Allrounders by Peter Bird (formerly Swallow Tandems)

This bike was involved in a head-on collision with a Harley Davidson...the bike was well toasted, both front and back ends bent at really crazy angles. However, the central triangle containing the couplers was still true and undamaged. A new rear triangle was brazed on and the fork was replaced and now the bike is as good as new.

James' bike after the crash

Side view of bent forks and rear triangle

Top view of bent forks and rear triangle

As good as new after replacing the fork and rear triangle.

We built our S&S allrounders in 1997. They've been wherever we have (Australia, USA and Europe); they've done road races, hill-climbs and trailquests, on and off-road day rides and lightly loaded touring. In all they've done 21 air-flights so far and never sustained damage....well, they have sustained damage but not while in their boxes!
Shortly after we got them we took them to Boulder, Colorado where we got knocked off in a head-on collision with a Harley Davidson...I thought they drove on the right in the USA?!? Yes, the guy managed to hit both of us. James' bike was well toasted, both front and back ends bent at really crazy angles. However the central triangle containing the couplers was still true and undamaged. Being steel it was easy enough to get new forks and a new back end brazed on to James' bike and its been fine ever since...although it is now dark blue not light blue (My frame was only scuffed in the collision since my body absorbed the impact rather than my bike!) The bikes tend to do short trips and day rides rather than epic tours - they are great for taking away for a working trip when we might have time for a couple of rides, and they aren't designed for serious touring.
Julia Hargreaves and James Annan, United Kingdom

Julia's bike

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