Jan 28, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Listen: A Symphony Where Bike Parts Are the Instruments

Photos by Devin Whetstone
01
bike-02
In his breakout single *[Bespoken](https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bespoken-single/id762672957)*, musician Flip Baber, AKA Johnnyrandom, treats bike parts like instruments in a symphony.
Photos by Devin Whetstone
02
bike-06
Dragging a guitar pick on a knobby mountain bike tire sounds similar to a slightly distorted electric bass guitar.

Photos by Devin Whetstone
03
bike-05
The bike's spokes were the star of the show. "For each note, I would tune all of the spokes in a wheel to the same exact pitch to avoid unwanted overtones via sympathetic vibration," says Baber. "Tuned in unison, they sound gorgeous."
Photos by Devin Whetstone
04
bike-01
Disc brake rotors double as gongs, and when properly tapped, can ring for a minute or more.

Photos by Devin Whetstone
05
bike-07
The idea of using unconventional instruments to make music has been an obsession of Baber's since childhood.
Photos by Devin Whetstone
06
bike-04
"I was never satisfied with my results up until now," says Baber. "Even with some of my favorite composers, found-object manipulation was often presented as noisy, atonal or arhythmic."

Photos by Devin Whetstone
07
bike-03
Baber notes that the slightest adjustment in mic position or playing technique can have dramatic consequences. "The first time I tried this, it took an hour to capture just one note."
Photos by Devin Whetstone
08
bike-08
Waiting for an encore? "The other day I was using a metal teaspoon and it bounced off the edge of the countertop and rang out, like it was demanding to be heard," he says. "I looked at it and said, 'Ok, you’re next.'"

The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For

AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.

Miles Klee

A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why

Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.

Stephanie Pearson

It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend

Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.

Luke Larsen

There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home

Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.

Jeremy White

The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones

As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.

Miles Klee

Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good

This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.

Christopher Null

The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App

The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.

Matthew Korfhage