The Buddy Bike - The Alternative Inline Tandem Bicycle

Demonstration video for the Buddy Bike. The Buddy Bike is an inline tandem bicycle (bicycle for two) that places the stoker in the front seat while the rear rider controls the steering. It is shorter in length than a standard tandem and has a lower front seat so both riders can safely enjoy the view. The Buddy Bike can support up to 380 pounds; making it the ultimate family bike that can be enjoyed by riders of all ages and abilities. Its features make it especially beneficial for special needs children who otherwise would not be able to experience the thrill of riding a bicycle. Utilizing this unique patented design and quality bike parts, the Buddy Bike provides safety and REAL quality time!

In the early 1990s Bob Gardner from California created what would eventually become the Buddy Bike. Bob, a bicycle enthusiast, was inspired to customize a bike to ride with his young son Isaac. Bob had the innovation of adding a seat and foot pegs in front of his seat. Isaac enjoyed riding in front but wanted his own pedals so Bob welded two bicycle frames together. He called the unique tandem bicycle the Love Bike and began production in 1996. In 2003, Barry Nelson, the father of a child with autism, began searching for a bicycle to use with his son Jesse. Barry tried many options without success until he purchased a used Love Bike. Barry enjoyed the time that he spent with Jesse on the Love Bike and wanted other families to have the same experience. In 2005, Barry purchased the patent and remaining inventory of the Love Bike with a Trust benefiting Jesse and he changed the name of the bicycle to the Buddy Bike.

Over 250 Buddy Bikes have been sold in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Finland and the United Kingdom. The Buddy Bike is ideal for: families with small children, husbands and wives, teaching beginners, special needs families, schools, camps, parks and recreation departments, adaptive sports programs, physical therapy, organizations and bike shops that offer bicycle rentals and cycling tours.

www.buddybike.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• buddy bike
• tandem bicycle
• autism
• special needs
• disability
• adaptive sports
• cycling
• down syndrome
• blind
• sight impaired
• family bicycle
• adaptive bicycle
• bikes for kids
• bikes for autism
• tandem bike for kids

[TheBuddyBike]

Another place to try the Buddy Bike (and other recumbents, tandems & alternative bikes) will be at Recumbent Cycle-Con in Pomona, CA, Oct. 21-23, 2011 where I am organizing an Adaptive Cycling Roundtable. The roundtable will bring together leaders in the adaptive cycling community to discuss the present & future of cycling for all types of special needs riders. Get more info and learn about the panel participants at buddybike(dot)com/AdaptiveCycl­ingRoundtable(dot)html.

[TheBuddyBike]

Hi davros1973. The Buddy Bike has less leg room than a typical tandem so long distance riding can get uncomfortable; but the peace of mind it offers to families with kids with cognitive disabilities is immeasurable. If you would like to try the Buddy Bike for yourself, there are a few dealers with demos and some rental locations which you can find at our Dealers web page in our web site buddybike (dot) com. We also offer a 1 hour free rental coupon. Your other comments are brilliant! Thank you!

[TheBuddyBike]

Thanks BriMin1 & ejfibich for your comments and support! I was beginning to think that the only people on YouTube were people with way too much time on their hands that have nothing better to do than complain. But now I see that is not so. Thank you. The Buddy Bike speaks for itself to the people who can benefit from it and you really get it!

[Tricyklist]

Is this a serious design or a comedy spoof? The rear rider is forced to point their knees outwards to clear the intimate and totally pointless close positioning of of the front rider! Cut the gravel voiced advertising hype. Design something which wont injure the rear rider's knees. Similar tandems have been made for over 100 years but you didn't do your homework. The only "improvement" you offer is an income for ambulance chasers processing knee injury claims!

[TheBuddyBike]

There are nearly 400 families around the world who have nice things to say about the positive effect the Buddy Bike has on their lives. But thank you for your constructive criticism.

[BriMin1]

@Tricyklist I'm the father of two blind children. We bought a Buddy Bike several years ago. We loved it so much that we soon purchased a second one. I've always been an avid rider, and am so glad I can now share this activity with my entire family.

Yes, the video is cheese. Yes, the riders are close -- but the alternative would be a longer bike that is harder to control. I assume you have not tried riding this bike with your child. Save your scorn for something else.

[TheBuddyBike]

@BriMin1 Thank you. The comments of our customers are better than anything I can say. People that don't have special needs family members may not get the concept of the Buddy Bike but then again, maybe they don't get or appreciate a lot of things.

[davros1973]

nb - I haven't visited Trickylist's channel - but I always wonder, having Asperger's myself - but being very socially aware in an intellectual/philosophical sense, whether this person might have a deficit in social awareness/understanding. The vitriolic tone of their contribution could actually be an impassioned plea borne out of concern, warped by poor communication skills. And the core function of the BUDDY-bike might be lost on them. Considering the bike's use for special-needs - ironic :)

[davros1973]

Came across this randomly while learning more about tandems. My partner and I are considering tandem riding (I love cycling and am perfectly capable of visiting my parents 125-miles away by bike [a day's ride] despite being fat and unfit). I think it's fantastic! I think Tricyklist has some valid points - and if I were financially able to get this I wouldn't look to use it for touring or much ascending - but for parent/child and more intimate riding with one's partner ... wow ... great idea!

[Tricyklist]

@SoulRandyG Are you spamming this discussion in a desperate bid to pull in viewers to your music channel? Or do you own an example of this contraption? Are you even a cyclist of any kind at all? Then why comment on a subject about which you have no clue?

[SoulRandyG]

@Tricyklist you are a dick

[Tricyklist]

The video clearly shows that Buddy Bike doesn't understand the dangers of knee misalignment during repetitive exercise. The tandem has a long and illustrious history. Now "brought to its knees" with one very broken design. "If it ain't broke. Don't mend it!" What about the raised risk to the front rider of sitting so close to the handlebars in a frontal impact? With the entire mass of the (larger) rear rider flung forward to crush the front rider's chest against the handlebars! Enjoy!

[ejfibich]

@Tricyklist It would be great if you could keep your comments to yourself and stop wasting people's time with your view as it is clear you don't understand what the buddy bike does. You should reread brimin1 comment's. Comments that mean the most and are relevant are for those that understand and have used the product. Clearly you haven't or even understand the concept.

[kajuin]

CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE VIDEO !! I THINK THIS BIKE IS TOTALLY SHURE FOR THE KIDS, TODAY I USE EVERYDAY A TANDEM BIKE , AND ITS TO HEAVY FOR ME ITS STEEL MADE, UNFORTUNATELLY IN MY COUNTRY I NEVER SEE ANY PLACE TO FIND THIS NICE BUDDY BIKE, I HOPE SOME DAY CAN SEE THIS REAL ,!!! ITS A WONDERFULL IDEA!!,