If I wasn't a musician, I think I'd want to be a bicyclist. During the summer, I tend to spend the mornings riding and the afternoons readin', writin', and researchin'. Lately, I've been thinking about why these two things in particular appeal to me, and about possible intersections between the two.
First, I think one of the things that appeals to me about music and bicycling is that, despite some technical innovations in both (here, I'm speaking of instruments more so than sonic phenomena), the fundamental technology has remained the same. A violin made today looks pretty much like a violin made 300 years ago. Sure, we no longer have gut strings--they've been changed to steel--but the general principle remains: drag a stick with horsehair on it across the string and it makes a sound. Same thing with bikes: a rear derailleur (the device that changes gears in the back of the bike) is smaller and lighter than the rear derailleurs of yesteryear, but it still operates on the same principle of cable tension--no fancy electronics (for the most part). And bicycles of today still have two wheels and require a human being to supply the power.
There are other similarities, too. Rhythm is an important aspect of both activities. The musical side of this should be obvious. Cyclists try to maintain a steady tempo (speed), and many cyclists are concious of their cadence (the number of pedal rpms). Many cycle computers come equipped with a cadence feature.
Here are some interesting intersections of the two worlds, many of which are courtesy of my favorite cyling blog, Bike Hugger:
There are, of course, a variety of songs written about bicycling: "Bicycle built for two," Queen's "Bicycle race," and Pink Floyd's "Bike," to name a few.
I think this is going to be my retirement book--when I'm old and grey and my publisher is banging down my door for yet another book...
Well, they're not exactly banging down my door for a first book yet, so I have a ways to go...
First, I think one of the things that appeals to me about music and bicycling is that, despite some technical innovations in both (here, I'm speaking of instruments more so than sonic phenomena), the fundamental technology has remained the same. A violin made today looks pretty much like a violin made 300 years ago. Sure, we no longer have gut strings--they've been changed to steel--but the general principle remains: drag a stick with horsehair on it across the string and it makes a sound. Same thing with bikes: a rear derailleur (the device that changes gears in the back of the bike) is smaller and lighter than the rear derailleurs of yesteryear, but it still operates on the same principle of cable tension--no fancy electronics (for the most part). And bicycles of today still have two wheels and require a human being to supply the power.
There are other similarities, too. Rhythm is an important aspect of both activities. The musical side of this should be obvious. Cyclists try to maintain a steady tempo (speed), and many cyclists are concious of their cadence (the number of pedal rpms). Many cycle computers come equipped with a cadence feature.
Here are some interesting intersections of the two worlds, many of which are courtesy of my favorite cyling blog, Bike Hugger:
Bikes featured in Japanese hip-hop video (these are mostly single-speed track bikes used in the popular Japanese sport of Kierin racing.
53x11, a cyclist/blogger/composer who writes music with a cyclist's cadence in mind (useful especially for those days on the indoor trainer). (53x11 refers to a combination of gears: 53-tooth front chainring and an 11-tooth cog in the back.)
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite played entirely on bicycle parts (I learned this summer that you can basically true a wheel--make sure it spins without wobbles--by adjusting all of the spokes to the same pitch, i.e., tension)
There are, of course, a variety of songs written about bicycling: "Bicycle built for two," Queen's "Bicycle race," and Pink Floyd's "Bike," to name a few.
I think this is going to be my retirement book--when I'm old and grey and my publisher is banging down my door for yet another book...
Well, they're not exactly banging down my door for a first book yet, so I have a ways to go...