Special Thanks / Photo By Eri Tanaka a.k.a @2komat
I wonder how many people there are around the world who truly love the profession of being a "messenger."
I imagine that messengers live their daily lives to the fullest in this line of work, and that they understand better than anyone just how much happiness that fulfillment brings.
Even as technology evolves, the flow of logistics will never stop. The simple task of picking up a package and delivering it to someone is something that will always be necessary.
As long as there are people who rely on "messengers," I felt through this major event that their future will be bright.
I’d like to share the full scope of "CMWC 2023 Yokohama," which served as their stage, and introduce you to the sweat, tears, and lovely smiles of the "messengers" who handle authentic delivery!
Well then, let’s get on with the customary Uno-chan presentation!
I Love Running a Booth
Following last year's "JCMC 2022 Yokohama," we were grateful to be able to set up a Circles & SimWorks booth again this year.
It is an honor to be allowed to participate in such a big event. I had been looking forward to the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.
And I remember being overwhelmed by the sheer number of customers even before we had finished setting up our booth on the day of the event.
Looking around, I saw mouth-watering food and drink stalls lining the area, and fellow industry members creating a welcoming atmosphere as they geared up to liven up the cycling scene together.
Oh, wait... it looks like the Boss is all fired up too.
Yes, our Boss—Circles representative "Mr. Shinya Tanaka"—also had his sights set on CMWC.
He doesn't usually do much frontline customer service at events like this, but seeing the Boss, who loves messengers, communicating with so many people that day really inspired us, too.
Of course, the other booths were also fantastic, and many cycling enthusiasts attended.
Since people were gathering from all over the world, bike storage was an important element in keeping the event running smoothly. It was great to have the behind-the-scenes staff supporting participants by setting up a bike rack called the "Cycle Cloak."
Looking at the bikes parked there, they all had such different builds, and watching friends gather around them to geek out about bikes had just as much heat as the main event itself!
Race to the Finish!
Finally, the "Delivery Race" that messengers from all over the world had been waiting for is about to begin.
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, about two extra years had passed before we could finally hold this CMWC. To make up for that lost time, I would like to express my gratitude to the people of "Courio City," a Yokohama-based messenger company, and the other messengers who worked so hard to ensure this event was a success.
Everyone’s messenger spirit is already itching to go, so please take a good, long look at this real-life messenger delivery race! After seeing this, you’ll surely want to follow in their footsteps.
As if to shout, "This is the 'Delivery Race'!", a total of about 200 participants in preliminary groups A and B raced around Nissan Stadium to compete for the roughly 100 spots in the final.
In the delivery race, each rider picks up and delivers packages at checkpoints set up throughout the course according to the contents written on their "manifest," competing for the fastest time.
The competition time is 90 minutes. While constantly riding, riders must mentally organize their manifests and clear each checkpoint. This race requires physical strength, intelligence, and calmness.
The course layout was challenging in a good way, spread across four floors of Nissan Stadium; if you accidentally rode past a checkpoint, a hellish penalty awaited you: "One more lap! *sweat*"
First, I'd like to answer the question, "What is a manifest?"
A manifest is an instruction sheet containing the details of the delivery.
It lists the pick-up location and the drop-off location for the package. It's essentially a delivery slip.
It’s not just simple pick-ups and drop-offs; it can include mid-route stops or priority delivery instructions, written in a way that mimics real-life delivery, and riders have to carry out those orders.
While simple speed and endurance are important, the key to winning also lies in whether you can find the most efficient route and perform deliveries without waste, even as your physical strength is sapped.
So, shall we check in on how Uno-chan did?!
Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the finals and was defeated... (regret).
From the very beginning, I rode past a checkpoint and lost my cool, and my pick-up strategy was lacklustre... (sweat).
This was my first delivery race, and I was so frustrated not to have reached the finals...
I don't know how to describe it, but I felt like both my brain and my physical stamina were being drained.
Even so, the urge to "get revenge next time!" was even stronger!!
On that note, I'd like to introduce two people who made it to the final round.
First is our SimWorks leader, "Yusuke Yamagishi" (a.k.a. Gishi-san). That ZODIAC BAGGAGE looks great on a former messenger's back.
Gishi-san is usually cool and calm and doesn't say much (though I'm one to talk), but once he starts riding, he's like a different person; so fast, and watching him ride through the 150 minutes of the final was truly impressive. I'm glad I was able to cheer him on at the top of my lungs!
And another one. His name is "Yu Goto" (a.k.a. Gotchan). He was also very much looking forward to the CMWC.
I was in the same preliminary heat as him, but I hardly saw him at all; that’s because, unlike me, he was able to choose his routes properly. I was happy to see him pass the preliminaries and look so cool in the final!
Let’s get our revenge and both achieve better results in next year's delivery race!!
Cargo Bike Race!
A "Cargo Bike Race" is a delivery race using cargo bikes capable of carrying large loads.
Just like the standard delivery race, riders go around checkpoints, pick up and deliver packages according to instructions, and compete based on the volume of cargo transported and speed. About 35 riders participated in a two-hour race, consisting of a Pro Class using dedicated cargo bikes (or professional messengers) and a Semi-Pro Class for those with baskets or racks.
As for the race format: after the start, riders do a parade lap inside the stadium with empty bikes. Then, they return to the start line, pick up three manifests, and the competition officially begins.
Once a manifest is cleared, riders exchange it for a new one at the start line and continue their deliveries. As a special rule, riders must return to the finish line within 100 minutes.
In the cargo bike race, rankings are determined by the number of manifests completed by the end.
Looking at the race, it's clear just how big the cargo is, isn't it?
The rider’s ingenuity in loading the cargo is key, and while everyone aims for efficient delivery, if you can’t fit everything on one trip, you’re forced to go back and pick up the remaining cargo! (sweat)
And it seems there's even a goddess who looks great on a cargo bike and keeps riding tough. Her name is "Emma," and she travelled all the way from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, with her cargo bike just for this day.
I was impressed by how kind and polite she was—so different from the intense expression she wore during the race—when she came to say hello to us at our shop after the event. "I'll visit Copenhagen someday! When I do, let's go for a ride together!"
Each rider took on the challenge with their own prized cargo bike, making light of the heavy loads. Their serious expressions, occasionally breaking into smiles while making deliveries, are burned into my memory.
The cargo looked really heavy... (sweat). But you can't be called a true "cargo messenger" if you get confused by situations that could actually occur in daily messenger work!
Dispatcher Race!
A "Dispatcher Race" is a team-based delivery race where the dispatcher communicates with the messengers via radio, and the team that finishes all orders and returns as quickly as possible wins. Of course, teamwork is essential.
A total of 20 teams participated (10 teams competed in each heat). The time limit for each was 50 minutes.
First, orders come in to the dispatcher, who then gives instructions over the radio to the messengers waiting on the course, and the deliveries are carried out based on those instructions.
Once all deliveries are completed, the messengers return to the DSP, and once everyone is gathered, they submit their manifests to headquarters and compete based on the time they finish.
Dispatchers track the messengers' locations and issue instructions to ensure the most efficient movement of packages. Handing off packages to other messengers mid-transit is also an important tactic.
Some emergency delivery orders must be picked up within five minutes, and messengers who fail to make it on time may face penalties alongside their dispatcher.
This kind of teamwork and complexity is the true thrill of the Dispatcher Race.
Watching all the riders join forces to complete each order one by one was truly impressive. Some riders chatted while waiting for orders at checkpoints, while others kept riding constantly; it was fascinating to see how each messenger’s individual personality and luck influenced their own unique way of riding.
In Conclusion
We were able to fully enjoy an incredible CMWC 2023 Yokohama here at Nissan Stadium.
On my way home after the event, I was filled with such a sense of joy. I would like to express my gratitude to all the event staff, those who supported behind the scenes, and of course, all the riders.
As people involved in the cycling world, we will continue to join hands, help each other, and offer encouragement as we watch the messengers thrive. At the same time, we aim to contribute to the further development of the bicycle industry so that we aren't left behind by their achievements, and we hope to live life to the fullest to make our current era a better place.
To all the messengers around the world: thank you for letting us see your beautiful smiles.
