London couriers?

[Twentypercent]

I was a cycle courier for 6 years, early 90s. I did about 3 months on a GS125, and made less cash, so I went back to the pushie.
I hired the bike new from a place in Acton, got CBT, and then put about a zillion miles on it before I sat my full license test.
Loved every minute of it...great lifestyle.

[Katman]

Yeah Katman - I travelled from Oz back to London with Sean Kay in 1989 and he got me the job at Cannon. We all lived in a squat in Elephant & Castle a few years before that. Knew Sean for years.

Sean lives just up the road from me now. I mentioned your posts to him today.

[kinger]

I wonder why the people with the guns are so paranoid ?

It's not paranoia when fuckwits with home made explosives, and highly effective ones, are taking every opportunity to blow you up.
I remember the joys of crawling on hands and knee to check my car EVERY time I'd left it alone in public.

[pritch]

There's a guy a few doors up the street from me has a KB nick but doesn't post. Was talking to him the other day and he was saying he was a courier in London.

I stayed at the London Union Jack Club in '94. No parking in any of the adjacent streets and security guards with double doors. You were stuck between the doors while they sized you up. All of which struck me as a bit funny really because most of the cleaning staff were Irish judging by their accents.

[bigreddog]

CX500 about a million laps of the south circular and about a dozen crashes....crazy days.

[cheshirecat]

CX500 about a million laps of the south circular and about a dozen crashes....crazy days.

Ah the CX500 and bloody 'ell that S circular.

[mattsdakar]

I couriered for Premier Couriers based in Camden for two years 99-2000 after my work permit ran out (wasn't ready to come home)
Usually rented a Honda CB400 or Honda Bros when not travelling overseas, good times and great money back then.
Have fond memories of blasting all day and big pay packets, (best week was 1200 pound) but also have memories of motorway punctures in middle of night/middle of no where and riding through snow ice and hypothemia
I heard that after 911 you couldn't make anywhere near the money as security checks now take up so much time getting into buildings etc

[Katman]

I couriered for Premier Couriers based in Camden for two years 99-2000.
Usually rented a Honda CB400 or Honda Bros when not travelling overseas, good times and great money back then.
I heard that after 911 you couldn't make anywhere near the money as security checks took up so much time getting into buildings

Yes, even before 9/11 there was always a running battle with security guards.

"Sign here please".

"Take your helmet off please"

"Sign here"

"Take your helmet off first"

"Ok, I'll just use the name on your badge".

[Eng_dave]

Don't know who they rode for but I've heard the war stories. It finished up with my brother getting mangled and four steel pins in his leg, and a 30k payout from the insurance company at that point he packed it in. Numerous bike were ridden to death by the two of them I still remember going round to their house and seeing a engine in the bathtub. But the only one to survive was a BMW k series 700. Loved that bike and yes i know its ugly. Oh their name was Maurice and Alan Wacks if anyone remembers them they also ran a house with a three week free stay in Walthamstow shakespear rd. Very popular with the new to London.

Don't think i've heard of anyone else doing it for as long as they were. Specially Alan.

[cheshirecat]

Yes, even before 9/11 there was always a running battle with security guards.

"Sign here please".

"Take your helmet off please"

"Sign here"

"Take your helmet off first"

"Ok, I'll just use the name on your badge".

Had a delivery to Buck Palace once and it took forever to get through security. Had the pleasure of parking the bike right next to a copper by the front gate then the long walk across the courtyard escorted by the red Busby folk resisting all temptation to walk in step.

Mind you better than delivering to the Barbican any day. No one can hear you scream there.

[Katman]

Had the pleasure of parking the bike right next to a copper by the front gate then the long walk across the courtyard escorted by the red Busby folk resisting all temptation to walk in step.

Yes, I remember that walk well.

I could just tell that all the tourists peering through the fence wanted to be me.

[Runt]

Yes, I remember that walk well.

I could just tell that all the tourists peering through the fence wanted to be me.

Actually they wanted to be me - you must have had your helmet on and fooled them
-Canon 13

[ellipsis]

It's not paranoia when fuckwits with home made explosives, and highly effective ones, are taking every opportunity to blow you up.
I remember the joys of crawling on hands and knee to check my car EVERY time I'd left it alone in public.

...likewise...yet the security that poked and prodded and held us up always seemed to be after the fact...I missed being a casualty by fuck all when I'd arranged to meet a mate outside the McDonalds they blew up...we were a couple of pubs down the road having our first pint when it went off...looking back it seems a bit surreal living with all that shit...it just seemed a pain in the arse at the time...