Tandem Cycling - Home Built

Hey...
Any of you guys ever built a tandem?

Yes, I built it from two single bike frames and a few pieces of tube. I was 16 or 17 and wanted a tandem, and with no money it was the thing to do. It was a little flexable, but it could be ridden safely.

For some good infomation on building your own tandem take a look at Sheldon Brown's web page at: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tandem/

Yup... It was the articles on Sheldons site that got me started in all this.

Note at the time I took the pic I had dodgy forks on the thing... these have since been changed... Steers a whole lot better.

The whole rig is a little bit odd but so far it seems to work pretty well.
http://www.eomtbc.orcon.net.nz/EOMTBC13.jpg

I'm building one now and it has been probably one of the funnest DIY projects ever. As soon as this semester is over I'm going to finish building it up- looks awesome so far. I have pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/mas247/Tandem

That looks rather nicely done matimeo. I hope the alignment works out. Do you have eccentric(s) to fit or are you going to use a tensioner?

I think I'm going to use a ghost chainring if the chain tension is a problem...

We hear tandems can be a bit of a rarity in Kiwiland . . . so the natural thing is to build your own.
Way to go!

I have built 2 the upright is carbon fiber while the recumbent is 6063 aluminum with carbon fiber lugs.
The recumbent looks a little rough but I built in a week to see how it would work out, it is now a year and a half later and holding fine.
I have more bike pics here http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/DSCN2774.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/DSCN0107.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/brianharnett/DSCN0060.jpg

bharnjett:
Nice c/f 2 seater. What is the weight?

I have built 2 the upright is carbon fiber while the recumbent is 6063 aluminum with carbon fiber lugs.


What is the process you use to do carbon fiber work? The only carbon fiber work I am remotely familiar with is in aircraft manufacturing and even then only in passing. From what I know there, they have to lay it and then cook it under pressure. How do you set up your c/f?

The weight of the cf tadem is 36# the aluminum one is 45#

I use west systems epoxy in my cf layups the west system sets up in temps ove 60 degrees.

Here it is, minus the stoker handlebars which should be enroute via ebay purchase. I'm happy with the result- it has been a fun do it yourself project. Ended up spending about $150+ on it, which I'm happy with. Anybody else have pictures of their homebuilt? One thing that I knew about before was that the stoker would be short on room, but that's ok because my wife likes to sit up straight on a bike and flick me if I misbehave. I have step-by-step of how I did it here: http://mattsbikes.googlepages.com/myhomemadetandembicycle

http://mas247.googlepages.com/DSCN4137.JPG/DSCN4137-full.jpg

http://mas247.googlepages.com/DSCN4133.JPG/DSCN4133-full.jpg

Have you guys brazed yourself or brought to a shop?

If done yourself, how much experience did you have when first attempting the project?

I actually had my brother in law weld mine with a MIG welder. I know they recommend TIG or brazing, but in reality MIG is cheaper and isn't going to break or anything. Someday I'd like to learn how to weld myself.

http://mattsbikes.googlepages.com/myhomemadetandembicycle