Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 8 August 2012

Paperless Trail

On July 1^st, Breakaway Courier switched courier software, moving from Courier Complete to Xcelerator.  Reviews among staff so far are positive, and it has one really cool feature: you can have your invoice e-mailed, rather than snail-mailed, to you. If you want to go paperless, contact us at paperless@breakawaycourier.com.

USA! USA!

A heartfelt congratulations to all the athletes representing the States, just for even making it to the big stage. You really showed them what you’ve got!

Tempus Fugit

It’s August, and you know what that means; it means that summer is almost over. For some, that means last minute beach flings and road trips, as we all try to squeeze the last bits of summer out of the year. Breakaway can help.  Call us if you need party supplies, surf boards, or coolers shipped.

Dry As a Bone

We’ve been getting plenty of rain here in the Northeast recently, but don’t complain. This past June saw the worst drought in the country since 1956, according to the National Climate Data Center, with about 55% of the nation in short-term severe drought conditions. Kind of makes you want to go singin’ in the rain.

Transcendental

It worked for George Harrison and Jim Morrison, so we think it’ll work for us also. All our couriers are now taking courses in transcendental meditation. Someday, we expect all our messengers to simply float above the everyday melee of traffic, and arrive serenely at their destination. For now, we’ll settle for less irritated.

Welcome Aboard

A warm welcome to the newest members of the Breakaway family. Breakaway Boston has just acquired Express-It Delivery, as well as their customers. We look forward to providing them with the same quality service and professionalism that has made Breakaway the premier courier company in New York and Boston.

Road Rash

Congratulations to Bradley “Wiggo” Wiggins, for being the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 89 editions of the elite bicycle race. Wiggins and his team, Team Sky, took the yellow jersey in the second week of the Tour, and defended it all the way to Paris. Crashes marked this year’s Tour; so many people hit the tarmac that some team buses looked more like ambulances. We have rash also, but ours is from not getting up from the couch the entire time.

Stump the Band

Last month we asked who won the very first Tour de France Feminin? Answer: Marianne Martin, of the United States.

T-Shirt Question

A Brit has won the Tour this year, but what was the longest bicycle sponsorship in the UK ever? 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. 7 July 2012

Happy Fourth

Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! And when we say “us,” we mean the U.S. of A, of course. Here’s wishing all of our customers a happy, healthy, and safe Fourth of July celebration. Remember, large or small, our fleet of cyclists and truckers can deliver everything you need to celebrate. Except cannons. If you want one of those delivered, you’re on your own.

On the Move

After many years ensconced in the West 30s, Breakaway is preparing to pull up stakes and move. Why? The 7 train extension is causing real estate speculation here to soar, and the landlord won’t renew the lease, as they’re looking to convert to condos. We’re looking for a new place to call home, so if anyone has a ‘dark space’ (i.e. space not officially on the real estate market) they know about, tell us.

Breakaway Labs

With drones the new favorite toy of the Pentagon, we were wondering if we could get some to use for moving packages. Strangely, everytime we asked to talk to someone about drones, we kept getting transferred to an apiary. That’s when it hit us; we could breed a new kind of messenger! We’re currently breeding killer bees to become messenger bees. The buzz is that it’s going quite smoothly, although they look somewhat like John Belushi. 

Photo Phobia

Our messengers and racers have had a busy pictorial season. Pictures of cyclists wearing Breakaway kit have appeared on Facebook, the Wall Street Journal, and other esteemed news outlets. So many, in fact, that we’ve decided that we can play our own courier version of “Where’s Waldo.” Fame at last!

Shout Out

All of our customers are awesome, discerning, and discriminating people, but every so often, one stands out. This month, we’d like to give a shout out to Katie at WP Carey for being very supportive of not just Breakaway, but of the individual couriers that risk it all on the streets everyday. Yay Katie!

Allez!

July is upon us, and that means that many of us cycling fans at Breakaway will be glued to the web, TV, and other assorted media outlets for news of the Tour de France. The Tour starts a day early this year, on June 30^th, in Liege, Belgium (yes, we know; that’s not France). Also, six women from Team Réve will ride the same route as the racers, and try to complete it in roughly the same time. Go, ladies, go!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked where and when the first bicycle sharing program was launched. Answer: the 

White Bicycle Project, in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1965.

T-Shirt Question

Six women will ride the Tour route this year, but did you know that there was a Tour Feminin? Who was the Feminin’s very first winner? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

At Breakaway we are updating our online ordering software. This change will begin July 1^st. the new website can be found at clients.breakawaycourier.com. 

Though it’s not a big change from an online ordering perspective, it will enable us to serve you more quickly and with greater accuracy.

YOUR USER ID is now a combination of your previous Web ID and your Account Number.  Your Password remains the same.

For example, on the previous system you would have entered this information:

ACCOUNT NUMBER:  1234

WEB ID:  Breakaway

PASSWORD: Courier

You’ll now enter the information as follows:

USER ID:  Breakaway1234

PASSWORD:  Courier

Be assured that we have transferred your address book to the new system.  Further, all information on transactions prior to July 1, 2012 can be found by clicking this link.

If you have any questions, please give us a call at 212-947-7777 or email website@breakawaycourier.com


As always, thank you for being a Breakaway customer.

We're about to get even faster and more efficient!

Big doings at Breakaway this week!  On July 1, 2012, we’re switching to a new dispatching software.  Though it’s not a big change from an online ordering perspective, it will enable us to serve our customers more quickly and with greater accuracy.

Here’s the scoop for online customers:

YOUR User ID is now a combination of your previous Web ID and your Account Number.  Your Password remains the same.

For example, on the previous system you would have entered this information:


ACCOUNT NUMBER:  1234

WEB ID:  Breakaway

PASSWORD: Courier


You’ll now enter the information as follows:

USER ID:  Breakaway1234

PASSWORD:  Courier


We’ve transferred your address book to the new system and you’ll still have access to all information on transactions prior to July 1, 2012 - just  click this link, which you’ll also find on your homepage.

As always, if you have any questions just give us a call at 212-947-7777 or email website@breakawaycourier.com

Breakaway News Volume No. 17 Issue No. 6 June 2012

Dad Darn Deserving

Last month it was Mom’s special day. This month it’s Dad’s turn. Father’s Day is on June 17^th, the third Sunday of June, so start shopping for cheesy ties and barbecue fixins because it’ll come a lot sooner than you think. If you do procrastinate, worry not. Breakaway is always here to see you out of a last-minute shopping jam.

Harlem Hijinks

Now there’s a really good reason to take the A train to Harlem this Father’s Day. The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic, aka the Harlem Crit, will take off at noon on Father’s Day. So, if your Dad is a big cycling fan, take him uptown for some lunch at Slyvia’s or the Red Rooster, and some excitement as some of the country’s best racers zip around Marcus Garvey Park. Soul food and racing; can’t beat it!

Summer Haul

It’s almost time, and you know it. You’re pulling your hair. You’re biting your nails. All because you have no idea how you’re going to get all your stuff out to the Hamptons, or Jersey Shore, or the Catskills this summer. Well, we know. Our trucking service can deliver your living room, kitchen, pets, and wardrobe, furniture and all the coolers and big beach umbrellas you’ll need at your summer hangout. Give us a call and get planning.

Sharing is Caring

Boston has had bicycle sharing since 2011, with Hubway, and it’s been a big hit. Now, New York will follow suite with Citi Bike. For $10/day, you can have 24-hour unlimited bicycle access, so long as each ride is under 30 minutes. NYC’s will be among the largest bike sharing programs, with more than 10,000 bicycles scheduled to be available. Cool stuff for a hot summer.

Congrats

Breakaway extends its congratulations to Ryder Hesjedal, the 2012 winner of the Giro d’Italia. The Giro is the first grand tour of the year, and is every bit as hard as the Tour de France. The Canadian Hesjedal, riding for the U.S. team Garmin-Barracuda, won the race overall by 47 seconds over Spaniard Joachim Rodriguez.

Wild, Wired, Walking

It’s long been a pet peeve of ours, and now Fort Lee agrees. The NJ township is cracking down on folks for “walking dangerously”: that’s walking  while texting/talking/websurfing/e-mailing on a smartphone. The use of these handhelds while walking can result in serious accidents. Now, in Fort Lee, walking on the wired side can also cost you $85 in fines. Beware!

Stump the Band

Last month we asked what the largest vessels ever built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard were? Answer: four Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) in the late 1960s. One of them, a VLCC named the Bay Ridge, was the last vessel ever to be built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

T-Shirt Question

Where and when was the first bicycle sharing program instituted? The first person to call Gil Ortiz with the correct answer will win a coveted Breakaway T-shirt.

HAPPY BIKE TO WORK DAY!

Today is National Bike to Work Day! In 1956, the Cycle Trade Association of America announced the first ever Bike Month. The purpose of this occasion was to promote bicycle sales. Today National Bike Month, Bike Week, and Bike to Work Day have a much broader focus. These events encourage safe bicycling practices and promote cycling as a legitimate commuting alternative.  Whether you are environmentally conscious or just love the exercise, biking to work is a great way to avoid the commuter traffic and stay in shape!

From everyone at Breakaway Courier, many of whom bike FOR work!  Enjoy the ride and be safe.

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.