Was Anyone Else a Paperboy?
#176
GDFTR
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Torrance CA
Posts: 156
Bikes: '74 Falcon San Remo, '80 SR Semi Pro, '88 Trek 360, '18 Fairdale Goodship
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 51 Post(s)
Liked 82 Times
in
44 Posts
I wasn’t ever a paper boy but I was a bike messenger in Baltimore back in the late 80’s for a while
#177
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: se MIch.
Posts: 2,300
Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 2,962 Times
in
1,492 Posts
For sure.
Early '60's , collecting $$$ was the hard part.
Likes For '02 nrs:
#178
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,965
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
1,042 Posts
Hey! Today (September 4) is National Newspaper Carrier Day!
I salute all you other hard-working brothers and sisters of yesteryear.
If you haven't already posted previously in this thread, or even if you have, let's hear your story.
And if you still have it, show us your bag!
I salute all you other hard-working brothers and sisters of yesteryear.
If you haven't already posted previously in this thread, or even if you have, let's hear your story.
And if you still have it, show us your bag!
Likes For I-Like-To-Bike:
#179
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,965
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,529 Times
in
1,042 Posts
I was a paperboy for a long time. The Philadelphia Daily News in the late 70s was one of two afternoon papers. The Bulletin ent under and I doubled my route. As the small kids quit I juts took the routes ans expanded I had a post war early 50s Schwiinn Cruiser with a springer and a giant Wald basket.<it was an absolute beast to pedal but every say after school I was grinding the neighborhood. I took out a loan from the older paperboy that was quitting for $15 and paid over 3 weeks for it. I later bought an early 70s Schwinn Varsity 10 spd and used a bag until I got a Motorcycle a 1981 Yamaha DT 250 Enduro. The paper route kept me in gas, oil and tires. Those were the days.
#180
Junior Member
Interesting, almost hard to believe, knowing how heavy stacks of paper can be.
I was recently moving comparable amount of National Geographic and the estimated weight was a few hundred pounds (300-400lb?). My car, minivan Honda Odyssey was visibly overloaded in the back, and the real suspension sagging, and yet this bike rear tire is barely giving in. I do not even want to discuss the stability of such an arrangement.
Well, after all the photo is from the Internet.
#181
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 1,987
Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 433 Post(s)
Liked 3,443 Times
in
994 Posts
In 1977? Not likely.
I scanned it in directly from the Bicycling! Dec 1977 issue.
I scanned it in directly from the Bicycling! Dec 1977 issue.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
#182
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 920
Bikes: Diamond Back Apex, Mongoose IBOC Aluminum Road Bike, SR road bike
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 515 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times
in
116 Posts
Interesting, almost hard to believe, knowing how heavy stacks of paper can be.
I was recently moving comparable amount of National Geographic and the estimated weight was a few hundred pounds (300-400lb?). My car, minivan Honda Odyssey was visibly overloaded in the back, and the real suspension sagging, and yet this bike rear tire is barely giving in. I do not even want to discuss the stability of such an arrangement.
Well, after all the photo is from the Internet.
I was recently moving comparable amount of National Geographic and the estimated weight was a few hundred pounds (300-400lb?). My car, minivan Honda Odyssey was visibly overloaded in the back, and the real suspension sagging, and yet this bike rear tire is barely giving in. I do not even want to discuss the stability of such an arrangement.
Well, after all the photo is from the Internet.
#183
Junior Member
The other rather confusing features of this photo are the shadows, one can see the bike's front wheel shadow somewhat recognizable, the rest is a smudge with the shadow of the boy sitting on the pile missing (~8ft), and car shadows either missing or pointing to different light/sun direction.
#184
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
My first job in junior high was delivering The Dallas Morning News. I actually hated it. Did that for 6 months then jot a job at our dollar movie theater. But the other day I was thinking.... I've got a paycheck every month of my life since I was 14 years old haha. I rarely see teenagers with jobs anymore, even the few paper deliveries I see are adults in cars. It seems like it's all adults working the minimum wage jobs now but of course they think they deserve to get paid big bucks as if those jobs are intended to support families which they aren't.
Likes For Lazyass:
#185
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: Southeast Alaska
Posts: 119
Bikes: 1994 Raleigh MT200,,2022 Marin Four Corners ,1994 Cannondale T700,2019 Trek Domane SL7
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 268 Times
in
77 Posts
I delivered the Anchorage Daily Times,an evening paper,after school in 71’ and 72’. Give or take fifty papers.
Folded them for throwing unless it was raining,then you had to stuff them in plastic bags. Wednesdays were the worst for bulk/weight of sales ads. Delivered on my stingray when it wasn’t snowy. Might have made $20 a month with tips. Years later I realized the competing morning paper,the Anchorage Daily News,was liberal and the Times was conservative.I had no idea what right and left was at 13 yrs old. Subsequently the Times folded and left the city with only a liberal press and it remains that way today.
Folded them for throwing unless it was raining,then you had to stuff them in plastic bags. Wednesdays were the worst for bulk/weight of sales ads. Delivered on my stingray when it wasn’t snowy. Might have made $20 a month with tips. Years later I realized the competing morning paper,the Anchorage Daily News,was liberal and the Times was conservative.I had no idea what right and left was at 13 yrs old. Subsequently the Times folded and left the city with only a liberal press and it remains that way today.
#186
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 4,083
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2333 Post(s)
Liked 2,097 Times
in
1,314 Posts
I delivered papers in the mid 60's for several months in the Winter before figuring out the money was terrible and made my money caddying, cutting grass, and shoveling snow. I also did Sunday paper delivery in the mid 70's to help a friend out, 3 am start and 8 am finish for 5 bucks. Then, I went to golf course and made $14 for 4 hours looping.
#188
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1349 Post(s)
Liked 1,243 Times
in
621 Posts
I was 14. Did it on my Huffy.
Collecton day was Friday.
One woman always came to the door with No Top ON.
Collecton day was Friday.
One woman always came to the door with No Top ON.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#189
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,644
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1604 Post(s)
Liked 2,569 Times
in
1,217 Posts
#190
Dirt Bomb
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,861
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5453 Post(s)
Liked 287 Times
in
238 Posts
Waukegan News-Sun, back in the 60's. I could land those rolled up papers on the porches from my my J.C. Higgins. Except in the winter with snow on the ground.
__________________
#191
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,464
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 955 Post(s)
Liked 1,619 Times
in
1,039 Posts
Sometimes ya could spend more time trying to collect then deliver. Good Training...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
Last edited by zandoval; 09-03-22 at 11:07 AM.
Likes For zandoval:
#192
Junior Member
I delivered college student apartments and then a very high end neighborhood back in the late 60s and early 70s. Did it all on my one-speed Schwinn with baskets in back. I credit the hills for building some incredibly strong cycling legs. I also credit the routes for two entirely different sets of life lessons on collection days.
#193
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,533
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 929 Post(s)
Liked 1,289 Times
in
486 Posts
Yup, I was a paperboy from about 1967 to 1969. Here's a shot of my brother and I in 1968 about to set off on our paper routes. I'm riding my brand spanking new red Raleigh Record 10-speed, bought for about $70 with my paper delivery proceeds. My brother is riding his Schwinn Lemon Peeler Stingray that he got for christmas. The hardest parts of this job were trying to collect money from deadbeat adults, and delivering in the pouring rain.
Likes For davester:
#194
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,644
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1604 Post(s)
Liked 2,569 Times
in
1,217 Posts
I stopped a customer who hadn't paid in 3 months. Apparently he was a state assemblyman, lol. I heard about that one.
#196
Henderson, NV
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Henderson/Las Vegas NV
Posts: 529
Bikes: Trek Alpha 3700, GT STS DH, Raleigh Grand Prix, Fisher Montare, Fisher CR-7, Fisher Aquila, Diamondback Sorrento, The Bike Beat Revolution, KHS XC 504R
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 318 Post(s)
Liked 589 Times
in
285 Posts
I delivered the Long Beach Press Telegram when I was in Jr. High 1978-79
I rode a Huffy Thunder Road. I had my bag tied to my handlebars. I actually popped the downtube weld at the bottom bracket while carrying a load of Sunday papers. I'm sure it was just a crappy cold weld because I remember it just popped off. It was a bike just like this one.
Likes For IcySwan1:
#199
Full Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 218
Bikes: Felt ZR3, Specialized Sectur
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 52 Times
in
37 Posts
I was a paperboy for exactly 1 week. Hated it and then quit.
I do have a story though of a paperboy from my hometown. Every town has its characters and my hometown that was much like Mayberry had its characters too.
The local paperboy or legend was a man named Pickles. No one knew how he got his name either. My father was born in 1920 and remembers Pickles delivering papers when he was a kid. I came of age in the 60's and can vividly remember Pickles riding around delivering papers. He delivered 7 different papers throughout the day. He delivered 6 days a week, winter, summer, rain or shine.
What makes him a legend is the fact of not only did he deliver papers for over 60 years but is also where. I grew up in SW Pennsylvania. It is very hilly there and to have these routes and deliver on a fixed gear bike is beyond belief. He had one of those large wire baskets on the front of his bike and he wore faded green Dickie pants. Never wore sneakers either. My HS AD said he was the best conditioned person he ever knew. I did a basic estimation on his routes and mileage and came up with a conservative figure of over 100k miles, all on a fixed gear bike into his 70's.
I did take my road bike back home and rode around town and believe me, it was some tough sledding even though I have climbed Mt Mitchell in NC about 5 times and ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway. I really can't believe this guy did this and to think he did this for his whole life and 6 days a week. Many said he would pass out from shear exhaustion at night from the riding. The town's people tried to get him on a scooter when he got older but he tired one and did not like it so it was back to the bike.
The local resident long time writer ended up writing a book about local fokelore and included a chapter on his life. Man what a story. Long live Pickles, a great paperboy but maybe one of the greatest cyclists ever!
john
I do have a story though of a paperboy from my hometown. Every town has its characters and my hometown that was much like Mayberry had its characters too.
The local paperboy or legend was a man named Pickles. No one knew how he got his name either. My father was born in 1920 and remembers Pickles delivering papers when he was a kid. I came of age in the 60's and can vividly remember Pickles riding around delivering papers. He delivered 7 different papers throughout the day. He delivered 6 days a week, winter, summer, rain or shine.
What makes him a legend is the fact of not only did he deliver papers for over 60 years but is also where. I grew up in SW Pennsylvania. It is very hilly there and to have these routes and deliver on a fixed gear bike is beyond belief. He had one of those large wire baskets on the front of his bike and he wore faded green Dickie pants. Never wore sneakers either. My HS AD said he was the best conditioned person he ever knew. I did a basic estimation on his routes and mileage and came up with a conservative figure of over 100k miles, all on a fixed gear bike into his 70's.
I did take my road bike back home and rode around town and believe me, it was some tough sledding even though I have climbed Mt Mitchell in NC about 5 times and ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway. I really can't believe this guy did this and to think he did this for his whole life and 6 days a week. Many said he would pass out from shear exhaustion at night from the riding. The town's people tried to get him on a scooter when he got older but he tired one and did not like it so it was back to the bike.
The local resident long time writer ended up writing a book about local fokelore and included a chapter on his life. Man what a story. Long live Pickles, a great paperboy but maybe one of the greatest cyclists ever!
john
Likes For rutan74:
#200
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 344
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
155 Posts
I was a paperboy for exactly 1 week. Hated it and then quit.
I do have a story though of a paperboy from my hometown. Every town has its characters and my hometown that was much like Mayberry had its characters too.
The local paperboy or legend was a man named Pickles. No one knew how he got his name either. My father was born in 1920 and remembers Pickles delivering papers when he was a kid. I came of age in the 60's and can vividly remember Pickles riding around delivering papers. He delivered 7 different papers throughout the day. He delivered 6 days a week, winter, summer, rain or shine.
What makes him a legend is the fact of not only did he deliver papers for over 60 years but is also where. I grew up in SW Pennsylvania. It is very hilly there and to have these routes and deliver on a fixed gear bike is beyond belief. He had one of those large wire baskets on the front of his bike and he wore faded green Dickie pants. Never wore sneakers either. My HS AD said he was the best conditioned person he ever knew. I did a basic estimation on his routes and mileage and came up with a conservative figure of over 100k miles, all on a fixed gear bike into his 70's.
I did take my road bike back home and rode around town and believe me, it was some tough sledding even though I have climbed Mt Mitchell in NC about 5 times and ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway. I really can't believe this guy did this and to think he did this for his whole life and 6 days a week. Many said he would pass out from shear exhaustion at night from the riding. The town's people tried to get him on a scooter when he got older but he tired one and did not like it so it was back to the bike.
The local resident long time writer ended up writing a book about local fokelore and included a chapter on his life. Man what a story. Long live Pickles, a great paperboy but maybe one of the greatest cyclists ever!
john
I do have a story though of a paperboy from my hometown. Every town has its characters and my hometown that was much like Mayberry had its characters too.
The local paperboy or legend was a man named Pickles. No one knew how he got his name either. My father was born in 1920 and remembers Pickles delivering papers when he was a kid. I came of age in the 60's and can vividly remember Pickles riding around delivering papers. He delivered 7 different papers throughout the day. He delivered 6 days a week, winter, summer, rain or shine.
What makes him a legend is the fact of not only did he deliver papers for over 60 years but is also where. I grew up in SW Pennsylvania. It is very hilly there and to have these routes and deliver on a fixed gear bike is beyond belief. He had one of those large wire baskets on the front of his bike and he wore faded green Dickie pants. Never wore sneakers either. My HS AD said he was the best conditioned person he ever knew. I did a basic estimation on his routes and mileage and came up with a conservative figure of over 100k miles, all on a fixed gear bike into his 70's.
I did take my road bike back home and rode around town and believe me, it was some tough sledding even though I have climbed Mt Mitchell in NC about 5 times and ridden the Blue Ridge Parkway. I really can't believe this guy did this and to think he did this for his whole life and 6 days a week. Many said he would pass out from shear exhaustion at night from the riding. The town's people tried to get him on a scooter when he got older but he tired one and did not like it so it was back to the bike.
The local resident long time writer ended up writing a book about local fokelore and included a chapter on his life. Man what a story. Long live Pickles, a great paperboy but maybe one of the greatest cyclists ever!
john
Ride On Pickles!!