Moving Target

Overdrive beaten by girl
1 September 2010 by Buffalo Bill

He looks pretty pleased with himself here, after having won the minor event of the Fixed Gear London event last Friday, but in the real thing, which was the sprints, Jon got beat by Juliet. Oh, the shame. Read all about his humbling on Juliet’s blog (or one of them, anyway) Hell Yeah.

Next event is in a couple of weeks. I would mention more details, but they seem to be trying to keep it quiet, and only inviting people on Facebook or something.

Update from Guatemala
1 September 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Lola from Atlanta has just arrived in Guatemala for the CMWC, which is taking place over the next weeks in Panajachel. She has posted some impressions on the CMWC site. The whole thing is well worth a read, and the pictures of the construction work on La Ocho are pretty amazing. I am even more jealous of Robin & Sarah, who will arriving there later this week.

These guys showed up for the Gran Premio on Saturday looking haggard as hell, but AMPED to ride. Some had come from over 100km away, and they weren’t about to let the closed roads keep them from qualifying for the WORLDS! After slugging through the debris and cliff-hanging pieces of cement left where the road used to be, they made it to the race, dirty socks and all. This ten year old even competed, and he hauled! There was an article in today’s paper (NUESTRO DIARIO-A Guatemalan National newspaper) about the race. The title is Qualifying for the Worlds. The best part for me, working at the race, was when a bunch of competitors came up to me after the race to ask: “Para que clasifique?” (What did I just qualify for??) I was told that some of the exhausted racers biked the 100km back home….

London's Calling 17th - 19th September 2010
31 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

It’s back: the third edition of London’s international messenger event – sprints, skids, roller races, fun & beer. More details, including full programme of events over at the official London’s Calling web-site. Register now!

Appeal for children's shoes for Panajachel, CMWC
30 August 2010 by Robin Superkid

The organisers of the 2010 Cycle Messenger World Championships, which are being held in Panajachel, Guatemala, are trying to contribute to the local community, the art show is the medium through which they are doing this, they intend to have 200 local kids come to the CMWC site and create artworks which they will then sell to the visiting racers and guests.

In addition to this they hoping to gather together some shoes for the local kids. The shoe idea is to help out by kicking down a pair of good shoes to a kid. Simple, not some grand gesture, just allowing a kid to run around more effectively. Sarah and I will each be able to take an extra piece of hold baggage and were hoping to bring a over a bunch of shoes from London.

Ignore Bill & have a great time
30 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Several years ago, a guy called Nadir spoke to me about hosting the CMWC in Guatemala. Having had a lot contact with an organisation called Peace Brigades International, a human rights witness organisation that had a long-running project in the country, and being aware of the long-running civil war and continuing human rights abuses in the country, my reaction was overwhelmingly negative. The last thing Guatemala needed was yet more gringoes looking for a party, even if they were riding bikes, I thought.

hellCat of the North 11th November, Lille
26 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Most people reading this will know that the Hell of the North means the Paris – Roubaix professional road race, which is also known by the French as ‘la Pascale’, as it used to be held on or near Easter. Therefore most readers will know that the defining features of the race are the cobbled roads, some of which are little better than stony farm tracks, which are collectively known as ‘le pavé’. Some readers may even have ridden the pavé. However, if you have not, here is a fantastic opportunity to do so under race conditions.

The organisers say:

the Hellcat is a sort of bicycle party during 4 days (Nov 11st is a free day in France, the end of WW1). The main race is an alleycat on Paris Roubaix’s cobbles, but there is also a tricks contest, a relay race in the streets & maybe a goldsprint contest, movie projections, etc …

More details on the hellcat website.

Roller racing in Ecuador
26 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

I really like this poster. It’s off the andando en bici carajo site, which seems to be a cycle activism & events blog based in Quito, Ecuador. Dolor, sufrimento, licra, sudor, aero wheelz must be pain, suffering, lycra, sweat and aero wheelz needs no translation.

Slow Cycle comp, London Fields, Sunday 26th September
17 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

This by email from a notenger reader:

On Sunday 26 September, Prostate UK, in tandem with Hackney Borough Council, are holding the first Slow Cycle charity bike ride in London Fields. The principle of the Slow Cycle is simple: he who loses, wins. The winner of the Slow Cycle is the person who crosses the finish line last, proving definitively that slow and steady really does win the race. Participants are set to enjoy an event that requires a slightly lower gear than usually experienced by London cyclists while raising money for the fight against prostate disease.

Jack Bacon, Regional Fundraising Manager at Prostate UK said: ‘We anticipate a large number of London’s cyclists of all abilities will be out in force to show off their poise, skill and style. In a city where over half a million cycle journeys are made every day, one in two of the men sitting in the saddle, waiting at the traffic lights or shooting down the new superhighways will be affected by prostate disease in their lifetime.’

Registration for the Slow Cycle is £10 and participants can try as many times as they like to travel 10 metres along a set course as slowly as possible without putting their foot down, leaving their lane or stopping completely. The rider with the slowest time of the day wins £100 of cycling vouchers and the adoration of their bicycling brethren.

The Slow Cycle will start at 12 noon, bring your own bike along to compete or use one provided. There will be free bike health checks, food and drink, a free kids’ race (starting at 11am for under 12s) and a pannier-load of bike and prostate related information. London Fields is in the heart of the East London cycling scene and is a perfect location for all the family to come along, join in or simply cheer along all the riders inching to victory in aid of Prostate UK.

Could be fun, and a messenger/courier/delivery boy/girl should be able to win this. Only one question: how will they decide DFL? More details, including how to enter, on the Prostate UK website.

Bored? Looking for great cycling content?
14 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Well, you’re looking in the wrong place, really, as I am having one of those ‘my work here is done’ interregna. Moving Target has had many – from memory the longest one lasted from 1995 – 1999. I hope to return this blog to more active service soon, albeit with myself taking a less prominent writing role. After all, Moving Target is supposed to be by, for & about bicycle messengers and couriers, not just a soap-box for me.

In the meantime, you could do a lot worse than check out this excellent blog by a real actual working London courier, and in particular this post, entitled Boycott Knog and Titta’s blog isn’t half bad (by which I mean: it’s very good indeed – also by an actual real working London courier) either – I recommend this post about the attempt to unionise Dublin’s couriers.

In other news, this episode of the Bike Show features one of the best UK frame-builders, Ron Cooper. I was lucky enough to own one of his frames, and it was a fantastic ride. The frame was originally built for Andy Capp, and the picture at the top is of another, newer Cooper that Cappa had built.

Mission Workshop Messenger bags launch party Thursday 12th August
11 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Mission Workshop, a San Francisco based messenger bag manufacturer, is opening a shop inside 14 Bike Co premises’, at 13 Elys Yard. Or maybe it’s next door. Anyway, tomorrow night there is a ‘Mission style party complete with margarita bar, California beer and backyard BBQ’. Should be fun.

I am told that the expandable back-packs are something else, and can carry a bike with ease.

London Courier Emergency Fund Summer Ball Friday 13th August 2010
2 August 2010 by Buffalo Bill

Support your friendly local injured bicycle messenger
21 June 2010 by Buffalo Bill

I would say that Janky is amongst the best messengers that I have worked with. I would go further and say that he is amongst the best bike riders that I have ever known. An absolute animal on the bike, he must be one of the quickest guys ever to ride in London, he is equally open to polo, foot-down and anything to do with two wheels, except maybe cargo bikes. And he is really smart, really nice guy, with whom it has been my great pleasure to spend a little time, not least at ECMC 2008, when he played on the Moving Target polo team, and raced in a Moving Target shirt in the main race.