Hybrid Tandem

 This bike combines a recumbent cycle up the front with an upright cycle at the rear. Stoker and captain pedal and change gear independently: the recumbent rider has front wheel drive, the upright rider has rear wheel drive. When the two halves of the bike are separated for storage or transport, the only controls to be separated are one brake cable and a steering link.

The bike can be steered from the front or from the rear, effectively making two different bikes from the same frame set-up. When a rider is steering from behind, the front fork crown is linked to the (still fitted) rear fork crown via a steering link & the front steering is locked. When the recumbent rider steers, the steering link is not in use and the rear steering is locked.

This bike is most family-friendly and can be fairly aerodynamic.

*In general, the back seat is more simply adjustable in height so this suits a child on the back, the adult steering in front.

*Steering from the back is more suitable for 2 full-size riders, the upright rider is high and has a controlling torque and is affected little by the movement of the front rider. This could suit a handicapped front rider and lighter, able bodied captain. Both riders can see very well.

2 frame units, 1 recumbent kit and a steering link for steers from behind. If a solo recumbent and solo upright have already been made, combining the two is relatively easy.

A trailer can go on the back. On the rear-steering bike, the recumbent rider can read a book or knit.

There are a few bikes of this "counterpoint tandem" style around, but most seem to be rear-steerers. Not sure if there is a front steerer that's like this around or if any all-wheel drive hybrid tandems are around. The last link is a triple with the captain at the back