...but 10 years down the line...what will you have to show for all your work? yes, yes...i know all about all the great memories and friendships that get built. believe me...i have my fair share but memories wont help pay the bills and take care of your family.

happy new year kids...hope 2011 treats everyone better. ride safe...peace.

prepare for next year...

alright kids...the new year is just around the corner. this means...get your passport ready and mark your calendars...oh yeah, and save up money. the new year always brings all kinds of messenger championships. i'll dig around and try to get them all up for us again...you know, naccc's, cmwc's, cimb's, and so on. for now...every messenger and ex-messenger should gear up and save up for a trip to warsaw, poland...



check in with the warsawcarkillers for updates. im sure they will not disappoint. its all going down july 28th through the 31st. enjoy your holidays. for those of you playing in the snow...it's ok to take a day off no matter what your dispatcher says...peace.

happy thanksgiving...

today is a very special day. not only is it thanksgiving but it is also exactly one year ago that my son, wolf granville saravia, was born. talk about things to be greatful for. lets do the usual...family, friends, food, a roof, a job, football...ha! honestly, it's hard to put into words how grateful and thankful i am that our son came into our lives. im thankful he's healthy, active, intelligent, handsome, and the list goes on and on.

we watched him go from this...

pic by max herman...

to this...

pic by max herman...

he loves to smile, cry, laugh, whine, wrestle, stare you down, run, play, sleep, eat...oh man. i can go on for years talking about my little man. he's been...well, beautiful. if you're bored...you can watch him as we did here. we mainly did that site for his grandparents who live in florida but also for other friends and family who live far away and wanted updates on the little man. i dont blame them for wanting to know what he looks like on a daily basis. waking up to him can be a pain(ha!) but, most of the time...brings a HUGE smile to your face.

i cant end this post without being grateful/thankful for...my wife. she is...for lack of a better word, amazing. never mind all the small things she does on a daily basis...cook, clean, and so on. she also...loves me. i have never in my life felt love like that...someone who would give everything and anything to just hold your hand. when i say goodbye to go to work...she smiles at me. when i say hello to her when i get back from work...she smiles at me. when we wake up...when we go to sleep...she smiles at me. its a feeling that breaks me down every once in a while. sh*t...i might cry right now...ha?

i am thankful that she came into my life. have you ever felt something like that? i rarely hang out with anyone anymore...why? because i rather be at home with my wife. i rather sit around and talk about nothing than go out. not that i dont like hanging out with my friends and family but i hate missing moments with my wife. when i am away from her im constantly emailing her or texting her. just seeing what she's up to...updating her on what im up to. why? not because im some weirdo...wait, that might be the reason...ha! but because i want to share as many moments as i can with her...even when we're not with one another.

pic by max herman...

this thanksgiving is the most special thanksgiving in my life...i get to spend it with my wife and my 1 year old son. remember to hug those you love and dont be afraid to tell them you love them...peace.

one last word...

people all over have not stopped sending in their experiences with andre gordon. a friend to this blog...jerome abramovitch...sent over his kind words and a great picture of the man.

I only got to hang out with him briefly when I was in Chicago two years ago, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was special.
His vibe was pure, cool, down to earth and friendly. His importance in the local messenger tribe was evident to a non-local like me,
and he truly represented the universal best-of features that makes awesome messengers even more awesome human beings.

there are so many words i want to say about andre but...well, i'll leave those words between me and him. he is greatly missed by our community. have a happy and safe holiday...peace.