The banana seat accommodated carrying a small passenger and the wooden board was their foot rest. The seat and trick bars provide a very comfortable riding position. Don't need multiple gears for flat riding with young kids. Four gears were removed from the 5-speed cluster for simplification (didn't have a SS freewheel) and to continue running the thin chain. A 70's Schwinn badge was added to the head tube to confuse people...really gets them scratching their heads. Just added the 24" aluminum rim to improve braking when wet at the expense of patina. Wish I could add front shocks but won't give up the basket for carrying backpacks, gallons of milk, etc. Oh yeah, been through a couple sets of used pedals, too.