Submitted by fossilfool on Mon, 12/31/2007 - 13:02.
This was the sound system at the mc3 performance ride
Flickr images originally uploaded by kendra the wild
Many people use bike trailers to bring the beat at large group rides like Critical Mass. Trailers make it easy to get started, since you can use a simple box rather than having to engineer a cabinet that surrounds your rear wheel.
But trailer-based systems put the beat much further from your ears, meaning that you have to turn up the volume much louder to feel like you are 'in the music'. This means you'll end up using much more powerful amps and speakers, and larger, heavier batteries. All this means that you are much less likely to use a trailer-based party bike for impromptu cruises (with 5-10 friends) and more likely to save it for larger, planned rides.
I love the bike culture touches this fabricator put on his system - the bike wheel and sprockets used as speaker grills. But there's no escaping the fact that this system, and all trailer systems, look like a bike towing a box.
In my opinion an integrated long-wheelbase party bike, a Soul Cycle, is a much much easier way to create a cosmic 'craft'.
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True but...
You make a good point Kendra but..
While I certainly admire the Soul Cycles there are benefits to trailer systems. Unfortunately, I can't afford a Soul Cycle nor would it last long if I left it outside in my neighborhood. Plus, its ideal for people who only own one bike.
There are some really nice trailer systems out there...
...and I can't afford a soul cycle classic either. I also don't know jack about how to build a sound system for a bike, nor do I have the space in my studio apartment for a large trailer system.
So I opted for the soul cycle head unit-more cost effective than the soul cycle classic($475 i believe). Small-it fits on your handle bars. With your ipod I think it weighs just over a pound. I attach two 6 x 9's on my xtracycle(You could probably attach them to a bike rack on mountain bike also) and take them to rides.
It's not as loud as much larger trailer systems running on car batteries. But it's loud enough for 30 person ride. And I can easily attach everything to my bike in a few minutes, add some down low glows and lately some skull halloween lights that I found at Rite aid for $7.99 and go cruisin. The head unit, essentially allows my bike to be a commuter bike one moment, and then when I need it, it becomes a party bike. The head unit is not as cool looking as the classic, but with a little creativity you can always decorate your bike to look more like a party bike.
I also like that my ipod and volume control, on off switch are all right there at my finger tips in case I need to turn it down or off while on a ride. Some trailer systems that I've seen have volume controls behind the rider's seat, which could be a problem if Mr. Police Officer is asking you to turn it down while on a ride.
I'm sure for $475 you could probably make one for cheaper, but again, i don't know jack about sound systems, nor do I have the time to learn how to build them. For some ride organizers, I think this is a good alternative to a trailer system.