The bicycle: it’s hard to think of any other human invention that has inspired, or been the theme of, so much musical creation.
Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built For Two) was written by Harry Dacre in 1892 and since then music has been inextricably linked with bicycles. My first exposure to two-wheeled musicality was Bicycle Race by Queen and still, many years later, when I hear a bike bell being rung, the song starts playing over in my head.
Bradley Wiggins has been one high profile rider who has incorporated pop culture into his style, but it goes both ways. I also recall Mick Talbot from The Style Council appearing on Top of the Pops in 1984 sporting a Raleigh Campagnolo cycling jersey, bringing mods and bikes together when Wiggins was only four years old.
Some bands, such as Kraftwerk, have devoted whole albums to the bicycle, and perhaps the pumping of pedals at 90 to 120 revolutions per minute lend themselves well to the electronic drive of such music.
Other bands have used cycling to inspire their name: Bombay Bicycle Club come to mind, as do Abdoujaparov, formed after the break-up of Carter USM and named after the Uzbekistan road sprinter of the early 1990s.
This cycling-themed creativity isn’t just limited to certain genres of music either, from Glasgow based sound system Mungo’s Hifi – Bike Rider to avant-garde San Franciscan collective Deerhoof’s Midnight Bicycle Mystery, there is literally a style to suit everyone.
Some have not only written music about bicycles but have used bicycles as instruments. Composer Johnny Random sampled sounds from his bike and put them together to create a wonderful piece of music called Bespoken.
Even when the musicians don’t write about bikes, many of them will wax lyrical about their love of cycling: Beyonce, Ben Harper, Gary Kemp are all keen cyclists and some, such as drummer Neil Peart from Rush and ex-Talking Head David Byrne have written books of their experiences on their worldwide bike journeys. Byrne has even gone as far as recording an album of music and atmospheric sounds to accompany the audio reading of his book.
Music for me, dare I say it, is an even bigger passion than bicycles and I still buy and play vinyl records regularly. My collection dates back to the days when I had not long left school and my first proper job was working in Groucho’s in Dundee.
Music has a motivational quality and I often ride with a constant tune looping around in my mind, usually syncopated to my laboured breathing. When training doors I have specific playlists and there are certain tunes – Ain’t It A Sin by Charles Bradley being one – that mark a noticeable increase in my effort when they come on.
Interestingly, even as far back as 1910, the effect of music on performance was noticed. Researcher Leonard P Ayres took note, that at a six-day track race at Madison Square Gardens lap times were faster when the brass band in the track centre started playing.
Despite this I never listen to music when riding outside. Aside from potential safety issues I feel it diminishes the sensation and natural music created while out on the bike: the rush of wind, the whir of the chain and the sound of nature as you pass through it. This is the real music of the bicycle and a sound that will continue to influence musicians for many years to come.
Join the Blazing Saddles Strava Club at: www.strava.com/clubs/BlazingSaddlesWeekendCourier
Where to Ride: Templeton Wood Trails – Dundee
OS Map 54 Landranger 1:50000 – NO359344
Situated just to the north of Camperdown Park
Description: Templeton Woods is an ideal venue for a short off-road ride with the family. There is plenty to see and do in the woodland and the woodland visitor centre is an ideal start and finish point.
