My Grandparents' Tandem and Sidecar

[roubaixtuesday]

We own a Tandem, and had a trailer for the kids. But I never knew my Grandparents did, and have just acquired some photos.

Here you have

- Tandem and Sidecar
- my mum or one of her siblings
- offroad touring in mid Wales (!!)

Photos are late 30s or early 40s

]

[fausto copy]

Great pics.
It's surprising how many folks had them, back in the day.

[drossall]

Taken I assume by my grandmother, this is my grandfather with their tandem. They weren't club riders or anything; it's just that, in those days, so many people rode. I wish I knew where it was taken; they lived in south London, but it could have been anywhere.

[Paulatic]

Admiring the child asleep in the sidecar. I apparently woke up every time my parents stopped an incentive to keep on pedalling.

[Campag]

We had a tandem and sidecar in the 1990's. Then a child seat on the back of the tandem. Then 'kiddy cranks'. Then her own bike and/or a Rann trailer.

The bairn would regularly fall asleep within minutes of setting off, I assume because of the travelling motion and comfort of being strapped in to a secure seat or sidecar. Once happened while on the kiddy cranks on a very hot day at the FFCT rally in Mer (Loire valley). Fortunately I had installed a rectangular safety frame around the handlebars and back seat.

Another bonus was after slogging uphill carrying the extra weight on the child seat. We would stop at the top for a breather. And a little voice would ask why we had stopped ....

Happy days.