DMFK stands for Deutsche Meisterschaften der Fahrradkurier*innen, the German bike messenger championships. Yes, that exists. And not only that: there are annual European and World Championships too.
Instead, the Cycle Messenger World Championships, held almost every year since they were first staged in Berlin in 1993, and their local versions are completely self-organised. The next venue is decided by those present.
Bike couriers are one of the most networked professions in the world. All of us know people in our line of work in some other arse-end of the world. The championships are by no means meant only for couriers from the host country: they are open to messengers from all over the world.
This year we met in Cologne for the DMFK. I came as defending champion in the “Cargobike/Open” category, the open group for cargo bikes, but sadly came “only” second. The FLINTA* category creates fairer conditions, and there is an international rulebook for it.
The championships usually follow the same pattern: from Thursday to Saturday there's a lot of socialising, parties, small races, fun events, concerts and so on. Then on Saturday the qualifying rounds for Sunday's final. Riders race a secured course with sponsor checkpoints, nine of them in Cologne. Participants get a map of the area, and during the race they are handed so-called manifests that set the order of the stops. Just like on a working day, the trick is to combine as well as possible. Once a manifest is full of stamps, ridden over the shortest possible distance, you get the next one at race HQ, for three hours. Whoever hands in the most full manifests and extra tasks at HQ within the time wins. The scoring usually goes on into the night, while the participants pour everything into themselves except champagne.
In July there's the ECMC (European Cycle Messenger Championships) in Lausanne, and two weeks later the CMWC in Zurich. So much in expensive Switzerland! A solidarity system helps out: the ticket price, which covers everything you need, is adjusted to different incomes.
“El Niño #02” is part of CROW, the worker-run collective that aims to replace cars with bikes: with cargo bike deliveries and bike repairs, for a better quality of life for everyone and without bosses.