Getting paid to ride?

Anyone on here ride for thier jobs (not just commuting)? What do you do? Do couriers make decent money?

On occasion when visiting customers who don't mind me walking in thier office geared up, and I don't need to carry more than a laptop, I get to use my bike during the day for work. But thats not very often 4-5 times a year.

The guys who ride around reporting on traffic for the AA or RAC have my dream job. No responsibilites, no stress, just ride the bike and radio in what you see.

EDIT: No actually the guys who run motorbike tours have my dream job...

I reckon the fun would wear off, have been riding a lot recently for work, commuting home in the dark is no fun.

Running tours somewhere nice, or possibly being a travel writer, although i can't write well.

police biker !!! all that power Mahhh maaahhh haaa !!!!!! and the bike of course

[rictus01]

Courier for about 6 months before joining the Army, Bike paramedic for 9 months, and used the bike to cover the south west as a network trouble shooter for a couple of years (about 50k miles each year), all very different types of riding, but all fun if you've well into bikes.

Cheers Mark.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

The guys who ride around reporting on traffic for the AA or RAC have my dream job. No responsibilites, no stress, just ride the bike and radio in what you see.

They were looking for bikers for 8 weeks to man the M8 over the summer this year, was trying to go for it myself as it fit right in my holidays, but you needed to be 24 or over, I guess for insurance reasons. Plus we all know what I'm like with bikes, lol.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

the guys who run motorbike tours have my dream job...

Go for it mate! Never a better time to change careers than right now...

Im with tom jones, the novelty might wear off when you have to ride nights surrounded by half asleep lunatics and being half asleep yourself.

I wouldnt mind being a riding instructor in the future, but I dont think I could ride good enough for that. I'd like to have a go at that SERV thingy, the people who deliver blood to accidents and stuff? Maybe when I have a steady job and a better bike though

Matt

[G]

I have been thinking and thinking about becoming a paramedic when my girlfriend starts earning enough for me to take a pay cut.

Never even considered about a bike paramedic, although now thinking about it I have seen them about.

I'd like to become a fireman. My topbox if 45 litres, so that could hold enough water to put out a small fire?



Matt

I use mine a lot for work. Typically only once or twice a week (sometimes even less than that), but it tends to be reasonably long trips; I'm off up to Scotland next week. I don't actually get paid to ride as such (although I suppose riding in work's time counts), but I reckon I make about 8p a mile 'profit' once fuel/consumables/depreciation is paid for (I get 24p a mile). None of my clients have ever complained about my turning up on a bike. It usually serves as a good ice breaker, plus they are grateful I am prepared to stay a bit later and that I am never late arriving. I know from when I used to use cars for my job that it was quite regular to miss half a day's work when travelling "oop north" due to getting stuck in traffic.

As to does the novelty wear off? Sure, there are some days where it's not great fun, but there are more when you're having a great ride along A roads, going cross country to avoid some motorway jams and it's hard to believe I'm being paid to do it. I do find if I have been riding a lot for work that I don't really fancy social rides as much (feels a bit too much like work!) but when I've not been doing big miles for work, I still go for rides for fun. I've just come back from a week's holiday and I'm already anxious to get out on the bike.