Niçois alleycat
Maxine Le Nocher is a recognisable figure in Nice - one of very few professional bike couriers cutting through the city like a knife through warm butter. He’s been Nice’s fastest non-motorised method of delivery for 6 years now, racking up 110,000kms in the process.
When he discovered Paris is hosting the Cycle Messenger World Championships for the first time, he couldn't stay away. This weekend he'll pack his trusty Cinelli and Ortileb back pack to make the journey north to take on the best professional delivery cyclists on the planet.
We took a ride round town with him to find out more.
CDC: What are the main challenges of your job in Nice and what characterises riding in the city?
MLN: Daily my challenge is to deliver for my clients as fast as possible so I can also get as many jobs as possible done in one day. The hardest thing when riding that fast in the city is to not get hit by a car - you really have to be vigilant.
CDC: Is a bike faster than a moped/motorbike? Do you have to climb the Niçois hills often?
MLN: In the busy city center of Nice I am much more dynamic and efficient than a scooter or motorbike because I can go anywhere: between cars, across pedestrian zones and through the old Town. I do deliver to the hills of Cimiez and Rimiez but the other ones are too far away. Bike Messenging is a service which is normally based in the central business district of major cities.
CDC: We notice you ride gears and not single-speed or fixie - we thought that was mandatory for city couriers?
MLN: I ride with a free wheel on a Cinelli Cyclo-Cross frame. A fixie would be nice but it’s better to have good brakes and to be able to adapt your speed to the city or for climbing and descending (Nice is not flat). Plus the way people drive, you must be able to stop very quickly !
CDC: Despite the fact that you spend your week on the bike, you still ride at the weekends too, and often organise randonées and other events with friends?
MLN: Cycling is not just my profession it is a passion: between seasons (spring and autumn) I ride in the mountains every weekend. I also took part in at lease one cycle sportive a year and recently in May I organized the first Challenge Countea Nissa: 2 days 3 stages with a night in a gite in Valdeblore for a total of 240 km and 5000m of climbing. It was a lot of fun and I hope to do a bigger version of the event in 2017.
CDC: Is it your first time competing in the World Championships. What is the format of the World Championships in Paris?
MLN: It'll be my first participation in the Bicycle Couriers World Championship. On Friday and Saturday there will be qualifying for the grand final on Sunday. It is in full in Messenger mode on a closed circuit with checkpoints or there will be envelopes and other packages to take or deliver, just like a normal messenger day. My objective is simply to do the best I can and qualify for the main event.
CDC: If you win can you charge your clients in Nice extra on the basis that you are World Champion?
MLN: That would be cool, but unfortunately I don’t think it’s possible! But maybe if I do well it will give me more credit and I can attract more customers?
CDC: If you had to choose one other city in which to be a bike courier, which one would it be?
MLN: Paris of Course! Because its the busy capital with a great variation of streets, for the community with other couriers and, especially, for more business!
CDC: It is such an integral part of your life, what would you do without the bike?
MLN: I'd definitely be in the kitchen: either at home or in my own restaurant as I am a trained chef (15 years experience) but the world of media really does interest me a lot.
CDC: How much do environmental reasons motivate your decision to use the bike as a means of work and transport?
MLN: The topic of sustainable development is not my main goal: in fact for me, ecology is not an ideology or a cult, it is just common sense. I try everyday to live sensibly and without blah but what is sure is that with 18,000kms on average per year in the city I avoid a lot of CO2 emissions compared to other motorised two-wheeled vehicles.
CDC: What is the strangest package you have ever had to deliver?
MLN: Oulala! There are lots .. professional courtesy means I can’t say too much but not long ago I was asked to go for frozen dead mice to feed a snake !!
CDC: And the heaviest and biggest?
MLN: I once helped some lawyers move office: 350kgs of stuff in 4 trips ranging from office chairs, cupboards, etc ... fortunately I have a cargo bike (Bullitt) which helped
CDC: Are there regular personalities / interesting people in Nice that you meet?
MLN: There are indeed many interesting people in Nice from politicians to singers and actors but, honestly, those that I notice most are the professional cyclists such as Tom Boonen, Peter Sagan, Chris Froome .. I have the chance to meet them from time to time and because I am passionate about road cycling they are the people I notice the most.
CDC: You are obviously an expert in cycling clothing and how it performs - what do you look for in clothing performance for city riding?
MLN: I dress every morning at 7:30 am with my professional clothing: shorts, shirts, socks ... I need resistant products and good looks are nice but the more important is the strength of seams and the vents because with 40 hours per week in the saddle clothes are, like me, subject to severe tests.
We wish Maxime the best of luck in Paris. He is seen wearing Odette City Cycling Shorts and a Violette Merino Jersey.