Bike Moving: A Cheap & Eco-Friendly Option

Posted on July 23rd, 2010 by Paulina Aguilera

Want to relocate your house with minimum impact on the environment? Consider moving house on your bike, and I don’t mean your chopper. I’m talking about the two-wheeler that’s driven solely on your energy.

Bicycle moving is quickly catching on as eco-warriors across the nation eliminate the need for the diesel behemoths that usually move us. It’s a cheaper way to relocate your stuff than hiring a moving company and, with the exception of food and drink, you don’t need to pay for or consume any energy.

So how exactly is a bike move conducted? First and foremost, if your name is not Lance Armstrong, then keep it local. Can you imagine cycling from New York to L.A. with a washing machine in tow? Unless you’re in the running for the Strongman competition, stay within no more than a 10-mile radius.

Have like-minded friends that are up for the physical fitness challenge help you move with their bikes. One of the best reasons to organize a bike move is the amount of help you’ll have on both ends of your trip. Think about it: if you have 5 other people helping you move, that means 10 extra hands working together to settle you in to your new house!

The gear needed for a successful bike move is minimal. Bike trailers are available to help you load the heavier items, like your couch and entertainment center, to your new place. Or you can opt for a “longtail” bike that is specially designed as a hauling transport with its longer frame. Check out I Like Bike to see what a longtail looks like. You can also go to Xtracycle and buy an extension for your current bike that elongates your ride by 20 ft. Don’t forget those bungee cords and plenty of rope!

If you’re wondering whether you really can tow a washing machine on a bicycle, the answer is yes. You can actually tow a washing machine and a dryer at the same time – by strapping each one to either side of your bike!

Here are a couple of other good rules of thumb to go by during your bike move:

• Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the ride and at your stops.
• Eat often because you’ll be using a lot of energy, and get some munchies for your bicycle buddies as well.
• Make sure you don’t relocate when it’s blistering hot outside! Bike moves are best done in milder weather or early evening so you don’t kill yourself or your friends while moving.

It may take a few trips to complete the move, but the experience of do-it-yourself moving with your bicycle has proven to be exhilarating for the folks who have done it. Check out a few videos on YouTube (type “bike move” in the search box) for some home videos of people saving our environment while hauling a house, pedal push by pedal push!

Related Articles:

1. Grounds and Gears: Guzzle Up a Great Cup of Brewtus at a Bike Cafe
2. Attention All Avid Bike Riders: Here’s How You Find the Perfect Location
3. Can’t Decide What Washing Machine to Get for Your New Home? Here are Some Tips

Tags: bike moving, eco friendly

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 9:58 am and is filed under Learning Center. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.