Independent drivetrains on tandem bicycle
On a standard tandem frame, is it possible to build a tandem bicycle with independent drivetrains for the two riders? Is there a custom frame builder that would build a tandem like this?
I'm aware of the half-recumbent tandem that has independent drivetrains, but I'm specifically interested in the classic/normal tandem frame.
drivetrain tandems
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
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happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
On a standard tandem frame, is it possible to build a tandem bicycle with independent drivetrains for the two riders? Is there a custom frame builder that would build a tandem like this?
I'm aware of the half-recumbent tandem that has independent drivetrains, but I'm specifically interested in the classic/normal tandem frame.
drivetrain tandems
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
1
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
2
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago
add a comment |
On a standard tandem frame, is it possible to build a tandem bicycle with independent drivetrains for the two riders? Is there a custom frame builder that would build a tandem like this?
I'm aware of the half-recumbent tandem that has independent drivetrains, but I'm specifically interested in the classic/normal tandem frame.
drivetrain tandems
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
On a standard tandem frame, is it possible to build a tandem bicycle with independent drivetrains for the two riders? Is there a custom frame builder that would build a tandem like this?
I'm aware of the half-recumbent tandem that has independent drivetrains, but I'm specifically interested in the classic/normal tandem frame.
drivetrain tandems
drivetrain tandems
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
asked 12 hours ago
happyraulhappyraul
112
112
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
happyraul is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
2
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
1
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
2
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago
add a comment |
2
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
1
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
2
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago
2
2
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
1
1
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
2
2
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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As Chris H points out in his comment, this could mean two different things.
The half-recumbent/half-upright design does have separate gearing for each rider.
There's a different system that some conventional recumbents use that gives each rider the ability to coast independently, but they pedal at the same cadence: both sets of cranks drive a jackshaft (located just in front of the stoker's crank), which in turn drives the rear wheel.
There have been numerous ideas for bike drivetrains over the past century, and it's easy to imagine that other ideas have been tried out and lost to history.
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
add a comment |
Here's a picture of a half recumbent tandem
from https://www.ucycle.com/merchant/2856/images/zoom/hase-pino-allround.jpg
Here is a link to a video of people riding a recumbent tandem.
https://binged.it/2TXkxJC
The video does a good job of explaining that the front crank has a freewheel mechanism that lets the riders pedal at different speeds. The front rider can also stop pedaling.
If this is what is meant as "independent drivetrains" then the functionality is in the crank rather than the frame itself.
The key to having a regular tandem like the recumbent tandem in the video is to find someone who makes a crank with a freewheeling chain ring. Like the old school Schwinn Suburban's from the late 70s with Shimano Positron FFS (Front Freewheel System).
Here's a link to a product for mountain bikes with a freewheeling chain ring
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/hxr-easy-shift-crankset-allows-change-gear-without-pedalling.html
With this part - or something like it - any tandem frame builder should be able to get you going.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
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David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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As Chris H points out in his comment, this could mean two different things.
The half-recumbent/half-upright design does have separate gearing for each rider.
There's a different system that some conventional recumbents use that gives each rider the ability to coast independently, but they pedal at the same cadence: both sets of cranks drive a jackshaft (located just in front of the stoker's crank), which in turn drives the rear wheel.
There have been numerous ideas for bike drivetrains over the past century, and it's easy to imagine that other ideas have been tried out and lost to history.
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
add a comment |
As Chris H points out in his comment, this could mean two different things.
The half-recumbent/half-upright design does have separate gearing for each rider.
There's a different system that some conventional recumbents use that gives each rider the ability to coast independently, but they pedal at the same cadence: both sets of cranks drive a jackshaft (located just in front of the stoker's crank), which in turn drives the rear wheel.
There have been numerous ideas for bike drivetrains over the past century, and it's easy to imagine that other ideas have been tried out and lost to history.
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
add a comment |
As Chris H points out in his comment, this could mean two different things.
The half-recumbent/half-upright design does have separate gearing for each rider.
There's a different system that some conventional recumbents use that gives each rider the ability to coast independently, but they pedal at the same cadence: both sets of cranks drive a jackshaft (located just in front of the stoker's crank), which in turn drives the rear wheel.
There have been numerous ideas for bike drivetrains over the past century, and it's easy to imagine that other ideas have been tried out and lost to history.
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
As Chris H points out in his comment, this could mean two different things.
The half-recumbent/half-upright design does have separate gearing for each rider.
There's a different system that some conventional recumbents use that gives each rider the ability to coast independently, but they pedal at the same cadence: both sets of cranks drive a jackshaft (located just in front of the stoker's crank), which in turn drives the rear wheel.
There have been numerous ideas for bike drivetrains over the past century, and it's easy to imagine that other ideas have been tried out and lost to history.
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
answered 10 hours ago
Adam RiceAdam Rice
5,8921534
5,8921534
add a comment |
add a comment |
Here's a picture of a half recumbent tandem
from https://www.ucycle.com/merchant/2856/images/zoom/hase-pino-allround.jpg
Here is a link to a video of people riding a recumbent tandem.
https://binged.it/2TXkxJC
The video does a good job of explaining that the front crank has a freewheel mechanism that lets the riders pedal at different speeds. The front rider can also stop pedaling.
If this is what is meant as "independent drivetrains" then the functionality is in the crank rather than the frame itself.
The key to having a regular tandem like the recumbent tandem in the video is to find someone who makes a crank with a freewheeling chain ring. Like the old school Schwinn Suburban's from the late 70s with Shimano Positron FFS (Front Freewheel System).
Here's a link to a product for mountain bikes with a freewheeling chain ring
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/hxr-easy-shift-crankset-allows-change-gear-without-pedalling.html
With this part - or something like it - any tandem frame builder should be able to get you going.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Here's a picture of a half recumbent tandem
from https://www.ucycle.com/merchant/2856/images/zoom/hase-pino-allround.jpg
Here is a link to a video of people riding a recumbent tandem.
https://binged.it/2TXkxJC
The video does a good job of explaining that the front crank has a freewheel mechanism that lets the riders pedal at different speeds. The front rider can also stop pedaling.
If this is what is meant as "independent drivetrains" then the functionality is in the crank rather than the frame itself.
The key to having a regular tandem like the recumbent tandem in the video is to find someone who makes a crank with a freewheeling chain ring. Like the old school Schwinn Suburban's from the late 70s with Shimano Positron FFS (Front Freewheel System).
Here's a link to a product for mountain bikes with a freewheeling chain ring
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/hxr-easy-shift-crankset-allows-change-gear-without-pedalling.html
With this part - or something like it - any tandem frame builder should be able to get you going.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Here's a picture of a half recumbent tandem
from https://www.ucycle.com/merchant/2856/images/zoom/hase-pino-allround.jpg
Here is a link to a video of people riding a recumbent tandem.
https://binged.it/2TXkxJC
The video does a good job of explaining that the front crank has a freewheel mechanism that lets the riders pedal at different speeds. The front rider can also stop pedaling.
If this is what is meant as "independent drivetrains" then the functionality is in the crank rather than the frame itself.
The key to having a regular tandem like the recumbent tandem in the video is to find someone who makes a crank with a freewheeling chain ring. Like the old school Schwinn Suburban's from the late 70s with Shimano Positron FFS (Front Freewheel System).
Here's a link to a product for mountain bikes with a freewheeling chain ring
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/hxr-easy-shift-crankset-allows-change-gear-without-pedalling.html
With this part - or something like it - any tandem frame builder should be able to get you going.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Here's a picture of a half recumbent tandem
from https://www.ucycle.com/merchant/2856/images/zoom/hase-pino-allround.jpg
Here is a link to a video of people riding a recumbent tandem.
https://binged.it/2TXkxJC
The video does a good job of explaining that the front crank has a freewheel mechanism that lets the riders pedal at different speeds. The front rider can also stop pedaling.
If this is what is meant as "independent drivetrains" then the functionality is in the crank rather than the frame itself.
The key to having a regular tandem like the recumbent tandem in the video is to find someone who makes a crank with a freewheeling chain ring. Like the old school Schwinn Suburban's from the late 70s with Shimano Positron FFS (Front Freewheel System).
Here's a link to a product for mountain bikes with a freewheeling chain ring
https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/hxr-easy-shift-crankset-allows-change-gear-without-pedalling.html
With this part - or something like it - any tandem frame builder should be able to get you going.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
edited 7 hours ago
Swifty
2,7251526
2,7251526
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
answered 9 hours ago
DavidDavid
111
111
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
David is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
happyraul is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
happyraul is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
happyraul is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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2
What do you mean by "independent drive trains"? Ultimately, they've gotta connect at the rear wheel. Even if you put a chain down each side and had separate freewheels, that would just mean that only the rider who was pedalling hardest would be contributing, so you'd have only half the power.
– David Richerby
10 hours ago
1
It's important to be clear what exactly you're after: do you want one rider to be able to pedal while the other rests? This would take independent freewheel mechanisms or equivalent. Do you want the riders to pedal at different cadences? A fixed ratio could be achieved with a front chain that doesn't use 1:1 gearing but this might have issues starting and the effort would come in and out of phase, with rather odd effects. There are various harebrained schemes for front wheel drive bikes. The captain could power a system like that while the stoker powered a normal drivetrain
– Chris H
10 hours ago
You'd need a left free-wheel and most importantly at least a left-sided rear derailleur which I both doubt to exist. To apply power both riders would need to keep the free-wheel engaged at all times. If there's only the slightest freewheeling on one side, no power is applied. And there will always be the risk of hitting heels and toes unless the frame is rather long.
– Carel
9 hours ago
@Carel there are BMXs with left side freewheels aren't there? Single speed though
– Chris H
9 hours ago
2
It needs to be noted that one reason such schemes are not more popular is that there is an advantage, in terms of the balance of the bike, in having the two cranks more or less in sync. (And, yes, cyclists on a tandem are always cranks. ;-) )
– Daniel R Hicks
7 hours ago