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The Twin
Side-by-side tandems are sociable by name and sociable by nature. Sitting shoulder to shoulder makes conversation easy and unforced, whether or not the riders are of equal fitness. The Twin is even more egalitarian than most tandems: it can take a wheelchair seat between the front wheels for a disabled participant. Or, in addition to its two riders, it can transport up to six children! The Twin’s adaptability is largely due to its innovative front platform. This will take the wheelchair seat or one or two childseats. It can also be used as a load-carrying platform, and in this format it will carry up to 100kg. A childseat will fit behind each of the rider’s saddles - and then an Add+Bike trailer bike can be fitted to each rear rack. The Twin’s two riders don’t have to be adults; with 20" (406) wheels and a step-through frame, the Twin will accommodate riders of very different sizes. Both riders can pedal or not, as they choose, and the left-hand rider operates the steering. A right-hand drive version is under development. There are two back-pedal hub brakes in the rear wheels, and drum brakes up front. Each rider has an independent 7-speed hub gear. If you need more help, the E-Bike-Twin option provides auxiliary electric power. The Twin has a large presence on the road, making it relaxing to ride in traffic: motor vehicles can’t just squeeze past. Nevertheless, at 105cm wide and 185cm long it’s small enough to fit on most European cyclepaths. It’s also easier to transport or store than it appears, as the two drive units separate without heavy tools from the front platform unit. The assembled Twin weighs 54kg.

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In Germany, the Twin costs DM7000, the Rollfiets costs DM8000 and the T-Bike (for an adult) from DM4000


Manufacturer
Robert Hoening specialises in making the world of cycling accessible to those who might otherwise not get to enjoy it: specifically, families and disabled riders. His growing range of specialist family machines includes the Compagnon and Add+Bike for families, featured elsewhere in this Encycleopedia. For disabled riders he offers the Rollfiets wheelchair tandem, also known as the Duet, and trikes: the upright T-bikes. There’s also a similar machine to the Compagnon called the Co-Pilot, which can accommodate disabled children with a back-support, seatbelt or many other appropriate accessories. His machines are distributed through agencies in individual countries, as he believes special needs are best understood at the local level.

Robert Hoening Spezialfahrzeuge GmbH
Ulmer Strasse 16/2
Leonberg
71229
Germany

phone: +49 7152 979490
fax: +49 7152 979499
email: r.hoening@t-online.de
web: www.hoening.com


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