I think it will work good for you on the bike.

Susie - hey, yeah got it last week. Like it. Haven't used it on the bike yet, but I've carried it around the house and stuff. Like the pocket it has, wish the straps were a bit longer and padded though.

Have you gotten your case from Elderly's yet? I was there on Sat. and picked up a new tenor uke. Can't wait to start having fun with that. Thought of you when I was there.

Absolutely beautiful pics Robin. Improvising is always best, worked out good for you it seems anyway.

Hey Mandy,

I had the same problem with carrying my dulcimer when I was on a wild camping trip on the West Coast of Scotland. In the end I just wrapped a load of trailer straps around my hard case and set off on the trip

Oh well, the case worked as good map holder, and a table for my camping stove!!!!!!!

But I did get to play in some pretty cool locations!

Bobby - I guess that's better than carrying your Tommy Gun in a violin case like the gangsters did!

I've already got a case coming. Hey Bobby - I'd rather have the assault rifle anyway. LOL

Bow cases too. Can you tell we have a Bass Pro Shop nearby?

A lot of John's kids use gun cases for dulcimer cases. Might work!

Thanks, I already ordered that one Linda Jo. And Paul - I didn't have a case or anything to put it in, but throughout this thread I ended up ordering one that already had the backpack straps on it. Thanks

If you have a case or gig bag, you can get a set of back pack straps to use with it. http://www.berkshire.net/~mmipro/

I bought the guitar size one to use with my banjo as it has a heavy wooden case and weighs a TON! Bought it from the aforementioned Elderly, in fact. Scroll down to the small model, and see if it looks like it would work. Seems if it fits a fiddle case, it should work for a dulcimer. The straps go around and under a guitar case, and buckle in place.

Paul

What about the McSpadden dulcimer cases that have the backpack straps. I use mine all the time and have some friends with cycles and they just put them on their back and go.

Hey Cool we have the same type of Dulcimer. Guess I am like Geekling I am always catching new bugs to but never seem to get over any of them.

Mandy said:

, I've caught it bad too. So I'll dream of new dulcimers until the day comes when I can get one.

Cool thanks Geekling. Hey that's my dulcimer too (bought from elderly). the model 58 deluxe, I like it. I'm super bad about bashing things into other things and breaking stuff (but at least my hubby is too). It's not that we're careless I just think we are both driven (yeah that's a nice word) and want to mess with something until it breaks. Hahah. I have dings a few dings already in my new dulcimer from dropping stuff on it or banging it. I'm super careful about my $$ banjo, so I don't mess with it as much. I'd rather get the play-time out of it and not worry about dripping a drop of water from my drink or anything else on it.

Glad to hear that everyone thinks this will work well.

oh, ok. Sorry. My bad that I didn't check out the size of her dulcimer.

Thats a nice gigbag for larger dulcimers. My FolkRoots fits in it really well. But, based on Mandy's dulcimer measurements, I think it would be a bit large. My McSpadden would be swimming in it. But for folks who need a larger gigbag, it's a great gigbag. I got mine last year at the Midland Dulcimer Festival at a great price.

Jim Fawcett said:

Hahahahah!!! That's great! They've actually raided my wallet quite a few times as well. I like dealing with them. Bought my first banjo through them, and most recently my first dulcimer through them as well. Thanks for getting them to stock it, made my day with their reasonable shipping charges. I've had great service through them each time I've bought something.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-full-sized-Deluxe-Dulcimer-Gig-Bag-carry-case-/110793410439?pt=String_Instrument_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19cbcd4787#ht_3380wt_1037 here's a link to a bag like I have Mandy. It has shoulder straps like you want. I got one like it with the dulcimer I just bought. I just ordered another for my other dulcimer.

To be honest with you, Elderlys wasn't carrying the Mc Spadden gigbag as a seperate item until I needed one a couple years ago. I talked to their dulcimer buyer and asked him if he would get me one. He said sure, and decided that it should be a regularly stocked accessory. They know me way too well at Elderly. They have freed me of alot of my money over the last nearly 40 years. They are my "candy store".

Elderlys is my store here in MI. Been going there since 1974. They have great prices and service. Can't go wrong there. Glad to hear you'll be all set to ride and play.

Now Barbara! You are trying to get me into trouble. I can hardly scrape up enough for a bag let alone a new dulcimer. Haha.

FYI - Mcspadden wants $40.00 for the case and $25 for shipping??????? That's insane IMO. The thing is a soft case and weighs nothing. Elderly has it for $40 plus like $8 bucks for shipping, at least they are reasonable.

Just talked to my wonderful hubby at lunch and he said to go ahead and get it for mother's day!! Yippie.

Hey Barbara, thanks for measuring it for me!! I'm gonna get one!

You all have been such a great help. I probably would have ended up with something crazy if not for you all.

I'm thinking the McSpadden might still work ok. 1/2" probably won't matter. Since the gigbags are softsided, they give a little. If you were to order one, I'd see what their return policy is from where you are getting it, just to be sure. My larger one would be much too big for what you need. I don't know much about the Applecreek gigbags, but I still think for riding a bike, where you don't want something shifting around on your back, the backpack straps would work better. There would be no shifting around. You don't want your mind on keeping the dulcimer on the right spot on your back, you want your mind on the road, when you are riding. Just my opinion, though.

I just found the navy Mcspadden one but it says it won't fit my dulcimer. Mine is a half inch wider than what it will fit.

My dulcimer measures 32 1/2 by 7 1/2 and that would be a tight fit.

Do ya'll think this one might work? It doesn't look like it's got the backpack straps but it looks like it's got a long strap to go around and I could cinch it up so it's almost vertical. I may have to wait until I can get a better one, short on cash until I can craigslist some more stuff, LOL.

Susie , thanks for the pic that really shows it. I'm hoping something like that will do the trick.

Ken - when i said messenger bag style I meant diagonally on the back. that sounds great, I'm gonna see what I can find.

I wonder if I can get one in cool colors though too. Thanks for the help ya'll.

Susie,

That's awesome! We used to ride almost every day. We had a 30 mile loop that we did with several good hills in it and one huge climb in it. Here's a quick pic to give you an idea of the grade, it's the mens portion of the race held there annually. It was like a block from where I worked, so my husband would come with the bikes when I got off and I'd change and we'd hit it with some other riders all the time. Man I was in serious shape then, now UGGGHHH.

We did that all the time and went down the road to the Gaps in Georgia. Did a century ride in Tn. called the 3 State 3 Mountain challenge. Couple half centuries too. Mtn. biked Tsali a ton (the views are amazing). I miss cycling. Had a sweet full carbon Titus Oseo bike with full Campy Record on it too. Since we had our daughter we stopped riding. Now that she's 5, we can ride some, so we are excited about riding again.

Susie said:

Vertical is the best way to carry a dulcimer, IMHO. The head will stick up above yours, and that's OK. Slung 'messenger bag' style it'll be banging into everything. Slung diagonally across your back - 'quiver style' is OK too, but to me vertical is best.

I don't own a car anymore; where I live I can bike to almost everything I need. I ride my bike with my Bag Lady double Dulcimer bag (with backpack straps) all the time. The bottom end hangs down a bit (but not as far as the back fender) and the top is over my head.

Mandy, Here's a picture I found showing how the McSpadden case lays on your back, with the two backpack straps. Its from the Evart Dulcimer Festival (my sister andme on our way to class). Hope this helps you see how it works.

Mandy,

Yes, my husband and I ride. We've ridden DALMAC, 6 times, which is a 5 day ride from Lansing, MI to the Mackinac Bridge (connects the two peninsulas of MI). It's about 350 miles. When we get to the bridge, we are escorted across the bridge by the MB Authority. It's really cool. We've done several other rides here in MI. It's good exercise and you get to see the sights that you don't see and appreciate in a car. Glad to see you are getting excited about riding. Nice thing is, you can ride however and wherever you want.....it's your choice. Taking the dulcimer along for the ride is a great idea. It's not a heavy instrument, so it would work well for that.

Hey Susie,

I didn't realize they had good straps. I've never seen one up close, LOL. I was really looking for something with a messenger type strap, but the backpacker straps sound good. I guess I see my dulcimer as larger than it really is because I would have thought that having it vertical wouldn't work. Haha.

I would prefer to have something I've made or something homemade over that, but I'll probably end up with that.

So you ride? Ummm I may need to talk bikes with you. I used to really ride (mtn and road) but that was awhile back before my daughter came along. I love talking bikes! Thanks for your idea, I'm going to go look at them.

Mandy, why wouldn't a typical gigbag work, like Ken suggested? I have two different gigbags, one is a McSpadden and the other is a bit larger for my FolkRoots dulcimer (it's not a Folkcraft brand, its universal). Both have backpack straps which are adjustable. You can put it over both shoulders alowing the dulcimer to be positioned vertically on the center of your back. They are very comfortable. The bags are nicely padded, too, to allow for decent protection of your dulcimer. For your purpose (riding on a bike), I really think it would work great. I'm a long distance bike rider, so I know the position you'd be in. Knowing how these gigbags work and feel, I think you should give it a try.

Great idea SAM!! Oooh I gotta go look in the garage and see what we got. Cool!

Swipe the bag from one of those folding lawn chairs. 'bout the right size, has a draw string closer, shoulder strap, HEAVY rip stop nylon ... AMAZING colors (if you look). Works good, I'm using one for a dulcimer I take with me sometimes. The one I have is in electric lilac ... a bit feminine but really bright and cheery.

Ken - good idea about the sweatpants, that would get me started anyway. Thanks!

We call them Gig Bags. Sort of like a quiver for your dulcimer. Unpadded or lightly padded. Some sort of top closure. Some sort of strap. Simple one you can make until you find one you like: Start with a pair of old sweatpants with long legs. Cut off one leg, and sew the ankle shut. Punch holes and make a draw string closure for the top. Add a strap. Yer good to go.

Dennis Waldrop's wife Elaine makes nice ones for $30. Here's the discussion:

http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/forum/topics/question-to-my-fellow-dulcimer-friends-about-bags

Cool Phil, thanks for asking her.

My wife is a retired sithcher used to make rain wear. Now she a full time quilter. Let me talk to her and see if she has any Ideals. IN the past she has made case for my Flutes. maybe she can take the same Ideal an apple it to a dulcimer. Don't be afraid to PM if I forget to get back with you.

Ok so I want to ride my bike on the local rail to trail and bring my dulcimer. Thing is I have no strap or case. I want something that I can strap around me like a messenger bag only it be a dulcibag. I want an adjustable strap so I can tighten and loosen, and I want something like thick canvas in case it rains I'll have a bit of protection until I can get to cover. To top it off it's gotta look cool. Any solutions anyone? Something I can either make myself or get on the cheap is preferred of course. Haha. I haven't really seen anything like this out there but maybe I missed it. Regular canvas carrying cases won't do because it almost needs to cradle my dulci like a baby. I don't want it bouncing around on the rides either. I don't have a sewing machine or I'd already try and make something.