if the bike is moving forward, the pedals move foward, if the tire stops, the pedals stop, if the bike moves backwards, the pedals go backwards. so you control speed with your legs.
@blammblamm its not all about weight. They are way easier to "fix". these bikes go through hell everyday so you need a bike that is cheaper to maintain. brakes are expensive.
@23towers23 Having and actually using your brake are two different things. Having a front brake for emergencies won`t increase your pad and rim wear. Skidding (or whatever) is just not as effective as a front brake, no matter how skilled you are.
I don't know if these guys know how to play chess. Stick to the bikes. Gotta love messenger politics, but the infighting is resembling two years olds fighting over cake.
@Fallintotherhyme yup, no brakes. With a fixed gear how fast you pedal determines how fast you go. You slow down by pedaling slower (which puts ALOT of strain on your legs) it's unbelievable. You can stop pedaling completely to lock the back wheel which slows you down (unless its wet and you don't slow down at all!). Basically these guys are insane, they really do ride on their own level.
@olihand1 That just doesn't seem reasonable.... When I was a kid I used to ride a fixed gear bike and to stop i would put pressure on the pedal to skid or stop. Is that what they do too?
Bike messengers make little money. The risk of injury or death is great. Most courier companies will have you sign contract and be a independent contractor. Independent contractors do not have taxes paid by company. Messengers small pay gets even smaller after taxes. I.R.S. should investigate if messengers are paying taxes. That job outsourced to fax machine. Email even faster than recklesss cyclist.
He's been riding for 14 years and your saying why he's riding brake less well the bike he has don't have brakes and remember he's been riding for 14 years everyday without brakes he will be fine
I am a bike messenger in Germany and I cannot understand people that drive without brakes. It might have a reason when doing tricks but as a messenger I have to stop every few meters and sometimes have to roll down steep hills where my brakes get hot. If I had none I would just crash in a wall or a lorry with 60km/h. It has no practical reason to drive brakeless. Well...in Germany it is not even legal to bike without brakes.
@GilbMLRS I have started riding a fixie but in a bigger city where traffic is big you need a front brake. I'm still learning how to skid but that doesn't help you in an emergency. The fact that you can't stop as fast made me more careful but I miss riding in a more aggressive style to be honest...
Gotta give these guys/gals a lot of credit for what they do. It is a very tough and difficult job getting through the big city everyday and risking their lives for what they love doing the most. I think riding is much more fun and getting around is much more enjoyable than sitting inside the vehicle getting stressed out.
fixie is not tipically NYC. It started in Chicago and is everiwhere in the world now. I do have respect for bike messengers but you have to admit they pass trough red lights and stuff all the time and that could bring people in danger. Personally in my country bike messengers stop a red lights cause they get busted if they pass a red light. Even if they're goin 60 on a 30km/h road. Here they have the same rules as cars for bikes
@HPross The first ones were American born children in the 1890s. They delivered telegrams when few people had phones and there were few child labor laws. You've been listening to too many folk tales.
@IsaacBickerstaffEsq there is no linear connection between them and nyc messengers riding fixed gears. just because they were around back then doesnt explain where the fixed gear messenger culture came from. certainly not some kids in the 1890s.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Why the fuck ride brakeless? Give me one fucking answer. Its suchs a fucking hype. You idiots drive it because you think you cool. ITS HAS NO REASON. ITS SUCH A FUCKING HYPE.
Look at the real pioneers at NYC. Like YAC. Riding a real roadbike is way faster.
I agree. if your going to ride fix on the road and not on the track especially at high speeds put a front brake on it. You never know when some jackass will walk out in front of you or some kid will run out after a ball and you won't be able to dodge.
Here in Savannah, I'm constantly dodging j-walkers who leap out from in-between cars.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Man the way they talk you could see that they are not very intelligent. You know what I'm saying. You don't need a college diploma to be intelligent and you can be dumb even with a college education. These guys are very stupid. Might be good cyclists (not that it's hard especially with a fixie).
I'm not going to waste time. I love my life. They could have found somebody smarter but I guess it's hard to find brains in a profession which involves driving a bike.
Spending your life to take other peoples orders so that they don't waste their time. You know these years aren't coming back. Once they are gone they are gone.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
hahahah I am a college student mate. College is the place where you haven't placed a foot.
The fact that you can train hamsters and pigeons to ride a bike means that you don't need much brains to work this job which is evident and is confirmed from this video.
While I would agree with you that college is a necessary, that is, if you want to be riding a Madone 5.5, but messengers serve an important purpose and, ironically, those who reap the benefits of the messenger happen to be those with higher-level educations working at your advertising/fashion industries for example.
I am quite sure I could enjoy being a bike messenger, but admittedly I enjoy fine things. So making 30K annually seems like change when looking at 180K. To each his own kotapaka.
I ride every day. Yeah I guess I won't be able to keep up with them on a bike. Why? Should this be like my aim in life? To be faster than some guy on a bike? Well I'll just pass him with my 1198.
No comment. Me says that you need special skills to lock your bike? Do I need special skills to lock my front door? Do I need some special skills to breathe? maybe I haven't done it properly so far. Because the job is so unskilled they can't really say they've got any skills which other people don't
@kotapaka your a fucking chump!bike messengers are the most underpaidprodessional athletes in the world.for you to sit here and talk shit you know nothing about or even spent a day in any of there shoes takes alot of nerve.seriously so us all a favor take your bike go out in traffic and kill yourself!
riding a fixie full-tilt in traffic isn't easy. sorry.
how are these guys any less intelligent than the american football players i see in interviews? "Well, we, uh, went out there, and, well, my team, and stuff, and yeah, we hoped to win, and well, that happened." "thanks for that, overpayed meathead. Now back to the weather."
At the end of the day, the most important thing for a man is providing for himself and/or his family without stretching his hand out to anyone for help. During this economic crisis, educated people with friggin masters degrees lost their jobs. One of my professors was an engineer for Siemens and he got laid off.
yes sir and the messengers are still ridin and doin their thang hell i bet they get to do what they want when they want as long as the packages get their in time nobodys gunna fuss ride, eat, smoke, repeat.yeeeaaaahhh!
@SirAce2007 yeah, agree with guy below, cause is necessary a superior neurological-muscular reaction to preserve life while you are on the ride at top speed. so why don´t shut the fuck up lazy fag!
Yeah, fixies are only really a good idea in NY. And not that good an idea, but at least the road is like 12 lanes there so you can dodge. I live in London, and out here you must be kidding. Nuts. No way, need suspension & disk brakes, hop kerbs on the regular etc.
these guys are the best fucking bike riders in the world. how the hell does this make bikers look stupid? i'll bet you're one of those retarded motherfuckers that rides a mountain bike from wal-mart everywhere.
no one said they werent good biker dumbass.. i said theyre dumb. as in didnt complete school. listen to how he talks. sounds like he didnt even get to middle school.. and yes i ride my huffy everywhere, with pegs..with a basket in the front.. AND id still out ride your ass. vag.
@croucherb why argue ? the bike is bike...im a downhiller...im a city biker ...and i may fuck ma bike iff i like it...just ride and dont fuckin argue like those who live in theyr stupid cars !!!
@croucherb what the fuck are you talking about, they ride straight, and skid their tire, have you ever seen someone do a backflip tailwhip, or trials riding? these guys are fucking homos
I love riding my bike, but this is insane, Messenger in NY must be a thrill every day. But the probability of getting hurt or dying is immense, especially if you have a Fixed Gear Bike. All that being said, if it paid well and I lived in NYC I would do it in a heart beat.
usually, one has to slow down the revolutions of your legs to a stop. however, when you just can't, ex, red light and traffic is dead head, you can skid to a stop. you push down hard and lean forward, but even then, its not a complete stop... unless you are really pro. so... you'll probably die. best thing you can do on a brake less track bike (fixie) is to estimate and pay attention to your surroundings... or you can just get brakes...
I just envy the way they can handle their bikes. I wish I could ride even one tenth as well. As far as their job, all I can say is: Better them than I!
That's over romanticizing the job. You have to remember that it is hazardous and you can get hit any moment of the day. You also have to breath in exhaust. I don't think it's as fun as it looks. And if you do it everyday, does the luster still hold? The pay isn't very good and probably doesn't cover any health care. I'm not sure if insurance companies are willing to cover you due to the job nature.
The more years that you messenger, the better that you become. You "learn" how the traffic flows, how to run red lights only when you have to-after checking for cops, and how to not give a shit what other people think. The more that you know, the more money that you will make. When I worked for a legal messenger company they offered health insurance after 6 months. I don't think many people have the guts to do what I can do all day long.
Mirrors add width to their bikes, which is not good when they want to wind through the traffic between the cars, which can be really narrow. Plus turning their head is easy and leaves no blindspot
it is also comfortable. no brakes and so on. you just rush and don't worry about the stuff. the only thing you have to take care of is the chain. : ) futhermore, it is very interesting to roll that fixed wheel. it is different from a bike with freewheel.
I believe this to be the most accurate answer to your question rippedandpumped. The majority of messengers are poor, all you need for a fixed gear is put on a frame, fork, cranks, etc, your leaving out derailleurs, gears, breaks, probably the most easily broken components, you sit down with the bare necessities. Course, I do see people sitting around with their Surly frames, Soma bullhorns, Sugino Messenger Rings, Synergy/Aerospokes. It's definitely more of a fad now.
Absolutely... They would sow sole shoe leather on a glove. When you are doing a lot of track racing the last thing you want to do is use your knees to lock up a rear wheel. Not great for the wheel either, fishtailing looks cool but...
I love the idea of the job, but not all the lame stereotypes that accompany it. Coming from an avid freeride (jumping/tricks) mountain biker, I have to laugh when I see how good some of these guys think they are at riding.
oh please, nyc bike messengers have the most control by far. if you have no bike control on a brakeless fixie in nyc, you'll get killed in a week. i have done freeriding, downhill and a lot of bmx and i still see these messengers having the most control: type of bike ratio.
You don't have to stop with your knees and ruin you rear wheel.
I've been riding 50 years and I use me hand on the front wheel with a sticky glove. That is how they stopped way back in the day. Keep it to your self thought
If this chap rode as much as he talks, this video might be interesting.
bornwithawoodenleg 1 week ago
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THANKS YOU FOR GETTING THE (SHARE THE ROAD) BICYCLE LICENSE PLATE ON EBAY. TO EDUCATE EVERYONE TO SHARE THE ROAD
guofuponh 2 weeks ago
i ride a bike and cars dont bother me
thisgame2 1 month ago
59th to the battery in under 15 is an exaggeration. I can say that from experience.
Sturminator10 1 month ago
Comment removed
GroovLouv 2 months ago
I love all kind of bikes no matter their style. Fuck cars.
DaKillAhChApIn2k11 3 months ago 4
that guy kid is in pedal an amazing documentary about bike messengers
breaker9 4 months ago
brakless? how does it stop?
movieshop1000 4 months ago
@movieshop1000
if the bike is moving forward, the pedals move foward, if the tire stops, the pedals stop, if the bike moves backwards, the pedals go backwards. so you control speed with your legs.
Bhousm76 4 months ago
@Bhousm76 cool!
movieshop1000 4 months ago
@movieshop1000 With a fixed gear, you learn to skid stop.
Tommytank360 3 months ago
@Tommytank360 you can skid stop with brakes no problem...
Shadowboost 3 months ago
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Two good friends having another kind of adventure:
Diving in Bishop Harbor
sgrdpdrsn 4 months ago
proper ridin bro
kataklystik 5 months ago
5:16.... Is that a black guy.... on a track bicycle?!?!?! this guy is my inspiration.
shamwow1996 6 months ago 2
half this crew is still riding! check us out at urban cyclist worldwide
squidrocknyc 6 months ago
This guys a little to serious
ChocoaNuggetz 6 months ago
cars are not our enemy, we need to SHARE the road =)
Spazum888 7 months ago
freewheel with no brakes..oceans of cars..what can go wrong?
IVIUFFINM4N 7 months ago
@IVIUFFINM4N track bikes arent freewheel, retard
nutellaurent 7 months ago
Why can't we just all be friends.
EternalSickness 7 months ago
why do they not have brakes?
xKiwiGamerx 8 months ago
@xKiwiGamerx brakes add to much weight, you brake on a fixie by peddling backwards and skidding.
CSLDF 8 months ago
@CSLDF too much weight? Come on, that`s ridiculous... At least a front brake can really save your day!
blammblamm 8 months ago
@blammblamm its not all about weight. They are way easier to "fix". these bikes go through hell everyday so you need a bike that is cheaper to maintain. brakes are expensive.
23towers23 8 months ago
@23towers23 Having and actually using your brake are two different things. Having a front brake for emergencies won`t increase your pad and rim wear. Skidding (or whatever) is just not as effective as a front brake, no matter how skilled you are.
blammblamm 8 months ago
@blammblamm 100% agree with you. No way could I ride no brakes in a busy city. Roadkill in 20 mins.
23towers23 8 months ago
@23towers23
I`ll guess we`ll just have to miss out on those scene-points. ;) I even ride with back brake, due to legal reasons (from Germany).
blammblamm 8 months ago
all is fun and games until your chain snaps and you face F$%& the north end of a south bound delivery truck.
tommyogtigern 9 months ago
Lol, they're getting paid... Yet their stupid?
MREPS412 9 months ago
I don't know if these guys know how to play chess. Stick to the bikes. Gotta love messenger politics, but the infighting is resembling two years olds fighting over cake.
111bill000 10 months ago
YO SQUID!
T1memaster 11 months ago
This guy is pretty cool, and professional. Down to earth kinda guy. awesome job!
MrFreelance508 11 months ago
lets be honest, if this video pisses you off, your probably extremely fat
invsiblshowercurtain 1 year ago 63
@invsiblshowercurtain Haha Well, I ride and i'm fat. It doesn't piss me off. Just makes me want to ride harder
strangebirdsir 9 months ago
You know .....
windex1234 1 year ago
There was a time when messengers made decent money.In the 1980's a good messenger with a good company and a good dispatcher could make 400 to 500
per week.Don't know what it is like now.
Anyone thinking about being one now might want consider being a process server[fancy name for dropping legal papers on people and companies].
Usually pays better but with probably less riding.
unclechipper 1 year ago
Riding ALL KINDS of bicycles is the best.....fjixie, road/mtn, geared, bmx, lowrider, chopper.......
let's not get your panties in a bind segregating each other, ok?
Remember, CARS are the enemy.
delcruncho 1 year ago 129
@delcruncho hell you forgot the unicycle my friend, but yeah cars are the enemy! :)
vinWo316 1 year ago
@delcruncho ohh just shutt up.... Fixie are the shit nd u suck major dick fagget ass nugguh
TheEwwism 8 months ago
@TheEwwism - wow! another internet pussy talking big shit!!! this a first!!! Fuck you, and your mom, bitch ass punk.
delcruncho 8 months ago
@delcruncho blow me cunt
TheEwwism 7 months ago
@delcruncho
dumb people in cars are the enemy. and cabs
Rips1n 7 months ago
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@delcruncho
dumb people in cars are the enemy. and cabs
Rips1n 7 months ago
@delcruncho and bikes are eco friendly!!
meadejay5296 6 months ago
@delcruncho
ya specialy Sport ,VIP,Trucks&SUV/Army Vehicle
ScanNinViDeo 6 months ago
@delcruncho a steel frame mountain bike is a killer for very long distance on road going up hill lol
Hayri491 5 months ago
@Hayri491 - I've been riding my fixie for soooo long now, that any bike w/ gears don't feel bad going uphill.
delcruncho 5 months ago
@delcruncho
no one couldve said it better.
kudos.
lopezbc 3 months ago
word
jdjas 1 year ago
0:54 What frame does that black guy have !?!?!?!!?
OSWNOSWNOSWN 1 year ago
@OSWNOSWNOSWN bianchi pista
thienly 1 year ago
@OSWNOSWNOSWN bianchi super pista
HelloGoodbyeMovies 1 year ago
wow.
he does come across like a complete douche
hoah 1 year ago
put an engine on a single speed super-light bike and you're a fucking bullet
fairyheli2 1 year ago
@fairyheli2 Put me on a single speed super-light bike...
mineralandrollcello 1 year ago
3:30 That chain tension is bothering me. ._."
delacruzkid 1 year ago 5
SKID
Vecchionskee 1 year ago
They would rock the Tour De France if you just threw some shit in everybodies way.
MrKli4d 1 year ago
@MrKli4d Why are you even comparing track to road? You do realize that they are two different sports right?
ColinPatrick312 1 year ago
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You know You know You know You know You know You know You know You know You know ............
windex1234 1 year ago
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You know You know You know You know You know You know You know You know You know
windex1234 1 year ago
sick sick sick..riding a trackbike in city is nuts.. :}
halfmumi 1 year ago
@halfmumi the bike dont stink !! ur car does !!!
tudorino66 1 year ago
@tudorino66 what r u talking about??
halfmumi 1 year ago
He said a brakeless track bike. How the hell do you stop them then? I don't get it. Do they mean no brakes as in NO brakes at all or what?
Fallintotherhyme 1 year ago
@Fallintotherhyme yup, no brakes. With a fixed gear how fast you pedal determines how fast you go. You slow down by pedaling slower (which puts ALOT of strain on your legs) it's unbelievable. You can stop pedaling completely to lock the back wheel which slows you down (unless its wet and you don't slow down at all!). Basically these guys are insane, they really do ride on their own level.
olihand1 1 year ago
@olihand1 That just doesn't seem reasonable.... When I was a kid I used to ride a fixed gear bike and to stop i would put pressure on the pedal to skid or stop. Is that what they do too?
Fallintotherhyme 1 year ago
0:58 theres a vid of this guy gettin knocked over by a van , just seen it , type " NYC bike messenger knocked down in Times Square " I think its him
blank10123 1 year ago
Bike messengers make little money. The risk of injury or death is great. Most courier companies will have you sign contract and be a independent contractor. Independent contractors do not have taxes paid by company. Messengers small pay gets even smaller after taxes. I.R.S. should investigate if messengers are paying taxes. That job outsourced to fax machine. Email even faster than recklesss cyclist.
bluemountaindrivepae 1 year ago
anyone who calls squid dumb is just ignorant, shut up, this man is amazing
howin79 1 year ago
He's been riding for 14 years and your saying why he's riding brake less well the bike he has don't have brakes and remember he's been riding for 14 years everyday without brakes he will be fine
Romeo807 1 year ago
Brake-less bike is used in London
Tzimnewman3 1 year ago
I am a bike messenger in Germany and I cannot understand people that drive without brakes. It might have a reason when doing tricks but as a messenger I have to stop every few meters and sometimes have to roll down steep hills where my brakes get hot. If I had none I would just crash in a wall or a lorry with 60km/h. It has no practical reason to drive brakeless. Well...in Germany it is not even legal to bike without brakes.
GilbMLRS 1 year ago 5
@GilbMLRS I have started riding a fixie but in a bigger city where traffic is big you need a front brake. I'm still learning how to skid but that doesn't help you in an emergency. The fact that you can't stop as fast made me more careful but I miss riding in a more aggressive style to be honest...
jajajah86 1 year ago 3
why does he ride brakless
hanros98 1 year ago
@jelle19821982
This is a Fixie.
which has no brakes.....
Paramedic80 1 year ago
What king of bag is that
VIBZ72095 1 year ago
NUTS
MickeyLWalker 1 year ago
word!
gelfington 1 year ago
Gotta give these guys/gals a lot of credit for what they do. It is a very tough and difficult job getting through the big city everyday and risking their lives for what they love doing the most. I think riding is much more fun and getting around is much more enjoyable than sitting inside the vehicle getting stressed out.
corv989 1 year ago 5
fixie is not tipically NYC. It started in Chicago and is everiwhere in the world now. I do have respect for bike messengers but you have to admit they pass trough red lights and stuff all the time and that could bring people in danger. Personally in my country bike messengers stop a red lights cause they get busted if they pass a red light. Even if they're goin 60 on a 30km/h road. Here they have the same rules as cars for bikes
spartan7777777 1 year ago
@spartan7777777 it didnt start in chicago... the first ones were track riders and west-indian couriers in NYC in the 60s-70s
HPross 1 year ago
@HPross The first ones were American born children in the 1890s. They delivered telegrams when few people had phones and there were few child labor laws. You've been listening to too many folk tales.
IsaacBickerstaffEsq 1 year ago
@IsaacBickerstaffEsq there is no linear connection between them and nyc messengers riding fixed gears. just because they were around back then doesnt explain where the fixed gear messenger culture came from. certainly not some kids in the 1890s.
HPross 1 year ago
Bike messengers? What about parkour couriers?
ComTlancy 1 year ago
@ComTlancy Hahaha! Parkour Hardcore!
23DeepDish 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Why the fuck ride brakeless? Give me one fucking answer. Its suchs a fucking hype. You idiots drive it because you think you cool. ITS HAS NO REASON. ITS SUCH A FUCKING HYPE.
Look at the real pioneers at NYC. Like YAC. Riding a real roadbike is way faster.
Shifters up your ass bitches!
btw. im ridin fixie, too!
SirJazz 2 years ago
@SirJazz why not ride brakeless?
xhappyxscreamingx 2 years ago
@xhappyxscreamingx Why so troll'd
v4mpir33d 1 year ago
@v4mpir33d ok?
xhappyxscreamingx 1 year ago
I agree. if your going to ride fix on the road and not on the track especially at high speeds put a front brake on it. You never know when some jackass will walk out in front of you or some kid will run out after a ball and you won't be able to dodge.
Here in Savannah, I'm constantly dodging j-walkers who leap out from in-between cars.
cozymonk 2 years ago
i ride brakeless bmx and i find it easier, i can stop better and faster brakeless
ideasoner 2 years ago
then you probably never had good brakes dude
SirJazz 2 years ago
my brakes worked fine, they wer just a pain in the ass to keep working
every rider i know who gone brakeless on there bmx loves it
ideasoner 2 years ago
damn brakeless thats nice
aznboi11218 2 years ago
you could put bill gates out in those streets on a bike and hid probably get hit by a bus the first day on the job LOL!
da7nesman 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Man the way they talk you could see that they are not very intelligent. You know what I'm saying. You don't need a college diploma to be intelligent and you can be dumb even with a college education. These guys are very stupid. Might be good cyclists (not that it's hard especially with a fixie).
kotapaka 2 years ago
Dont get salty cause you sold out and hate your job.
zoticus1 2 years ago 5
I'm not going to waste time. I love my life. They could have found somebody smarter but I guess it's hard to find brains in a profession which involves driving a bike.
Spending your life to take other peoples orders so that they don't waste their time. You know these years aren't coming back. Once they are gone they are gone.
kotapaka 2 years ago
you don't drive a bike my friend. sorry ur stuck in a 9 to 5 but dont take it out on the rest of youtube
XxMaStAxXKiLLa 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
hahahah I am a college student mate. College is the place where you haven't placed a foot.
The fact that you can train hamsters and pigeons to ride a bike means that you don't need much brains to work this job which is evident and is confirmed from this video.
kotapaka 2 years ago
While I would agree with you that college is a necessary, that is, if you want to be riding a Madone 5.5, but messengers serve an important purpose and, ironically, those who reap the benefits of the messenger happen to be those with higher-level educations working at your advertising/fashion industries for example.
I am quite sure I could enjoy being a bike messenger, but admittedly I enjoy fine things. So making 30K annually seems like change when looking at 180K. To each his own kotapaka.
mtb416 2 years ago
hahahahahahahahaha did u just imply that fixies are easy i would love to se keep up with any of these people you probaly cant even ride
XxMaStAxXKiLLa 2 years ago
I ride every day. Yeah I guess I won't be able to keep up with them on a bike. Why? Should this be like my aim in life? To be faster than some guy on a bike? Well I'll just pass him with my 1198.
No comment. Me says that you need special skills to lock your bike? Do I need special skills to lock my front door? Do I need some special skills to breathe? maybe I haven't done it properly so far. Because the job is so unskilled they can't really say they've got any skills which other people don't
kotapaka 2 years ago
@kotapaka your a fucking chump!bike messengers are the most underpaidprodessional athletes in the world.for you to sit here and talk shit you know nothing about or even spent a day in any of there shoes takes alot of nerve.seriously so us all a favor take your bike go out in traffic and kill yourself!
bryanbologna 2 years ago
riding a fixie full-tilt in traffic isn't easy. sorry.
how are these guys any less intelligent than the american football players i see in interviews? "Well, we, uh, went out there, and, well, my team, and stuff, and yeah, we hoped to win, and well, that happened." "thanks for that, overpayed meathead. Now back to the weather."
SirAce2007 2 years ago 120
overpaid*
eqntn 2 years ago
At the end of the day, the most important thing for a man is providing for himself and/or his family without stretching his hand out to anyone for help. During this economic crisis, educated people with friggin masters degrees lost their jobs. One of my professors was an engineer for Siemens and he got laid off.
da7nesman 2 years ago
yes sir and the messengers are still ridin and doin their thang hell i bet they get to do what they want when they want as long as the packages get their in time nobodys gunna fuss ride, eat, smoke, repeat.yeeeaaaahhh!
secretsquirrell13 2 years ago 4
@da7nesman
rich mother fucker, talking about these hard economic times while your wealthy parents are probably sending your ass to school.
biggssss 1 year ago
@SirAce2007 yeah, agree with guy below, cause is necessary a superior neurological-muscular reaction to preserve life while you are on the ride at top speed. so why don´t shut the fuck up lazy fag!
eyukhnem 1 year ago
@SirAce2007 youre my fucking hero man
capsaicinrain 1 year ago
@SirAce2007
Yeah, fixies are only really a good idea in NY. And not that good an idea, but at least the road is like 12 lanes there so you can dodge. I live in London, and out here you must be kidding. Nuts. No way, need suspension & disk brakes, hop kerbs on the regular etc.
bishopdante 1 year ago
@SirAce2007 It is not the football players fault that the reporter asks unimaginative
generic questions.I think most athletes would rather not bother.They do it because they know to keep all the schnooks paying their bills happy.
unclechipper 1 year ago
@kotapaka
hahahahaha you're crazy
HawtGlass 2 years ago
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these guys are dumb. just dumb. makes bikers look stupid
Mrkleancut 2 years ago
these guys are the best fucking bike riders in the world. how the hell does this make bikers look stupid? i'll bet you're one of those retarded motherfuckers that rides a mountain bike from wal-mart everywhere.
croucherb 2 years ago 94
no one said they werent good biker dumbass.. i said theyre dumb. as in didnt complete school. listen to how he talks. sounds like he didnt even get to middle school.. and yes i ride my huffy everywhere, with pegs..with a basket in the front.. AND id still out ride your ass. vag.
Mrkleancut 2 years ago
hahaha shutup, that's his accent his accent has nothing to do with how smart he is. Bet your bitchass couldnt survive 4 blocks in an alleycat in SF
imnotaballer 2 years ago
no the accent doesn't matter. You could still tell he is an uneducated man by the way he talks.
Im not saying I respect him less for that. Being a bike messenger is probably one of the hardest, dangerous, underpaid jobs around.
037kondo 2 years ago
@Mrkleancut Ha! A Huffy? With pegs and a basket? HA! You won't outride a piece of poo on that hunk of junk, so shut it, pal!
12809inthetubes 1 year ago
@croucherb I ride a mountain bike from wal-mart everywhere...crying:(
hungrierthanuall 1 year ago
@croucherb why argue ? the bike is bike...im a downhiller...im a city biker ...and i may fuck ma bike iff i like it...just ride and dont fuckin argue like those who live in theyr stupid cars !!!
tudorino66 1 year ago
@croucherb what the fuck are you talking about, they ride straight, and skid their tire, have you ever seen someone do a backflip tailwhip, or trials riding? these guys are fucking homos
SillyPhillyDude 1 year ago
@SillyPhillyDude If they're «fucking homos», then just go out there and start doing it better than'em!
Didierbosset 11 months ago
@croucherb oh thanks for saying that it made my day xD
xilliah 11 months ago
@croucherb or doesn't ride it
coureureke 8 months ago
I was a NYC bike messenger too.
It takes one to know one...so guyz...take care & be safe.
ThePhantom407 2 years ago
shit forgot about kid
dicko6ft7 2 years ago
squid kidda
dicko6ft7 2 years ago
squid is in the bike product book for the Capo.
7ehNirate 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
very nice video
MrSuperBoatman 2 years ago
hi squid!
bobbyjans 2 years ago
1:33 irak?
merk54321 2 years ago
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHA idiot on the bike its his fault he was in the vehicle lane of traffic bikes should be riding on the sides not the middle of the road
redcons2 2 years ago
I shat on your mums chest
rjfc2 2 years ago
I love this guy, my father worked with him on a bike project call "messenger style" it was photography and i remember squid being a real nice guy
wackyzacky55 2 years ago 3
I love riding my bike, but this is insane, Messenger in NY must be a thrill every day. But the probability of getting hurt or dying is immense, especially if you have a Fixed Gear Bike. All that being said, if it paid well and I lived in NYC I would do it in a heart beat.
daFranch1se69 2 years ago
i noe this is probably a stupid question, but what does brake less exactly mean, i mean dont you die without brakes, ? how do u stop?
hellspawndarkangel 2 years ago 2
its a fixed wheel so you cant stop your feet going round unless you pull back,,, your kinda atached to the wheel, o and no not a stupid question :)
conlona 2 years ago 2
thats not the meaning of alleycat. So yes you cannot brake! I dont know how they survive!
Muhbian 2 years ago
Proof is at 3:26!
Muhbian 2 years ago
usually, one has to slow down the revolutions of your legs to a stop. however, when you just can't, ex, red light and traffic is dead head, you can skid to a stop. you push down hard and lean forward, but even then, its not a complete stop... unless you are really pro. so... you'll probably die. best thing you can do on a brake less track bike (fixie) is to estimate and pay attention to your surroundings... or you can just get brakes...
newwavenewrave 2 years ago
front brake is where its at
specificxboat 2 years ago
this is actually really funny. I think inadvertently so.
coolpatj 2 years ago
I saw him in Kyoto back in 2005... what a nice guy!
Aitor 2 years ago 3
I just envy the way they can handle their bikes. I wish I could ride even one tenth as well. As far as their job, all I can say is: Better them than I!
drexelur1 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
bike messengers are super weak. losers. get a real job.
bcsibbing 2 years ago
They have a real job and one with the most freedom I can Imagine.
diongwi 2 years ago 3
That's over romanticizing the job. You have to remember that it is hazardous and you can get hit any moment of the day. You also have to breath in exhaust. I don't think it's as fun as it looks. And if you do it everyday, does the luster still hold? The pay isn't very good and probably doesn't cover any health care. I'm not sure if insurance companies are willing to cover you due to the job nature.
Diamondbac 2 years ago
The more years that you messenger, the better that you become. You "learn" how the traffic flows, how to run red lights only when you have to-after checking for cops, and how to not give a shit what other people think. The more that you know, the more money that you will make. When I worked for a legal messenger company they offered health insurance after 6 months. I don't think many people have the guts to do what I can do all day long.
TreeBeardJace 2 years ago
you wish you were half as good as messengers
lauralaz1 2 years ago 3
bcsibbing: your too close-minded. bike messengers have an interesting job. i'm thinking about trying it in nyc.
if anyone is a nyc messenger, could you inform about who i should contact. i have a track bike i commute with already. thanks
rmkNJ201 2 years ago 2
single speed/freewheel noob
AsianStvex 2 years ago
messengers don't like mirrors? or is it just easyer for them to turn their head?
Merdi425 3 years ago
Mirrors add width to their bikes, which is not good when they want to wind through the traffic between the cars, which can be really narrow. Plus turning their head is easy and leaves no blindspot
dragon85fire 2 years ago
whats the advantage of fixed wheel bikes when messaging??? pls reply cheers
rippedandpumped 3 years ago
I think it was to make bikes less appealing to thiefs. Also because you have more control in snow and it's more reliable. Now it's just popular
FlyingKaveman 3 years ago
it is also comfortable. no brakes and so on. you just rush and don't worry about the stuff. the only thing you have to take care of is the chain. : ) futhermore, it is very interesting to roll that fixed wheel. it is different from a bike with freewheel.
zmogas111 3 years ago
Less components on the bike = Less maintenance on the bike. Messengers don't make much so spending less on the bike helps pay the bills.
twilightnekochan 3 years ago
I believe this to be the most accurate answer to your question rippedandpumped. The majority of messengers are poor, all you need for a fixed gear is put on a frame, fork, cranks, etc, your leaving out derailleurs, gears, breaks, probably the most easily broken components, you sit down with the bare necessities. Course, I do see people sitting around with their Surly frames, Soma bullhorns, Sugino Messenger Rings, Synergy/Aerospokes. It's definitely more of a fad now.
masikid 3 years ago 3
I think it was to make bikes less appealing to thiefs,
you are wrong fixie are in a very high demand right now, fixed gear set alone cost more than the frame
AsianStvex 2 years ago
Absolutely... They would sow sole shoe leather on a glove. When you are doing a lot of track racing the last thing you want to do is use your knees to lock up a rear wheel. Not great for the wheel either, fishtailing looks cool but...
campocat 3 years ago
I love the idea of the job, but not all the lame stereotypes that accompany it. Coming from an avid freeride (jumping/tricks) mountain biker, I have to laugh when I see how good some of these guys think they are at riding.
No hate though, seriously awesome job!
sean9820 3 years ago
oh please, nyc bike messengers have the most control by far. if you have no bike control on a brakeless fixie in nyc, you'll get killed in a week. i have done freeriding, downhill and a lot of bmx and i still see these messengers having the most control: type of bike ratio.
rmkNJ201 2 years ago 6
What about bike trials? I think they have the most control if you don't you'll break your neck riding some of those obstacles.
Diamondbac 2 years ago
yes, that's another dangerous type of riding.
rmkNJ201 2 years ago
Yeah Squid, you get props over here!
peace to John Campo, too.
NYC track bike messengers... you saw it here first!
REIDvanRENESSE 3 years ago
I cannot believe they make such chump change.....50 on a bad day and 200 on a great one
donkeydong75402 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
bike messengers are gay
alrigh7 3 years ago
ur a gay mofo
twgoldwood 3 years ago
You don't have to stop with your knees and ruin you rear wheel.
I've been riding 50 years and I use me hand on the front wheel with a sticky glove. That is how they stopped way back in the day. Keep it to your self thought
campocat 3 years ago
Youve been riding since you were 2?! :p Id like to hear more about this sticky glove routine..is it as effective??
Deolphin 3 years ago
Those fixies are so hard on the knees. It's sketchy riding fixie in my town. I can't imaging riding one in NYC. ....skill.
markpemble 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
These guys have the grammar OR A 11 year old.. lol
Heygawlin 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
These guys have the grammar or a 11 year old..
onlyplaytabs 3 years ago
London is a better place to do messengering, you can get more speed.
ben2563 3 years ago