I was reminded of a childhood project when I saw two yuppies out riding their bicyle built for two. Spring has sprung.
John Zelm and I were downtown neighbors in Plymouth. I lived above the City Club and he was next door above May Kaestner's clothing store. He was two years older than me. I must have been around 12 years old when we dreamed up this bicycle project.
Like all kids with "nothing to do mom, I'm bored", John and I decided to build a "bike for two". We did it from old bicycle parts we could find (no Christopher, you do not have a corner on old parts). We cut the back wheel off one old bike and then chopped off the front steering assembly from a second bike. The Implement Company located right behind the City Club agreed to weld the frames together. Our biggest problem was getting the sprockets between the front person and back person lined up so that the common chain drive would stay on. It turned out pretty good except that the chain to the back of the bike kept coming off when we tried to go fast (put too much pressure on it). With parts, donated labor of the Implement Company employees and our own sweat, we probably spent $15-$20. Not bad. We probably had the only bicycle built for two in Plymouth.
When the common chain came off the rear person would come crashing down on the bars and you would walk funny for a while.
Well older John Zelm never liked sharing the bike with me. Remember I was two years younger and that was "yuk". He also felt I didn't peddle as hard. That part was probably true. The City had repaved the main street in town (actually the total length of Mill Street) and widened it out. There had been no traffic allowed for 6 months. To celebrate the reopening of the street, they had a bicycle race from one end of the street to the other. I don't remember what the prize was.
John Zelm thought he could smoke everybody with the "bike for two" because it was two people on a common frame. He had entered the bike and decided that Jim Barnes, a friend in his class would ride with him, not me. Asshole!
Well being the sport that I am, I went to the starting line to watch my creation run the race with John/Jim at the controls. The flag came down, there was a frenzy of bikes taking off and there sat the bike for two. With all the pressure put on the chain drive to the back of the bike it had come off. It was going nowhere. And, John Zelm was writhing around in pain because he had come down hard on the bar. Oh, poor John. It served the son of a gun right for not including me. Then I smiled because that could have been me limping around.
The bike eventually ended up being sold for $10 but it always warms me to think about the two bastards that tried to steal my thunder.
My opinion is that a "bicycle built for two" is meant to be shared by two young lovers where the woman can carry the whole load by doing more of the peddling. Just like she does in life! Did I get it right?
Enjoy the warmer weather.
Love,
Dad(Just Chas.)