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Bicycles

Companion Bike Seat makes "doubling" easier

By Ben Coxworth
August 14, 2013
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The Companion Bike Seat adds a second seat to an existing bicycle
The Companion Bike Seat in use
Beneath the hinged seat is a splashproof lockable storage box, should you wish to also carry some inanimate cargo
The Companion Bike Seat has the basic form of a rear rack, but includes a seat cushion and foot pegs for accommodating a passenger on your ride
The Companion Bike Seat is sturdy enough to support a rider weighing up to 200 lb (90.7 kg)
The Companion Bike Seat adds a second seat to an existing bicycle
View gallery - 5 images

Doubling another person on your bike isn’t always the easiest (or safest, or most legal) thing to do, particularly if you have them perching on the handlebars, or sitting on the saddle while you stand up and pedal. Things are somewhat easier if they sit on your rear rack, but that’s not what it’s designed for. The Companion Bike Seat, however, is designed for just that purpose.

The Companion has the same basic form as a rear rack, but includes a padded seat cushion, foot pegs, and is sturdy enough to support a rider weighing up to 200 lb (90.7 kg). Beneath the hinged seat is a splashproof lockable storage box, should you wish to also carry some inanimate cargo.

The rig weighs 8 lb (3.6 kg) and reportedly fits onto a variety of frame sizes and styles, that incorporate wheels up to 26 inches in size. A rear thru-axle that uses locking nuts (as opposed to quick release levers) is required in order to attach the foot pegs.

The Companion Bike Seat has the basic form of a rear rack, but includes a seat cushion and foot pegs for accommodating a passenger on your ride

Potential buyers can pre-order the Companion Bike Seat now, for US$124.95. The first 100 orders are expected to ship on or before Sept. 6th.

Source: Companion via BikeRadar

View gallery - 5 images

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BicyclesSeatCyclingCargoRack
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Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.
9 comments
Paul van Dinther
Sigh. I remember as a kid we had exactly that device mounted on a rear rack.... That was 43 years ago.
The Skud
Clever! I think, though, that a heavy pillion rider would be risky, especially it he/she leant back. Wheee! Up goes the front wheel.
Purple-Stater
The addition of the seat-pillow is nice, and the mini-footlocker is very cool. But, how on earth does this rate more than $40-50? It's not exactly ground-breaking.
bergamot69
Problem with this is that most bikes are simply nowhere near being sturdy enough to take up to 90kg (that is the weight of a large adult).
Tandem bikes are engineered for the extra weight, having reinforced wheels, usually very strong brakes compared to an average 'city bike', a much longer frame, and most importantly, an extra set of pedals.
This seat idea might be fine for a kid who has outgrown a child seat however. I'd still want to see better footpegs and something to prevent feet accidentally getting caught in the spokes or gears.
Juan Pedro Sanchez Campodonico
Two comments about safety: 1) none of the riders uses a helmet 2) the child in the picture barely reaches the place where the feet should rest. Also it's very easy for a child, to introduce his foot in the wheel and receive a very dramatic lesion.
Mr E
A neighbor of mine designed and built a saddle type seat that clamps onto the frame between the regular seat and the handlebars. It's only for small children but it has foot pegs and the child can hang onto the handlebars.
I did a patent search for him and found various versions of the seat patented as far back as 1890.
Larry English
bad
will cause:
flat tires bent axles broken spokes
wle
Ash Mills
Can we get a European version rated to 75kg? ;-)
Vincent Bevort
Come up with something new next time.
This is so old as the way to Rome. My mother brought me to school on her bike about 50 years ago. That one was even better because the cushion could be mounted on whatever good and stable carrier. not this flimsy thin wire-frame that is shown on the images
BTW. this is forbidden for safety reasons in some countries and right so. Have you ever had your heals in the wheel? it hurts. and you will fall both of you on the street under a bypassing car ......
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