Carrying a double bass on a bicycle

[henrywillard]

Check out this documentary video of one of my favourite bands, Blind Pilot, who have done a couple of 'Bicyle Tours' down the west coast of the States, with their instruments (including a double bass) hitched onto the back of their bikes.

[url="http://vimeo.com/2975715"]http://vimeo.com/2975715[/url]

Their bassist Luke made a trailer for his upright bass to hitch onto the back of his bicycle. He talks about it and they shown a few clips of the manufacturing process from approximately 3mins 30 seconds.

[blinddrew]

Cheers Henry I'll have a proper look at that over the weekend. I've got an idea in my head to turn my hardcase into a trailer (I never use the thing because it's so big) but this might well help.

[onemanband]

Ever thought about attaching small castor wheels to the bass and riding the instrument to the second gig, skateboard style!!

(Sorry, I've had a couple of "cheeky shandies").

[DaveFry]

This guy uses a bicycle with small wheels ;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G_dibANSS4

Edited March 24, 2014 by icastle
Link fixed.

[philparker]

Not too sure about this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGXQlx01rAo

Edited March 24, 2014 by icastle
Link fixed.

[ubassman]

...one of those videos that makes you think ..is it serious but made with humour to make the point ? ..or is it just a micky take?

BC-ers ..you decide

[Fat Rich]

Put a wheel on the side of the bass and turn it into a sidecar?

My uncle rode a motorbike from Yorkshire to London with a large Christmas tree strapped to his back, walked into a transport cafe and pulled all their Christmas decorations down.

[blinddrew]

Finally had chance to have a proper look at that video Henry, that's close to what I'm thinking but being as I'm just looking at taking it to the pub and back I don't think I need it to be so "engineered". I think I've worked out the basic principles of it but I need to take a wander round B&Q and work out a couple of details.

[blinddrew]

Oh yes, and I'm off to pull up some Blind Pilots stuff on youtube!

[DaveFry]

My DB fits on a golf trolley I found in a charity shop for £3 . Could be adapted for towing behind a bicycle methinks .....

[Owencf]

Maybe Berrythebass could adapt his creation?
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/205617-new-easy-fit-wheeled-cradle-wheelbass/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/205617-new-easy-fit-wheeled-cradle-wheelbass/[/url]
Someone has probably already suggested this before

[Pete B]

Was seriously considering starting a thread about which motors people have successfully fitted a 4/4 double bass into, but this one has shamed me into not bothering! Anyone who considers gigging a DB on a push bike is my hero

[bobmartin]

[quote name='Pete B' timestamp='1374616117' post='2151053']
Was seriously considering starting a thread about which motors people have successfully fitted a 4/4 double bass into..
[/quote]

I know someone who can get a D/B, Sousaphone, and a Roland bass amp into a “Smart” car. He has to take the bass cover off though.

[bassace]

I've got a gig in Oxford on Sunday. Rather than pay those grasping bastards £13 to park my car in the centre (on a Sunday!) I'm going to bring the bass in via park and ride. But not cycle.

[timbo1978]

This is brilliant singer song writer / cellist Ben Sollee, who toured America with his cello strapped to his bike... [attachment=141294:bike-tour-ben-Sollee.jpg.492x0_q85_crop-smart.jpg]

[aonindy]

I was looking at bass bags on thomann the other day and saw some with small wheels, useful, but more useful for a bike, back pack style shoulder straps...

[fatgoogle]

Anyone ever see these little buggy things people pull the kids around in attached to the back of their bikes? I was thinking maybe one of those and a couple of those stretchy ties holding it down. Im moving further away from my orchestra this year so carrying a bass is starting to look like a bit of a nightmare this year.

Like on of these bad boys. looks like it comes with straps and everything

http://www.amazon.com/InStep-Single-Bicycle-Trailer-Green/dp/B002QAZ8WC/ref=sr_1_2/182-4760188-7703618?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1377876837&sr=1-2

[timbo1978]

This looks relatively doable...
[attachment=142872:2011-06-27_14-56-28_211_Edmonton.jpg]

[latequartet]

I've been thinking carefully about this for a while and looking at various options.

What I don't like about http://mattrobertsmusic.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/bicycle-trailer-for-bass-amp.html is the bass on its side with the neck becoming weight bearing.

I was putting my bass in a kiddy bike trailer but was concerned about the forces the instrument receives.

I'm not thinking carefully about all tension on the bass going through a simple hard case (i.e. one from Gear4Music) so that it can lie on a wide trailer but on its back and strapped on at the balance point ... thoughts anyone?

[ubassman]

Crazy, crazy idea to put the weight on the neck !

The bass needs to be on its side on something like thick foam that will have shock absorbing spring like effect. The neck also needs to be supported so that its not stuck out in a cantilever. Otherwise every shock and bounce from every pot hole, manhole, cobble will take its toll on the bass.

[blinddrew]

Hmm, having started this thread the music night that I was going to use the trailer for has moved to my side of town so I haven't really got any further with my plans. Should do though as I've bought most of the bits I need.