The Zindex
29.02.08 by Buffalo Bill
Bikesnobnyc, probably the funniest bike blogger currently operating, has a pista-dex, which is a measure of how hip track bikes are. The index is is the difference between the new and 2nd hand price of a Bianchi Pista. If there is little difference, then track bikes are still hip.
So I thought it would be a laugh to subject an emblematic messenger culture item to the same treatment. What could be more emblematic of bicycle messenger culture than a Zo messenger bag? I found one on ebay. It is used, with a frayed strap, black in colour, an absolutely standard SF messenger item. It sold last night for $393. Erik normally sells them to messengers for less than $100. Let’s call it $100 for a new bag. I am useless at maths, but even I can divide by 100.
This gives a Zindex figure of +3.93. Bicycle messenger culture is so hip that a tatty 2nd hand, but authentic, messenger bag sells for nearly 4 times its original sale price. Timbuk2 laughs all the way to the bank, and ‘real’ messengers become even more grumpy then they already are.
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what does it say about Vetos and armadillos….?
— winston 29 February 2008, 08:47 #
my Zo bag smells of wee. does that make it cooler or less cool?
— footlong 29 February 2008, 11:23 #
Is it real messenger wee?
— Bill 29 February 2008, 12:36 #
damn no. i got it in a bottle from evans. its called ‘authentic messenger wee’. people who shop at these places are pouring it over crumpler bags to give them a whiff of authenticity.
— footlong 29 February 2008, 15:47 #
The frayed and used look probably makes it even more valuable. It has street cred then!
Why buy a new bag that you grime up yourself when you can buy one that comes pre-stressed.
— David 29 February 2008, 16:12 #
a fakenger came alongside me and pleaded to buy my metro pac bag and dirty cycling pants off me. disgusting
— zack speedfast 29 February 2008, 16:52 #
once a fakenger wanted me to pee on him. i kicked him in the balls instead. authentic messenger cleat prints. the zindex figure on his sack must be through the roof!
— ute laune 29 February 2008, 21:02 #
even over here, on the boring side of the pond, a missenger at the coffee shop asked me if i could get some of bill’s used chamois cream. talk about off the mark!
— tofu 29 February 2008, 23:42 #
How much can I get for a pair of well used Metro long bibs - One owner, infrequently washed. Do I hear 10?
— andy is no longer a cunt 3 March 2008, 10:24 #
i’ve got the shorts Boris wore for god-knows how long before and during the 94’s in london. i knew there was a reason i was saving them.
— pete 3 March 2008, 16:15 #
Mr White you hold onto those dirty bibs their worth is gaining at an exponential rate. News flash - Marco is coming back -
— Zack Speedfast 4 March 2008, 07:22 #