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Bicycle messenger will soon negotiate
Rochester traffic
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Rochester(MN) Post-Bulletin, March 24, 2007
Gunnar Soroos, who raced bicycles in Hawaii, now lives and works in
Rochester and plans to start a bike messenger service.
By Bob Freund
Gunnar Soroos pedals up on his orange racing bike with a three-colored
bag slung over his shoulder and riding his back. Both the bike and the
waterproof courier's pouch soon will be his trade.
On April 3, the 37-year-old cyclist expects to be jockeying through
traffic in downtown Rochester on the first trips for his bicycle
messenger service.
Rochester Flyers will be the only two-wheel courier business in town,
he says. Common in big cities, bike messengers work in a business in
which urgent is routine. Soroos said he can pick up and deliver papers
or packages within minutes -- at the longest, a couple of hours.
An avid rider, Soroos has pedaled year-round to his job for advertising
agency Ads & Art. Now, he plans to be in the cyclist's seat every
work day.
Q: You're planning to pedal for a living.
A: Yep, ride my bike around town for a living.
Q. What does a bicycle messenger service do?
A: We can take just about anything that you want delivered anywhere,
whether it's a single-page document or a large package. I can pick it
up and take it around town for you.
Q: Where would you pick up and deliver?
A: Anywhere in Rochester and beyond. Generally between 55th Street
Northwest and 25th Street South and East and West Circle Drive(s).
Q: How do you stay in condition?
A: Just ride your bike a lot. The more you ride the fitter you are and
the fitter you are, the more you can ride.
Q: Why do businesses and others want this service?
A: Basically it increases productivity within the office and the
business.
Q: What's your delivery window?
A: About anything, I believe, can be taken to the destination within an
hour, and, downtown, I believe, it's going to be faster.
Q: It's going to be cold out there in mid-winter! This isn't just a
summer job for you, is it!
A: No. I'm ready. I'll drink a lot of coffee and wear a big coat.
Q: How fast does a bike messenger usually travel on two wheels?
A: We probably average about 18 miles an hour.
Q: And traffic doesn't scare you?
A: No. I'm very confident and comfortable riding in traffic, and taking
a lane if I need to.
Q: So, Gunnar, I guess you've figured out a way to make your favorite
sport pay?
A: Yeah. Not many people can do what they really like to do and make a
living at it.
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