The 20th annual Cycle Messenger World Championships are to be held in Chicago on the weekend of August 4 & 5, 2012 at the Soldier Field Campus.

Visit http://www.chicagocmwc.com for details.

Chas was up in Seattle for the SSCXWC with a few other MASH riders and they did well. I didn’t get to talk to him about TCB, but I saw this today and it looks like things are going well. From two to 12 riders, now delivering for 12 locations and a handful of other businesses. Keep it up guys! And if you are in SF, check them out at TCBCOURIER.com

On August 31, 2009, bike messenger Darcy Allan Sheppard was run over and killed in Toronto by the unrepentant former Attorney General and former Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Michael Bryant.

Video by RedSonia- thanks for passing it along.

Another year, another West Side Invite. There have been 10 in total, nine of them taking place in Seattle’s dirty little secret…. Portland. If you didn’t make it this year, then you won’t be getting any more chances. The organizers put 2010 together because of their love for the Invite, the messenger community, and because they are a bunch of sickos that like to watch messengers and racers ride till they puke, then drink till they puke- for not one, but 3 days. But they’ve had it. Putting on events is difficult- and involving the messenger community can be something like herding cats. Rabid, angry, drunken cats. The forum on Saturday offered other cities an opportunity to put in a bid to host something next year (Something under a different name) Vancouver showed up and took it home (they wanted it this year, but PDX wanted to back after SEA hosted last year.)

Rob K picked me up on his way through town and down we went. It took an hour longer than usual to get to PDX, the foul weather making for poor visibility. Getting to town in the early evening, we made a trip to Hopworks Urban Brewery, one of my new favorite places in Portland. It was then off to a McMenamin’s (one of the more over rated brew pubs in the NW, in my opinion) to meet up with the Chicago and Philly crowd. Then the group ride to registration at the Ash St. Saloon. The D&D alleycat left from there- with an afterparty at B-Side.

My bike had a little too much to drink, so I was taking it back to the spot we were staying. I got a little too close to a car that was parked right in my trajectory. By a little too close I mean my bar end may have clipped it. Not a big deal really, and something that could have quite possibly been ridden out- except for the fact that my fork sheared off.

Some say Carbon Fiber fails “catastrophically.” My experience is that it’s more of a “Whoopsie Daisy.” Sure, I fell. But I didn’t hit my head, face or anything else important. It honestly couldn’t have happened at a more opportune time. A few weeks ago I was bombing down Roosevelt and bunnyhopped a pothole. I landed a little off and the bike felt really funny. I just kept riding and didn’t stop to look at what might be the problem. Saturday morning as I sat with my fork in three pieces, I sat looking at my broken bike and I remembered that soft landing. One of the fork blades was pulled clean out, while the carbon was torn on the other. My thought is that landing funny on that fateful day in May- my fork was compromised. I’ve got hindsight like British Petroleum- 20/80.

Well boys and girls- I would make a recommendation that if you have a feeling that your carbon fork is going to fail, take a look at it. Saturday morning I stopped by the City Bikes Co-op and Buggy took care of me by installing a used steel fork on my ride. Yeah, I could have got another carbon fork, and if I picked one up today- it would likely be carbon. But the day after was a little too soon- I just couldn’t get back on that horse.

Back in the saddle, but having missed the Coffee Cat, skid tricks and trick competition we met up with the group ride as they headed for Mt. Tabor and uphill sprints. Tyler Johnson took the hill sprints, surprising the hell out of anyone that hasn’t seen Tyler sprint. The sprints were short, about 200m- with a slight uphill grade. Tyler was likely written off as a “hipster trick kid” as they pulled up to the start line. (PS Tyler races BMX and isn’t too shabby either, from what I hear) His low gearing and hunger for the win brought him in at first place.

The evening festivities included roller sprints- and Ari took first place for the women! She has now won enough parts from sprints to almost build a complete bike (including her Raleigh track frame) After that- we made some rounds to some of the classiest places in PDX. I will say that Portland likely contains the most clear platform heels, per capita in all of the US.

Sunday was the main race- a four hour race ending at Rose City Park. I met up at the finish- and got to some of the riders heading in. Damien came in with first for the track- having pushed it so hard he was unable to stand. There was some serious athletes in PDX and at the awards ceremony at Someday Lounge, the prizes were awarded.

Of course I didn’t write anything down when it came to who won what. The best I can remember:

Omnium: Dave and Christina (CHI) tied for Omnium, and it was settled by thumb wrestling. Dave took it home.

King of Track: Damien (PDX)

Queen of Track: No women did ANY side events- therefore there was not a QoT. Bummer.

Uphill Sprints: Tyler Johnson (SEA)

Jack-Assery: Corndog was holding it down for Team Shit Show and blew everyone else out of the water when it came to Jack-assery

Roller Sprints: Ari (SEA) for the women, and…. uh…. I can’t remember who took it for the men’s race?

Monday was spent watching the polo tourney, but after a long weekend, we left before the finals took place. All in all, the West Side Invite was a hoot, but damn, I’m glad it only took place once a year.

I want to give a HUGE shout out to all the organizers for this year’s WSI. They really brought it together into something that became a staple in many people’s year. I’ve got lots of respect for all those involved. Also many thanks to the sponsors, the participants, and to the stripper that danced to “Sexy Sexy Bicycle” by Mad Rad.

Rob took some amazing photos and almost unbelievably, they are already up for your viewing pleasure at his Flickr Page.

Next year- be on the lookout for something from Vancouver. They know what’s up when it comes to races.

Get your passports now.

(If you were wondering if the t-shirt above has an image of two gentlemen shirt-cocking and sword fighting on it… the answer is yes)

You may remember, even though there is likely some grey areas, the West Side Invite spending last year in Seattle. Well this is it’s 10th year and Portland wanted it back. Mark your calendars, save the date, harden your livers and get ready for an event to remember.

May 28-31st 2010 Portland, Oregon

You can register online HERE

You don’t get a fancy flier or anything like that. The WSI speaks for itself. It’s $35 to register before May 1st. After that, it goes up so don’t sleep.

And if you think you have the cojones to roll with the big boys, CMWC will be held in Guatemala this September.

Major movies about bikes aren’t new, and they generally aren’t very good either. Inevitably, a movie about bikes will be met with much criticism from the cycling community. Especially a movie about a bike messenger. Especially if the movie is directed by the same man that wrote Jurassic Park, the new Indiana Jones, Spiderman, and many others. David Koepp is well known for his work as a screen writer and is breaking into the directing world with Premium Rush. A major budget action movie that according to Cinemablend:

The film centers on a bike messenger in New York City who is given an envelope with information that a dirty cop is desperate to claim. Think of it as 16 Blocks with Bruce Willis replaced by a twenty-something delivery boy and Mos Def replaced by a piece of paper.

Oh I’ll be there on opening night to see it to be sure, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

Seen on Bikereviews.com and further on Cinemablend

An example of Hollywood’s “messenger” : Blond Ambition. Jessica Simpson as a bike messenger.

Today we give props to the women and men that pedal hard all day through the mean streets of whatever city they work in.  An occupation that requires being familiar with the city, as well as strong legs and quick decision making skills, messengering is hard work.

There have been bike messengers for nearly as long as there have been bicycles.  There were couriers employed by the Paris Stock Exchange in the 1870′s.

Messengers have played a key role in keeping the business districts of nearly every Metropolitan area running. Unimpeded by car traffic, bike messengers can offer a more accurate delivery time within the chaos of construction zones, unpredictable traffic accidents, and parking difficulties.

Due to the advancements of modern technology, couriers work is being handled more by computers, which have the ability to transfer larger files at a quicker speed than before.  This is proving to be difficult for messengers currently employed downtown, as well as those interested in the field.  Friends and acquaintances have recently been laid off  because their services are no longer needed, and I know this is the case everywhere.  As law firms and companies more and more allow digital signatures, much messenger work becomes obsolete.

With the work load lightening, and there being fewer messengers on the road;  a history and culture starts to fade.  So many advancements in cycling technology, urban fashion, music, and environmental awareness have taken place, due in part to the presence of working messengers downtown.  Some may feel that messenger culture has been exploited, or appropriated:

Maybe that is true, but it has also helped get bikes seen on the street more- which is always a good thing.

NYC messengers, as well as other major city messengers have had some conflicts and resistance by other road users, but they have hung tough through adversity, mainly because their services are so vital to the operation of everything downtown.

Sure- there are many things that messengers can deliver that fax machines and computers can’t.  I used to make bank deposits for a graphic design firm in Austin, and sandwiches don’t email well.  There will always be work for people working on bikes, the lines may just be blurring between those that deliver sandwiches, and those that deliver legal documents.

Whatever the future holds- I got much love for messengers.  So this goes out to you

Got the image from M. Green over at Bike Blog NYC

Check out his blog, it focuses on NYC, but he’s got stuff from all over.

I saw this movie a couple years after it came out. I hadn’t heard anything more of it, till I saw this clip. It’s based on the movie “Bicycle Thief”, with poorer acting and swear words. If you can find it, check it out. This one’s sad too.