Living Car Free - musicians - hauling gear?

Hi everyone. This is my first post here. I did a quick search, but maybe this has been covered somewhere already.

I play in two bands and am pretty happy not owning a car. Luckily my bandmates are all understanding about this, and I'm able to leave stuff at my practice spaces and catch rides with them when we play shows.

I'm considering starting a solo project though, or at least playing out solo a little more, and I'm wondering how others haul their stuff. It's not that it would be the end of the world to hitch a ride to these shows, but I think it would be nice to be able to be as self reliant as possible and at the same time show my commitment to the "cause", whatever that is.

I've been looking at trailers for a while, but I'm really concerned about keeping my stuff dry and protected from shock. A couple of bags of groceries getting thrashed around is one thing, but I'd hate to hit a pothole and have some solder joints come loose on my Vibro Champ or have to deal with a musty or waterlogged guitar case. It would also be very nice to be able to haul a small drum set from time to time.

Soo... How do y'all do it?

I only haul stuff with a converted child seat trailer, but this site would probably be a good starting place for you. They have a trailer you can haul a refrigerator on, so a drum set should be do able.
http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/

I second bhchdh, but want to add that I've been in touch with Andrew at http://www.cargotrailer.ca; and he can make you a custom trailer for all your stuff. If you get a softtop trailer to keep out the elements, you can even put some promotional stuff on it for advertising (watch out for the wind ;)). A custom trailer seems like the less expensive, more versitile option, but you could get a cargo trike: from my research all the good ones are in Europe and they're quite a lot more money: http://www.workcycles.com/.

A DIY punk band in North Carolina toured the state on bikes in 2002.

http://www.slavemagazine.com/deadthings/poster1.jpg

http://www.slavemagazine.com/deadthings

My situation is not exactly yours, but I throw in my thoughts.

I cycled a relatively short distance (for me) with a classical guitar and a mandolin. I would stick the mandolin in its hard case and put it in my pannier. I slung the guitar (in a very nice, perfect fitting hard case) over my shoulder. This made for some interesting riding in wind, but I became used to it quickly.

I noticed the guitar really did not get affected by bumps because of the sway in my shoulder strap, and the fact I did not ride aggressively.

Sounds though like trailer is your best bet.

This is why I believe I'll always have a car. As much as I hate driving these days, I can't really see myself lugging an 40kg guitar amp around in a trailer.

I'm a piano player. Even with a car, I was always screwed on that count. There is just no lugging a Steinway model M around from place to place.

At least there are always violins.

i have a large backpack that i've found is useful for a month's groceries. i figured i could fir a guitar's body in there. and i can fit that, my banjo, and my mandolin all in there. the necks stick out and passing cars make me nervous. but it is sort of cool...it's like being a bike riding musical ninja. it's not the best solution, but it works if i'm careful and in dry weather. however, i can't play sober because i get awful stage fright with my solo project and so i ride my beater and leave my instruments with trusted friends...to avoid breakage of anything.

I once carried a tenor sax (shaped case, on my back), alto sax (across the rack), clarinet, flute and piccolo (between two panniers) and stands for all but the piccolo (also between the two panniers), but only for about 2 miles and very slowly. Felt very vulnerable and unstable. Would probably have been ok without the alto... But all that was for an amateur (student) musical, so I could leave it all at the theatre for the week-long run.

I think if I had to do it regularly a trailer has to be the way to go...

This is why I believe I'll always have a car. As much as I hate driving these days, I can't really see myself lugging an 40kg guitar amp around in a trailer.

Unfortunately I do need a car as well. Pulling a 7 piece drum kit in a trailer is really not an option I'm afraid, esp. when the hardware case alone weighs close to 40kg.

There's a band called "bicycle" whom BIKE Magazine did an article on a while ago. They tour on bikes using bob trailers. Maybe google them?