Tadpole Tandem Trike Builder

[Pete Cuthbert]

Hi Folks

We ride a Longstaff tandem trike because my wife is disabled. We are also getting rather long in the tooth. However, I think it may be time to change the Longstaff for a Tadpole trike on the grounds that they are safer, or perhaps more difficult to turn over, than delta trikes. We have identified two makes, both buiit in Germany; the Strada and the Yaxi which meet the format specification. However, both are around 40 kg and have prices with many many noughts on the end, not to mention the issue of Brexit trade barriers.

Thus my question is whether anybody knows a UK bike builder who might be up to constructing one that is more like 30kg and will not need us to take out a mortgage to buy?

I did wonder about the idea of getting an ICE trike front axle and getting it welded onto a Hase Pino so I am open to innovative ideas. My idea got nowhere as I have not seem ICE trikes up for scrap or repair nor Pinos.

I would welcome your suggestions.

Regards

Pete

[[XAP]Bob]

ICE trikes don’t have a “front axle”, both wheels are independently mounted.

Sounds like you’re looking upright rather than recumbent?
Dual front wheels is technically more stable under braking, but I don’t imagine you’re getting faster round corners as you get longer in the tooth???

[UpWrong]

Kinetics can builld you one, https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/recum ... -tricycle/

But check on timescale with him and I'd ask to pay some now, pay the rest on completion.

[Pete Cuthbert]

Hi

Thanks for the observation. The ICE has a horizontal cross bar that has the wheel mounts, etc at the ends. This is the particular 'spar' that I had in mind. The Pino is a semi recumbent with the front rider (Stoker?) in a recumbent position while the Pilot is upright and had control of the machine but is a two wheeler.

The pictures of the Strada below may make the concept I have in mind clearer:

Regards

Pete

[UpWrong]

Kinetics can builld you one, https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/recum ... -tricycle/

But check on timescale with him and I'd ask to pay some now, pay the rest on completion.

An alternative is to buy two Hase Trigo trkes and connect them to make a 5 wheel tandem,

[[XAP]Bob]

If you're particularly handy... then you could probably fashion something interesting... but there are some recumbent tandem trikes around (normally ferociously expensive though).

I think the idea of two independent trikes from hase and the connector coupling is probably a good one (and I think various of their trikes can do this), though not particularly great for socialising - each component would have a much wider resale market than a tandem - if you can find two to test somewhere, or just find two second hand (on the basis that resale value won't plummet because of having a second owner in the way they do after having one owner) that would be good.

If you're looking more "custom built" then you could even get a social, rather than a tandem (tandem being line astern, social being side by side) - it would basically limit you to on roads, but would certainly grab the attention of other road users - and would be a more companionable ride.

I know this one is EU and has plently of digits, but you get the idea:
https://www.vanraam.com/en-gb/our-bikes ... ems/fun2go


One charity you may not have come across is: https://wheelsforall.org.uk/wheels-for-all

[LWaB]

There are occasionally recumbent tandem trikes that go up for sale, made by ICE and Greenspeed. There are maybe 5-10 in this country.

[Stradageek]

The Trigo tandem looks like a good option, it has the advantage that you can cycle at your own preferred cadence, stoker and pilot drive trains are not linked, and it articulates in the middle and is thus very maneuverable. We have used the Kettwiesel variant of this set up on tour (see below) but the Ketts are a bit low and harder to get up from than the Trigo. The Hase Lepus would work too but you'd need to get the folding variants of all these trikes and have a large car if you want to drive places. The two trikes separate in seconds, just one quick release skewer joins them.

What my wife and I now use are the same trikes separately. My wife has joint problems and is not strong so I've electrified her trike and I ride with her acoustically. I am getting too old to tow her any great distance in the tandem configuration.

[pjclinch]

Kinetics can builld you one, https://www.kinetics-online.co.uk/recum ... -tricycle/

But check on timescale with him and I'd ask to pay some now, pay the rest on completion.

Ben is also a Hase dealer so is familiar with Pinos and I would guess could either convert one or use one as a pattern for a full custom build.

Pete.

[hercule]

We had two Kettwiesels too (I really can’t understand why we sold one!) and they were great in tandem mode. The Lepus will also tow behind the Kett and has the advantage that the rear rider can see over the head of the front. Communication isn’t as easy as on a traditional tandem (the rear rider is rather further behind) but it is much more manoeuvrable (on a par with the solo trike)

[skeltrike]

have you tried a Bambuk? Get Cycling in York have a demo in the shop. www.getcycling.org.uk

[Jodel]

I know you have mentioned that you currently have a tandem trike, but would something like this French kit suit? https://add-bike.com/en/addbike-plus/

Obviously you'd need to source a (2nd hand?) 'normal' tandem, but it might be a cost-effective solution. We were toying with the idea of one of these kits for our Orbit tandem.

[asinus]

Have you considered a conversion from Roman Road Cycles (http://www.roman-road.co.uk/conversions/tandem.htm), which looks like the sort of thing you want for £1400 up? Just have to get the machine to and from deepest mid-Wales.

[Grldtnr]

D.tek cycles in Little Thetford, probably has one or , Kevin the owner ,will know of one, he did offer a project to me, but I declined.
Do an internet search for D.tek, but Kevin Dunsheath is notorious for getting hold off.
I will try and find his 'phone number.

I am supposing it has to a trike and not a 'twicer, ,several companies on the continent produce tandems.

[slowster]

For the attention of Kevin at DTEK who keeps attempting to post on this forum, and seemingly does not bother to read the automatic emails he gets when his posts are disapproved:

You already have an existing live account, 'D.TEK HPVS'. Posters may only have one account, and therefore the numerous attempted first posts which you make using the new account which you have recently created, 'DTEK', are not being approved.