Portrait of a Bike Messenger

Matt Sousa narrowly avoids being run over by cars for a living.

[@krissifadwa]

The ending to this video is so nice. Respectable quote at the end, no music and it just fades to black 👍

[@JoseArce]

I wonder what the next thing for Matt was... it's really interesting to see how some bike messengers get to this point where they long for something else, and some don't ever get to it. In my case, I'm studying nursing now as a mature-aged student and after 5 years on the road, and I agree with what Matt said, it won't replace slinging papers on a bike all day in the middle of traffic, but I feel like it did grab my complete attention like messengering did at the beginning... Great photography work BTW!

[@jolstonwest6555]

Sick, I work for Breakaway Boston. dream gig, love it

[@HungryEars]

As a long, long-time avid cyclist, who has chosen to leave the corporate world and volunteer and work in the non-profit world, this vid tempts me to get back into the living-in-the-now of cycling and become a bike messenger. It's too fuckin' bad that I live in a small town that wouldn't support even one, extremely frugal bike messenger.

[@powerant1914]

I love being a bike messenger!

[@krissifadwa]

Me too!

[@SKYDIVEEVERYDAY]

I was a courier for 5 years in Philly before I tried skydiving and found a safer career.

[@trentkprue]

Two rules...don't hit nothing & don't let nothing hit you...

[@MISJPEREZ]

well executed, title fits the story.Well done.

[@slate88]

love to see those Cambridge streets

[@JonathanBrough-wg7ji]

Good video dude. Hope there will be more videos.

[@kevinyap1757]

Great edit and narrative.

[@mjavid616]

Nice video man, shame you don't have anymore. Regards from the UK

[@bicycledad7660]

Please do an updated video!!!!

[@dkbikeguy]

Nice video!! You still into the bike messenger gig ? Any more bike videos ?

[@SearchAndBuild]

Quick release? You're bold. Is there money up in Boston? My old courier company has offices there. I used to work with Breakaway in NYC. Now I'm with Zipments most days and have side hustles with Caviar and Postmates. I'm close to 700 most weeks.. 50 hours on the road.. Let me know. Stay safe.

[@Luis-gh3in]

how's it going now man?

[@rizen3467]

fixed gear ftw!

[@BilbroBaginz]

Nice vid man. Good luck

[@alexthepainter4035]

i trying to get bike messenger jod and they said no because you need at least 1 year experience. so how could you get experience if they dont give you experience

[@iGlitter666]

Every job in the US?

[@sir_jerhyn]

I'd say do like Postmates and jobs like that.

[@p.boscardin]

Uber eats, amigo

[@jadedpaladin6685]

Apply for a different messenger job that doesn't require any experience, duh

[@mrVeGa1999]

did he just spray WD40 on his bottom bracket and chain?

[@TheLozaboy]

It's a common hack in the cycling community

[@RedBulZ]

There are a few types of WD40...one is lubricant, the other is solvent

[@MISJPEREZ]

yes,lol

[@greenpedal370]

This is an old thread but here goes anyway!! WD40 do a range of cycle products. A little too expensive for my liking but there none the less.

[@jmb6587]

I would like to know what Matt Sousa is doing work wise at present. Great video.

[@FrF]

I think Matt has stayed faithful to his calling! facebook.com/matthew.sousa.3

[@hawaiisidecar]

Ahh to be young again.

[@georgegilles9008]

Nice video.

[@junelopez9520]

AWESOME!

[@-IE_it_yourself]

3:00 i hope not!!

[@MaxMax-wl3hh]

And they need a lot of lighting on them while do this shit in traffic so drivers would see these little sneaky bastards!

Thats a real bike messenger, not the usual pot-head trash that you see everyday.

[@toolinc.collection1521]

Next is drone deliveries

[@Mani_Matter]

Cool guy

[@MaxMax-wl3hh]

This folks need ebikes!

[@jasvinsinghrehal]

Really nice. BTW how many Kms do you guys do in a day. And also what is the speed range?

[@indiopeltier9758]

I'm a Bike messanger and we do 30 miles a day or more sometimes

[@Positive-kn2pl]

Cool

[@naointernetz]

what specialized frame is this?

[@flymrpie1]

What is that over the top move there (1:31)

[@r3dluff]

Those brake levers... Put it lower.

[@r3dluff]

Them*

[@ted2091]

i think they are fine, wont affect his riding in a negative way and he probably put them intentionally like that

[@user-rk5gt5xs6s]

カッコイイ！nice！

[@HikeBikePhoto]

I wish I had white friends

[@thomaskendrick2378]

Hmmmm…where is this??..

[@submissionmagicn]

What kind of rig is being used to hold his bike while he works on it? (41 second mark) It looks likes some kind of straps or rope. Any tips appreciated. I'm looking to make a similar rig.

[@paulanthonysayer]

+Alex Jones Can you not see it is very simply three lengths, or maybe just a single length, or rope which he's attached to either side of his workshop? He's figured out a solution consistent with "What he has with no help" . I'm sure by watching this you can try to figure out your own solution? Good luck,, peace

[@numbaoneg101]

+Alex Jones looks like simple strings, i highly trying to get a bike stand, so much more stable, more options, its worth it.

[@razhorblahd]

"Can you not see?" followed by 3 possibilities...

[@nicolascristobalgonzalez3221]

did u put wd-40 in your transmition???

[@terencej72]

Probably did. Not a bad idea for a daily use bike. GCN’s Simon recommends it as there’s just enough oil to lightly lubricate the drivetrain but also solvent that acts as a mild degreaser. I use wd40 on my daily commute bike and it works a treat and I cover 15 miles a day, 5 days a week for 8 months ofth3 year on my daily commute bike and it doesn’t do much harm.

[@EMC2Scotia]

A slightly odd position on the bike...

[@Megadeth6633]

EMC2Scotia omfg how many more snobs are going to add comments? For the record its his position and it works for him, fuck off!

[@EMC2Scotia]

Projection...

[@jeffreymac4915]

What is he using to protect his pants from getting stuck on the chain?

[@edmondbedmond3914]

He's using leg warmers and has pants over them, not braces.

[@GrigoriyNoviko]

If only I was not an introvert yikes

[@alexthepainter4035]

bike messenger. how much money could you make in a week?

[@SearchAndBuild]

I make close to 700 a week now. I'm not taxed so I have to put some aside for tax time. I work with Zipments here in New York City. I work close to 50 hours a week. It's not glamorous but it's fun and beats minimum wage.

[@alexthepainter4035]

I live in boston trying to get in but they want experience.. Did you use work for Breadrunner?

[@jeffreymac4915]

What are those braces looking thing that protect his pants from the chain called?

[@AlmostBipedal]

Bacon? I saw no bacon. Just strips of fat.

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

Part of the reason rule obeying cyclists are getting a bad name and reputation. When ur on ur bike cop on and follow the rules. It makes life easier for the rest of us cyclists

[@-IE_it_yourself]

we are working not riding. ANNNND it is the other way around. commuters and such, are going to work and stress us out trying to get by when we are waiting, ride fast on the side walk and run red lights, and think they can too, but we have thousands of hours of experience. they claim to be in a rush but they are just late. and guess who gets the fucking tickets? WE DO, because we are out there every day during union cop hours. we are messengers NOT cyclists.

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

@@-IE_it_yourself yeah you're working, so what, if I'm working as a bus driver, is it ok for me to run red lights or drive on footpaths,NO. So cop on and obey the rules of the road like everyone else. If you cant do that, stay off the roads and stop giving obedient cyclist's a bad name. Sooner fines and prosecutions come in for cyclist's the btr. And the same should apply to every other road user.

[@-IE_it_yourself]

@@AwesomeAngryBiker you dont carry blood to a hospital.

[@AwesomeAngryBiker]

@@-IE_it_yourself nope I don't but I'm sure if its an urgent blood specimen it would be dispatched with a police escort or in an ambulance with lights and sirens so once again there's no excuse for cyclist's breaking the rules of the road and giving law obedient cyclist's a bad name

[@-IE_it_yourself]

@@AwesomeAngryBiker lol NOPE. i have literally has a nurse rip my delivery out of my hand. I think the people who are giving you problems are not even bike messengers but by other cyclist who think they are. there is not much more then 150 bike messengers in any given large city. i would be surprised if you saw more then one a day. we ride all day. we need to rest at most red lights anyways.

[@benwilliams9051]

🤮 freewheel

[@bendoyle5412]

You gatekeepers are the problem. Guarantee hes a lot more efficient and good at his job then half of the posers on fixed bikes.

[@benwilliams9051]

@@bendoyle5412 how are you a poser if ur not ok fixed bikes? It’s literally like a standard to be in fixed if ur a messenger cuz it’s fadter

[@-IE_it_yourself]

never dropped a package in your life.

[@sunnyberlin3521]

​@Ben Williams We don't use them because they're faster, but because they are lower maintenance. Also better control.

[@witchplease77]

What city is this?