Thanks for managing to mend the bike (6)
I believe the answer is:
tandem
'the bike' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'thanks for managing to mend' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'thanks' could be 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you') and 'ta' is found within the answer.
an anagram of 'mend' is 'ndem' which is within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tandem that I've seen before include "it's not normally what one rides" , "Two-seat bicycle" , "Two-person bike" , "two people working together" , "Bicycle for girl in 32 Across" .)