Funerals

[DGR]

On page 8 of the current “Cycle”, there’s a picture of Richard Ballantine’s cycle-powered hearse. There’s a side view of the hearse at http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/Proto ... sort=2&o=9 . Being of an age where I have to contemplate my mortality, I wonder how difficult it may be for an executor to arrange for such things.

A “tandem hearse” is available, at as http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ealth.html -- but it seems cumbersome (which may be why Rev Sinclair finds it hard work). From the pictures of Richard Ballantine’s hearse, I got the impression that it may have been based on a “cargo trike”. Alternatively, adapting a “cargo trailer” –- such as one of those shown at http://www.bikesatwork.com/guides/bicyc ... tion-guide and http://www.bikesatwork.com/bike-trailers/customers -- could be an appropriate approach. But one wouldn’t want a contraption that looks undignified, or which might come adrift during the cortege!

Does anyone happen to know any UK firm which provides appropriately dignified, and reliable, human-powered vehicles (plus possibly trailers) ... and which has staff who are familiar with pedalling and manoeuvring such vehicles?

[hubgearfreak]

Does anyone happen to know any UK firm which provides appropriately dignified, and reliable, human-powered vehicles (plus possibly trailers) ... and which has staff who are familiar with pedalling and manoeuvring such vehicles?

i don't know of one, but even if there is one in the UK, unless it's local it'd be less polluting to take one's final journey in a local petrol powered hearse than have a pedal powered one brought to your location by van, wouldn't it?

[Geriatrix]

I would try to contact Shaun Ballentine through the BHPC.

[DGR]

I contacted Rev Sinclair, at http://www.motorcyclefunerals.com/. He said that their tandem hearse is actually quite quick: the perception of it being hard work came about because the press took a joke too seriously. However, his company decided that they’d better concentrate on motorcycle hearses for logistic reasons. One of the “tandem hearses” is now owned by Coop Funeralcare, and can be booked through their marketing department in Manchester.

There’s a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHknmODh ... e=youtu.be which shows what look like some test rides with the tandem hearse. I think one of the pictures on the Coop website shows the hearse in use in an actual cortege, at http://www.co-operative.coop/funeralcar ... l-cortege/.

Otherwise, there are cargo trikes, as at http://www.cyclesmaximus.com/generalfeatures.htm. This seems to have been the configuration used for Richard Ballantine’s hearse, and is the configuration used by a “funeral home” in Oregon, as shown at https://www.eta.co.uk/2013/05/22/pedal- ... ter-death/

[Mark1978]

Etiquette at funerals can be tricky. At the funeral of my wifes grandfather I was deemed close family so should go in one of the official funeral cars, from the house to the church. It being about 2 miles drive away. However it was only about 1/4 mile walk away, we could have all got there much faster walking, and yet it was deemed necessary to arrive by car. Still puzzles me that one.

[Bugbugs.com]

On page 8 of the current “Cycle”, there’s a picture of Richard Ballantine’s cycle-powered hearse. There’s a side view of the hearse at http://s1127.photobucket.com/user/Proto ... sort=2&o=9 . Being of an age where I have to contemplate my mortality, I wonder how difficult it may be for an executor to arrange for such things.

Hi, I built this hearse body in memory for one of Bugbugs riders who passed away at the age of 23 from lung disease, it upset me enormously that we only had a cargo trike at the time. I myself had a few close calls and hence we now offer this service through Green Ending funeral service, who handle all the other details. I'm hopeful that when I pass on the torch one day (not to soon), that I'll get my last mile this way.

If you feel you want this or feel it's the best way to say good-by to a friend, then either contact Bugbugs or Green endings.

[DGR]

To summarise …

A "side-car for a tandem" style of hearse - originally from Paul Sinclair http://paulandmariansinclair.com/2012/0 ... se-riders/ - is available from Cooperative Funeralcare. It’s shown at http://www.co-operative.coop/funeralcar ... l-cortege/.

A “coffin behind the rider” style is available from BugBugs. It’s shown at http://www.bugbugs.com/gallery.html

David