Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 5 May 2012

Happy Mom’s Day!

It’s that time of year, when we all stop and remember Mom for everything she did for us; band-aids on booboos, making you lunch for school, and yelling at you to turn down that noise for the last time, gosh darn it! Mother’s Day is on Sunday the 13^th this month, and what Mom would really love is a gift that’s on time! Call us, and we’ll make sure it is.

Pet Peeve Section

New for this month, we’re starting a column on pet peeves. The peeve this month: People who don’t know how to walk on the sidewalk. Specifically people who weave back and forth while walking – a phenomenon known as “not holding your line” – and abrupt stoppers, whom we then crash into. We’d hate to see how you all drive!

Victory!

Break out the bubbly because our man did it! Breakaway Racing Team member Simon Oddy won the Tour of Battenkill race, billed as America’s toughest one-day race. Oddy won his category 5 group, in a daring breakaway from the main pack with 17 miles to go. He finished the 62 mile race in 3 hours, 3 minutes, and 8 seconds. Woohoo!

Odd Man Out

We know you all love us for our fast cyclists, spacious trucks, and convenience of online ordering. However, did you know that our messengers can be called on to do much more than just go from here to there? Whenever you need an extra set of hands, you can call us to get a messenger-on-demand, who will help you file, run errands, serve canapés, whatever you need. Call us and find out what odd job our couriers can do for you.

Fame At Last

Breakaway Boston is in the news! An article in Boston.com featured businesses that have switched to Breakaway Boston because we have cargo bicycles. The article notes that our guys (and gals) in Boston have delivered everything from envelopes to giant teddy bears. Call us and see what our cargo bicycles can do for you (we have them in New York, too!).

Neat But Useless

Recently, we went to Lance Armstrong’s web-site for guidance. There we found the following: Being overweight, or obese, can negatively affect your bodies’ chakras, especially the navel chakra, which controls self-esteem. We found our naval chakra at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Cycling there did wonders for our self-esteem!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked when and by what law Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens? Answer: Puerto Ricans were all collectively made U.S. citizens through the Jones Act, of 1917.

T-Shirt Question

The Brooklyn Navy Yard has a lot of history behind it, and has been the site where some really storied vessels were built. What were the largest vessels ever built at the Yard? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 4 April 2012

Happy Holidays

You read that right. Breakaway is wishing all our customers Happy Holidays. What? In April? Yes, in April. We can do it because both Easter and Passover are together this month. Easter is on April 8^th, while Passover starts at sunset on April 6^th. So, if you need a couple of boxes of matzoh or a few dozen brightly painted eggs delivered, we’ve got you covered 8 ways till Sunday.

A Taxing Time

Don’t let all the religious festivities of this month make a fool of you this April. It’s tax time, and the deadline to file this year falls on Tuesday, the 17^th. Make certain you have all your ducks in a row, that the I’s are dotted and the T’s crossed, and be certain to call Breakaway to make sure you get all your documents to and from your CPA on time and in the hands of Uncle Sam.

Planetary Bodies

This month, a rare celestial event took place. Jupiter, the Moon, and Venus were all in the same field of view. We always suspected Jupiter and Venus had a thing for each other, and they couldn’t miss out being in the same field of view during a full moon. Don’t tell the spouses.

Cell Pell Mell

Occasionally, customers place their orders using their cell phones. Often, however, calls are dropped, and the phone operator can’t get all the relevant info. This results in your job being placed further down the line, or disappearing completely.  If possible, Please place orders either using a landline, or online whenever possible.

Elevator Talk

“It’s like I’m not the only one who’s pregnant in the office.”

Just another true conversation overhead by our messengers every day.

Hold Please

When contacting Newsletter editor-in-chief RK to work on this issue, the call went to voicemail. Than, while leaving a message, he rang back. Then when I picked up, he asked to put me on hold so he could disconnect the other call. Then the call dropped, and when he rang back, I was ringing him back and we both went straight to voicemail.  Can we just have back the switchboard gal, please?

Google Spider-Bot

This story is specifically for the Google Search SpiderBot: Messenger, courier, delivery, rush, pick-up, deadline, trucking, bike courier, triple rush, roundtrip, tristate, Boston. There; that oughta help our Google rankings.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked who was the first Asian American to light up the NBA. Answer: Wataru “Wat” Misaka. Of Japanese descent, but born in Ogden, Utah, he was drafted by the Knicks, but only played a few games.

T-Shirt Question

This edition of the newsletter was written in Puerto Rico, so we couldn’t resist. When and under what act were Puerto Ricans collectively made U.S. citizens? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Welcome to Breakaway News, March 2012

Our much-coveted, highly praised newsletter has previously been available only to a select few.  We've decided to share.  Here, for the first time, we've posted the March newsletter entries.  Watch this space for future issues and enjoy!

Erin Go Breakaway!

Top o’ the month to ye, and a fine day also! This month is St. Patrick’s day, of course, hence the Irish brogue. Ordinarily, we’d warn you to plan ahead to avoid getting your package snarled in the parade, but this year, St. Paddy’s day falls on a Saturday. So enjoy the parade, drink your green beer responsibly, and bask in the Irish spirit.

Linstant Fans

 The media has answered all our questions. We hired this guy who was already living the messenger life-style--sleeping on his brother’s couch, Harvard wash-out – but then he never showed up for work. We thought his yarn about playing for the Knicks was an imaginative variant of typical lame excuses. Who knew it was really true? All we can say is, good luck Lin, you could have been a Breakaway contender.

‘Tis the Season

 No, we don’t mean Christmas. We aren’t senile just yet. We’re talking about the bicycle racing season, of course. Professionally, the European season kicks off in March. Here, the Breakaway Racing Team is getting ready to open its 2012 campaign with the Central Park races. Mike P551 Propokec, who did so well during the winter roller races, is looking to come out storming. Stay tuned for results.

Kosher Run

 True story: A customer of ours had the most incredible urge for a pastrami sandwich. Not just any pastrami sandwich, mind you, but a Katz’ deli pastrami sandwich. The problem? He was at Monmouth County airport. The solution? He called us, of course! Our messenger picked up and delivered two pastrami sandwiches to a happy customer. What errand can one of our couriers do for you?

Print? Digital? Both? 

We finally broke down and bought an iPad. We’re loving the Kindle app that it has. With the rise in digital media, is there still room any longer for regular print? What will we deliver in the future? Answer: more iPads, adapters, batteries, chargers, repair shop deliveries, etc etc  etc. 

Hardwood Madness

 It comes on every year, spreading its seasonal fever fast and furiously. It’s not malaria, but March Madness, that collective crazy time when everyone goes bonkers for college hoops. Having a roundball party at your place? Be sure to call us to deliver your party needs from libations to chicken wings.

Stump the Band

 Last month we asked what Roman holiday was antecedent to St. Valentine’s day, and was held around the same time. Answer: The Roman festival of Lupercalia, wherein young men held a lottery to decide which girls would be theirs. Sounds romantic!

T-Shirt Question

 Jeremy Lin has taken the hoops world by storm, but who was the first Asian to play in the NBA? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 2 February 2012

Love Love Love!

Contrary to what the Beatles sang, love isn’t all you need. If you have a serious other, you also need expensive gifts, some chocolates, and to shave your five-o-clock shadow, fer gossakes. You also need to get said gifts and chocolates to your significant other on time, so call Breakaway. You can be sure that we’ll get those tokens of your affection to him/her on time. After that, you’re on your own.

 Ain’t it SAD?

 Breakaway Labs has proven that Times Square produces more light, measured in lux, than perhaps any other spot in the city. One boon from this is that people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can go to the Square and bathe in the lux, which is shown to keep SAD depression at bay. So, you can go take in the lux, then spend some bucks by calling for one of our trucks, and maybe rent a tux, but only if your accounts are not in flux.

 Speaking of Trucks

 Don’t forget, that we have a large fleet of trucks ready to help you out with that delivery that’s just too large for a cyclist. From vans, to box trucks, to lift gates, and, our newest addition, refrigerated trucks, we’ve got your hauling needs covered. 

 Housing Crisis

 It happens. You made a large order of ballerina tutus for your next ad campaign, but your office is already stuffed with the rodeo props from the last campaign. What to do? Well, call us, that’s what to do! We can house your wares for as long as you need, and then deliver them to where you need them, no sweat. Call our logistics team for info and rates.

Go Mike Go! 

No, we’re not talking about Bloomberg. Our own messenger P511 took part in bicycle roller races. It’s a bicycle race, but without the scenery (unless you count a bar as scenery). Mike nearly beat out an Olympian, and did very well for himself, and for Breakaway. That boy done us proud!

Divided Loyalties 

As of this writing, Breakaway is experiencing a bit of a rivalry between the two offices. With both the Patriots and the Giants contending in the Super Bowl, everyone in Boston and New York is on edge, not to mention razzing and booing each other every chance they get. However, it’s nice to know that no matter who wins, a Breakaway office somewhere will be happy and celebrating.

 Stump the Band 

Last month we asked on what  building in the U.K. can one find a statue of Martin Luther King Jr.?  Answer: Westminster Abbey, along with other 20^th century martyrs.

 T-Shirt Question

 February 14^th, of course, is Valentine’s, but what Roman holiday, held around the same time, was its antecedent? The first person to call Tom Cromwell with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway's Prokopek Ranks with the Best at "Roller Race for the Velodrome"

Congratulations to one of Breakaway’s best as bike courier and Cat 3 racer Mike Prokopec turned in an Olympic quality performance at the “Roller Race for the Velodrome” on January 19. 

Mike, a regular on the roller racing scene, took 5th overall in a field dominated by former and future Olympians, and in his second heat came within a 1/2 second of beating 1988 Olympian Bobby Livingston who ultimately ceded first place to Matt Diefenback. 

The race was a benefit to support the development of a state-of-the-art velodrome complex at the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx.  All racers started with a 500-meter sprint against the clock, followed by a series of 1K elimination rounds pairing competitors against each other. WABC (Channel 7) came out to cover the festivities and interviewed Prokopec and other racers.

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 1 January 2012

Happy New Year!

Well, we all survived the weather, the family, Uncle Ned’s same old jokes, the ungodly amounts of food and the alcoholic beverages, and made it to 2012. If you’re still feeling hung over from the New Year’s festivities, fer gossakes, don’t go out to get anything. Instead, call us. Our courier will pick up your favorite remedy from your local apothecary, and deliver it to your door. That way, you can have a lie down.

 Thanks for the Love

 We’re overwhelmed, we’re touched, we’re stuffed to the gills. Thank you to all our clients for the assorted gifts of cookies, pastries, cakes, and other highly calorific holiday goodies. Not to worry; we have our bicycles, and we’ll burn it all off in no time.

Reefer To This

 A couple of newsletters back, we reported that we had acquired a refrigerated truck, or reefer truck, for short. It’s proven to be so popular, that we’re acquiring a second one. If you have items that are temperature sensitive and need to be shipped cold, give us a call. From fancy beers, to delicate hors d’oeuvres, we can give your stuff the cold shoulder.

 Winter Retirement    

 Another reason you may want to call our reefer trucks is to ride in them, so you can feel what winter used to be like. The temperatures are so balmy that we’re officially calling winter gone. Done. Retired. Left the building with Elvis. Penguins are calling our reefer trucks asking for rides. You get the idea.

 Bebop Moment

 Bop-a-lop-a-shama-rama-ding-dong-scoodeleebop-ba-doo-wop-zebop-bebop-bada-doo-wop-a-lop (65% of all communication is non-verbal)!

Remembering MLK

 Breakaway joins the rest of the city and country in remembering the civil rights giant, Martin Luther King Jr. MLK day this year falls on January 16^th, the 3^rd Monday of the month. We will be open, albeit with a limited crew.

 Muted Season

An eerie silence has befallen the Breakaway offices as of late. We weren’t able to figure out what it was for a while, but then it hit us; the guys are quiet because the basketball season has started so late. They have nothing to talk about. So that’s how you keep an office full of guys quiet!

 ADD Epidemic          

With so many devices vying for our attention, it’s no wonder ADD is endemic. We at Breakaway wanted to…hey, look, a chicken…

Stump the Band

 Last month we wanted to know where Christmas is not a formal holiday, despite being the birthplace of a holiday favorite. Answer: Turkey, the birthplace of Saint Nicholas.

 T-Shirt Question

 On what U.K. building can one find a statue of Martin Luther King Jr.? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 16 Issue No. 12 December 2011

X-Mas Cheer

Ho ho holy MOLY that was a fast year! Now 2011 is coming to a close, it’s that time of year for trimming the tree, hanging stockings, and buying gifts. All of which, while fun, can be time consuming. If you need any help, be sure to call on us. Our Special Agent for Holiday Deliveries, Kris, will be on hand to help expedite your deliveries. He mentioned something about leaving early on Christmas Eve. Naturally, we said “No Kris, our customers come first”.

Wheels, Elves, Kids

What do the above three have in common? When they get together, magic happens! Specifically, the magic of people giving the gift of a bicycle. Elves and Wheels last year gave away 108,000 bicycles to underprivileged children in Greater Houston. The idea is that with a bicycle, poor children have more options than they would if they were restricted to walking. Visit www.elvesandmore.org/EMHomePage.shtm to learn more.

Skid Row? Skid Ho!

What’s a skid? Also called a palette, a skid is what our truckers use to haul stuff. Our bread and butter, usually made of wood, the items rest on top, and then a skid-jack/palette-jack can be inserted underneath to wheel it around. We move them all day, all night 24/7. If you have a lot of something, or one big something, let us know, and we’re all over it.

Shop Breakaway       

It’s Christmas, and that means shopping. This Cyber Monday, be sure to spend your hard-earned cash at www.breakawaystore.com, for some messenger bling. Because nothing says the holidays like a shirt or jersey with Breakaway emblazoned on it.

Speeding Bullits

Look, out in the street! Is it a bird? Is it a truck? No, it’s the Bullit a new cargo bicycle, and only Breakaway’s got them. These Danish, flatbed type bicycles can carry moderate loads quickly throughout the city. So, if you have a serious load, but don’t want to call a truck, let our Bullits handle it.

Can’t Touch This!

In this cyberage, privacy is a thing of the past. Anyone can have their phones or e-mail hacked by determined people; just ask the Brits. Maybe that’s why we’re fond of envelope delivery. The only hands that touch it are yours, our messenger’s, and the recipient’s. The only code our couriers know is the Messenger’s Code: Get it there fast!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked for the significance of “576” on the car of Boston’s mayor. Answer: James Michael Curley was Boston’s first mayor to have an automobile, and the “576” stands for the number of letters in each of his names.

T-Shirt Question

In what country is Christmas not a formal public holiday, despite being the birthplace of an important Christmas saint? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Season's Greetings!!

Delivery Tips

 As Christmas approaches, we our delivery volume will spike dramatically. During peak periods, you may experience delays because many large orders will arrive simultaneously. Here are some tips to avoid service delays during the holiday season:

1) For faster service, place your large orders in the early morning. It is extremely helpful to have orders placed before 9:00 AM. We open at 7:00 AM. Our peak periods are from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. If we are extremely busy, pickup times can slow down. Trucking deliveries are generally slower because of traffic delays and security checks.

2) If you are planning a large batch of gift deliveries, it helps to have one-day advance notice. You can also fax a copy of your deliveries to us or place your order on our website: www.breakawaycourier.com

3) Label your packages completely.  Packages that are not completely labeled languish in the company mailroom.  Always include the recipient's full name, company name, room number, address and phone number. With post-9/11 security, many office buildings will not accept packages without complete information on delivery labels. Also include your return address on the package.

4) Call ahead to the delivery point to make sure someone is there to receive your package. If you order an evening delivery, make sure the receiving party is open past 5:00 PM. It might make more sense to schedule the delivery for the following morning.

5) Do not procrastinate! Please do not wait until the last minute for a large batch of deliveries. It is advisable to place large gift deliveries by Friday, December 16th.

6) Please circulate this flyer to all employees who are planning to send large batches of deliveries this holiday season.

 7) Enjoy the holidays!

Breakaway News Volume No. 16 Issue No. 11 November 2011

Thanks Again

Now that everyone in the city is reeling from hyperglycemic overload from Halloween, it’s the perfect time to remind everyone of the next calorific holiday on the calendar: Thanksgiving! No wonder we can’t lose those last five pounds! Anyway, whether the turkey you ordered is five or 15 pounds, be sure to call us to have it delivered, along with all the fixin’s. We promise not to eat it along the way.

Hellas on Wheels

NPR reports that Athenians are doing something drastic to get around their city while their economy tanks: They’re bicycling! Once left only to the poor and the foolhardy, Athenians say they are saving on gas, and getting to work, despite strikes and protests. The humble bicycle to the rescue!

Daylight Reminder

The days get shorter during the winter months, but one thing we do really speeds it along. This month, Eastern Standard times arrives on November 6^th, at 2:00am. So remember to turn your clocks back, and enjoy the extra hour of sleep.

Warehouse

Our customers love having us hold inventory for them prior to shipping, and now we’ve got more space to do it in. We’ve experienced an expansion in available space in our warehouse, so give us a call and let us house your wares. 

Sync This!

Smartphones, iPods, Blackberries; they all have to be synched with something, giving us that sinking feeling. We miss the days when it was just the kitchen sink. (laugh now!)

Reefer Madness

Alright, we can tell what you’re thinking after reading the headline, and no, we are not about to start servicing clients with glaucoma. In trucking parlance, a “reefer” truck is a refrigerated truck, and we’re about to acquire one. That means that if you have something that needs to remain frosty all the way to its destination, you can call on us. Pretty darn cool.

People, Power, Pizza

Occupy Wall Street has been going strong for about a month, sparking movements across the globe, but still, protestors have to eat. What are they eating? Liberatos Pizza. The pizzeria, which now has an “OccuPie”, has even taken donation orders from as far away as Italy, Germany, and Greece. That’s branding for you!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what item was used before pumpkins for jack-o’-lanterns, and why. Turnips were used prior to the pumpkin (a New World item) to either ward off evil spirits, or remember souls in purgatory.

T-Shirt Question

The official car of Boston’s mayor uses the plate number “576.” What is the origin of this enigmatic number? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 16 Issue No. 10 October 2011

Spook City

October is here; ahhhhh the autumn weather! The falling leaves, the crisp air, the fall fashions! Most of all, the sugar rush at the end of the month when the little ones come back from trick-or-treating laden with enough candy to kill a diabetic. For this All Hallows, Breakaway has hired zombie couriers, who will be happy to deliver your consignment of confections to your home so you can distribute them to the children. If zombies can ever be happy, that is.

Space and Beyond

With the end of the space shuttle missions, it’s become a lot harder to deliver items and personnel to the International Space Station. Naturally, that’s where Breakaway Courier comes in! We’re in talks with NASA right now, trying to get them to let us handle their deliveries to the ISS. The main sticking point is that we haven’t quite figured out what vehicle we’re going to use to get there. Once we do though, that contract is ours, baby!

Trucking Reminder

Stuck with some large items to move? Doing a photo shoot and have a lot of furniture to schlep? Have a body you need disposing of? If the answer to that last one is yes, we’re calling the police, but if it’s yes to the first two, feel free to call us. We have a varied fleet, from box trucks to lift-gates, all looking for something to do. Except dispose of bodies, of course.

Escort Service

Brooklyn bicyclists are starting a volunteer escort service for women living in Park Slope and Prospect Heights, in response to a spate of sex attacks. The Brooklyn Bike Patrol will come and escort any woman walking home alone late who calls. Call Jay “Rocket” Ruiz, of reality show Triple Rush, at (718) 744-7592 for a cycle volunteer. 

AY Is Back!

And he’s looking so relaxed and happy about having gone to India that we can’t stand it. New York’s intrepid traveling general manager says that the trip was amazing, and he has the photos to prove it. Check out his blog entries on our website, and you can see some of them. Now, if we can only stop him from doing yogic headstands at his desk while chanting Om.

Gridlock Galore

When sending items by truck, it’s good to know your “gridlock alert” days. This can include U.N. sessions, dignitaries visiting town, or other such events. Bicycle couriers aren’t as affected as trucks, but even so, they can experience slowdowns because of security. Listen to traffic news to gauge conditions, and plan accordingly.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what is usually sought after by either pigs or dogs, is referred to as the “diamonds of the kitchen,” and can command hundreds of dollars per ounce. The answer: Truffles. In 2009, white truffles went for €10,200 per kilo.

T-Shirt Question

For Halloween jack-o’-lanterns are made from pumpkin, but what was used before and why? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

Breakaway News Volume No. 16 Issue No. 9 September 2011

Labor’s Reward

September is here, and that means summer is just about finished; the kids are about to go back to school, and, of course, you can’t wear white after the 5^th, which Labor Day falls on this year. Breakaway salutes all of America’s workers, who put in the hours to help promote all of our prosperity. Our messengers, we’re proud to say, promote prosperity on the streets everyday. All without wearing white, of course.

Fit to a Tee

How many times have you tried and tried to call in to answer our vaunted trivia question, only to find that another customer has beaten you to it; no t-shirt for you! Well, now there’s an easier, although un-free, way of getting a Breakaway t-shirt; shop online, at breakawaystore.com! They come in various fashionable colors (not white!) and will make you the near-envy of everyone in your office. So, what are you waiting for? Get clicking!

Hardcore Couriers

Hurricane Irene came flying into the city last month, and like a lot of bad house guests, she trashed the place. Damage was minimal, however, because most everyone heeded official warnings and shut everything down. Well, almost everyone. We were open and ready to go, even in the teeth of the ‘cane. However, since no one else was open, we were all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Store More

Office bursting at the seams? Can’t find your red Swingline stapler under the tons of promotional material you need to move? Breakaway has short-term storage here at our HQ warehouse. Our logistics staff can get all your movables out of your hair, and to where it needs to be, so you can concentrate on the important stuff. You’ll be glad you did!

Andy in India

This September, Office Manager Andrew Young will be on vacation in India. His duties will be taken up by office stalwart Gil Ortiz. Please try not to fill up his voice mail unless necessary, and be sure to use the phone tree to find the office personnel that can best help you.

Rising Again

Unofficial rides by our messengers near Ground Zero show an optimistic sight; Freedom Tower is now higher than the surrounding structures. You can’t keep industry, service, and patriotism down. You can, however, procrastinate.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what astronomical event happened every year between July and August? Answer: The Perseid meteor shower, which hits its peak around August 12^th and is always a big hit with amateur and professional skywatchers.

T-Shirt Question

It can command hundreds of dollars per ounce, and is neither plant nor animal. Usually sought after with either dogs or pigs, they have been called, “the diamonds of the kitchen.” To what are we referring to? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.