Berlin Bike Messenger: Follow Nike 210 // On being enough

[@detourrr]

➡ If you'd like to support this and other projects, here's a good way to do so: ko-fi.com/detourrr Thanks 💛

[@daruma86]

Beautiful video. "He must be so sad" 😂

[@detourrr]

Thank you. Appreciate it. That really was a perfect car moment to have captured. And also a bit funny in the moment because the road was so calm and empty.

[@zirbel]

​@@detourrr C'mon. You are coming from a sidewalk and rolling right in front of a car in the middle of the road. This horn was absolutley justified. You could have used the sidewalk to let the car through or at least not block it. It costs you one or two seconds.

[@jekker1000]

@@zirbel what? They are riding around a corner and that guy sped through this very narrow street with that ugly suv. Why do cyclists and pedestrians always have to spare "one or two seconds" Why not these raging woodhead motorists?

[@zirbel]

​@jekker1000 It doesn't matter if it is a car or another cyclist or a pedestrian. You don't enter a street when someone is driving or walking right behind you.

[@Harvardfacebook]

I think on the other hand, he’s a kind loving person, because he had the decency to let you know of the danger you were in. Unlike in the UK, they don’t use their horn, but try to run you over instead.

[@JS-ns8bc]

Nice video, nice shots, nice atmosphere - but first a nice person. True words spoken, I feel the same as a messenger in Berlin. It makes you a professional to look after yourself, not the money, speed or heritage.

[@detourrr]

This is a lovely comment. Thank you. And it’s really good to hear others relate.

[@whychooseone]

I love how people are in a rush to go nowhere

[@krissifadwa]

Have Nike back on for another episode! She's amazing! ❤

[@detourrr]

More Nike coming to your screen probably next year as part of a bigger project 😊

[@krissifadwa]

@@detourrr😌💕💕

[@rosetastone15]

I like her mentality. It's refreshing to see. I'm not a messenger, but I ride my bike daily and I'm attempting to adopt a similar approach. Edited for Grammer and sentence to say that I'm not* a messenger.

[@detourrr]

Totally agree. Especially like the reaction to furious traffic at the end.

[@LightS_bRight]

The carriers of Freedom. The messenger.

[@MOSHAWER55]

Oh, my “stupid” City, Berlin for Bike riders! Car drivers which believe, they are the kings! But in reality, they are just stupid, like the car was pushing the horn! Anyway, I like your format as a Fat-Bike rider and lover! By the way, this lady is not just an excellent Bike messenger, she is in my eye’s a LIONESS on two wheels! Salute to you both for this magnificent documentary!

[@philippeprevost3374]

a dispatcher will always prefer someone who has a good attitude and who is reliable in all weather conditions. If you have these skills, he will like you and you will make money. This job is all about consistency. peace

[@JD85619]

Much love from California ❤

[@detourrr]

👋👋👋 Thanks!

[@Garanon5]

What a cutie. And that positive mindset is so infectious and attractive.

[@ittak3stwo]

That positive attitude and mindset is something I am truly envious about. Ride save you lovely human.

[@detourrr]

I think it's a process that's taken time and energy for sure. Worth it though, to finally reach that peace.

[@JB5D]

@@detourrr Absolutely! Respect!

[@chrishughes3873]

What a beautiful smile.

[@chipamogli716]

I love your youtube chanel! I have been watching a lot of your videos since today and I found them pretty authentic, they show exactly how cool life is with a bike! I have been making a living with my bike since the last 3 years in the beautiful city of Münster, and it is amazing how it have had a positive impact in my life. Keep riding and please continue with your cool videos! LG

[@detourrr]

Thanks! I’m glad they make you feel like that. I’ve not been to Münster yet but I hear it’s a really good city for cycling - or at least the best German city for cycling infrastructure, right?

[@jnuenning]

How beautifully shot! Love the mood and the way you captured how she experiences and mentally moves through Berlins traffic in this calm, safe, happy and kind way. I usually experienced the stressful side of Berlins traffic.

[@detourrr]

Thanks for such a nice thoughtful comment. Maybe it’s a mixture of mood and route-planning - but it’s also not always a quiet summer day with quiet roads either though.

[@jekker1000]

The last scene with the aggressive motorist is the cause why my profession is not a bike messenger and why I plan all my routes ahead to have minimal contact with motorists. I hope for a change of climate

[@tommosher]

Oh she's great, what a lovely attitude!

[@detourrr]

She is! Happy it comes across.

[@esbee1177]

Gott, ist die ein Sonnenschein! 🌻

[@sevenmordep]

Watching this a few days after I crashed on my bike for the first time and developed a minor concussion. It sucks but watching this video gave me a warm feeling. She is right, it's nice to go fast but bad things can happen when we're stressed and don't watch out and that was what happened to me. Slowing down can also be fun sometimes :)

[@detourrr]

Oof, hope you're healing up okay. It's nice to go fast sometimes, it's nice to go slow sometimes. It's nice to be in the right mood for both, I reckon. I love a good slow wiggle round the city sometimes.

[@sevenmordep]

Indeed!! I later ended up speaking with a friend and he told me about two golden rules of riding a bike: 1- go fast but don't rush 2- only ride fast when you really feel lke it I think it makes a lot of sense for me Also, I'm already healing and back on the bike :)@@detourrr

[@detourrr]

@@sevenmordep I like these rules. Fast and flowy is better than speedy and agitated for sure. Glad you're back riding already!

[@Molly11ross]

‘He must be so sad’ 😊

[@detourrr]

So accurate.

[@piotrscorpii3983]

Great short film☝️🙏.. working a bike messenger job full time is an intensive practice and a great skill to possess, you learn some of great wisdom over years and you much more enjoy cycling at slower pace, you notice more around you and as a matter of fact develope way quicker reflexes. Cycling slow can be more difficult at first especially if you are impatient but will make you eventually much stronger as a cyclist, less stress and having more energy at the end of the day, truth. Be safe out there in Berlin😮🤗

[@detourrr]

Ah, thought I replied to this! Thanks for the interesting comment. Totally agree. Some of my best days as when I have the brain space to really notice everything around me.

[@berndamlauern]

she's so cool

[@Rerouting_]

Awesome work, Claire!

[@detourrr]

Thank you!

[@LOOKE_]

nice!

[@detourrr]

Thank you! 🙏 Pleased you liked it

[@duroxkilo]

not an easy line of work by any means, lovely video. i used to love 'paroling' the city, almost a spiritual connection w/ the streets and lights and trees and everything.. sometimes even the people :) -------- that channel w/ lots of single speed bikes in NY, love watching the city thru that angle but 9 out of 10 riders give me a super weird vibe regardless of how 'easy going' they try to present themselves...

[@detourrr]

I like your description of riding around. The days when I remember to take it all in, pay attention and feel connected to the city really feel like a kind of magic.

[@riturajdas]

soo refreshing to see a relatable and lawful Hotline :)

[@detourrr]

Relatable, yes! 100% law-abiding I cannot confirm. But comparatively, definitely. I’m pleased you found it refreshing. I’ve had a similar feeling whilst filming, too.

[@YearOfTheDog82]

I love Nike's attitude towards courier work; I used to ride for a living, always pushing as hard as I could to be the fastest. It put me in danger often and made me so stressed. I think I would have lasted longer in that line of work had I adopted Nike's mentality, much safer, more sustainable long term. Great camera work and editing, keep it up!

[@detourrr]

This is such a lovely comment, thank you. Which city did you work in? For me, I definitely started out speedier and I've slowed down over time. Maybe I felt like I had a bit more to prove at the beginning - I think that might be a slightly universal feeling.

[@joyemitter]

@@detourrr from chicago (u.s.), definitely universal ! you see people on the internet going as fast as possible with all the "NEAR MISS CLOSE CALL" clickbait and it makes you feel like you're not a real messenger unless you ride completely brakeless and cut through every light . i also probably would have lasted longer and saved myself a lot of injuries with that mentality at first 😭

[@detourrr]

@@joyemitter 100%. I’ve really loved riding with some long-standing messengers that I look up to and discovering one or two of them have become the safest riders over the decades they’ve been messengering. “You’re meant to stop at a zebra crossing” one said, as we rode, and I laughed in a nice way. It was a really unexpectedly special feeling.

[@j444n]

It is fascinating, how her character and style reflects the spirit the city I live in and why I like to live here. Just like those NYC messenger videos show the character of NYC, where I also lived: faster, competetive, more extreme. Which was fascinating as well but at least I, liked a lot less!

[@m4d3y3m00dy]

Great biker and lovely person! Love and hugs from Torino, IT, EU! ❤❤😊

[@detourrr]

Backatcha! ✌️

[@RealtorRoadCyclist]

I guess we all get honked 🚲 🔊🚙 Had it also happen to me last month. They still complain if we ride in the sidewalk, right? So sad. We are grown up not children. Your great smile keeps us positive though.

[@aaberry70]

Awefull way to pay bills. I feel for these lovely people. There is no romance in bike delivery. To hell with who says otherwise. We are slaves

[@davidharris4062]

Got arseholes in Berlin as well, was no need to blast on the horn like that

[@detourrr]

Absolutely.

[@davidharris4062]

@@detourrr have the same in the U.K.

[@largol33t1]

This sadly, is a dying job. The internet and e-mail pretty much killed off most of the profession. These people probably know the city better than anyone. They know the back alleys and shortcuts. They know when the traffic lights change and how to weave through traffic. And trust me, if you aren't VERY fit, you won't last in this job. It's not easy and it doesn't pay much. Still, they win my respect. I couldn't imagine having to transport valuable cargo in a beaten up backpack through a high crime city with lousy drivers every day. Mentally, that would be too much to put up with.

[@detourrr]

I don't think every day is always so 2 Fast 2 Furious. One of my favourite delivery job stories though was someone in Australia who used to cycle down into a bank's very subtle underground car park, pick up a fair amount of gold on their cargo bike, and then ride it across town whilst no one suspected a thing.

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

That was a great video I bet a lot of people feel like their not good enough when they first start off at a new job or skill. And going fast is not always a good thing because your more likely to make mistakes which can make the job even longer so your doing the Wright thing

[@detourrr]

Right! Especially when it's doing a job that's stereotypically characterised like this.

[@paullacey2999]

The nicest courier video I have watched in a long time,so chilled👍

[@detourrr]

Thank you! That’s really nice to hear 🙏

[@yeticlimber2768]

Nike are a nice Lady on her pink bike🤗❤️🚴‍♀️

[@theAIex2]

She transmits such a nice vibe 😄 even German sounds melodic and soothing when she speaks ❤

[@detourrr]

She has a lovely vibe! I just showed her this comment and she laughed a lot at the German language part. Thank you, though not everyone in Germany actually sounds like aggressive spy as per all media 😏

[@krishnan-resurrection714]

, freewheel ?. . . bad ...very bad . . .. !

[@BeriJudo]

Shes just really lovely.

[@detourrr]

Agree!

[@isabellam1936]

In the videos she’s referring to about NYC messengers, I was amazed messenger in nyc from 2012 to 2018, they like to show in messenger videos on KZbin and documentaries people riding crazy because it’s exciting and it sells and people like to show off for the camera when in reality everyone rides like how she’s riding. To normal people on the street it may seem like messengers ride fast or crazy when in reality we just know the streets and how cars operate so it might seem crazy but it’s just experience and awareness just like how good skaterboarders ride around or at the skatepark, it’s not speed it just flow. Like she said enjoy riding a bike and go slow because if you’re stressed you’ll hate it and burn out. We already make poverty wages so you better enjoy it. And don’t try to impress anyone or think you’re cool for riding fixed. It takes way more energy to ride fixed. All the oldest and most experienced messengers I know ride either a single speed or like an 1x8 or 1x6 bikes not fixed.

[@detourrr]

Dang, thanks for the long comment and good thoughts. Reassuring in a way to hear. And so true about burn out - enjoy it (most of the time), otherwise what's the point.

[@AndreSenga-so4mu]

Nice video❤

[@detourrr]

@@AndreSenga-so4mu thank you!

[@ck23j]

Fucking Car Dude at 3:05

[@E-MountainBikerBae]

❤️🧡💛💚💙👽👽👽✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾

[@hugosoto4830]

💙💙💙💙

[@bensmith4563]

I don't think they could pay me enough to do that one im way too fat unhealthy and lazy and 2 i hate big cities

[@detourrr]

I guess two of those are pretty big barriers, yes. I don’t think anyone is messengering solely for the money either.

[@brousi]

Awesome, I can see you're running Singlespeed. What's your ratio?

[@scubawithatuba]

When I ride, I wish I could get shots of myself like this. Amazing filming!

[@detourrr]

Thank you! (Some days when I ride and listen to music and have just the right mood, I feel like I'm in my own personal movie though.)

[@scubawithatuba]

@@detourrr Thank you for sharing this, I ride fixed gear in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. It's nice to see bikers just enjoying things and not trying to have the flashiest/ fanciest gear while riding like crazy people. The big city riding can be a bit stressful as I used to ride in Los Angeles and New York. Keep up the great content!

[@detourrr]

@@scubawithatuba That’s the vibe. What’s riding in Albuquerque like?

[@scubawithatuba]

@@detourrr Bad drivers but not a lot of traffic. The city is very spread out and has a big incline in terrain so it's a good workout. There are not a whole lot of bike paths so I have to use the road often. I think the altitude helps me a lot because I feel like superman anytime I'm riding near sea-level.

[@detourrr]

​@@scubawithatubaLove that sea level bonus. Didn't quite understand until I just read it's one of the highest elevation cities in the US. Thanks for describing it. Looks like you have some fun hills/mountains. Greetings from this pancake flat city 👋

[@mattis6081]

What is she delivering? And where can I apply?

[@detourrr]

Delivering a key and maybe an accounting folder or letter, I think here. Anything that fits in a rucksack, in theory. There are a bunch of messenger companies, all a bit different to each other in how they work - just do a bit of research to find out what the differences are. They're all slightly different in each city.

[@Daniel.Larusso]

Bester Rucksack von Messaker

[@BranislavSimanic]

Super ❤

[@noahstieger304]

[@antonymilky7941]

Are all this guys take orders from app like glovo or from where?

[@detourrr]

Do you mean which app are they using to see the jobs comes through or do you mean which courier company do they work for? (Everyone I’ve filmed so far has worked for a courier company that then either actively or passively dispatches the jobs out, with the help of an app but not solely organised via one.)

[@jrcullen2307]

The bootleg Moongel by fat the best. I hate the residue😊

[@Steinebewegenmitmusi]

Riding fixed is not a crime

[@1esk192]

People might ride Fixies without brakes which is definitely not allowed

[@zoranjaksic547]

Pozdrav da li je to fixi bike?

[@detourrr]

This one's a singlespeed

[@mannyechaluce3814]

someone will always better than you, for sure as you are alive, so why bother thinking about it :D

[@detourrr]

Beautifully put 🙌

[@lougoo-hl1ph]

What an inspirational person! And what a cool bike! Does anyone know the brand or model of that bike?

[@detourrr]

Thanks! I passed that on. Nike said: “Aww! It’s a Corrado frame from the 90s. Now the brand is called Corratec. But I painted it myself some years ago :)”

[@solb101]

Berlin steel. Keepin it real. Riding to be yourself.

[@detourrr]

🙌

[@Berlin360]

Berlin 360 Grad: Berliner Industriekultur Westhafen Binnenhafen in Moabit Bezirk Mitte. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJTWdq1-m8xmY6M

[@twariik8550]

does anyone recognize that bag of hers? I really love the looks and would love to know the brand :)

[@twariik8550]

oh nevermind, found it in the comments! :)

[@detourrr]

@@twariik8550 Messaker! Run by Max in Bremen. His bags are super nice. I really like the look too.

[@cayweinel5340]

PMA

[@gregmarcus3064]

What backpack IS THAT?

[@detourrr]

It's a Messaker bag, made in Bremen, Germany.

[@gregmarcus3064]

@@detourrr Thank you will look it up.

[@detourrr]

@@gregmarcus3064 Welcome! They’re very nice

[@gauthier13]

Hey, thank you for sharing this. It was a great video, with a good message. I'm currently working as a web designer but I'm not happy in this situation. Since few months I'm thinking about quitting my job to became a bike messenger in Bordeaux and live a simpler life. Delivering stuff, helping people, riding bikes, bike messenger's community, promoting a cleaner way to move. I think your video helps me to make a choice, so thank you :)

[@detourrr]

Thanks for the thoughtful message. I thought about it a LOT before deciding to try messengering too. I remember, after a long conversation about whether I should do it or what might be good and what might be bad about it, it felt quite simple when someone said ‘why don’t you just try it?’ - which seemed very obvious once they said it. But before that, I’d definitely been overthinking it all. You can always change your mind again. I think question marks hanging around in your head like that are usually worth exploring. Even if they don’t point you where you originally expected. /essay Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. It’s cool to hear how it resonates.

[@gauthier13]

@@detourrr Thank you for sharing your thoughts too ! I hope you still feel it was the right thing to do for you. I'm currently asking all my friends and family their advices because I'm overthinking it a lot ahah But I think I will give it a try. After all I'm only 25, it's a bit scary to go back at the minimum money income but mental health worth more than anything else. Thanks again for sharing your experience

[@detourrr]

@@gauthier13 Welcome! I’ve been doing it for a bit over 4 years now and I’m still enjoying it. I basically went on a 3 month bike trip across the US by myself, and when I got back I didn’t want to just go back to the type of job I had before full-time, and messengering and moving on my bike felt far more ‘right’ somehow. Working in a messenger collective (which I do in Berlin) is interesting because you can get involved more in the day-to-day business and in different ways. But I know that other people prefer just straight messengering with none of the extras. I used to do a completely different job before this too, and so sometimes I do other freelance jobs or creative projects alongside it and I really like the mix and how that feels. It can be a really nice balance and I think getting that right keeps me happy. But no, no regrets. I’m enjoying it 😊

[@gauthier13]

​@@detourrr Hey ! Things have turned great for me recently, I will start messengering mid September at Coursiers Bordelais (a nice cooperative that cares about the well-being of its workers in Bordeaux). Thank you again, your video and insights were the little push I needed to change my life in a different direction. I don't know yet if it was the right decision but at least, things are moving and I'm happy about that. I hope you're doing well :)

[@detourrr]

@@gauthier13 What a cool message to read. Thanks for taking the time! Awesome that you found a co-op, too. Please let me how it’s going in a couple of months! I’m curious. That feeling of movement is super nice, I’m glad you have it back. (I always imagine it steering your own little ship. Happy yours is bobbing forward in a new direction.)

[@funeditz585]

👌🔥🔥

[@cadriver2570]

Ideally, would an ebike make more sense for this type of work? Some of the super light bikes get 60+ miles of range.

[@detourrr]

It would be significantly less fun, IMO. But I also write that as a bike messenger in Berlin, a very very flat city. There have only been one or two days where I've been really tired and I've really wishing my bike would pedal itself and I thought about this question. And I've tried an electric bullitt for work a handful of times. In any case, for me, it really changes the feeling, and how the entire job feels. There are other reasons apart from 'fun' too. But I know that friends in hillier places sometimes use electric-powered cargo bikes, for example. And I know if I worked using a fully-loaded trailer (like a carla cargo trailer) alongside having a regularly loaded cargo bike, that I'd answer differently.

[@cadriver2570]

@@detourrr have you tried the 30 lb bikes like Specialized Creo/Vado or Santa Cruz Skitch? Living in a hot/very hilly area makes it tough for me to use my acoustic bikes as much as e-bikes. I just get drenched in sweat after 15 minutes.

[@detourrr]

@@cadriver2570 I haven’t! Cool that there are e-bikes that keep biking in those hills and heat fun for you. Are there bike messengers in your local area too?

[@cadriver2570]

@@detourrr There are, but I've seen them only in our compact and flat downtown area (city of 1m). It's very bikeable within 5-10 km of that area though. I wish our climate was cooler since I love riding my acoustic bike so much. ebike gets me out every day, even in 41c heat. Hoping that the new wave of "super light" ebikes get closer to the analog experience. Lovely video btw!

[@detourrr]

​@@cadriver2570 Wow, that's a very compact downtown. Glad that you're getting out and still finding riding fun in those temps! I was rolling around very very slowly when we had 37c summer in Berlin this year. And thanks for watching! It's interesting hearing about your riding experiences in a pretty different city.

[@Double.Tapp.]

🍻

[@smsdelux]

What Backpack is that?

[@detourrr]

It's one from Messaker in Bremen.

[@ceasr]

What book does she mention at 1:23?

[@detourrr]

Nike mentions "I like the freedom but(t)" book, which is a a feminist, social art book project about bicycle messengers. It's a series of interviews with women, trans and non-binary bike messengers around the world, organised by Liisbeth Veli, who is a bike messenger at Fulmo in Leipzig, Germany; and Giulia Cabassi, who is an illustrator also in Leipzig. (I have a slightly bias interest in the entire project as I proofread the book.) I know they sent it out to a lot of feminist, FLINTA and queer DIY spaces, and bike messengers/companies, so you might be able to find one there. If not, it looks like they still have a couple of copies in the Fulmo shop: fulmo.cc/en/products/i-like-the-freedom-butt-book

[@ceasr]

Thanks!

[@detourrr]

Welcome :)

[@ceasr]

Oh, one more thing. Could you ask what song is at :49? Thank You.

[@detourrr]

@@ceasr Sure. (This info’s hiding in the description.) It’s a track by Daniel Birch called Amber Haze.

[@bikebloggerhn837]

great video

[@detourrr]

Thank you!

[@juku666]

Wish i could marry and spend the rest of my life with her, what a cutie with superb attitude!