By Marion, Edward and Harry Houghton
We should blame the FT for getting us into Bike Fridays. Within weeks of receiving our tandem from Valley Cycles, we were so impressed with the quality of build and components that we bought a secondhand NWT from them – over £2000 spent on extra bikes in about a month. Since then (June 1998) our previously much loved and used touring bikes have gathered dust in the garage.
“My husband and I” were exploring the child moving possibilities as Harry, then nearly 4 and about 2.5 stone, was getting too heavy in the child seat on my bike and the high centre of gravity made the bike (a cheapo hybrid) difficult to control when stationary. We went down the route of considering a conventional tandem with crank shorteners and concluded that this would be expensive and create transportation problems. We (how our perspective has changed!) were cautious about the cost of the Family Tandem but Valley Cycles put us in touch with some other owners who allowed us a short test ride.
The separation and reassembly, with practice, takes about 10 minutes and the 2 parts of the tandem and the NWT fit in our car boot, suitably padded with old blankets to prevent rubbing. As the timing chain must be removed, it is essential not to leave it behind by mistake. We keep it in Harry’s helmet which ensures oil in his hair for the rest of the day! The only modifications we have made are converting the front straight bars to H bars and fitting a length of polystyrene pipe lagging on the rear part of the top tube to protect Harry’s tender bits if he steps/falls forward onto the tube when stationary. We bought the child stoker set: smaller saddle, longer handlebar stem and crank shorteners and fitted our own child size pedals.
With 2 adults on board, the flex is noticeable but probably no worse than a normal tandem. The brakes, V rear and drum front, are OK for the adult/child combination ,but a bit lacking for stopping the combined weight of 2 adults on a hill. The effect of braking heat on the smaller diameter wheel rims bothers me, but is probably negligible.
We mainly ride an adult and child combination, with the other adult on the NWT. We have taken them on holiday in the South of France, Belgium and Devon as well as some short CTC Sunday rides. As I am anxious not to make the mistake of putting Harry off cycling too early, we limit the mileage and have plenty of stops. The maximum day ride we have done is about 30 miles but 10 or 15 is more usual. It handles beautifully and the small wheels and low centre of gravity gives Harry more security and the opportunity to hop on (and off) without help. Uphill, we have still to persuade him to make a sustained effort at pedalling, but when he does the effect is discernable and can make the difference between riding and walking it, particularly on long French passes.
The FT attracts comment, particularly in France, and is often mistaken for a trailer bike. For a female (or possibly a Scotsman) one attraction of Bike Friday’s bikes is that one can wear a skirt or dress which makes hot weather pedalling more comfortable. Last summer I rode several fairly demanding rides on the NWT in a summer dress, floppy sunhat and open-toed sandals and to the casual observer, often passed as a someone on a shopper bike. Dressed thus, I enjoyed surprising some French lycra clad “hard” cyclists at the top of a long ascent in mountainous country!
The downside? Well ironically Harry shows no inclination to pedal his own little bike or to learn to ride it without stabilisers, no doubt spoilt by the fun of cycling without much of the effort. Otherwise the FT is just great for cycling families who do not want to give up for the duration of the child rearing years. Other BF users in the UK are welcome to a test ride on ours if visiting the S London/Surrey area.
For details of how to join the Bike Friday UK User Group, please see the User Group UK page.
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Last updated: 6 June 1999
Copyright (C)1999 Ferrets Anonymous
URL: http://www.whooper.demon.co.uk/bfriday/newsh03/ft.html