I’ve got a crazy idea to cycle through Europe from the UK with a drum kit. Wanting to build a drumkit that will fit in the front basket and then will assemble onto the bike. Bike itself is in working order, three gears on it and drum brakes. Picked it because it was sturdy and could take the weight of the kit. What’s the stupidity level I’m talking about here? Will the weight be too much for a three gear? Any advice on how I could make this achievable or is it dead before I even start..
by Mr-Tambourine-Man
5 Comments
Yes, unless you are just using it to shop in one city. Or riding around Holland!
I’ve seen people do lots of dumb things touring, you just have to be that bad ass. I met a guy who toured for two years on a bike he FOUND in Guatemala. Won’t be easy or comfortable, but you can do it! Australians do this kind of shit everyday
Sure, why not? Although be sure that you can get the seat high enough that you can pedal properly.
Touring can be 30km a day and it can be 230km a day. It’s all touring. Do what you like.
There is a German man who cycled 600.000 kilometers around the world. Most of that distance he covered with the same stone age 3 speed bicycle he set out with at age 22. Heinz Stücke is his name.
So, can it be done? Certainly! Will it be a nice ride? Probably not. I doubt that this thing can give you a proper riding position, which is the most important as you will be pedaling many hours a day. It will do seriously harm your body if the position is off.
Also, you should make a huge detour to avoid any type of hill, not even thinking of mountains. To give you an idea, we cycled 14.000 kms by now and we run 26″ wheels with a 11-36t cassette and chainrings 44-32-22t, which give us a huge range and low gearing for steep inclines. If I could, I would take more gear range any day.
But if you are 100% sure that your riding position is good, go for it!
I’d be afraid the gear range might be problematic getting up hills loaded. Typically IGH rear wheels are kinda a hassle to take the wheel off for fixing flats, but this one seems to at least have vertical-ish drop-outs and a chain tensioner so maybe it is incrementally easier, although you may or may not want to disconnect the cable when removing the wheel.