Are there any tandems with a freewheel on the crank seems like it would help a lot having a freewheel on one of the two crank sets so that one could free wheel. Of course that would throw off the pedal synchronization. I just that about that because I have bike with a freewheel on the crank and the rear. It’s a motor bicycle.

My very first tandem experience was on an antique Columbia... it had a skip tooth drivetrain... It was missing the timing chain. I got the rest of the bike operational (props to Monkey Grip Patches!) but no front chain was installed.. i conned my best pal, and owner of the bike, into steering while i stoked... i went my normally insane pace as he screamed bloody murder and issued threats by the bucketload... As we careened from Boones Ferry Rd. past Tualatin Valley Lumber onto (?) Lanewood, all he could muster was one long, loud, continuous scream.... i can clearly recall that tone to this day.... and that was the LAST time that old rusty tandem was ridden..... 1967.

it could be done... it would need to engage at one position only... one big pawl into one big notch....

You seem to be describing the daVinci Independent Coasting system. That system requires a proprietary frame to accommodate the mechanism - to my knowledge, it can't readily be retrofitted to your Ibis.

As I recall, the old Shimano Front Freewheel System was only offered on one-piece cranks, which are incompatible with the Ibis' bottom brackets.

The Shimano FFS was offered in an Al cotterless design, few bikes used it and aftermarket FFS was a pretty much non existing thing so many shops never saw one.

daVinci's independent freewheeling design is pretty cool and actually fairly easy to reestablish close enough sync for those who get use to it. We rest rode a couple in the oughts when I worked at Allstar Bike Shop. Being the region's tandem specialist shop we saw a lot of tandems we didn't sell and I have done a bit of service on one. When I test rode it with a co worker (he captained due to my legs being lacking in length) the ability to freewheel wasn't a hard function to get use to. and resyncing only took a pause or two in my strokes. However it does require some frame mods to be able to install. Not for the faint of heart. Andy

My gas bike has crank arms that has threads for a freewheel on it.
that’s what I’m trying to describe because it’s the only one I’ve ever came across.it’s a square taper. So I should be able to use it. If ever I felt inclined.

check out what I found tho

Looks to be rehashing the FFS design. If Intend is selling these I hope their legal dept has done the patent searching well. My Google just now shows a 2021 date for the first hit... Perhaps Shimano has already had a "talk" with them Andy

Just to note that it seems like a very fitting acronym for the very "exotic" design.

A few suggestions for a novice tandem owner:

For a new stoker's first few rides on the tandem, avoid traffic, keep the hill climbing to a minimum, and pick a much shorter route and a lower average speed than you yourself would otherwise prefer.

One good approach is to plot a route with a pleasant lunch stop or an equivalent enjoyable destination about 3/4 or 4/5 of the way into the ride, so you have only a short ride back to the start point after the stop.

I got to ride it with a friend we enjoyed it. We just went up and down the street. I felt how some might fight for the pedals. This particular friend is fine with me being in control. He will admit I have the better I sight of us both. He lacks peripheral. So it’s his preference to be the stoker. I’m trying to get him to ride it with me this Sunday on a bike ride a group is hosting.