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Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Messenger Bravey in Oz.
From the messenger mailing list:
"We heard about a stabbing on the streets of Adelaide Australia yesterday. The newspaper 'the daily telegraph' mentioned that a cycle messenger used his uniform to stem the flow of blood from a stabbed victim... I sent a concerned email back home asking what happened...
here is the story tellers version...
'Yep yep, It was Bowie as most of you would know him as. Heaps of dudes stayed at his house during the nationals. Basically he saw a kid fall out of the newsagent, ran over and dragged him out to the main street and called an ambulance. Bowie then went back to his bag and retrieved his bike lock, you know, because that's what couriers tend to do...
He then proceeded to enter the newsagent and found a second victim in an aisle. The kid told Bow he had been stabbed in the chest, Bow told him to remove his shirt, apparently it was gushing blood, he had been stabbed just above the heart, not in the leg as some twit from the Advertiser had reported... Not really certain how one could be in a life threatening condition with a leg wound... Would have to be a hell of a wound, moving on.
So Bow rips off his trusty Toll shirt and covers the stab wound on this kids chest. He puts him on the ground and tries to stop the bleeding. In the process he talks to the kid, learns his name is Dave, he likes basketball, he's 14. Meanwhile the attacker has been in the store the whole time, and when he see's the kid is on the ground he thinks its his chance to finish the job. He runs over, grabs the kids legs and tried to drag him across the floor, then kicks him in the face a couple of times. Bowie manages to grab the stabber from behind and pull him off the victim. He struggles with the stabber and manages to push him to the back of the store. He then gets the injured kid out to where the police and ambulance crew were now starting to arrive. He and fellow courier Mark managed to cop a face full of pepper spray as the police were attempting to apprehend the stabber.
Bow refused to be identified, was hounded by various news crew and was apparently misquoted in the paper. The first kid that Bowie dragged out onto the street died, the stabber was intent on finishing off the second one as well. If Bow hadnt intervened I have no doubt he would have. I keep referring to these guys as kids because they were 14 years old. The stabber was 16. They were Sudanese refugees who have fled a war torn country in which many youths are trained militia. Bowie lost his mobile phone, his bike lock and his trusty Toll uniform, but thankfully managed to get out of it unhurt. I still cant work out if it is the fucking stupidest thing I have ever seen him do (and I live with him, I've seen him do some pretty clever things), but the fact that he didn't notice the colour of their skin, the fact he was facing a knife wielding freak twice the size of him, the fact that it had absolutely nothing to do with him, ran in and saved a 14 year old kids like is fucking awesome, and certainly worthy of a few free beers. Definitely a credit to the courier creed. "
Link to the story here.
"We heard about a stabbing on the streets of Adelaide Australia yesterday. The newspaper 'the daily telegraph' mentioned that a cycle messenger used his uniform to stem the flow of blood from a stabbed victim... I sent a concerned email back home asking what happened...
here is the story tellers version...
'Yep yep, It was Bowie as most of you would know him as. Heaps of dudes stayed at his house during the nationals. Basically he saw a kid fall out of the newsagent, ran over and dragged him out to the main street and called an ambulance. Bowie then went back to his bag and retrieved his bike lock, you know, because that's what couriers tend to do...
He then proceeded to enter the newsagent and found a second victim in an aisle. The kid told Bow he had been stabbed in the chest, Bow told him to remove his shirt, apparently it was gushing blood, he had been stabbed just above the heart, not in the leg as some twit from the Advertiser had reported... Not really certain how one could be in a life threatening condition with a leg wound... Would have to be a hell of a wound, moving on.
So Bow rips off his trusty Toll shirt and covers the stab wound on this kids chest. He puts him on the ground and tries to stop the bleeding. In the process he talks to the kid, learns his name is Dave, he likes basketball, he's 14. Meanwhile the attacker has been in the store the whole time, and when he see's the kid is on the ground he thinks its his chance to finish the job. He runs over, grabs the kids legs and tried to drag him across the floor, then kicks him in the face a couple of times. Bowie manages to grab the stabber from behind and pull him off the victim. He struggles with the stabber and manages to push him to the back of the store. He then gets the injured kid out to where the police and ambulance crew were now starting to arrive. He and fellow courier Mark managed to cop a face full of pepper spray as the police were attempting to apprehend the stabber.
Bow refused to be identified, was hounded by various news crew and was apparently misquoted in the paper. The first kid that Bowie dragged out onto the street died, the stabber was intent on finishing off the second one as well. If Bow hadnt intervened I have no doubt he would have. I keep referring to these guys as kids because they were 14 years old. The stabber was 16. They were Sudanese refugees who have fled a war torn country in which many youths are trained militia. Bowie lost his mobile phone, his bike lock and his trusty Toll uniform, but thankfully managed to get out of it unhurt. I still cant work out if it is the fucking stupidest thing I have ever seen him do (and I live with him, I've seen him do some pretty clever things), but the fact that he didn't notice the colour of their skin, the fact he was facing a knife wielding freak twice the size of him, the fact that it had absolutely nothing to do with him, ran in and saved a 14 year old kids like is fucking awesome, and certainly worthy of a few free beers. Definitely a credit to the courier creed. "
Link to the story here.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Stolen Bike
A dear friend of Dublin Messengers has had her bike nicked from Camden Street this evening.
Kate, maker of the lovely 'Alleyhats' that a lot of us wear, is now bereft of her Capri Free Spirit.
It's a dirty white ladies frame, old-school, rear carrier, 5-speed converted to single-speed. Sprung Brooks saddle.
Keep the peepers peeled, get it back, and get in touch.
Kate has offered a brand new 'Alleyhat' as a reward for the safe return of her rothar.
Kate, maker of the lovely 'Alleyhats' that a lot of us wear, is now bereft of her Capri Free Spirit.
It's a dirty white ladies frame, old-school, rear carrier, 5-speed converted to single-speed. Sprung Brooks saddle.
Keep the peepers peeled, get it back, and get in touch.
Kate has offered a brand new 'Alleyhat' as a reward for the safe return of her rothar.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Victoria
We all love reading about Victoria Pendleton, so click here to read her latest interview in the Guardian.
A choice excerpt:
"...what other sport has to deal with the attitude we get as cyclists on the road? I certainly haven't noticed any sudden courtesy to cyclists in the wake of us being the most successful British team in the Olympics. I cycle to the velodrome most days and I have one narrow escape for every hour on the road. I just think, 'Holy shit, I could die on my bike out here.'
"To a cyclist, these bloody motorists might as well be running around with a loaded gun. When you have that sort of attitude towards cyclists how are we going to move our sport into the mainstream?"
BBC video interview here.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Very late notice but...
If anyone is going to be around town tonight you should pop into the Russell Court hotel on Harcourt St. There is a fund raising night for a Brazilian girl who was knocked off her bike by a truck and paralysed a while back. Her family can't afford to get here and she's here for a while in rehab... shitty situation.
Full story here.
Event starts at 7.30pm.
Full story here.
Event starts at 7.30pm.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Courier
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Polo Tourney
The guys in the Phoenix Park are having a tourney this Sunday and we have been asked to supply a few teams.
We'll be using their bikes and mallets.
For more info contact Cliffy or myself.
The day should look a little bit like this:
Check out rules etc. here
We'll be using their bikes and mallets.
For more info contact Cliffy or myself.
The day should look a little bit like this:
Check out rules etc. here
Monday, October 13, 2008
2 Legends in Ireland
This is from a couple of years back, and has nothing to do with messengers or Dublin, but it's 2 of my favourite bike riders of all time coming to Ireland, getting locked, and pissing it down mountains on bikes... how bad?
Monday, October 6, 2008
10-9 Day... or 9-10 day really...
It's that time of the year again. Time to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
Yes, it's Messenger Appreciation Day on Thursday.
For info and history go here.
Conratulations! You're great!
Yes, it's Messenger Appreciation Day on Thursday.
For info and history go here.
Conratulations! You're great!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Halloween Race
Halloween main race will take place Fri. October 31st.
Registration: Wilton Place from 7pm. (wilton park house if weather is shit)
Race starts: 8pm
€5 Entry.
Prizes for best costume.
Afterparty venue to be confirmed... (not my place...)
Revolution
Maybe a bit short notice for this one, but I will keep my eyes peeled for tickets for the next 3 events, could be a nice weekend jaunt for the messers. Check out the site here.
Revolution Track Racing in Manchester Velodrome,
15th November 2008
Travel Details: Leave Dun Laoghaire via Stena Line on 15th at 11.30am (we are meeting outside the main door of Stena Line in Dun Laoghaire at 10.15 sharp. Return Holyhead via Stena Line on 16th at 1.45pm (arrive in Dun Laoghaire ~5.00pm). Watch racing in Revolution on Saturday night. Bed & Breakfast in Cheadle House Hotel Ph: 0044 845 136 0123.
Total costs for ALL expenses(ferry, accommodation, Sunday breakfast, event entry, bus etc):
(Cost per adult is €125)
Deposit of €70 payable to 'Track Cycling Ireland',
Please give or post to Will Byrne at 13 Haydens Park Dale, Lucan, Co Dublin.
The balance of is payable prior to departure.
For further details contact : Will 086 8047839 or Hugh 086 3488708
Limited to 34 people - 8 places left
We have received deposits from most of these, and some have already paid in full. Some places have been confirmed by e-mail and are being held pending deposits being sent, but bottom line is - deposit is required to secure place!
Revolution Track Racing in Manchester Velodrome,
15th November 2008
Travel Details: Leave Dun Laoghaire via Stena Line on 15th at 11.30am (we are meeting outside the main door of Stena Line in Dun Laoghaire at 10.15 sharp. Return Holyhead via Stena Line on 16th at 1.45pm (arrive in Dun Laoghaire ~5.00pm). Watch racing in Revolution on Saturday night. Bed & Breakfast in Cheadle House Hotel Ph: 0044 845 136 0123.
Total costs for ALL expenses(ferry, accommodation, Sunday breakfast, event entry, bus etc):
(Cost per adult is €125)
Deposit of €70 payable to 'Track Cycling Ireland',
Please give or post to Will Byrne at 13 Haydens Park Dale, Lucan, Co Dublin.
The balance of is payable prior to departure.
For further details contact : Will 086 8047839 or Hugh 086 3488708
Limited to 34 people - 8 places left
We have received deposits from most of these, and some have already paid in full. Some places have been confirmed by e-mail and are being held pending deposits being sent, but bottom line is - deposit is required to secure place!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Car Free Day... yeah, right...
*UPDATE UPDATE*
So... from someone who was actually at this rubbish... One side of Merrion Square closed off, nothing happening in the park. One tent for Dublin Bus, giving out timetables, Dublin Shitty Council... had a tent that housed a form where you could win a piece of shit bike... that's all... the Dublin Transport Office were supposed to have a stall, but apparently all they were giving out were balloons and when they ran out they left... A few stalls selling the obligatory overpriced food, and that's World Car Free Day! What a model of progressive thinking Dublin is really showing itself to be. I hope the rest of the world was watching that shining display and takes heed. At this rate we'll have global warming licked by next Thursday.
Once again... COWARDS...
*UPDATE*
So I tell a lie, the West side of Merrion Square is being closed to today... woo-hoo!!! Bet it's closed to bikes as well... and there's a family fun day in the park! That has a lot to do with Car Free Day doesn't it? Report here.
Once again Ireland shows its true colours by completely blanking World Car Free Day.
Apart form a bike parade and picninc happening in cork, there is nothing going on in this entire island.
This certainly puts into perspective that wonderful ride through car free streets at 9.30 am on a sunday that the government threw last week. They couldn't have waited and maybe had it today? CarFree Day? Seems to make sense doesn't it?
Check here for details of cities and countries that actually give a shit and don't just pay lip service to issues of sustainability.
So... from someone who was actually at this rubbish... One side of Merrion Square closed off, nothing happening in the park. One tent for Dublin Bus, giving out timetables, Dublin Shitty Council... had a tent that housed a form where you could win a piece of shit bike... that's all... the Dublin Transport Office were supposed to have a stall, but apparently all they were giving out were balloons and when they ran out they left... A few stalls selling the obligatory overpriced food, and that's World Car Free Day! What a model of progressive thinking Dublin is really showing itself to be. I hope the rest of the world was watching that shining display and takes heed. At this rate we'll have global warming licked by next Thursday.
Once again... COWARDS...
*UPDATE*
So I tell a lie, the West side of Merrion Square is being closed to today... woo-hoo!!! Bet it's closed to bikes as well... and there's a family fun day in the park! That has a lot to do with Car Free Day doesn't it? Report here.
Once again Ireland shows its true colours by completely blanking World Car Free Day.
Apart form a bike parade and picninc happening in cork, there is nothing going on in this entire island.
This certainly puts into perspective that wonderful ride through car free streets at 9.30 am on a sunday that the government threw last week. They couldn't have waited and maybe had it today? CarFree Day? Seems to make sense doesn't it?
Check here for details of cities and countries that actually give a shit and don't just pay lip service to issues of sustainability.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Halloween 2008
I saw a Pumpkin hat in the pound shop yesterday, so that can mean only one thing... Halloween is over 6 weeks away!
Aside from Paddy's Day Massacre, Halloween has always been one of our most successful events and hopefully this year will be no exception. There was a great turn out for last Fridays Tartancat and I think we can keep that going.
This year Halloween falls on a Friday, so that gives us a whole weekend to play with.
Friday night we'll have the traditional Halloween alleycat, prizes for best costume as always.
Here are some previous years efforts:
Details of Fridays race are still sketchy... as there is nothing organised yet. I've an idea for a race, but if anyone else wants to chip in please get in touch.
For Saturday I thought we'd take a trip back in time, to a more innocent age of messing... Anyone remember Courier Carnage from 2001??? It's basically a knockout sprint competition around a course using some of our most popular streets in the working day... it also bears a slight resemblance to the course we attempted to have for CMWC... I only just noticed that...
Anyway, this is a fun format, 3/4 rider heats running down to a 4 up final.
Hoping to book somewhere for parties on both nights, again anyone with any suggestions get in touch, about venues, dj'ing, whatever.
ALSO!!! Anyone with a logo design for posters, t-shirts, get in touch asap. As you can see from my MSPaint masterpiece above I'm a donkey when it comes to design. If you'd like to be immortalised let me know.
Peace!
Aside from Paddy's Day Massacre, Halloween has always been one of our most successful events and hopefully this year will be no exception. There was a great turn out for last Fridays Tartancat and I think we can keep that going.
This year Halloween falls on a Friday, so that gives us a whole weekend to play with.
Friday night we'll have the traditional Halloween alleycat, prizes for best costume as always.
Here are some previous years efforts:
Details of Fridays race are still sketchy... as there is nothing organised yet. I've an idea for a race, but if anyone else wants to chip in please get in touch.
For Saturday I thought we'd take a trip back in time, to a more innocent age of messing... Anyone remember Courier Carnage from 2001??? It's basically a knockout sprint competition around a course using some of our most popular streets in the working day... it also bears a slight resemblance to the course we attempted to have for CMWC... I only just noticed that...
Anyway, this is a fun format, 3/4 rider heats running down to a 4 up final.
Hoping to book somewhere for parties on both nights, again anyone with any suggestions get in touch, about venues, dj'ing, whatever.
ALSO!!! Anyone with a logo design for posters, t-shirts, get in touch asap. As you can see from my MSPaint masterpiece above I'm a donkey when it comes to design. If you'd like to be immortalised let me know.
Peace!
Upcoming Track Events
A couple of updates from the Track Association:
IVCA Track Championships and Apple Pie Event!
The inaugural Irish Veteran Cyclist Association Track Championships will take place on Saturday
20th September at Eamonn Ceannt Park on Sundrive Rd, Dublin 12.
Sign on is 10.00 - 10.30.
20th September at Eamonn Ceannt Park on Sundrive Rd, Dublin 12.
Sign on is 10.00 - 10.30.
Entry open to all IVCA and Cycling Ireland Veteran Cyclists who have track accreditation
Event 1: 500m Individual Time Trial standing start.
Age Categories 40-49, 50-59 and 60+
Age Categories 40-49, 50-59 and 60+
Event 2: Sprint including Flying 200m qualifying TT and knockout Match Sprints
over 2 laps. Age Categories 40-49, 50-59 and 60+
Event 3: 3 KM (7 laps) Individual Pursuit. Age Categories 40-49
2 KM (5 laps) Individual Pursuit. Age Categories 50-59 and 60+
2 KM (5 laps) Individual Pursuit. Age Categories 50-59 and 60+
Event 4: 20 Lap Scratch race. Age Categories to be decided on numbers of entries.
Team Event : Team Sprint. 1 1/2 laps distance (710 metres) 3 riders start, first
rider peels off after 1/2 a lap (230 metres), 2nd rider at 1 lap, last
rider finishes the last half lap on his own The ages of the 3 riders
in the team must add up to 135 years or more.
There will be medals, prizes and Apple Pie
As the programme is dependent on the number of entries in each
category it may vary from this. If you are interested in entering
please let Terry Cromer know on 087 2056740.
The day promises some very exciting racing and we hope that all IVCA
members will come along and either compete or support their fellow
members. Here is an opportunity to find out exactly how fast you can
go against the clock over the short sprint distances or how well you
can judge your pace over 2 or 3 kilometers. It is open to all members
who have accreditation to ride the track at Sundrive Rd.
members will come along and either compete or support their fellow
members. Here is an opportunity to find out exactly how fast you can
go against the clock over the short sprint distances or how well you
can judge your pace over 2 or 3 kilometers. It is open to all members
who have accreditation to ride the track at Sundrive Rd.
If you are interested or need more information please call Terry
Cromer on 087 2056740.
Cromer on 087 2056740.
It has also been decided to resurrect the Apple Pie Event so there
will be refreshments including Apple Pie and cream and a cup of tea or
coffee. For those who haven't enjoyed the experience of Track racing,
this is a wonderful introduction to exciting racing and the social
camaraderie amongst track riders and their families.
will be refreshments including Apple Pie and cream and a cup of tea or
coffee. For those who haven't enjoyed the experience of Track racing,
this is a wonderful introduction to exciting racing and the social
camaraderie amongst track riders and their families.
Please come and support this event either as participant or spectator!
TGP Duane Delaney Memorial
Track Meet – Sundrive Road
Sunday 28th September 2008
Event timetable
10.30am – 11.00am Sign on
11.15am – 11.30m Open track
Racing starts 11.30am –
TGP Duane Delaney Memorial Track Meet will be run by the Track Commission of Ireland with support of Ravens RCT accordance with Cycling Ireland.
This program is subject to change and will be run as a 5 event Track Meet which we hope to split into two categories as outlined below.
For further info please contact
Will Byrne on will@kingscroft.ie 086 0847839 or
Hugh Byrne on trackcyclingireland@gmail.com 086 3488708.
The Track Commission would like to thank the Delaney Family and Ravens RCT for the opportunity to host the TGP Duane Delaney Memorial.
Proposed Itenerary
Riders subject to numbers split as follows:
A : A/B/ Elite V/ and any other rider who would nomally ride in that section of our league
B: V/L/J/U16
Event 1
A: 200 m TT (Placed 1 to 8)
Winner 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2
B: 200 m TT (Placed 1 to 8)
Winner 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2
Event 2 Sprint (3 rounds)
A : Each rider gets 3 x 3 up sprints (Points 3/2/1)
Match offs for winners getting progessively harder as winners face each other,
while 2nd & 3rds are also matched to give them a shot at some points
Max points 9 (if you win alll 3)
B : Each rider gets 3 x 3 up sprints (Points 3/2/1)
Match offs for winners getting progessively harder as winners face each other,
while 2nd & 3rds are also matched to give them a shot at some points
Max points 9 (if you win alll 3)
Event 3
A: 15 lap scratch (points 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 and 1 for participation)
B: 15 lap scratch (points 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 and 1 for participation)
Event 4
A: 25 lap points race
B: 16 laps reverse win & out
Lap 4 Sprint for 7th & 8th places (3 points & 2 points)
Lap 8 Sprint for 5th & 6th places (5 points & 4 points)
Lap 12 Sprint for 3rd & 4th places (7 points & 6 points)
Lap 16 Sprint for 1st & 2nd places (9 points & 8 points)
Event 5
A: 500m TT (points 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 and 1 for participation)
B: 500m TT (points 9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2 and 1 for participation)
Prizes in both sections
Overall Winner can come from either A or B section
Monday, August 4, 2008
ECMC 2008
The dust has settled and my liver has stopped screaming. What a weekend. Europe knows how to party and damn do those Dutch know how to throw an event! Easily the best organised messenger event I've ever been to and that includes NYC 2005 with their oodles of dirty money!
It was a last minute decision for me to go, and I'm so glad I did. The largest travelling Irish contingent since New York made it feel like a home away from home, but seeing all those faces from around Europe descend on one place had me beaming all weekend.
The main race and the majority of side events were held on the Technical University campus. Our campsite was within crawling distance of the course and we had toilets, 'prison-style' showers and running water all within reach. Hot, free breakfst in the mornings, good coffee, 1 euro beer... it brings a tear to my eye remembering it all.
Day one saw some polo action, Euro-style... which meant a much slower pace and better attitude than whatever that was in Toronto. This was a nice slow build up to the main event and provided people with plenty of time to catch up with old friends and begin the serious drinking. Basel won the polo I believe with London coming 2nd thanks to a DQ. Team Dublin 12 proudly grabbed 4th after DQ'ings.
The welcome party was also held on the campus and the messengers really showed that they know how to drink. In fact the rest of this evening is a blur to me so I shall comment no further. All I know is that I was dancing on stage at one point, and then I woke up in my tent, if anyone can fill in the blank please email me.
Of course this didn't help when I dragged myself out of bed to find that the qualifiers were actually starting on time, and that if I keep picking 102 as my race number I will keep being in the first groups to qualify... A quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham and cheese, and a Bailey's iced coffee, and I was ready(ish) to race.
The course was a lot of fun, I really wish I had more time on it. It was pretty complicated, and you were punished for making mistakes, which I agree with, no turning around and going back the way you came like in Toronto. It really paid to stay calm and think ahead. The loop was pretty long, and to make up for holland's renowned flatness there were a few stair sections thrown in where you had to get off and run, again I think this added to the course. Everyone I saw racing looked like they were having a good time. I had a few calamities during my heat so I didn't qualify for the final, chief among these was my saddle coming loose right in front of Vincent who was MC'ing the event. It's quite distracting having someone with a microphone giving a running commentary on you trying to fix shit. Added to this were some sweaty birthday man-hugs from Flip at the stamp checkpoint and some guerilla water bombings by Pax, oh, not to forget my own ineptitude. I really didn't care though as I rode the whole thing with a huge grin on my face.
It was so nice after this to chill out in the amazing weather, have a few beers and watch the days events unfold. Semi-naked Scandinavian girls, aggresively drunk Glaswegians, skinsuit wearing Swiss... all part of a days entertainment.
That evening the party and the roller racing moved to Area 51, a skatepark close to the campus. There were some games of footdown in the car park, and the the rain came. It didn't spoil anyone's fun though as we all piled inside for some live music and the Roller race finals. Chapeau to the Rollapoluza Crew for throwing a pro event. You can tell these guys know what they're doing and the whole evening ran without a hitch. A few more beers in the campsite later on and most of us settled in for the night to prepare for another days shenanigans.
Sunday morning and the sun was back out again with a vengance making racing conditions incredibly tough. 3 hours of racing for everyone. no cut-offs or limited manifests. Jobs were worth money and the fattest wallet after 3 hours claimed victory. The strength of the organising shone through once again at this event. There was a laptop where everyone was hanging out that had live updates of the race... yes you read that right. As people made money it came up on the screen and you could watch the race unfold. I found out afterwards that this was actually on the internet, and a few guys in Dublin were follwing the race from there! Some achievement.
Just watching the racers was hard work, it was painfully hot, and 3 hours is a very long time when you can watch a clock ticking. Thankfully there was plenty of water to be had on the course, and a couple of hoses provided welcome relief at 2 points on the course. It was great watching racers srinting throught the start/finish area trying to grab plastic cups of water from volunteers... sometimes succeeding, sometimes howling in frustration as they knew it would be a few more minutes before they could get some much-needed refreshment.
Chapeau to Austin from NYC for showing true spirit and doing the whole race with a plastic bag from the local supermarket to carry his packages!
When it all boiled down Michael ‘michi’ Brinkmann and Astid ‘azkic’ Narud emerged as male and female champions respectively. Full results can be found here.
Side event finals took place after this, sprints, skids, trackstand, circles, the usual palaver. Great to watch. Sometimes when I see all the fixie stuff I am reminded of this Shakepeare quote:
"Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. "
That's just me... it's probably 'cos I can barely trackstand... But in all seriousness it is quite a spectacle to watch Jumbo winning everything. The guy has so much control over his bike it's ridiculous. It was also nice to see some new talent coming along. Our own Daz had a really good showing, being narrowly beaten by Jumbo in both the skids and the backward circles(I think). He's going to be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years... oh and he is also fast as fuck.
The final party was held on the campus, with the dulcet tones of Rik Van Den Bosch chilling everyone out after the awards ceremnoy. Not for long though as people proceeded to get wasted again. At some point the beer went from €1 to free... this prompted Pax from Copenhagen to start a beer fight, I gladly missed this and managed to stay relatively dry. A group of us struggled on into the wee hours, and when my head finally hit the sack the sun was coming up again.
There is always a terrible comedown from these events, irrespective of how much narcotics you've consumed during it. Taking the tent down and watching the campsite dwindle was quite disheartening. Having to say goodbye to so many good people and maybe not see them again for another year can be a bit of a downer. But I guess that's one of the reasons these events will keep happening and hopefully keep getting stronger as this years event proved.
I said in my post about Toronto to remember that messengers aren't event organisers... I have most eloquently been forced to eat my words. the Dutch messengers have shown the rest of Europe, and indeed the rest of the world, that it is possible for a bunch of functioning alcoholics to throw a world class sporting event. My hat goes off to them for this and I'm already counting down the days to ECMC Berlin. The bar has been spectacularly and irrevocably raised.
More photos can be viewed here and here.
It was a last minute decision for me to go, and I'm so glad I did. The largest travelling Irish contingent since New York made it feel like a home away from home, but seeing all those faces from around Europe descend on one place had me beaming all weekend.
The main race and the majority of side events were held on the Technical University campus. Our campsite was within crawling distance of the course and we had toilets, 'prison-style' showers and running water all within reach. Hot, free breakfst in the mornings, good coffee, 1 euro beer... it brings a tear to my eye remembering it all.
Day one saw some polo action, Euro-style... which meant a much slower pace and better attitude than whatever that was in Toronto. This was a nice slow build up to the main event and provided people with plenty of time to catch up with old friends and begin the serious drinking. Basel won the polo I believe with London coming 2nd thanks to a DQ. Team Dublin 12 proudly grabbed 4th after DQ'ings.
The welcome party was also held on the campus and the messengers really showed that they know how to drink. In fact the rest of this evening is a blur to me so I shall comment no further. All I know is that I was dancing on stage at one point, and then I woke up in my tent, if anyone can fill in the blank please email me.
Of course this didn't help when I dragged myself out of bed to find that the qualifiers were actually starting on time, and that if I keep picking 102 as my race number I will keep being in the first groups to qualify... A quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham and cheese, and a Bailey's iced coffee, and I was ready(ish) to race.
The course was a lot of fun, I really wish I had more time on it. It was pretty complicated, and you were punished for making mistakes, which I agree with, no turning around and going back the way you came like in Toronto. It really paid to stay calm and think ahead. The loop was pretty long, and to make up for holland's renowned flatness there were a few stair sections thrown in where you had to get off and run, again I think this added to the course. Everyone I saw racing looked like they were having a good time. I had a few calamities during my heat so I didn't qualify for the final, chief among these was my saddle coming loose right in front of Vincent who was MC'ing the event. It's quite distracting having someone with a microphone giving a running commentary on you trying to fix shit. Added to this were some sweaty birthday man-hugs from Flip at the stamp checkpoint and some guerilla water bombings by Pax, oh, not to forget my own ineptitude. I really didn't care though as I rode the whole thing with a huge grin on my face.
It was so nice after this to chill out in the amazing weather, have a few beers and watch the days events unfold. Semi-naked Scandinavian girls, aggresively drunk Glaswegians, skinsuit wearing Swiss... all part of a days entertainment.
That evening the party and the roller racing moved to Area 51, a skatepark close to the campus. There were some games of footdown in the car park, and the the rain came. It didn't spoil anyone's fun though as we all piled inside for some live music and the Roller race finals. Chapeau to the Rollapoluza Crew for throwing a pro event. You can tell these guys know what they're doing and the whole evening ran without a hitch. A few more beers in the campsite later on and most of us settled in for the night to prepare for another days shenanigans.
Sunday morning and the sun was back out again with a vengance making racing conditions incredibly tough. 3 hours of racing for everyone. no cut-offs or limited manifests. Jobs were worth money and the fattest wallet after 3 hours claimed victory. The strength of the organising shone through once again at this event. There was a laptop where everyone was hanging out that had live updates of the race... yes you read that right. As people made money it came up on the screen and you could watch the race unfold. I found out afterwards that this was actually on the internet, and a few guys in Dublin were follwing the race from there! Some achievement.
Just watching the racers was hard work, it was painfully hot, and 3 hours is a very long time when you can watch a clock ticking. Thankfully there was plenty of water to be had on the course, and a couple of hoses provided welcome relief at 2 points on the course. It was great watching racers srinting throught the start/finish area trying to grab plastic cups of water from volunteers... sometimes succeeding, sometimes howling in frustration as they knew it would be a few more minutes before they could get some much-needed refreshment.
Chapeau to Austin from NYC for showing true spirit and doing the whole race with a plastic bag from the local supermarket to carry his packages!
When it all boiled down Michael ‘michi’ Brinkmann and Astid ‘azkic’ Narud emerged as male and female champions respectively. Full results can be found here.
Side event finals took place after this, sprints, skids, trackstand, circles, the usual palaver. Great to watch. Sometimes when I see all the fixie stuff I am reminded of this Shakepeare quote:
"Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. "
That's just me... it's probably 'cos I can barely trackstand... But in all seriousness it is quite a spectacle to watch Jumbo winning everything. The guy has so much control over his bike it's ridiculous. It was also nice to see some new talent coming along. Our own Daz had a really good showing, being narrowly beaten by Jumbo in both the skids and the backward circles(I think). He's going to be a force to be reckoned with in a couple of years... oh and he is also fast as fuck.
The final party was held on the campus, with the dulcet tones of Rik Van Den Bosch chilling everyone out after the awards ceremnoy. Not for long though as people proceeded to get wasted again. At some point the beer went from €1 to free... this prompted Pax from Copenhagen to start a beer fight, I gladly missed this and managed to stay relatively dry. A group of us struggled on into the wee hours, and when my head finally hit the sack the sun was coming up again.
There is always a terrible comedown from these events, irrespective of how much narcotics you've consumed during it. Taking the tent down and watching the campsite dwindle was quite disheartening. Having to say goodbye to so many good people and maybe not see them again for another year can be a bit of a downer. But I guess that's one of the reasons these events will keep happening and hopefully keep getting stronger as this years event proved.
I said in my post about Toronto to remember that messengers aren't event organisers... I have most eloquently been forced to eat my words. the Dutch messengers have shown the rest of Europe, and indeed the rest of the world, that it is possible for a bunch of functioning alcoholics to throw a world class sporting event. My hat goes off to them for this and I'm already counting down the days to ECMC Berlin. The bar has been spectacularly and irrevocably raised.
More photos can be viewed here and here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
CMWC 2008
I've finally recovered enough to be able to gather my thoughts and try to recount the epic week that was CMWC Toronto.
For those that don't know, well, tough... it's the Cycle Messenger World Championships, figure it out.
I started writing a blow-by-blow account of the weekend, but quickly realised this would be very tedious to read if you weren't there, so i'm just going to recount some of the highlights.
Meeting old friends is always a huge part of messenger events, and this was no different. It was great to see Navid again, picking us up in the airport, then seeing Luk, Porno Steve, Kai Hawaii, Pascal, and a bunch of other Euro heads. All really good people. Martin Banana, Andy Duncan, the DC crew, April, Kim, AZ. The Trackstar crew, good friends... the list is endless, but there were a lot of hellos and a lot of sad goodbyes at the end. New people hang out with, The Finnish, Paulus, Paavo and Olli. Good drinking companions. Brian from Ottowa, polo guru. too many faces to remember them all, but all good people who contributed to a great time.
The racing is, of course, the most important part to a lot of people. Personally I don't take it too seriously and have been DQ'd from every event I've entered before this one. Yes, I was DQ'd in NYC 2005 for missing a turn by about 5 feet and running back to make the corner... sound familiar? Anyhoo... the course was a lot of fun in Toronto, 2 way racing made for some spectacular viewing, and one or two spectacular collisions, but not nearly as many as I thought there would be... turns out messengers know how to ride bikes after all! I took the race slow and steady completing qualification in 1hour 25. The fastest time was 1hour 2minutes, Shino methinks. I only found out I'd qualified for the final on Sunday afternoon, on the way to the Islands with a bag full of liquor. The race was nearly ready to start when we got over so I decided qualifiactaion was enough for me and got wasted instead. Fair fecks to 25 Sean for stripping down to his lycra and getting his race face on, he came 16th in the end. Chapeau!
when it all boiled down it was the usual suspects at the head of the pack: Jumbo, Austin, Porno(well done that man), and the world's fastest messenger(TM) Shino. I was so delighted to see him win, the Japanese messengers are always so nice, and turn up to every event, great ambassadors for the messenger community, and Shino is fast as fuck. You could really see his delight when he saw he'd won. Sets things up rather nicely for Tokyo next year. Will anybody be able to beat Shino on his home turf???
Speaking of future CMWC's, the open forum was an interesting one this year. Berlin put a bid in, but a non-present Mo somehow managed to stick his oar in and remind us about the huge divides in the community in Berlin. While his point may have been valid I think if he wanted to make it at an open forum he should have shelled out the cash and turned up in person to voice it, not put Martin in the unenviable position of being mouthpiece for him. I don't think that is right or proper.
Hamburg also had a bid, in the trusty figure of Kai Hawaii. This got my vote as I know he would throw a great event. However, he was beaten to the punch by a curious entry from Nadir of La Carrera cycles, with the backing of Andy Zalan. Guatemala... that's right, Guatemala. Nadir has organised the Gran Premio de Guatemala in the past, so I think we can trust he knows how to organise an event. I'm still on the fence about this one. Part of me thinks it's a great adventure and that it's about time we as a community looked further afield, but another part of me thinks that CMWC's should be held in cities with working messenger communities, like Hamburg, and organised by the local messengers. I also don't think this vote would have gone Guatemala's way if it had been taken in any other city than Toronto. But, the die has been cast, and I will support Nadir all the way. It's going to be an interesting journey, and it will only succeed if everyone pulls together to make it happen.
There was also a reshuffling of the IFBMA council, with 3 new members, Navid, Doddy from Australia, and I'm proud to say that I will be on the council for the forthcoming year as well. Andy duncan remains president and Porno Steve, Martin Banana, Jacob from Boston and Justin from Calgary all remain on the council. If anyone has any questions for the council feel free to mail council@messengers.org.
Side events are always a popular turn at CMWC's, this year the weather(again) didn't really co-operate so a few events got shelved. From what I can remember Jumbo won the trackstand, narrowly beating AZ. Pascal Brodard won the skids, although i'm not sure if that has been confirmed by the organisers. Ali from DC won the circles with 149 or something ridiculous like that, he can go forever. Jumbo came 2nd with a really impressive 113 I believe. I didn't see who won the sprints, but I can confirm that they were wearing full lycra, this is one event for me that looks less and less like a messenger event every year.
Polo was a huge draw this year, hat's off to Brian from Ottowa for organising a tremendously successful event. Over 60 teams registered and when the dust settled one of the teams from NYC with Zak, Doug and someone else walked away victors. I was delighted to see this event be so popular, but I just don't know if it should be part of CMWC. There were a hell of a lot of people there just for the polo, on polo bikes, not messengers. I felt it detracted from the main event somewhat. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the sport and love playing it. I just think if it is that popular maybe it should have its own event.
Messengers know how to party, rain or shine, and this was put to the test as there were a lot of thunderstorms over the weekend. We're a hardy bunch though, so the resourceful found shelter and the drunk just took their clothes off. Navid's goldsprint qualifiers were a case in point. Just as everything was set up and ready to go an electrical thunderstorm knocked out the equipment and the heavens opened. This didn't deter anybody though. The tunes kept coming, the beer kept flowing and people kept smiling.
Apparently the offical welcome party got shut down by the cops for underage drinking. Hardly the organisers fault, but I'm glad I stayed under the stage in Navid's that night. The closing ceremony was supposed to have beenheld on the islands, but the storm ruled that out and a hasty venue change led us to Sneaky Dee's, a popular messenger hangout. We got to hear some local music before the awards could take place, one kid with a ginger afro was particularly good. There were some really sweet prizes on offer, frames for the main race winners. For some reason, alcohol induced no doubt, I thought it would be a good idea to take the stage after the prizegiving and thank the organisers... I don't think many people heard me though, so I think I got away with it.
There seems to be abit of a backlash brewing on the messenger mailing list at the minute, I guess it's inevitable that some people are disappointed, we certainly had our fair share last year. I guess people assumed that Toronto would be far better organised than it was. A lot of infighting among the organisers led to rifts in the community and as such some of the event suffered. I really don't want to get involved in this argument 2 years running, but I think the organisers did a good job. I had a great time, is that not enough? Not for some people. I guess cultural differences have something to do with this as well. The Japanese are thankful for everything, the Swiss are not happy if everything doesn't run on time, The Celts and the Finns don't give a shit as long as there's enough alcohol. Broad generalisations I know, but the underlying point is there... when you travel to another country don't expect everything to be like it is in yours, and don't mistake messengers for event organisers.
Ok, enough, I just hate to see this wonderful community fighting with each other when all I saw for that weekend were people from all over the world with big shit-eating grins on their faces.
Thanks Toronto! See you in Tokyo!
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