One month later
It’s now been a month since I started my new routine, and thanks to my shifts, I’ve gradually settled into a comfortable rhythm. I’ve now got a shiny new delivery bag that’s actually up to the task (no more playing Tetris with groceries), and I’ve figured out the best times to work in my town. Most mornings, I’m out by 08:30, ready to feed the caffeine-deprived masses and those craving a McMuffin like their lives depend on it. The morning rush usually lasts until about 11:00, and during those hours, I can earn £15 to £20 per hour—a tidy sum for zipping about on a bike.
After the morning madness, things slow right down. That’s when I take a break to eat, refill my water bottle, and have a quick scroll through my phone to catch up with friends and family. Early on, I learned that a power bank is absolutely essential for this job. Between the Uber app, Google Maps, and my Bluetooth headphones, my phone battery drains faster than a pint at last orders. I used to love tracking my miles on Strava, but even that had to go when I realized it was munching through my battery too.
To fix this, I bought a couple of cheap power banks off Amazon for £20, and they’ve been a lifesaver. That said, my new delivery bag, while better, still isn’t perfect. It’s not waterproof enough, and when it rains (which, let’s face it, is most of the time), the packaging ends up damp, leaving me with soggy customers and no one tips for a soggy delivery.
To tackle the weather and improve my speed, I invested in a new bike. I swapped my hardtail mountain bike for a lighter road bike, and the difference is night and day. Now, I’m zipping around town like I’m on a time trial, weaving through traffic as if I’m delivering an organ for transplant. If speed ever becomes an Olympic sport, I reckon I’d be in with a chance, provided it’s a food delivery event, of course.
I’ve also started to get to know the other delivery drivers in town, and I now see how important that is. Sharing tips with each other about the best spots to wait for orders has been a game changer. It’s like a secret society, except instead of exchanging passwords, we’re swapping advice on where the good deliveries are coming from, and when things unexpectedly pick up, someone usually sends out the word, helpful if you’re still lounging about at home with your feet up
