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Duck tape two-person bicycle

How to make a two person "tandem" bicycle using nothing but two dead ordinary bikes, two sticks and a roll of duck tape!

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Step 1Our target

This is what we'd like to build - twice the power, twice the danger, twice the fun!

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39 comments

Apr 10, 2007. 4:28 AMwarlord says:

If you throw a few pipe clamps (worm gear clamps) on there before you start duct taping you could get a little more structural integrety. Hopefully it would keep you from having a catastrophic failure at some point while riding the bike. If you wanted it to last a long time just ride it to a muffler shop. I'm sure they'd weld it together for you for a small fee. Probably $20...

May 2, 2008. 9:30 PMshammallamaman says:

Really, you could just ask them?

Feb 8, 2012. 3:51 AM

finton says:

I'm sure they would: extra cash for them after all. Years ago I needed a 2m length of steel pipe welded to the back of an axe head (as a hole digger for around roots, etc), so just walked up to the local motor mower repair shop who did it for me on the spot (might have done it free too - I can't remember).

Jun 12, 2009. 3:04 PMAmir says:

Hey bro, I think you're bike is super awesome. I've got one that I've started working on in the garage that's been sitting for at least 2 months. It's one of my first welding projects. Your super awesome bike makes me want to go finish mine. Thanks for the instructable, and the motivation.

Jun 12, 2009. 3:07 PMAmir says:

I'm sorry, that's "your" bike is super awesome*.

Oct 13, 2006. 7:43 PMotaku11 says:

their not called "gear changers" their called deralleurs.

Mar 22, 2008. 7:54 PMromedeiros1970 says:

Its not spelled "their", its spelled "they're". Its also not spelled "deralleurs", its spelled "derailleurs". Thank you for comments that add sooooo much.

May 2, 2008. 9:27 PMshammallamaman says:

Chillax, it is only a comment, he was trying to help and you have to put him down, not cool

May 3, 2008. 1:12 AMromedeiros1970 says:

A correction should simply be correct...

May 3, 2008. 10:11 AMshammallamaman says:

yes, but it doesn't have to put people down, a better way of wording this would be, "Very nice comment, but you did spell derailleurs wrong and "they're" would be more appropriate than "their", it is a good comment though", that would be a polite way to correct him.

May 4, 2008. 8:50 PMromedeiros1970 says:

Very nice comment, but may I suggest you go back and read the snippy original comment to which I replied? It was not necessary or constructive. Arrogance begets arrogance. Thank you again for your nice comments and valuable life lessons.

May 5, 2008. 6:50 PMshammallamaman says:

Very true, you win.

Jul 14, 2008. 2:35 AMsweavo says:

shammallamaman, you win the sincerity star, and romedeiros1970 gets a cross for services to sarcasm. Both are valuable ingredients on the internet :-)

Jul 26, 2008. 10:12 PMEvil Bike says:

i agree

Aug 12, 2008. 7:57 AMchardster says:

I think sweavo is the smartest one in this debate

Jul 31, 2008. 4:33 AMavwos says:

(removed by author or community request)

Jul 31, 2008. 4:33 AMavwos says:

(removed by author or community request)

Apr 4, 2008. 10:51 AMapop51 says:

One thing that turns off an educated person on forums like this is the widespread illiteracy. And most of the illiterates I've seen are actually PROUD of it and think it makes them look cool and colorful.

Apr 11, 2008. 12:18 PMnikkners says:

Relax, mellow out man. Educated or not there are a abundance of other significant topics than this tandem bike post to be a literacy bigot about. Inclusively, this site of forums is for inventions explained in layman terms for the common man. This is not a site of professionalism. So deal with it or make a site that suits to your liking. You are going to have to face the fact that your comment is not going to make a dent; especially when you are dealing with cool and colorful people. Usually they are the kind of people that are not straight arrow minded as you want them to be. For the fact of all involving matters, this is how ideas and inventions evolve. The widespread illiteracy just simply proves that their minds are focused on other things than literary values. And this is coming from a girl that English is her second language.

Jan 12, 2007. 6:21 AMexponent says:

Thank you, captain obvious =)

Aug 24, 2010. 4:26 PMiceman1 says:

youre welcome lieutenant sarcastic jk :)

May 5, 2008. 9:03 PMGeordiepom says:

Two apprentice welders I know ended up in hospital (1 broken collarbone, 1 concussion) after a homemade tandem fell apart on them. I can't wait to tell them they should have used duck tape instead of welding it.

Jun 26, 2008. 7:33 PMNkevin90 says:

check out my idea after I've finished updating!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/nkevin90/BIKE.jpg

I'm using a rear axle through a front hub, bolting the things together, and basically riveting the headtube of the stoker's bike. too easy.

Jun 9, 2006. 9:37 AMkrazmo says:

(removed by author or community request)

May 3, 2008. 10:07 AMshammallamaman says:

This instructable still shows how to make one very cheaply, you don't have to follow it exactly, and if you think it is retarded, then don't do it, don't put other people down for their ideas, in fact I believe this is a very nice idea!

Jun 11, 2006. 2:08 PMmarkocosic (author) says:

If you look at how the tape is being loaded, you'll see that you could just as easily use rope bindings. Sure this isn't as strong as a fully welded, brazed or bolted frame but the time its lasted thus far and the way the wheels buckle before the joints fail suggest that the construction is valid. It will fall apart at some point, but looking at it I think that it'd loosen to the point you'd notice and give plenty of warning before it did. Still wouldn't call it a "good" idea - only an "entertaining" one!

105

Jun 11, 2006. 8:20 PMtrebuchet03 says:

heh... you don't need a good idea to be able to have something good on your hands :P Look at sharper image :P Mostly junk nowadays - but business is thriving :P What's cool is if you see your joints starting to fail -- rebuilding is no problem :P If you still have it - for a little peace of mind, you could use pipe clamps. This might kill a little flexing. I'd give this a good rating in the home built bike hacks category ;)

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Jun 9, 2006. 9:47 PMtrebuchet03 says:

Maybe so... But errr... here's your proof of concept o.0

Jun 9, 2006. 4:00 PMchaotician says:

Wrong, Duct tape IS made of magic, by wizards. So there.

Nov 5, 2007. 5:56 PMhunter_95 says:

did you just put duck tape on the bike

Feb 9, 2007. 5:49 AMmrxoliver says:

Here's my totally taped tandem pics http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/revbrussell/DuckTapeTandem

Jul 26, 2006. 4:43 AMpiropos says:

I've been looking all over the internet for a homemade bike tandem and this is the best and most doable I've seen so far.

Jun 17, 2006. 4:46 AMPrometheus says:

If you had just used right-hand cranks on the left side, you could have used all the gears on the bike instead of having to sacrifice your two-smallest chainrings to transfer the power from captain to stoke5r (front-to-back for all you non-cyclists out there :P) I agree, the ping-pong table is classy too lol...

Jul 3, 2006. 5:51 PMmarkocosic (author) says:

Agreed - though purchasing another right-hand crank would go against the whole two bikes and a roll of gaffer tape theme. ;-) In San Francisco you may want the two smaller chainrings but elsewhere it's not been too much of an issue

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Jun 8, 2006. 9:01 PMtrebuchet03 says:

Hole !@#$ !!! The stoker probably would like handlebars (to get more power to the wheels)... but man, something in the back of my head says not to take that on the road while another part tells me wooo fun! Duck Tape: By Engineers... For Engineers... --- How is it to ride and how long have you been riding it? Curious to how the tape holds up :P

105

Jun 8, 2006. 9:18 PMtrebuchet03 says:

darn.... I should have said how long (as in distance) :P

Jun 11, 2006. 1:58 PMmarkocosic (author) says:

Distance wise it's around a mile from the house to lectures, maybe 1/2 mile between lectures and a mile back 5 days a week then either nothing or lots on a weekend - say 2.5 miles/weekend average to give 15 miles/week. Riding wise the (rake?) angle for the front forks is "wrong" compared to an ordinary bike so the steering is slightly twitchier than usual. Brakes are shocking inadequate (cheap pads will smoke, melt and fall off if you try a stop from 30mph with two people on, with decent pads its ok but takes foreverto come to a stop). If the person up front really starts putting some power down the frame will flex towards the cahin side and you'll have to correct with the steering. The rear pedals are low and you have to watch dropping the bike up and down curbs and leaning it around tight corners. Essentially its bloody awful to ride and fairly dangerous - but somehow its so bad that its amusing and it seems to hold together fine! :-)