Cleudo alleycat and Goofy

Here be the 3 parts of the Cluedo alleycat and a nice short following Goofy around Dublin while working.

Cluedo Part 1:

The Cluedo Alleycat Part 1 from Track Dropouts on Vimeo.

Part 2:

The Cluedo Alleycat part 2 from Track Dropouts on Vimeo.

Part 3:

The Cluedo Alleycat part 3 from Track Dropouts on Vimeo.

Goofy:

Ghost Bike

2nd ghost bike of the year will be unveiled this Saturday coming at 11am.

Karl McGee died on the 15th September when he was involved in a collision with an articulated truck on Wellington Quay.

Here are the details:

On the 15th of September Karl McGee, a cyclist of 51 was killed on Aston Quays(sic). To remember him, a ghostbike will be unveiled at the location of the accident on Saturday November 14th at 11AM. The ceremony will take place on the south quays, at Ha'penny Bridge in presence of Karl's family and friends. After that, a group will cycle to Harolds Cross bridge and place flowers at the first ghostbike of Dublin, in memory of Paul who died there in January.

http://www.ghostbikes.org/dublin/

Contact:
Thomas Pedoussaut
thomas (at) pedoussaut.com
086 156 1787

Goldsprints results

Results in no particular order:

Qualifiers:
Lorcan: 28.22
Flickerx: 32.48
Delo: 28.55
Aly: 29.98
Raj: 32.70
Johnny: 32.50
Barry: 31.50
Natalie: 34.63
Chris: 36.16... I think this is incorrect (I know you're not that slow Chris :))
Kerr: 32.41
Matt: 29.31
Kropa: 29.66
Ben: 31.62
Adam: 29.77
Tom: 27.47
Al: 30.66
Alec: 31.86
Andrea: 33.28
Mark: 26.48
Bernard: 27.91
Ray:28.16
Perrin: 32.83
John Walsh: 26.95
Caroline: 36.22 (not helped by the fact her feet couldn't reach the pedals!!!, Sorry!)
Eoghan: 29.11
Diarmuid: 26.16
25Sean: 27.78
Sean: 26.47

Quarter-Finals:
Ray: 30.81
25Sean: 30.92

Sean 27.28
Mark: 26.52

Tom: 27.89
Bernard: 28.44

John Walsh: 26.30
Diarmuid: 25.75

Semi-Finals:
Ray: 27.27
Tom: 27.81

Diarmuid: 25.70
Mark: 25.92

Fixie Fanatics Goldsprints. Semifinals from Lorcan O Mahony on Vimeo.

Womens's Final:
Andrea: 31.33
Perrine: 32.42


Men's Final:
Diarmuid: 25.64
Ray: 25.92

Fixie Fanatics Goldsprints. Finals from Lorcan O Mahony on Vimeo.

Loads more videos from Flickerx here.
Thanks to all at Dublin Fixed Gear Agus Singlespeed for the support and photos/videos

A great night by all accounts. Diarmuid consistently posted the fastest times all night, and really wanted to break 25 seconds... next time. We'll keep working on the system and things will get smoother as we progress. Next time we'll have a dj outside with us so we can properly announce it and make a better show for everyone.
If anyone has any (constructive) comments to make about how we can improve please make them below, we really want to make this as big and inclusive as possible.

The Shaw have been on to us to host it again, so we're looking at the first week of December for the next event.
There will be a chance to race again this Friday come in any time after 6pm (in Bernard Shaw again) and post a time and give it a go.

Knackers steal meningitis survivors bike...

Some drunken scumbags stole a meningitis survivors trike outside a nightclub in Galway last weekend... low.

On the other side of the world some couriers on the west coast have made a great advertisement for their service. Wonderfully cheesy.

TCB Courier: Pizza + Candy from Joe Lumbroso on Vimeo.

Change of title

Dublin Messenger: I figured since for 2 years it's been me, it may as well stay me, so from now in it's Dublin Messenger, not Messengers... as that would imply some sort of co-operation, and it being overtly just me frees me up to talk about shit I want to talk about with no inference that I am speaking for a group of people.

I was in Barcelona at the end of August for another edition of Paradise Weekend, hosted by the ever smiling Dave of Imensajeros. It's a great city to ride your bike in, and combine that with sun, sea and cheap food and booze, and it's a recipe for a fantastic time. Turnout was pretty low this year, for out-of-towners at least, but it was good to see more locals taking part.

The Saturday night alleycat is always my favourite part of the weekend, a proper pick-up drop-off, multiple manifest alleycat. I generally don't take it too seriously and I guess that's my way of enjoying it; stopping at checkpoints for a chat and a beer.

There were a few people writing an article about the race and I managed to do Dublin proud in it if I do say so myself... I guess it's a different attitude over there, as people were genuinely bemused to see me roll up to a checkpoint with a can of beer in my hand!

(click image to get larger resolution)

There's a new forum in town... dedicated to the fixed-gear fanatics in Dublin: Dublin Fixed Gear Agus Singlespeed, although I think the singlespeed is there just for forms sake, they're a really decent bunch of people, no snobbery, and so far no Boards-like behaviour.

A nice gallery of Britain's crap cycle lanes in the Guardian this week.

Aly has come out with another short video, this time featuring Kropa and his backwards cycling shenanigans.
It's only available on Arsebook at the minute but as soon as he puts it on YouTube I'll pop it up here.

Nice article on BBC about small courier firms in the UK benefiting from the threat of Royal Mail strikes. (Via Joe Hendry)

Also from Joe, news that a new movie C.O.D, is in the works, about a New York Messenger forced to deliver bombs... hmmm. One reviewer states nicely:
"Everybody hates bike messengers. First of all, the profession attracts douchebags. Second of all, they're a hazard on the road to drivers and pedestrians alike. Third of all, they always smell."
Nice...

It's still raining.

On the off-chance that anyone still reads this...

I haven't posted here since... well since the last post, and I'm not hitting the 'back' button to see what date that was, needless to say it's been a while.
Nobody has stepped forward to try and keep this thing alive, so I guess I may as well try and help it limp along until it finally gives up the ghost or someone pulls the finger out.

What to report since last time...

Well, CMWC Tokyo happened. Daz won backward circles, 2nd in skids while wasted, got tied up and drawn on as he annoyed so many people, and finally got arrested(still in Tokyo awaiting sentencing I believe), Perrine won Fixie Queen(even though she's not actually a courier ...shhhhhh).

KYOTO LOCO 2009: The Road to CMWC, Tokyo from Eli Tokyo Jitensha-Jin on Vimeo.

Um... I almost forgot, it has been so long that there wasn't even a report on ECMC Berlin! As far as I can remember Team Dublin won the Mechanical Bull riding... 25Sean came top 10, then promptly had a baby. Hungary successfully 'bid' for ECMC2010, many people got drunk and danced to electro music. Props to ex Dublin Messenger Gar for being one of the main organisers of a spectacular event. My photos here.

There is a raffle taking place to help Daz's legal costs. Tickets are 3 for €5 or sumfink... Matt(eternal rookie) from Dublin's newest (and only fixed-centric) bike shop Cultured has kindly donated a sweet bike as first prize.
Tickets can be bought in the shop or at the Bernard Shaw this weekend and draw will take place after Halloween Alleycat.
The Bernard Shaw are having another 'fixie day' this Saturday the 24th, from 4pm. There will be a parts market, videos, messenger dj's best in show comp, and finally Goldsprints will make a return to Dublin. 8 fastest times posted will go into knockout stages. Be patient with us as it's our first time running this and we are bound to fuck something up royally.

The week after will see the Halloween alleycat, this year organised by Colin and Kropa. They are getting some sweet jerseys(yes jerseys) made for this, based on one of Colin's designs.We are hoping to run some more goldsprints in Bernard Shaw afterwards.

Niamh, who has been filming Dublin Messengers since CMWC 2007, gave us a glimpse of her work with a short entitled 'Alleycat', which screened at the Galway Film Festival and recently during the Darklight festival in Dublin. We hope there's a lot more to come. For now you can see the magnificence of my arrospok (which I have since become too ashamed of to ride in public) in the first few seconds.


Elsewhere in the world of bicycle fashion, the bicycle chain bracelet recently jumped the shark when Louis Vuitton released this:

A steal at $700, but not guaranteed to hold your chain together as a quick bodge when you snap yours doing a keo spin while wearing this to add momentum (and bling) to your revolutions.

In short...
Registration now open for CMWC 2011 Guatemala
Ex-Dublin Messengers Goofy and Tomek now helping with production of Polish mish-mash of all my favourite track bikes Torro.
ECMC 2010 to be held in Budapest, CMWC 2011 in Warsaw.
Tokyo organisers $34,000 (yes all those zeros are correct, and yes that is twice what we spent on our entire CMWC) in debt. Messengers trying to help here.
I got a new Pac (yum)

That is all for now...
Work sucks
Winter is here

Fixie Day in the Bernard Shaw THIS SATURDAY!!!

Late notice... we thought it was going to be next week... however. Get on down to the Bernard Shaw this Saturday, and bring your bike! Should be fun.

Velocity Blog

So I've started writing a blog to try and promote the company more.
You can find it here: www.velocitycouriers.wordpress.com

I'll still update here with more general messenger info and race times etc. but I will be focusing my efforts on the company. Again, if anyone wants to contribute to keeping this blog alive please get in touch.

Cheers,

Graham

Global Gutz results

A slow and windy course set our times behind those of previous years, but the main thing is everyone had fun and finished the race safely. Well done to Lizard for organising this years race.

Results:
1st: 25Sean: 45.02
2nd: Kropa: 45.10
3rd: Steve: 45.16
4th: Laurence: 45:23
5th: Noel: 46.03
6th: Noels roadie mate: 46.03
7th. Deano. 47.14
8th. Johnny. 49.58
9th. Josh. 52.45
10th. Carrisa. 53.30
11th. Perrine. 54.15
DNF. Brian

Full results will be up on globalgutz.org soon.

Global Gutz!!!

Late notice...

Tomorrow's Global Gutz will be taking place at 9pm. The start line is a secret so far...

Meeting at ToneHenge from 6pm. Group ride to the start from 8pm. Race starts 9pm sharp!

Remember this is taking place simultaneously all over the world so we HAVE to start on time.

21km's. A chance to win return flights to Tokyo.

See you there.
www.globalgutz.org

National Bike Week

Starting on Sunday, National Bike Week will comprise of a series of events aimed at encouraging more people around the country to get on their bikes.

There's a Family Day in the Phoenix Park on Sunday, with a 10k group ride around the park, and on Wednesday there is the cycle through the city, which thankfully this year they have had the balls to actually put midweek and in the evening. Places are limited apparently (not sure how they can stop anyone from cycling on the roads that night however!?), so you can sign up here . If it's another exercise in high-vis jacket wearing I'm pretty sure I shall ride off into the sunset and tell them where they can shove their cycle.

This is overall a good thing for the city however so be sure to check out www.bikeweek.ie and get involved somehow.

Dublin Messengers on film...

Nice little preview of stuff that Aly, Colin etc have been putting together over the last while.

Cycle Courier Forum

Hey all,
just a quick post to advertise a new forum for working messengers.
Cassandra from NYC has created a really good forum here:
http://cyclecourier.org/vanilla/

I highly recommend checking it out.

Global Gutz reminder and plea for content

Hi all,

you may have noticed there has been a paucity of content over the last while. Some of you may know that myself and Chris are hard at work trying to get our new company off the ground, which has left me little time for filling this blog. It's a shame as I love it, but it deserves more attention than I can give it right now. If there is any messenger out there in Dublin who would like to contribute to the blog PLEASE get in touch, as I'd hate to see her wither away and die. I'll add when I can, but who knows when that may be.

On another topic, Global Gutz is just around the corner, I've officially registered us as of this evening. I'm stepping down as course creator and we'll have a fresh design this year, hopefully giving us a better chance of competing with those Europeans who can apparently maintain an average of 42kp/h in city streets over a 21km course while negotiating 5 checkpoints... lets see if we have found their secret...

Details of start/finish will come some time after we return from Berlin. Stay tuned... and get the legs spinning.

ECMC Berlin, Dublin qualifier, final results

There are two places you can drink alcohol in this country; one is in your private home and the other is in a public house. This place is neither. You have to leave this place... NOW!!

Those were the immortal words of the Garda who moved us along from Grand Canal to marc the start of the last race in the ECMC Berlin Dublin Qualifier Series. So we started and ended at Portobello. Evening was very pleasant and they all turned out, Lizard with freshly shaved legs for the occasion.
About 15 riders raced the final race; two manifests, both with four checkpoints, two pick-ups and drop-offs at each one. It took 27Aidan just under an hour to come in first with Kropa in second and Lukasz in third on the night. All got t-shirts from another Lukasz from dotties as did Doricea as first girl.
Then came the prize-giving ceremony with a cacophony of prizes for the top ten. Results are below. 27Aidan had a great race on the night which left him that one point ahead of Lukasz to put the quiet Pole in third and to take second for himself. And Kropa took first, got a fancy shirt so as not to go away empty-handed on the night. He wins the flights and registration for ECMCBerlin which is not so far away at all.
There was a closing ceremony in the Portobello Pub where we all shouted, shoved and downed pints in one, as is our want. I am happy that people took part and made the series a good one and I am thankful. Thanks to the marshalls, to those who gave prizes over the weeks and thanks to the racers of course.

Can somebody put on an alleycat now please so I can have a go...

See you in Berlin
25Seán

1. Kropa. 90

2. 27Aidan. 79

3. Lukasz. 78

4. 33Steve. 63

5. Lizard. 46

6. Lally. 46

7. Josh. 42

8. Vinny. 34

9. Geri. 28

10. Doricea. 27

11. Delo. 21

12. Cliffy. 14

13. Jonny. 14

14. Colin. 13

15. Ricsi. 13

16. John W. 12

17. Pádraig. 11

18. Lorcan. 11

19. 23Cormac. 10

20. Jack. 10

21. Caríosa. 9

22. Big Al. 9

23. Eoin. 8

24. Rob. 4

25. Seán. 4

26. Dennis. 3

27. Aly. 2

28. Brian. 2

29. JT. 2

30. Raj. 2

ECMC Berlin Dublin Qualifier... results after race 3

ECMC Berlin Dublin Qualifier Series.
Results after Race 3

Race last week got a bit trickier, perhaps too much so. But the numbers were good. Niamh was filming on the night for her soon-to-come 2 minute short, looking forward to it. Kropa took first, great result for Josh in second and 33 Steve takes third two weeks in a row.. All this meant that the table looks like this:

1. Lukasz. 46

2. Kropa. 45

3. Lally. 44

4. 27 Aidan. 43

5. Vinny. 34

6. 33Steve. 32

7. Lizard. 27

8. Josh. 27

9. Delo. 21

10. Cliffy. 14

11. Jonny. 14

12. Colin. 13

13. Doricea. 12

14. John W. 12

15. Geri. 10

16. 23 Cormac. 10

17. Big Al. 9

18. Eoin. 8

19. Pádraig. 5

20. Rob. 4

21. Seán. 4

22. Dennis. 3

23. Caríosa. 2

24. Raj. 2

25. Aly. 2

26. Lorcan. 2

27. Brian. 2

A Polish double bill for first and second, Lukasz and Kropa, with our man Lally trailing just behind in third. The points could not be closer with Aidan on 43 in fourth. This series is very much open. It's all to win for, flights and registration that is for ECMC Berlin 09 in six weeks time.

Race number 4 is this Friday 24th, 7pm at Grand Canal Square. Come one, come all!


Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

S25

CMWC Guatemala...

It's getting exciting...

ECMC series race 3 details, race 2 results and current standings

Results here from friday night and ECMC Berlin Dublin Qualifier Series:

1. Lukasz.25 points
2. Lally. 20 points
3. 33Steve. 16 points
4. Lizard. 12 points
4. 27Aidan. 12 points
6. John W. 10 points
7. Kropa. 9 points
8. Eoin. 8 points
9. Jonny. 7 points
10. Delo. 6 points
11. Cliffy. 5 points
12. Josh. 4 points
13. Dennis. 3 points
14. Lorcan. 2 points
15. Seán. 2 points
16. Doricea. 2 points(DFL)
17. BIG AL. DNF

So with all that things are indeed shaping up the table looks like this:

1. Lally. 36 points
2. 27Aidan. 32 points
3. Lukasz. 31 points
4. Vinny. 25 points
5. Kropa. 20 points
6. Delo. 19 points
7. Lizard. 17 points
8. 33Steve. 16 points
9. Cliffy. 14 points
10. 23Cormac. 10 points
10. John W. 10 points
11. Big Al. 9 points
12. Geri. 8 points
12. Eoin. 8 points
13. Josh. 7 points
13. Jonny. 7 points
14. Doricea. 6 points
15. Dennis. 3 points
16. Rob. 2 points
16. Lorcan. 2 points
16. Seán. 2 points

With the fairer weather, more turned out. Pre-race refreshments were idyllic under the walls of the old city. The race itself had a few more checkpoints than the week before and this week's looks to be a bit trickier as well. Friday 17th, 7pm(2 pm for anonymous) at the Green. Race starts 730 sharp as craic to follow is in Anseo of Camden St. with 25Seán puttin down an electro seton the turntables. As always, results, prizes and refreshments to follow.

"It's still very early to make any calls on this race, nobody is talking just yet. But a few hungry faces can be seen in the pack..."

25 Sean

ECMC series race 2 details and race 1 results

ola.. Race 2:

Thursday April 9th. Cook St. By the old walls of Dublin.
Drinks in Dice bar to follow.
Remember all accumulated points from this series go towards a grand prize of return flights and registration for the ECMC in Berlin.

Race 1 results:

1.Vinny.25pts
2.Aidan.20pts
3.Lally.16pts
4.Delo.13pts
5.Kropa.11pts
6.Cormac.10pts
7.Cliffy.9pts
8.Geri.8pts
9.Al.7pts
10.Lukasz.6pts
11.Lizard.5pts
12.Doricea.4pts
13.Josh.3pts
14.Rob.2pts

Stolen Bike!

Another bike gone... this one belonged to Oisin from Knog who was very good to us during CMWC. He didn't have it long and it should stand out quite a bit. Please keep the eyes peeled. Here's the description:
The bike was stolen outside of Twisted Pepper on Abbey Street at 11PM last Saturday 4^th April.

Basic Description:

Custom built at brick lane bikes so the frame, crank etc are all BLB parts,

Frame: colour black

Rims: Velocity Electric Blue deep V with black tires

Riser Bars - Electric Blue with black grips

Two finger front break

Electric Blue pedals with silver cages and blue strap

Good Hunting!