At each stage of cycle history, machines have been developed for use by more than one rider. The tricycle layout has been much favoured for this purpose with riders seated in tandem or side-by-side.
Following the development of the pneumatic tyred safety bicycle, the ‘stretched’ version of this machine was soon introduced with two, three or more riders ‘in tandem’ on a two wheeled cycle.
Five seat tandems were used as pacer machines in cycle races for a short period in the 1890s until the introduction of motor powered pacers at the beginning of the twentieth century.