Tandem Hack - Softride to Child Stoker - Comments Please

[Phil Smith]

I have a Burly Samba Softride tandem which I am contemplating modifying for a small child-stoker by drilling a hole in the sloping top tube and filing it to fit a seatpost in the rear "seat" tube. The seatpost could be held in place by the mounting screws for the rear rack, or a post with an internal expander could be fashioned.

My questions to the knowledgeable and experienced folks on this list are first of all whether there are any inherent problems or "gotchas" with my plan (frame geometry, structural integrity etc.) and secondly whether and how it can be done without brazing, yet without compromising safety. I'm also interested to hear from any local framebuilders who might be willing to tackle this the "right" way (brazing a seat tube extension)

Thanks

Phil Smith

Los Angeles, CA

[Ryan Christbaum]

I don't have any non-torch suggestions, but do make sure the cranks aren't too long for little legs.  I re-drilled and chopped cheap mtb cranks for my kid setup, but you can also get shorteners.  I feel it's an important piece of the puzzle because they can't spin large circles.  

-Ryan

[Nick Foley]

Clearly you should just modify the softride beam so that it can go lower! I guarantee any kid is going to love the ride... ...also most adults. 

Anyway if you are committed to ditching the beam,  I would do the mod non-destructively, by making a clamp that went around the top tube and the "seat" tube. Not sure what tools/skills you have at your disposal but there are a lot of ways it could be done. This can also be structurally better because you can contact a larger area of the frame, and you can alway revert back / upgrade the mount later in life. 

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