Charlotte’s Tandems US–Loaning tandems and tag-along bicycles to anyone with a disability or additional need, so that they can ride wherever, whenever and with whoever they like.
The majority of our helper locations are run by individual volunteers who donate space in their garages/sheds. These locations make free loans.
- Annapolis MD
- Alexandria VA
- Chesapeake VA
- Atlanta GA
- (new!) MT Shasta CA
- Contact us if you want to volunteer. We will provide training and bicycles
Other helper locations are sponsored by non-profits. Loans are still made by Charlotte’s Tandems US volunteers but the local sponsor stores the bikes
- Out Our Front Door, Inc. Chicago IL
- Disability Network, Eastern Michigan
- Contact us if your organization would like to partner with us.
The average commercial cost of a tandem bicycle rental is $60 per day, and Charlotte’s Tandems US’s direct cost to loan a tandem is $93 per month (insurance). We need your donations to allow us to continue making affordable loans—both money and used tandem bicycles that we can recondition.
What else do your donated dollars pay for? A donated tandem generally takes $150 in repairs to place in service. Small tandems (suitable for a smaller mother and child) are hard to find as donations since most tandems are bought by husbands and wives. We buy used small tandems for around $800 a piece. Our most requested tandem is our only semi-recumbent tandem that will support a person with balance issues in a seat rather than on a saddle. This type of tandem costs $4000 used and up to $10,000 new. (I am not making that up. Google Hase Pino and look at the costs!) We need more of them.
Tandems are a great way to get people with disabilities, be they learning, developmental, visual or other physical difficulties, out cycling and benefits the whole family.
Many think tandems are hard to ride, influenced mainly by fading memories of a wobbly day at the beach with a spouse or date. Actually, there is no magic to riding a tandem and we will provide instruction. Tandems are especially useful for people with balance issues since the other rider can balance for them.
New bikes being added. We have found a specific bike, the Sun Brickell 7 Tandem, that fits smaller riders very well and, with cruiser style handlebars and seats, is easier for new riders to ride. We have purchased two, and have money set aside to get two more next season.
If interested in borrowing a bike, please use the BORROW tab at the top of this page or email us at abilitycycling@gmail.com. We have tandems, tag-alongs and helpers in Maryland, Northern VA, Tidewater VA , Troy MI, Atlanta and Chicago.
The Borrower collects and returns the bike (we can discuss how to do that). Rental is normally for one or two months.
More Information use buttons at top of page (laptop) or drop menu top right corner (mobile devices)
SPONSORS
