Tandem Bike = Double the Trouble

[yoothgeye]

When I bought my cobbled together tandem I knew I wanted to redo the whole thing. I've got a ratty plan in my mind, simple and to the point, but I still want some things to go together.
-matching bars
-matching pedals
-matching grips
-matching cranks
-matching saddles

OK, I got most of that (save for the saddles) so I did full dissasembly today... mostly.

Ugh... I've read Sheldon Brown's tips on removing stuck seatposts even though I've never needed to know, and now I need it for not 1, but 2 seatposts... on the same bike.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/stuck-seatposts.html

Just wanted to vent, soaking the posts with penetrating oil now.

Finally picked which fork I will use, just thinking about how to modify it now, strut bars or leaf spring...

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

Make sure the rear handlebars accomodate the front riders rear!

 

[yoothgeye]

Make sure the rear handlebars accomodate the front riders rear!

Yeah, I've been thinking about this, I'm using little apehangers, so we'll see, I do have 2 sets of cruiser bars and other bars, but they don't fit the look I'm going for.

 

[Philphine]

just an idea that's been festering in my own mind.

what if the passengers handlebars were attatched to the passenger seatpost, facing backward?

i don't know if that makes sence trying to describe it, but the passenger uses their handlebars more like arm rests. you'd also need like a sissy bar or back rest of some kind. they're not steering anyway, so they kind of lean back and relax. sort of like the passenger on a big touring motorcycle.

just throwing that out there. it's something i'm thinking for a tandem idea i've been trying to get worked out for myself.

 

[Wildcat]

One thing I did on mine was attach the rear handlebar clamp to the front seat post, instead of the frame. Then, when you raise the front seat to the right height, the rear handlebars go up also. That gives the rear rider (stoker) a little more room.

 

[yoothgeye]

what if the passengers handlebars were attatched to the passenger seatpost, facing backward?

Just personally, once my tandem is going, I suspect I'll be the front man most of the time, and I don't want to look like a chauffeur driving my friend/wife/child around.

 

[Wildcat]

However, on the way home from a pub ride, it would be nice to relax and take the rear seat. I'd need some footrests also.

 

[yoothgeye]

However, on the way home from a pub ride, it would be nice to relax and take the rear seat. I'd need some footrests also.

I'm building a tandem, not a rickshaw, haha!