Drum-Biking

Drum-Biking is a tradition.

Or the practice also known as “bike drumming” or “jam biking” is when a cyclist, who also happens to be a percussionist, affixes percussion instruments, typically a bucket along with cymbals, cowbells, or woodblocks, to his handlebars and plays them while riding, spreading rhythmic joy for all.

I started bike drumming in December 2009 after seeing my good friend and BU Bikes co-founder Galen Mook drum bike for the first time in October for the Boston Halloween Bike Ride and thought “man, that’s awesome!” before realizing “hey, I can do that!” Since then, I have been the latest bike drummer to carry on the tradition.

Here are my latest videos:

A brief history of Bike Drumming:

2002: Joey Chang, aka CelloJoe learns to bucket drum and straps a bucket to his bike, and starts drumming all over Boston.

2007: Noah Plotkin inherits Joey Chang’s original drum bike after Joey moves to California.

2008: Galen Mook inherits original drum bike from Noah, starts drumming around Boston.

2009Greg Hum(that’s me!) is inspired by Galen Mook to add a bucket to his own bike after realizing he can combine his two favorite passions: drumming and cycling to spread a wave of audible joy everywhere he goes, even in other cities.

2010: Galen and Greg can be heard bike-drumming individually in and around Boston on their daily commutes, and at large social bicycle gatherings such as Critical Mass. CelloJoe Drum-bikes on the west Coast, sometimes with his Cello.