I'm a bike messenger
Today I went for an interview to become a bicycle messenger. It went really well, the people I met were very cool, friendly and welcoming. I'm doing a trial morning ride on Monday following one of the couriers around so I can get a feel for it.
I got inspired to go for this job after riding around Perth a fair bit and seeing the messenger guys racing around. I've been looking for work for the past month and it suddenly occurred to me to give this a shot, I might as well get paid for doing what I love.
Pay seems quite good for casual work, I think it's about $17 an hour as a retainer, and then if I make over that amount on commission I get to keep it. Commission is 50% of the package price. Good messengers are making $200 a day, which is more than my girlfriend makes as a lawyer!
Only trouble is my bike is just too good to become a messenger bike, I'd be so unhappy if it got stolen or otherwise abused. So what to do? I've been thinking about trying a road bike for a while and this could just be the opportunity I need.
I'll post on Monday about how it went.
20 comments
Jump to comment form | comments rssI did the dream-job-courier thing in London for about a while, until some sweet design freelance came up with a day rate that would have taken me a week on the bike.
Would recommend getting a road bike though. I did it on a ridged MTB with slicks, but the roadie I have now would have made it much more fun.
Also recommend eating and drinking lots. 9 hours a day on a bike is rather good at burning energy!
Good luck with it.
Just a quick test post, the comments system wasn’t working for a while so I couldn’t reply…
Ah, I got the comments system working finally. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post a comment Mathew, you’re advice is appreciated.
I’ve been working for two weeks now and I’ve decided to start by upgrading my work bike, keeping the MTB and just making it run much better. The main reason is that so much of my work is in the main strip of the city where jumping up and down curbs makes things a lot quicker, so an MTB is perfect.
Good advice on the eating and drinking, although I don’t find the time to eat properly. I just ride hard all day, getting water down me when I can and munching on a sandwich or energy bars as I go, sometimes as I ride between jobs. Its pretty full on. I love it though.
Hi this is my second day what i’m searching on internet any offers on bike messenger and i have not lucy.Can you please give me any info about agencies or any links on net?Thanks
Hi,
How do you get bike messenger job?
I tried calling major companies adviced on this site http://www.londonmessengers.org/FAQ but had no luck.
Is there any other ways?
I thought of calling every company on Yellow pages that offers same day delivery service but will leave as a last option.
Hi Andrey, I just asked a couple of messengers I saw on the streets and found out which company was hiring. This was in Perth though and not London. I’m guessing its the same deal though. Sorry I can’t be of much more help.
Hey Tancredi. i’v been thinking about being a bike courier for a while and just today jumped on the net to find out some info about it…can you recomend any company’s to ring for a job?…i’m like u…i love riding and why not get paid for doing it…sound like a sweet deal…i hope we are talking about the same perth….Australia??????
Hi Luke, yes, same Perth. Give CTI a call, Mercury manage the bike fleet and they are nearly always hiring. Right now is a good time with the build up to Christmas. Ask for Chris on (08) 9328 1999. Good luck buddy, its a fun job, you’ll love it.
oh good man…i’ll give him a call during the week…oh yeh i forgot to ask, what kind of money does a courier earn????
Thanks
Depending on who you work for you get a ‘safety net’ payment of around $17 an hour, also depending on age, with the chance to make quite a bit more than that as you improve. Each package is priced differently and you get around 50% of the package price. If at the end of the day you make more than your safety net then you are starting to do well.
The good riders are earning upwards of $200 a day, although some days will be quiet so it’ll be hard to make that kind of dosh.
Hi guys!
I’m very interested in a job as bike courier in perth. Do I need an own bike or will it be provided by the agency? My problem is, that I’m travelling around whithout my own bike in the moment.
And how long are the usual work periods, because I wanna do the job only 1 month or a bit longer. greez fom sydney. manu
Hi Manu, if you want to work as a courier you will need your own bicycle. Its also unlikely that a company will take you on for only one month but you can always give them a call and ask.
thanks, I think I’ll try it.
Hi.
i wrote to you before about a job as a bike courier in perth, i have arrived now and im still looking at the possibility although there seems to be lots of jobs that pay well over here.
Would there be any chance of meeting up to find out more about it?
oh and im in kalamunda staying with a friend so getting into perth shouldnt be difficult.
cheers
tim
Hi Tim, I live in Melbourne now so meeting up isn’t going to happen, sorry buddy. Let me know if you need any advice or information and I’ll try and help you out.
Hi, i'm thinking of looking for a job as a cycle messenger in London. I have no previous experience as a cycle messenger, but am really keen to start! It sounds like the ideal job for me. I have a bike but was wondering what the best sort of gearing is for messenging...I have seen lots of couriers with a single speed fixed hub..What are the advantages? I don't understand how it would help? Whats your opinion?
thanks Jack
Hi Jack, there are a few advantages and also some disadvantages with riding fixed gear. Some advantages:
Disadvantages:
I'm sure there are plenty of other things that can be said for and against fixed gears and it always comes down to preference. I suggest starting out on a freewheel bike of some sort and building up your own fixie for recreational use until you get used to riding it. If you like it then courier on it.
London doesn't have too many steep hills so maybe a single speed or fixed gear is the way to go there. Here in Melbourne I ride fixed gear exclusively and don't have any problems. Again, its all down to preference.
Good luck!
Thanks for your quick and very informative response! So yeah i guess i need to try a fixed gear bike and work it out for myself!
Thanks...
I'm sure i'll have more questions soon
Jack
Can you tell me where did you get the job? I really want to become a cycle messenger.
Thanks, Pietro
Hi Pietro, just phone all the messenger companies in your city or talk to bike messengers on the street to find out which companies are hiring.
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