Adapt a tandem to take a child

[gaz]

it will be tricky to fit in a footrest somewhere that it won't interfere with the spinning of the rear cranks, even with the pedals removed.

The solution to that problem is cutting off the crank arms leaving the spiders*.

*Probably best to find some cheap right hand cranks (wanted ad) with a suitable BCD and cut them down, saving the current set for use with crank shorteners in future.

[531colin]

Sounds to me like the shop doesn’t want the job.
Somebody linked some bars which struck me as too wide for a child

[531colin]

it will be tricky to fit in a footrest somewhere that it won't interfere with the spinning of the rear cranks, even with the pedals removed.

The solution to that problem is cutting off the crank arms leaving the spiders*.

*Probably best to find some cheap right hand cranks (wanted ad) with a suitable BCD and cut them down, saving the current set for use with crank shorteners in future.

Exactly!

[Jdsk]

From the picture above it looks like you have an extendible stoker stem which will give some adjustment.
You can fit handlebars like this model https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebars/ ... eel-560mm/ which will bring the grips closer.
We used a pair of handle bars like these https://www.planetx.co.uk/products/selc ... -handlebar facing forward and up when mum was on the back, and facing back and down when daughter was on the back.

When my daughter first started to ride on the back we had to use a straight seat post with the saddle clamp upside down to reduce the seat height, it probably reduced the height by 5cm. You will need a different seat post to do this.

Just out of interest, if you set the saddle at the lowest height and sit your daughter on the bike, how much distance is there between her feet held flat and the pedals when at their lowest. If there is only a few cms then you could probably use crank shorteners, or wait for her to grow a bit.

Good list. You have to get creative, and we've done several of these, including inverting the seat clamp and rotating the bars.

+ Reversing the bars

+ Bar extensions

+ Mounting the rear bars on the rear top tube

Jonathan

[r6mile]

Update from me: I think I’ve sorted it!

Got the bike shop to just service the bike (not cheap! As it needed a couple of new brakes! But anyway).
And then I
- Added some motorcycle footrests bought from Amazon
- Lowered the seat
- Reversed the rear handlebar
- Adjusted the seat so as to move it forward an inch or so
- Removed the pedals (not strictly necessary as the footrests are out of the way of the pedals anyway, but thought might avoid potential issues with feet getting caught etc)

Had a little test ride with my daughter at the back and all seems to work! Thanks everyone for their help!

[Jdsk]

[Jdsk]

Thanks for the update.

Would she like the footrests to extend further outwards? You could use those as the support for something longer.

How about a bell? : - )

Have fun

Jonathan

[gaz]

B&M Bracket.png

Apologies if I am stating the obvious, there should be some degree of fore-aft adjustment of the handlebars should you need to fine tune for comfort, and a limit marker to make sure you don't go too far.

Bravo, enjoy.

[r6mile]

Omg I hadn’t even clocked that the handlebars were extendable! Just extended them a bit more which should make things more comfortable for my daughter.

I am starting to think she is not far off being able to reach the pedals - so will look into crank shorteners for the near future…

Thanks again! I love the wisdom of internet forums!

[r6mile]

Setup works great! Thanks everyone for their help!