Bike shop goes all out for April Fools' Day by actually making this Cannondale tandem 'SuperTwelve EVO'
Project took three weeks to build and could be 'perfectly rideable' with a few tweaks


April Fools' Day, a time for practical jokes, good-hearted pranks, and fun hoaxes. Or, in the case of one British bike repair shop, a chance to bring one of your wildest, and likely most expensive, ideas to life.
In preparation for their latest stunt, Cheshire-based carbon repairers Target Composites spent three weeks constructing a modified tandem road bike. They based the design off Cannondale’s top-end SuperSix EVO bike, adding spare carbon parts to create a full build.
“The question in mind was: what is better than a SuperSix EVO? We quickly realised the only good answer was, of course, TWO SuperSix EVOs,” the shop posted on social media.
“Utilizing an innovative open diamond rear end design, we have engineered in extra compliance for added comfort while maintaining torsional rigidity and minimum possible frame weight.”
The resulting tandem, aptly named the 'SuperTwelve', is a “true feat of carbon engineering”, Target Composites wrote. It weighs just 10.6kg fully built up, offering “unrivalled watts per kilo”.
A post shared by Target Composites | Carbon Bike Repair (@targetcomposites)
A photo posted by on
In a note shared with Cycling Weekly, Target Composites carbon repair technician Jack said the initial idea was not intended for April Fools' Day.
“Originally we were going to use the old SuperSix frames as we had a number of them knocking around, then I coined the SuperTwelve name and we immediately thought it would make a great April Fools', so decided using the more modern version would be best,” he said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
As part of a full team effort, they began by creating a plan for the tandem, and chopped other frames ready for construction. They then removed the seat stays from the original SuperSix, and bonded the spare carbon parts together in a jig. The final week of the build was spent painting the frame and adding the final touches.
“I’d dread to think what an actual cost would work out at honestly,” Jack said. “It’s taken probably three full weeks worth of labour to create, plus a few bits and bobs we have had to purchase to make the drivetrain work.”
The shop fitted wireless SRAM Red and Force groupset components to make shifting easier.
Although the tandem is yet to be test ridden, Jack said it could be “perfectly rideable” with a few extra modifications, namely a cross brace.
In a statement issued to Cycling Weekly, a Cannondale spokesperson joked: "Double the power, twice the rider, twofold the saddles and half the number of team bikes, the SuperTwelve is the next step in pro cycling!"
This is not the first time Target Composites have worked on elaborate April Fools' projects. The shop’s specialists, usually tasked with fixing damaged carbon frames, have previously created a Factor road bike without seat stays, deep-section wheels with a storage compartment, and urns for a bike “cremation service”.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
'I don’t deconstruct what I do. It’s just something that has come naturally over many years': The world's fastest descender on cornering at 70kph
Downhill maestro Safa Brian tells Maria David how he mastered the art of descending to become faster than everyone - except, perhaps, Tom Pidcock
By Maria David Published
-
Tom Pidcock to ride Giro d'Italia - 'I’m motivated to make the most of it'
Briton's Q36.5 team one of four wildcard invites to this year's Giro after wildcard ruling
By Adam Becket Published
-
You could own a Giro edition EF Education-EasyPost Pro Cycling team bike
Bicycle manufacturer Cannondale has partnered with the Los Angeles Bike Academy to raffle off Jonathan Caicedo's race bike from the 2021 Giro d'Italia.
By Henry Lord Published
-
'The second swerve they collided with us and knocked us on the floor' - Naked tandem cyclists recount horror of being struck by motorist
Pair were abused before being struck by driver in Perthshire, Scotland
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Naked tandem cyclists struck by passing motorist
Bizarre incident occurred in rural Perthshire, Scotland. Locals said to be shocked by naked pair
By Tom Thewlis Published