At my age you don’t get too many ‘well, that’s a first’ moments, but browsing my local bike ads today gave me one. A ‘Buddy Bike’ is for sale. I’d never seen one before. I assumed it was home made but it looks factory made.

Yep, that's a "professionally made" bad idea.

I don’t think even think that two Shriner’s clowns, could make that work.
Tim

I wonder if this is an early model that the company tried. Their latest offerings seem more conventional and functional.

that would be an interesting after pub ride

I'd rock it just for the stares.

​​​​​​Buddy Bike

3-4 beers in, I'd try it.

Gee, looks like was barely ever used.

I recon 3-4 beers preceeded the purchase of this marvel of engineering.

A Buddy Bike is really a serious bike, specifically built for individuals who would otherwise not be able to enjoy riding a bike.

As can be seen, the person on the left (when facing forward) is in control of the bike, with steering, shifting, and braking. The "buddy" on the right is able to participate in pedaling, and receives the joy of riding, i.e. wind in the face, full view or where the team is heading, etc. A tandem can't really capture such an experience, and the coordination and teamwork required to effectively ride a tandem is most like beyond the capabilities of the "buddy."

I hope this makes sense to our C&Vers. I realize the unusual design provokes our vintage and "normal" riding sensibilities; however, the Buddy Bike was specifically designed for a specific group of individuals. The team which did so should be commended for their efforts and their results.

Not a new concept. Search for sociable tandem.


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...and I'll take the pictures!

I didn’t know that when I started this thread. However, I realized that when I searched the link provided by Chinghis. I agree with the comment in that post that this must have been a precursor to more functional designs.

I think that even two very able bodied, similar sized people with a great sense of balance would have real difficulty using this model - hence the comments. But it is an admirable goal and I’m glad they’ve come up with more practical designs.

there are two girls who ride one of these a lot on the weekly fun rides. It looks janky as heck. They bought it at a garage sale, and it was rattle canned. Never saw any markings so I really assumed it was home made. Then again, we have a lot of home-made bikes here in Portland.

I'd be laughing way too hard to be able to take pictures.

Was this such a bad idea, they went back to the drawing board with a slightly less bad idea?

Lots of antique pictures here
It also shows some side-by-side tricycles, which don't strike me as bad.
https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/c1...ciable-tandem/

They have their uses. The owner of a local bike shop has a son with Down Syndrome. The later Buddy Bike allowed them to safely ride together. I think Alex liked the setup enough to become a dealer.

I don't know that the Shriners are "clowns"; they raise a lot of money for children's hospitals. I think they are involved with charity bike rides also. Their small- car thing seems more like a "trade mark" attention- getter.

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The Shriners have clowns that ride oddball bikes in our local Memorial and 4th of July parades. I’m sure they do it in other places too, but obviously not yours! You really think I was calling the Shriners organization a bunch of clowns? Give me a break, sure am glad that I’m old, won’t have to live in the era of the perpetually offended much longer!
Tim

I'm not a fan of the chronically offended class either! It just hit a nerve since I knew someone that one of the institutions they support tried to help. I really didn't know what they did until then. I should have kept things on-topic. I hope you don't need "to live in the era of the perpetually offended", I DO hope you and we can soon live in an era without it!