Risky Business bred on the need for speed

Alley-Cats Scramble puts bike couriers to the ultimate test

Drew Deeger risked his life for almosta decade in the concrete jungle - just for envelopes.

"So the lest people can do is offer couriersa good cup of coffee," says Mr. Deeger. "Couriers live off coffee and cookies."

Mr. Deeger quit being a courier a coupleof years a go and opened the XXX Diner on Queen Street West. This is wherecolourfully clad messengers - shorts over spandex, messenger bags drapedover shoulders and dreadlocked hair tied back in bandannas - come in andout for a quick bite.

Then, at the end of their business day,when their concrete playground quiets down, they park their worn-out bikesout front so they mesh together in a mangled wreck.

At a recent party for couriers at XXX Diner,all the messengers ended up naked. But the notorious party is not whatMr. Deeger wants to talk about. He's on a caffeine kick.

"Couriers don't drink drip. They drinkexpresso pretty much exclusively," he says.

At Jet Fuel, another popular courier coffeeshop/hangout, on Parliament Street, they don't even make regular coffee.What they do offer is an expresso bean exclusive to Jet Fuel called "HardCore Bean."

Jet Fuel is also owned by an ex-courier,John "Johnny Jet Fuel" Englar, the man responsible for this years Alley-CatsScramble, an event that draws a couple hundred couriers from around theworld. The event which starts today, grew out of Mr. Englar's organizationof annual Halloween late-night cycling races through downtown Toronto.

Today the Alley-Cats Scramble is the largestbicycle courier race in North America. It takes place on a mammoth figure-eight,180-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, 20-foot-high velodrome, with 27 degree-banks.

Competitors rely on their speed, stealthand street smarts to negotiate the track, which is known among the racersas the "Human Powered Roller Coaster."

About 5,000 people are expected to cometo the old McLean -Hunter Building at Yonge and Sheppard, not only to seethe races, but for the two days featuring bands, including RUN-DMC andBlack Diamond, fashion shows and art displays.

I've always been intrigued with couriers,because they are everywhere, dripping their laid-back coolness while zippingaround town. Once I almost killed one, when I opened my car door withoutpaying attention.

"We call that a door-prize," says CrissimaPearce, a petite buzzed-hired blonde and last year's female Alley-CatsScramble winner.

I'm staring at her mud splattered pantsand Corrections Canada T-shirt. In her bag is a Perly's guide and a sparepair of underwear.

"All the clothes I own are either borrowedor stolen," she says.

Most bike couriers say they hate the myththat are couriers are dope-smoking, tattoo sporting, pierced anarchists.But in their next breath they'll tell you courier throw the best parties.And they'll tell you they don't smoke up - too often.

And if you go down to the Bread Spreadon Temperance Street on a Friday night or for Two-Dollar Tuesdays, couriersin droves will be hanging around talking bikes, drinking beer, scoringhash, weed and often stronger drugs in the nearby alleyway.

"Couriers are some of the hardest workingpeople I have ever met," says Mr. Dreeger "But the beers and dubes takesaway the stress. As a courier I've had more near-death experiences andI have seen the light at the end of the tunnel more times than I want."

Here are some relevant courier statistics:there are more than 60 [bike] courier companies in Toronto; the averageage of couriers is 25; average career length is between 6 and 10 years;the busiest day of the week for couriers is Friday; the busiest monthsare April (income tax time) and December (Christmas); the average numberof packages delivered each day is between 25 and 40.

Typically, a courier who averages about35 packages a day makes about $500 a week.

"I get my first call at about 8 a.m. andI work until six, no matter what,: says Colin Francis. On one of his bestdays he delivered 161 packages.

"I love being a bike messenger and it iscool, but not because of the drugs," says Mr. Francis.

"I like the idea of getting on a bike andgoing from point A to B and dealing with the elements of urban life.

It's a sport. It's the thrill of ridingthrough traffic and being healthy and fit enough to pull it off. And ofcourse, there's beating the postal service, which is fun."

Most couriers say they are attracted tothe job - and lifestyle - because of the freedom: life is mobile and everythingthey need is on their back.

And the courier way of life has becomeso mainstream there are even "messenger posers" and "courier groupies."These are girls who buy spandex and bikes to hang with couriers.

"I can tell you no true courier has a spanky,new, shiny bike with stickers on it," says Mr. Degeer.

In fact couriers often try to find therattiest bike available because they are stolen so often. In five years,Mr. Degeer has lost four bikes.

But Ms. Pearce sees the attraction.

“We are like tourist attractions,” shesays. “Couriers have their own subculture. We have our own nicknames, hangouts,parties, DJs and bands.”

Mr. Francis says they need to he with theirown type. "We’re accepted at certain places because we’re with our ownclan. We can be really loud. And our radios are always going off.”

Joe Dias, a courier who recently startedhis own messenger company with courier buddy David de Dejong, says thebusiness world has been victimizing couriers for decades. Businesses hateus but they still use us. For what couriers do they don’t make a lot ofmoney?

He started Velocity Messenger Service afteryears of being abused by other companies, he says.

"There are so many courier companies inToronto that for them to get new business they undercut each other andthe couriers get screwed. I've been a courier for 10 years and the income'snever gone up."

He offers his three couriers up to 80%of commissions" Generally a messenger will get 50 or 60% of the commission,"says Mr. Dias.

They are also breaking new ground, he says,by sending bike couriers from downtown  into the suburbs. "We senta courier last week to Yonge and Steeles by bike. We're beating the cars."

Most couriers say they can't imagine workingin the office nine to five after the freedom of the streets.

"It's hard to get out," says Ms. Pearce.

"The money is too easy when you know thestreets well. But I'm getting fed up with the business. I'm starting tothink, 'Where am I going to settle down?'"

But Mr. Francis interrupts. "No way," hesays. "I'll be on my bike until I'm 60."
 

If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com