Bicycle Messenger Riding Fast and Fluid Through NYC Traffic
#51
Senior Member
In truth, if you are the type messenger that is following traffic law, riding "correctly", being considerate of others you certainly will not be making a lot of runs quickly and probably won't be a messenger long. My understanding is that most messengers either age or nerve out, or get hurt bad enough that they can't. It is a dog eat dog type of business.
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#52
Tragically Ignorant
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I think recumbent riders and the weirdos on those little wheel "travel" bikes are the ones that do that. 95% of cyclist are wimpy geeks, they wish that some fixed gear maniac would be associated with them. Trust me, nobody has ever seen the similarity between this guy (video) and some cyclist with a helmet mounted safety mirror and a reflective vest.
Just kidding. Sort of.
Just kidding. Sort of.
#53
hoppipola
why no front brakes ?
#54
Newbie
have to wonder how many of these pearl clutching do-gooders in here are "take the lane" advocates
#55
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#56
Grupetto Bob
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Terry has a lot of cool videos and has trailed a lot of great riders, but this dude is the worst - he rides like an obnoxious asshat. Probably one of my favorites is Ana in Mexico City -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH6naRedhP8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH6naRedhP8
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#57
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#58
hoppipola
#59
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Have to wonder how many of these rah-rah boys ride more than once a year and actually have any skills whatsoever.
"Take the lane" isn't the same as ride right at pedestrians without brakes and running lights blindly hoping you just shoot a gap.
That guy isn't taking any lane, he's bouncing between them, hoping he doesn't guess wrong about what any driver will do.
#60
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#61
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a lot of prayers have been said and are awaiting answers for all those sociopathic bike messengers who done been hit and runned and ruined for pittances ...................................... and riding fast and loose for pay is real cool unless you really have to do it to get by
Sorry, not buying that crap in this case.
#62
Full Member
In the UK cycling with no front brake on public roads is illegal and bike couriers can get into trouble if caught using fixed gear bikes with no front brake - one infamously was jailed for killing a pedestrian in 2017.
I raced track in the late 80's, nothing particularly difficult about riding a track bike in and of itself but racing in a fast-moving group can be 'interesting' sometimes and requires a level of skill.
My bike in Amsterdam was a fixie but had a front brake too albeit there the typical Amsterdam bike is pedal brake only - but freewheel. I can hit 60km/h in a flat sprint so can get about pretty quickly but I would never do that in a busy city; only a moron would go about taking risks that endangered others in a public area where respecting others and their journey's is required. If a courier needs to endanger others and break laws to get around quickly then they are rubbish and should quit and find another job.
I raced track in the late 80's, nothing particularly difficult about riding a track bike in and of itself but racing in a fast-moving group can be 'interesting' sometimes and requires a level of skill.
My bike in Amsterdam was a fixie but had a front brake too albeit there the typical Amsterdam bike is pedal brake only - but freewheel. I can hit 60km/h in a flat sprint so can get about pretty quickly but I would never do that in a busy city; only a moron would go about taking risks that endangered others in a public area where respecting others and their journey's is required. If a courier needs to endanger others and break laws to get around quickly then they are rubbish and should quit and find another job.
#63
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#65
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I'm not a torts lawyer, but from a liability standpoint, I'd think hiring someone who proudly posts videos of himself illegally riding fast through occupied crosswalks is absolutely insane.
#66
Senior Member
Thread Starter
To be clear, I'm referring to this rider in particular, not messengers in general.
I'm not a torts lawyer, but from a liability standpoint, I'd think hiring someone who proudly posts videos of himself illegally riding fast through occupied crosswalks is absolutely insane.
I'm not a torts lawyer, but from a liability standpoint, I'd think hiring someone who proudly posts videos of himself illegally riding fast through occupied crosswalks is absolutely insane.
#67
Senior Member
Yellow water circling the drain?
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#68
Senior Member
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#69
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#70
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I flow fine, thanks. That guy is a pig relying on luck. There's nothing "fluid" about what he's doing, it's completely erratic shifts between vehicles. And no, I don't need to hit the side of a vehicle with my hand because I stupidly cut it too close.
Is it fair to say you admire a sociopath?
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#71
Senior Member
Thread Starter
touching the moving vehicles is part of the culture. its harmless. Roadies do some weird things too so lets not diss the fixie scum too much, atleast he is on a bike!
#72
Senior Member
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#73
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#74
Senior Member
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_bGiVN_2qmo look how often vehicles are getting touched in this footage from a race. It’s totally normal in a city. These 3 guys were the top finishers in Monstertrack that year which is one of the biggest/hardest of these races.
What could go wrong?
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#75
Newbie racer
This topic reminds me, title included, of one of those gotcha internet ads like "this one new trick will have moms everywhere jumping for joy at reverse aging!" or "this new driver's law in your state has motorists furious about their insurance!". Maybe the OP writes the gotchas for those adverts.
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