Carrying a double bass on a bicycle

[blinddrew]

Serious question, has anyone tried this?
I play in a pub on monday nights and that's an easy 15 minute walk but I also play in another pub that's a couple of miles away (and finishes later) so I was wondering about cycling down and thus being able to have a couple of cheeky shandies.
Anyone been as foolish as I'm thinking of trying to be? ;¬)

[JapanAxe]

Have you though about one of those bike trailers that ecologically-minded folks tow their sproglets about in? Your DB would be much safer in one of those methinks...

[kevcooke]

I've seen a photo of someone doing it in Paris using a Ritter bag on their back... It can be done. However, I would personally never try this even if 100% alcohol free!

[Beer of the Bass]

I've seen pictures of an adapted child trailer on Talkbass, so I guess it could work, but I'd want to use a cheap robust bass. I never cycle on the road with a couple of drinks in me, just the same as driving.

[blinddrew]

A cellist friend of mine uses a trailer for her cello but there's no way it's big enough for a 3/4 bass.
Might just have a ride around the block and see how the wind catches it!

[Myke]

Technically illegal to ride a bike under the influence of alcohol but.. It's only a couple of shandies so

And I wouldn't, I don't even own a DB but that makes me worried thinking about it

[gjones]

[quote name='blinddrew' timestamp='1365194656' post='2036727']
Serious question, has anyone tried this?
I play in a pub on monday nights and that's an easy 15 minute walk but I also play in another pub that's a couple of miles away (and finishes later) so I was wondering about cycling down and thus being able to have a couple of cheeky shandies.
Anyone been as foolish as I'm thinking of trying to be? ;¬)
[/quote]

Check out the first video on the whisky riverboat bands facebook page. Hope this answers your question.

[url="https://www.facebook.com/whiskyriverboatband?ref=ts&fref=ts"]https://www.facebook.com/whiskyriverboatband?ref=ts&fref=ts[/url]

[blinddrew]

Cheers gjones, that was pretty much what I was thinking. Soft case and stick it on my back. Though the trailer suggestion has made me wonder if I could convert my hard case into a trailer itself.

[Cat Burrito]

I have a framed picture of a bassist from Chile or Mexico or actually I'm not sure where he is.... but he's cycling along with an uncased upright bass. I guess it depends on how much you trust the UK roads and fancy your chances!

[ubassman]

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1365200529' post='2036806']
Check out the first video on the whisky riverboat bands facebook page. Hope this answers your question.

[url="https://www.facebook.com/whiskyriverboatband?ref=ts&fref=ts"]https://www.facebook...?ref=ts&fref=ts[/url]
[/quote]

...branch, neck, ....branch, neck oh darn just one second before impact and they stop the video!

[4-string-thing]

If it's illegal to ride a bike under the influence (which I'm sure it is) then carrying or towing a bass will surely attract plods attention pretty quickly.... I'd get a taxi.

[ubassman]

[quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1365238546' post='2036987']
If it's illegal to ride a bike under the influence (which I'm sure it is) then carrying or towing a bass will surely attract plods attention pretty quickly.... I'd get a taxi.
[/quote]

...and much cheaper than paying to have your neck fixed ( human + double bass !!) after a fall!

[fatback]

+1 to the taxi.

My alcohol consumption has collapsed since I started gigging db. Worse thing about the instrument is not being able to cadge lifts from the singer and his girlfriend.

In fact, since taking up this beast, musical life dramatically improved, social life f*****d beyond redemption.

[fatgoogle]

+1 to music life going up and social life going down, its not something you can easily drag to the next pub and then walk home with.

Ive always been tempted to do this and i see another player regularly doing this around dublin. But im always worried about wind, bus's and other traffic not taking notice.

[blinddrew]

Hmmm, the obviousness is a good point. I regularly cycle home after a few shandies but obviously don't attract any attention - the DB will be a bit different. Just not being a lazy b**tard and walking the extra mile would be the sensible thing really. Though I am curious about turning the hard case into a trailer now I've started thinking about it.

[paul_5]

Double bass on a bike? Isn't it easier to try it the other way around?

[Les]

Go for it ! What could possibly go wrong ?

[Basstroker]

Hi! Look here: [url="http://www.geba-online.de/site.php?site_id=492"]http://www.geba-online.de/site.php?site_id=492[/url]& (picture 2). Best Thomas

[fatback]

And what about crosswinds?

Took girlfriend and cello on my motorbike many moons ago and crossing every intersection was, to say the least, interesting.

[blinddrew]

Yeah crosswinds are a concern, well, ish. Windy days are walking days basically - I wouldn't even try it if there was more than a ghost of a breeze out there :¬)
In the words of Men at Work, "I may be an idiot but indeed I am no fool."

[Kirky]

I used to take a tuba to school on my bike, over the handlebars, many years ago.

[Lfalex v1.1]

I got pulled up by the police when carrying one bike whilst riding another...

[fatback]

[quote name='mybass' timestamp='1365509208' post='2040422']
These guys got away with it...
[/quote]

Love that picture

[great harry]

Many decades ago in my student days a mate of mine spent the night in a cell and was fined for being drunk in charge of the bicycle he was pushing along the pavement. I had just handed it back to him when the rozzers came round the corner.

Mind you he was very p*ssed. Not as p*ssed as he was when he got the fine though.

Edited April 12, 2013 by great harry

[4-string-thing]

[quote name='mybass' timestamp='1365509208' post='2040422']
These guys got away with it...
[/quote]

I really like this pic too, where did you find it? is it in the public domain? or is there a copyright on it?

I'd like to use it, or something similar, for our band website.