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Bike rides that pay
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Bike messenger Christopher Olthoff has run into an opening car door and
lost his front wheel
By Nancy Jones-Bonbrest
Baltimore Sun, November 7, 2007
Christopher Olthoff - Bike messenger
Expedited Courier & Distribution, Baltimore
Salary: $32,000
Age: 36
Years on the job: 18
How he got started: Growing up in Baltimore and being an avid
biker, Olthoff answered an advertisement seeking bike messengers. In
his first messenger jobs, he was employed as an independent contractor
by two companies. Then, he and a few friends began their own company,
Mercury Messengers. That lasted about three years. After that, Olthoff
traveled and spent time as a bike messenger in Denver and later worked
for a health-food store in Austin, Texas. A few years ago he moved back
to Baltimore and began working for Expedited Courier & Distribution.
Typical day: Olthoff works normal business hours and still operates as
an independent contractor. His salary is based on commission and he
says in a good week he can make almost $1,000 while a bad week would be
closer to $500.
He has several large law firms that are regular clients, but he also
delivers documents for insurance companies, graphic design firms,
architects and management companies. He usually starts his day by
picking up three or four packets and stopping to make deliveries as he
heads to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. He spends
much of his day walking clients' papers through the various offices at
the department. At the end of the day, he delivers the finished
documents to his clients. "I don't ride as much as some of these other
guys do. I am getting older."
Distance: Olthoff typically works between downtown Baltimore and
Preston Street. He averages 25 miles a day, but says it's not unusual
for many couriers to travel 30 miles a day.
The good: "The freedom of the job and the exercise."
The bad: "Careless drivers."
The weather: Olthoff estimates he spends about $300 a year on rain and
cold weather gear. "I don't like being wet or cold, but you are all the
time. You just have to toughen up."
Bicycle: He owns five, but uses his Trek 5200 carbon fiber road
bike or his Rezesa fixed-gear track bike for work.
Wrecks: Although he hasn't been in one in about 10 years, Olthoff
said he's had his fair share. Some of his more serious accidents
involved a front wheel popping off his bike and sending him face
forward on the pavement as well as a car door opening on him, resulting
in a leg injury.
Helmets: "Helmets are smart. A helmet saved my life one time. But
I don't wear them all the time like I should."
Advice: Drivers should get off their cell phones, use turn
signals and pay attention. Pedestrians should watch where they are
going, especially if they're not using a crosswalk, says Olthoff.
Extracurricular: Mountain biking.
Philosophy on the job: "You can't let things bother you and you
can't let people bother you. I try to be a friendly, nonconfrontational
guy."
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