by John O. Buckley
USA TODAY, September 3, 1998
WASHINGTON -- Around the nation's capital each night, more bicycles can be seen lined up outside bars, a sure sign the Cycle Messenger World Championships are coming.
It is obvious these are not the Lycra-clad obsessive-compulsives who race the Tour de France.
Inside the Black Cat nightclub, event organizers James Kerns and Stephen Gibson are drinking pints of Guinness. They're talking about Salvador Dali's dreams; Mobile City, the literary magazine they publish in Washington that features the writings and artwork of fellow couriers; an Oscar Wilde play that's previewing in town; and this weekend's World Championships, back stateside after being held last year in Barcelona, Spain.
They're hoping this is the biggest one yet since the annual event was born in Berlin in 1993, with hundreds of competitors expected representing 25 countries.
Bike couriers brave the elements, potholes, city traffic, unwary strollers and surly dispatchers every day to deliver goods.
The races of the World Championships are designed to re-create those conditions. A route with pickups and deliveries. An obstacle course with cardboard pedestrians.
There's the ``circle of death,'' a balancing competition on fixed- gear track bikes; sprints; and a cargo race with packages that might include bricks or kegs of beer.
And, of course, the sharing of war stories.
Gibson, 30, got hit by a tour bus last year. Heidi Woolever, 26, who' s riding for Team Mobile City, broke her pelvis in a road race.
``Once, I had all my milk money stolen,'' Kerns, 35, says.
And talk about the competitors.
``Our mission is to beat the Germans,'' Gibson says, referring to the perennial powerhouse. Some German riders even arrived a week early and started asking around for hilly training terrain. One woman reportedly loaded up her luggage upon getting to the airport and rode her bicycle the 30 or so miles to the city.
The open registration ends Friday evening. Even police cyclists are welcome.
Racing starts Saturday with heat winners advancing through Monday for the top awards. Plus, lots of parties featuring courier art, bands and films are planned.
Plenty of prizes await. There's even one for the rider who comes in ``dead last.''
| main | articles | laws | zines | report | 10-9 day |
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at messvilleto@yahoo.com