In the beginning of 1977 A big route of 600 customers paid for better bikes as I spent 2 yrs doing the PB chore ,a had a nice setup with 5spd gearing and heavy rims and tires,a real need in a bike when delivering the heavy Sunday editions.The baskets were offered but I modified my own for longer route runs,I did use the frt baskets The Houston Chronicle offed.I remember it was something like 250lbs of me , paper and pedal power. Early rise was 5 am on weekdays ,4 am for sundays .The paper would have to be assembled by you with directions on what advertisement packet would be sleeved 1st -5th ON SUNDAY THROWS ,this took as long of time as the delivery itself.I just know the penny counters at these Newspaper giants worked every angle to save a buck . I think it was 50 cents per customer each month ,so $300 per month which to a kid is like getting paid a gold brick. As a kid it really felt like you were your own boss .I remember the guy that hired me always liked calling me bike killer due to the fact I would be on a different bike each time he came by on errands ,I just said ,"no ,just a new and improved paper runner".