Bike riding with a guitar

[neilfein]

I needed to be somewhere on monday with my guitar and didn't have a ride, so I thought...Is it safe to take a guitar on a bike? I picked up a backpack gig bag and tried riding around the block. I had to adjust the pack a lot, but honestly I was more worried about the guitar than being top-heavy, it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

But then I realized (on the way home, in semi-dark) that the bottom of the guitar might be blocking the rear LED. I asked my wife to snap a picture of me in the bike with the guitar, anyone thing thls looks particularly unsafe?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/500258396_60deecec7b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/500258396/)

The light is not that bright, to my regret. The red is a visualization aid. But now I want one of those lights!

[Sprocket Man]

. . .anyone thing thls looks particularly unsafe?. . .The most unsafe thing I see is the fact that you're trying to ride up the stairs.:)

[ollo_ollo]

Barefoot!

[ollo_ollo]

Seriously, it should be do-able but you might need to relocate your blinkie. I see kids around here doing it but usually they have a hard case of some kind.

[DevLaVaca]

Try putting another strap on your bag (using the same eyelet) so you can put one over each shoulder. You can also go around the other side of your waist for extra security, making an x over your chest.

Also, why not buy a $5 clip-on blinkie and put it on the bag? Problem solved!

[neilfein]

Try putting another strap on your bag

You can't really see it in the pic, but there are indeed two straps. The waist strap is a good idea, have to look into that.

Also, why not buy a $5 clip-on blinkie and put it on the bag?

I thought abut that. I'm considering getting an over-the-back-wheel rack, and putting it under that would also solve the problem. (The light is kinda scrunched under the seat anyway.) How much weight do they add?

[dobber]

I'd be looking at adorning the back of the bag with reflective tape and blinkies. With that much square footage, you could create quite the attention getter.

[JustBrowsing]

And run a flag up the neck of the gigbag.

[neilfein]

Maybe I could sell ad space.

[kokomo61]

Easy problem to solve - 2nd strap for your other arm (if you don't already have one). I see a music folder pocket on the back of the gig bag - clip a row of blinkies onto that.

...oh. And put some shoes on.

[rickbsgu]

In Amsterdam, I saw a woman riding with a cello to the concert house.

Same kind of setup.

(At least, I think it was a cello. Could have been a tommy gun...)

rickb

[sbhikes]

Maybe you should switch to the tin whistle. Much more portable, sounds great, and only costs $7.

[joejack951]

I thought abut that. I'm considering getting an over-the-back-wheel rack, and putting it under that would also solve the problem. (The light is kinda scrunched under the seat anyway.) How much weight do they add?

You are riding a bike with a guitar on your back and you are concerned about the weight of a bike rack? :eek: :)

My Old Man Mountain rack weighs about 1 lb. and is rated for a 40 lb. max load. You can get heavier duty racks that weigh a little more depending on your needs. I'd say that most racks average around 1.5-2 lbs. (about the amount of weight I lose overnight while sleeping and using the potty).

[neilfein]

You are riding a bike with a guitar on your back and you are concerned about the weight of a bike rack? :eek: :)

I don't always ride with a guitar! :p

[joejack951]

I don't always ride with a guitar! :p

I should note that the one downside to a rack is that you'll find yourself ALWAYS wanting to carry something with you whereas before the rack you might have found a way around it. Kinda like women who buy bigger purses and only end up completely filling the new one too. My rack trunk is my man purse. My bike looks naked without it.

[cal_gundert05]

ORIGINAL POST:

I know our first instinct is to hop on a bike, but can you take the bus? If it's a night-time gig the busses might not be out that late (depends on where you live), but could you take the bus early, catch a movie or dinner, then go to your show? Might it be easier getting a lift home after the show?

EDIT:

Oh wait, this already happened. Whoops.

[DevLaVaca]

I should note that the one downside to a rack is that you'll find yourself ALWAYS wanting to carry something with you whereas before the rack you might have found a way around it. Kinda like women who buy bigger purses and only end up completely filling the new one too. My rack trunk is my man purse. My bike looks naked without it.It's true! It's true!

[mlh122]

get some reflective tape for the gig bag. :D

[neilfein]

I know our first instinct is to hop on a bike, but can you take the bus?

This is New Jersey. Public transportation barely exists here. :mad:

get some reflective tape for the gig bag.

Just ordered reflective tape and stickers and an extra blinker. Thanks!