[CR] What REAL bike messengers use and buy in San Francisco

(Example: Racing:Beryl Burton)

In-Reply-To: <mailman.4252.1253667632.524.classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References:
From: "Jon Spangler" <jonswriter@att.net>
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:31:21 -0700
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] What REAL bike messengers use and buy in San Francisco


Jerry,

This post is a bit off-topic, but I am responding to one aspect of your last question below. And we are discussing current Brooks "fashion statement" messenger bags, which may already have broken our post-1983 rule. (I'm not sure any of these bags are made out of Reynolds or Columbus "KOF" steel...)

REAL bike messengers across the bay in San Francisco spend $80 - $200 on CHROME, Timbuk2, and similar bomb-proof bags, and in daily hard use wear them out relatively quickly (2-5 years) despite their being built like tanks out of Cordura and Ballistics cloth, among other materials. That is probably 2-3 days' worth of gross pay (for very hard work) for an average bike messenger.

I used to sell (and modify at home) top-end expedition backpacks (Kelty, Jansport, Lowe AlpineSystems, Gregory, Dana Designs, etc.) in a former (and almost on-topic) retail life. Timbuk2 and Chrome bags are built every bit as well as any of the best expedition-quality packs, and are as good as any of their worldwide competition.

I have not seen any of the Brooks bags up close, but would gladly stack up the two biggest messenger bag makers in San Francisco against any and all comers, even if they are wildly off-topic. And I would be *really* surprised if the Brooks messenger bags are built as tough as their saddles are....

Jon Spangler who rode his on-topic Brooks Pro-equipped Peugeot mixte to this week's farmer's market for food again today in Alameda, CA USA

On Sep 22, 2009, at 6:00 PM, <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org> <classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org> wrote:
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:42:31 -0700
> From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [CR] Hetchins in Brooks Ad and the Fixie set
> To: M-gineering <info@m-gineering.nl>
> Cc: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Message-ID: <372563.15988.qm@web82201.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> BTW, while checking out the link, I navigated the Brooks site a
> bit. The $409 messenger bag is for those on a budget. If you're
> really cool you can step up the all leather version of this bag at
> $1,055.
>
> I also note they have a new pannier model (not the rollup) and a
> handlebars bag to be available in early 2010. Recommended price in
> both cases is about twice that of the corresponding Berthoud bag.
>
> So, how long does the typical bicycle messenger have to work to
> earn enough to buy a $1,055 messenger bag?
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos

Jon Spangler Writer/editor Linda Hudson Writing

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