I was fortunate enough to get to play roadie last week… but not that kind of roadie. I’m still solely dedicated to the dirt when it comes to racing. I’m talking band roadie here. And oddly enough, it involved bicycles.

When I first heard about the ‘Ditch the Van’ tour, I assumed it had to be a gimmick that didn’t involve any real riding or it had to be a collection of hack musicians who wanted an excuse to ride bikes around and marinate in their own stench. But, this is the real deal – talented musicians, fantastic music, and an actual nationwide tour by bike. The band consists of Ben Sollee (cello/vocals/banter) and Jordon Ellis (drums/comic relief), and they are accompanied by Katie Benson (manager/head out of the clouds) and Marty Benson (photographer/documentarian/French translator). They are riding on ridiculously heavily loaded touring bikes, riding some 40-70miles between shows. Jordon tows an indivisible 100# drum kit on a flimsy trailer (see below); Katie tows the band merchandise on another trailer; Marty puts his beret in a handlebar bag; and Ben has a side-mount on an xtracycle for his cello. You see Ben’s bike on the road and can’t help but think: “Really? The cello? Really? Play something lighter… like a fiddle. A carbon fiddle with holes drilled out to save weight – that’s what I’d play…” Somehow it works, though.

 
Go check out the music: www.bensollee.com .  Really amazing stuff.

Anyway, the band stayed with us in Frederick, MD for a few nights during their tour. We saw the show at Nola and drank late into the night and had a great time. I then joined them the following day on their ride down to the next show in Bethesda. I offered to tow the drum kit on my Trek 69er Singlespeed (mistake #1) and I challenged Jordon to a race, thinking that an athlete towing a 100# drum kit should still be able to beat a musician without load (mistake #2). I also got the band lost somewhere in the suburbs of Bethesda and I broke the drum-loaded trailer when I took a curb a bit too fast (mistakes #3, #4). If it had been a reality show called ‘Joining the Band’, I’d have been given the axe at least six different times during that ride. Regardless, I rigged up the trailer using my improvisational engineering skills, the band made it to the venue, and the show was great.

I was pretty tired after hauling the drum kit just 45 miles and yet, riding a bike is my job?!? So, I have much respect for what is being done on this tour. As Ben mentioned to me, they could have easily done the tour using the standard bus concept and made more money along the way, but they’d have forgotten what town they were in last and which they were going to next. Instead, they chose to slow down the pace of life and experience the community as can only be done by bike. If only more would do the same...