This is just too cool,odd...whatever to bury in the finds thread side by side tandem made from a paramount


details from craigslist ad
The first sociables were probably made in England in the 1880s, but initially as tricycles. The two seats were arranged side by side, so that the drivers could split the pedaling fairly and still talk to each other casually.

In the 1970s, American hobby tinker Bob Barrett tested various wheel designs - his test rides in the mountains of California were legendary. Bob patented his version of the Sociables in 1977 in the US under the name 'Barrett Side by Sides' ( US Patent 4178008 ). He built them in the East Bay, usually on Schwinn Paramount single frames. In the 1980s, a company called 'BuddyBike' acquired the patent from Bob Barrett and produced the sociables under the name Buddybike.

This bike is one of those built by Bob Barrett before he sold the patent. As such, this is a rare original item from the late 1970's.

I have the history of this bike from one of the brothers who started Wheelsmith in Palo Alto back in the 70's. "Best side-by-side ever but long gone."
This one rides great, has new tires, and two cool vintage leather Brooks saddles.
If I'm reading the tires correctly, it is a 27" tire.
Would be a fun bike for Burningman.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/bik...674849511.html

Wow that's awesome! I'm laughing at the steering arrangement, can you imagine?

"We're going left!"
"Nope, right!"
"Left! Grrrrmmmmm"
"Fine! *lets go*"
"Aiiyyyeeee!!!"



Edit: Oh nevermind just looked again at the steering. Still, so awesome.

Different, reminds me of those funky Alanax bikes. 3k would have to be a serious collector.

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This cycle was posted previously to forum here -

https://m.bikeforums.net/showpost.php...ostcount=47583

Frame not Paramount but rather an off-the-shelf midliner Takara.

Seller got some of her text correct, some not.

Forum had an earlier thread on one of these here -

https://m.bikeforums.net/showthread.p...ht=bob+barrett

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What the who? That is so funky weird that I almost want to make an offer. Luckily I have way more projects then I need and really have nothing I need that bike for and probably wouldn't ride it and wouldn't want to spend much on it so it helps. But the weirdness makes me highly intrigued.

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Bob Barrett spent a great many hours ~1976 right near [MENTION=61707]squirtdad[/MENTION] 's present home doing research at the U.S. government patent library in preparation for his patent application. He says his design has fourteen improvements/innovations over previous ones.

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Kinda cool in a "what the hay?" sort of way. But mostly, it looks to me like a solution in desperate search of a problem.

I've ridden one of those. Pretty cool. That type bike is called a "sociable" and they go back to the dawn of cycling.

very nice

Actually not so much. Other posters noted that it's relatively easy to ride. It can even be ridden solo, albeit at an extreme tilt to the right.

And they say recumbent bikes are weird.

My guess is that they found one.