Hooter on two wheels...

[olaness]

I'm taking my bike license in not very long and have got a lovely Aprilia in my sights...

So

I know there are a few local tuba players who get around on two wheels, and I know one of them to actually make a little cushioning system to put the tuba on. I have seen this system in action, but am struggling to see how it would work on a front-action instrument (the guy who showed me has a Besson EEb, top-action). I have a Besson EEb which I see no problem riding around with, but I also have a PT6 rotary which could need some more care.

Any one out there who do ride around on your bikes with your tubas on the back of it, I'd like to hear you experiences; if anyone have got any advice I'd like to hear that too! Especially when it comes to getting to gigs in questionable style, but with great fun with my big CC...

Ola

[The Big Ben]

I'd get a hack and put it in there. Seems to be too out in the open on the back. It would be so easy to fall over and put a big wang in a $10K horn.

I have a BMW R90/6 and it would make a good hackcicle. Being a tuba player with a hack would have some of that Essential Tuba Eccentricity....

[MartyNeilan]

I used to ride my bicycle everywhere, including teaching and even some gigs, with a tuba on my back. If you had a backpack style gigbag with straps that fit well, maybe you could go that route.

[Donn]

Any one out there who do ride around on your bikes with your tubas on the back of it, I'd like to hear you experiences; if anyone have got any advice I'd like to hear that too! Especially when it comes to getting to gigs in questionable style, but with great fun with my big CC...

Well, as you surmise, top piston Eb is easy. I do this on my old Moto Guzzi, with ideally my Orsi because it's Italian, but also the old Eb Giant Bass. (Acquired for $200 and $300 respectively.)

I use bicycle inner-tubes to secure it sideways across the back - they're superb for that kind of thing. I don't have cases for these tubas, and I don't use any padding.

I envision you playing your Besson a lot more in the future. The PT6 doesn't sound like a motorcycling tuba.

I have also transported tubas etc. on a bicycle, mostly using a trailer. Motorcycles can pull trailers, but I can't imagine it would be worth it unless you just don't have a car or something. That goes double for a sidecar ("hack") - expensive, hard to attach/remove, and it makes your motorcycle into a 3-wheeled vehicle that's harder to drive, takes a special license and arguably isn't as fun.

Take the course, and wear the gear, of course.

[Steve Inman]

http://www.community-newspapers.com/arc ... -0142.html

Tony Clements may be able to provide some insight for you.

Cheers,

[eupher61]

not to mention Alan Baer again...

[Christopher Lair]

Guys, this is not safe! If your bike allows it at all, get a hitch and use a trailer - AFTER you learn how to properly handle the trailer, especially when it is pushing you through a curve.

Trying to handle a bike with all that weight on your back or even occupying the rear portion of the seat could have very grave consequences. Riding motorcycles comes with a calculated risk, and this risk should be respected.

The only exception would be a situation where you have an extremely large bike and an extremely small horn. A Goldwing, for example, has the transverse piston set-up like a Beemer, which distributes the weight lower on an already huge bike. I've seen it done on one of these with a 3/4 Yammie. But if you're on a little 400 pound sportbike or even a cruiser, forget it! This is a very bad idea. You should reconsider, but if you really must take your horn on a bike, please use a trailer.

[Christopher Lair]

tubashaman, I'm very sorry to hear about your friends. I've also known a few who met an untimely and tragic end on a bike, as well as a few in cars. Personally, however, I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from riding. I am a deeply devoted motorcyclist.

But as I said, riding comes with a calculated risk. Please don't increase the risk by doing something like trying to ride with a large instrument (such as a tuba) on your back.

[Donn]

But as I said, riding comes with a calculated risk. Please don't increase the risk by doing something like trying to ride with a large instrument (such as a tuba) on your back.

I agree that, on your back, it sounds sketchy. But I haven't done it, so can't say for sure. (I did carry a string bass on my back, on a bicycle, once. After that once, I rigged up a trailer.)

I do ride with tubas strapped to the motorcycle, behind me. Mine is smaller than a Goldwing, though it's not a small motorcycle by any standard. Given that nearly every modern motorcycle is twice as big and powerful as makes any sense, I think more likely to be an issue is the carrying space. I have a classic touring style that gives me a lot of space back there to strap things on, where a `crotch rocket' could be a little awkward.

Any object that can't be securely fastened, or is large enough to extend out of the normal envelope and bang into things, isn't for motorcycle transport, of course. That PT6 may belong in this category.

[kingrob76]

A very well-known tuba player of some prominence took a spill on his motorcycle recently, spent a few days in the hospital and have to have his right wrist reconstructed. Needless to say he's not going to be playing for some time.

[olaness]

Having a sidecar mounted would kind of beat the point of having a bike for me, as that would be to get places faster than walking (where I live the traffic is BAD!), and to have some fun too. As I do know several tuba players who ride with their tubas, on various different bikes I can not see a problem with this. Of course riding a bike is a calculated risk, but so is everything in life! Walking out of your front door is a dangerous business, and indeed so is staying inside. So I'll live with that one.

As for riding with the PT6, I'll have to do some more research but it may turn out that it is queue-time when I need to use that one.

I shall keep you posted on how things are going though.

Ola