Converting a 60's Columbia tandem into a utility bike

[S-Dog]

I just picked up a 60's Columbia tandem off of Craigslist. My original intent was to restore(kinda) to a ridable tandem for my wife and I. After talking with my good friend who has WAAAY more knowledge than me about bikes, he suggested I convert it into a utility bike. The reason being that our combined weight is over 450lbs and the old frame might not be up for the task.

I am basically looking for some ideas on how to successfully convert this into a viable utility bike. It will be used primarily on flat or mostly flat land, will not need to carry too much weight, and will be mostly for fun.

The options I am looking at are internal hub 3 speed or maybe a regular 7 speed with derailer in the back. (I am a newbie so my terminology im sure is off. Sorry. :o ) What kind of handlebars. What the best way is to get the chain all the way back to the rear wheel. And what is the best ways to attack getting baskets or bags on this.

Thank you,

Scott

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/tandem/P4302896.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/tandem/P4302897.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/tandem/P4302911.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/tandem/P4302912.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p304/s-dog13/tandem/P4302910.jpg

[Nightshade]

Wooo buddy! You've got your work cut out for ya!!

Not impossible but you'll sure learn a lot by the time
yer done!

[S-Dog]

I am in the process of stripping the frame right now and getting ti down to bare metal. Luckily I have some welding skills ( enough to be dangerous) and that will allow me to make a frame for baskets or whatever.

[StephenH]

I've got a similar project on the back burner here. But the bike I have is a single speed.

My Worksman Industrial Cruiser is geared at 2:1 (I think 44:22). It looks like if I remove the stoker crank entirely, use the smaller timing chain gear on the main pedals, it should put me at a little bit lower gear than my Cruiser. That would give me a speed of maybe 12 mph and still enough power to get up the small rises between my house and Walmart.

I was figuring remove the rear seat, rear handle bars, and rear crank, and build a container on the back part of the bike that would hang down on both sides to carry grocery bags.

My bike is smallish frame (it's a Huffy) and the front pedals are closer to the front wheel than a normal cruiser, so it'll be interesting.