Tandems.

[Bigbee]

Its quite rare to see " normal " tandems.Ive never seen an ebike version.Is there one?Why arent tandems popular?Best place after the kitchen I would of thought for the wife,sitting behind me as I make all the decisions and she only gets a view of my bum

 

[flecc]

There's been a number created using kit motors of course, but I'm sure it was BikeTech who make the Swiss Flyer bikes who made a Panasonic motored tandem at one time. It had the motor unit in the stoker position, but it doesn't seem to be listed any more.

As for the popularity, I think they don't really fit in with the image of the emancipated woman of today, and there would be few pairs of men who would ride one. There are plenty of adult and child ones though, mostly in Europe but a few are imported here.
.

 

[rog_london]

There's been a number created using kit motors of course, but I'm sure it was BikeTech who make the Swiss Flyer bikes who made a Panasonic motored tandem at one time. It had the motor unit in the stoker position, but it doesn't seem to be listed any more.

As for the popularity, I think they don't really fit in with the image of the emancipated woman of today, and there would be few pairs of men who would ride one. There are plenty of adult and child ones though, mostly in Europe but a few are imported here.
.

Tandems of all types have always interested me (so far, from a safe distance). I understand that a tandem is generally faster than two equivalent solo bikes with riders of similar ability, which is easy to accept as some of the drag components will obviously be much reduced.

They require more than a little co-operation though, and cycling is hard work even without trying to get some other masochist to pair up. You can't (effectively) use it at all solo, it's far too long to take on a train (or in any other vehicle smaller than a large van) and of course it has to fit both users, which limits the choice even further.

I did see a family version parked up against the wall at Euston station last week by coincidence - that was a tandem with a child trailer, which was probably about 5 metres long in total, so would have been an 'interesting' thing to ride in London traffic. I suppose I should have hung around to see what happened, but as usual on these occasions there was somewhere else I needed to be.

I did hear they had (maybe still do have) some popularity as a means for a blind person to experience cycling - although I suspect being a 'stoker' when you have no idea of where you're going might be an even more daunting experience.

If money were no object, how about a tandem with two Panasonic drives? That might actually work, if you used it as a single-speed and the drives could be made to balance evenly. I suspect you might have trouble getting any sort of gear system onto it though with so much total power to deal with.

I always loved the 'doctored' version of that song:

'It won't be a stylish marriage;
We can't afford a carriage,
But you'll look swell
Pedalling like hell
On a bicycle built for two'

If that doesn't put off any modern miss, I don't know what will!

Rog.

 

[flecc]

There are some jointed tandems Rog, not exactly folding but with frame jointing sockets that allow them to be halved for travel without too much difficulty. There's also one make of after market sockets that can be fitted to existing frames.

There's also some recumbent tandems that can be collapsed into smaller packages, I think Greenspeed make one.

In fact where sheer length is concerned, recumbent tandems take some beating, enough length to give some truckies an inferiority complex.
.

 

[rog_london]

There are some jointed tandems Rog, not exactly folding but with frame jointing sockets that allow them to be halved for travel without too much difficulty. There's also one make of after market sockets that can be fitted to existing frames.

There's also some recumbent tandems that can be collapsed into smaller packages, I think Greenspeed make one.

In fact where sheer length is concerned, recumbent tandems take some beating, enough length to give some truckies an inferiority complex.
.

Thanks for that - I hadn't considered 'folding' tandems, but obviously that's a much more desirable characteristic than it would be on a standard bike.

Hee hee - I was just thinking of some of the young ladies one sees on display in Croydon on a Saturday night on the back of a tandem - at the very least, many of them would need a *serious* saddle.....

Rog.

 

[flecc]

Hee hee - I was just thinking of some of the young ladies one sees on display in Croydon on a Saturday night on the back of a tandem - at the very least, many of them would need a *serious* saddle.....

Rog.

You're not kidding there, quantity rather than quality rules, a sight I prefer to avoid these days.
.

 

[jac]

hi this tandem on german ebay might interest you guys folding front with electric motor the number is 300318102178

jim

 

[CDinFrance]

Folding tandems

Bike Friday makes the best folding tandem.

For the record, in normal use, they are not really more efficient than separate bikes, as it is quite difficult to use anything but straight leg power. Standing up on hills requires and experienced, confident and very coordinated team.

Very social ride though, especially when one rider is strong but less confident.

We use ours a lot on vacation, and to tour on weekends.

 

[rog_london]

Bike Friday makes the best folding tandem.

For the record, in normal use, they are not really more efficient than separate bikes, as it is quite difficult to use anything but straight leg power. Standing up on hills requires and experienced, confident and very coordinated team.

Very social ride though, especially when one rider is strong but less confident.

We use ours a lot on vacation, and to tour on weekends.

I must admit I think I'd be up for it if the chance came along, having reached an age when making a fool of myself now comes naturally and I don't care too much.

Joking aside, if it worked out I feel certain it would be huge fun.

Rog.