Complete Tandem Bike Build

The thought of sharing a bike with another person is both intriguing and disturbing to me.  I am intrigued mainly because I have never done it.  I am disturbed because the thought of not being in total control scares me.  Driving a car is far more dangerous than riding in a plane, but I feel safer when driving because I am in control of the car.  In a plane, the pilot is in control and I have no impact on what is going on.

The more tandems I see, the more intrigued I become and I know I am destined to try one some day.  Reader Eric's interest in tandem's led to the creation of a very stylish tandem.  Eric sent along the following text and picture. 

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During the summer of 2010, I acquired two cruiser style bicycles from the 1960's and used them to build a tandem bicycle.

The bikes were made by Sportmaster and had what I thought were beautiful curves in the top tube and seat stays.

The bikes were left outside and un-sheltered for a number of years so they needed some serious TLC. In the end, they cleaned up really well and now make one heck of a tandem bike!

Eric did a project write-up for the DIY website Instructables.com and you can find a link to the tandem build here.

Comments

[Edh]

Please check the link.

[Leo Horishny]

Very, very nice build. Clearly not his first time building a bicycle.

As for the fear factor Matt, sorry, but that sounds like you need to take a tandem plunge. Conquer that fear!!

The observation isn't that a tandem causes couples to divorce, but it will cause the relationship to head whatever direction was there, quicker!

[Edh]

The link is OK now.

[Travis]

Working on a very similar project myself right now. I'm using two identical mountain bikes. I cut the head tube of the stoker vertically and welded it to the seatpost of the captain bike. I also have another tube welded between the bottom brackets. Will be referencing your build as I go. Maybe I'll get the whole build to Matt when its done