It’s a blast. It’s a gas. It’s awesome. It’s ‘way fun’. That’s not me saying all of that – because I’m from the United Kingdom – it’s the folk appearing in the promotional video for the RidebySide, a tandem bike where you ride side-by-side.
Welcome to the second instalment of our (apparently) annual feature Stuff We Noticed On The Web.
The RidebySide is, as far as we can tell, an actual thing.
According to the website, Steve and Karen Teerlink had the idea after renting a pedal driven cart in Bear Lake in Utah.
“It was great sitting side-by-side talking as we explored the area around the Lake. From that experience, the idea came to us; wouldn’t it be fun to ride side-by-side on two connected bikes.”
Most people would answer that question by saying: ‘No, it would not be fun. It would be 100 per cent the opposite of fun’ – but Steve and Karen pressed on anyway.
They came up with a thing that allows two people to ride side-by-side in much the same way that two cyclists are already able to ride side-by-side, but which also anchors them together, forcing them to endure one another’s inane chatter about whatever the hell they read in the news that morning.
They priced it at $2,450 – albeit that also seems to include two Specialized Alibi Sport bikes.
Going off the video, the RidebySide does actually seem to work and one of the testimonials even goes so far as to proclaim it, “much more fun than expected.”
The video does raises a couple of scenarios where the device would be very beneficial and there’s a fella on their Facebook page waxing lyrical about it because it allowed him to take his blind friend on his first bike ride in years. We can’t fault that.
That’s the most recent update on the Facebook page and it’s from 2016, while the website’s still listing a 2017 version of the product. The video at the top of the page, appealing for investors, is from 2015.
I agree with you on this, Martin73. (Yes, I am feeling well, thanks for asking...).
If it was taken out of the hands of the authorities/police and handed over to private companies it would become a subscription service, like those...
Everyone is saying Captain Sunroof looks like Alan Partridge, but to me he's more like Chris Morris. I mean - that haircut????
Can someone get me whatever recovery drink Viviani uses, awesome result.
Research shows that bicycle lanes increase customer numbers, not reduce them. Who the hell drives to Camden to shop?
A road bike *runs and hides*
Hmmm. I wonder if they include that nifty handle bar widget on their drop bar bike?...
Yep, In Italy the front pen of GFs are a competitive class, with "fun" riders setting off behind, a bit like the London Marathon.
Matched set, well swish!