beginner's tandem?

[KnottedYet]

I know NOTHING about tandems.

Can anyone give me a couple brand names and models of good beginner-level tandems? (road tandems. I've seen pictures of mtb tandems and don't think that's what I'm after.)

Thank you! :D

[Veronica]

We'll be selling our tandem soon. It's a Santana small/small.
Don't know how much we'll be asking... I just know we'll be selling it since we're getting a custom.

V.

[mimitabby]

Knot
you can take our tandem for a test ride; that's a sure way to learn about them without spending $$

I think it would fit (you and Trek, right?) you perfectly; you are maybe 1" taller than Raleighdon, and Trek is a little shorter than me..

[KnottedYet]

I'm 5'8" and she's 5'1".

V, what is a "small/small"? I'll look up the bikes after work today.

Hey, Trek passed her electronics tech test today!

[mimitabby]

I'm 5'8" and she's 5'1".

V, what is a "small/small"? I'll look up the bikes after work today.

Hey, Trek passed her electronics tech test today!

okay, you're 1/2" taller than Raleighdon. Great news on the Trek Test~!

[Veronica]

It's the sizing of each of the compartments. The compartments are both labeled as small, but the stoker's top tube is about 1.5 inches shorter than the captain's. I've ridden in both positions on it. I'm 5'5" (almost) and the stoker's compartment is a little small for me. It seemed fine until I started riding a single! The captain's is a bit of a reach, but not awful. I did Cinderella on it as captain.

If you guys want to try it out, you're more than welcome to next time you come down this way.

V.

[salsabike]

Ours would also probably fit you guys for a test ride.

It's a 91 Burley Duet, and we got it at your favorite LBS for $350. So don't forget to check there and see if they have anything. We've put a little over 4000 miles on it in the two years we've had it.

[KnottedYet]

Salsa - $350!!!!!!!?!?! Oh, MAN!!! I'll ask Andy and Paul and Spike and the rest of 'em to keep an eye out for me! Golly gee willakers!

V - I will be down in CA the weekend before the Cindy. I'm only there for the weekend, but we'll see how things shake down. Sounds like a small/small would be just about right for us. Please PM me when you are ready to sell your tandem, just in case.

V and Mimi - neither of us knows how to ride tandem, but I'm thinking it's a good way for us to be able to stay together on rides. I'd be captain, since I can hear through both ears and have the big burly muscles (!) aka longer arms and legs therefore more leverage.:p

[Veronica]

What weekend is the Cinderella?

V.

[KnottedYet]

I'll be there the weekend of the 22nd of March. The Cindy is the next weekend.

[Veronica]

Maybe we could do a flat delta ride that weekend. You can try out the tandem. Unless you'd like to ride up Diablo. :)

V.

[Trek420]

Maybe we could do a flat delta ride that weekend. You can try out the tandem. Unless you'd like to ride up Diablo. :)

V.

From what I've read here about climbing (and descending) on a tandem, Mt. Diablo, first time riding a tandem :eek: , :eek: on a new bike could be the end of a beautiful relationship ;) :rolleyes: :cool:

Salsa, was that Recycled cycles? $350 for a Burley? Wow.

[salsabike]

Yup, Recycled Cycles. It was just the epitome of pure dumb luck. We went down there one blah February day, saying, "Oh, let's just see if they have any tandems..." and there it was, and it fits pretty well. A little big in the front for Mr. Salsa and a little short in the back for me, but not impossibly so.

We don't usually get quite that lucky, so we treasure it. And that custom tandem we'd been thinking about...the contractor is warming his tootsies by a fire tonight, burning THAT money. Oinker.

Anyway, it really is a good bike and it works for us. And tandem riding is a blast. So feel free to test ride...

[KnottedYet]

Salsa my dear, we may take you up on that!:D

I've always wanted someone to ride a tandem with (insert sappy orchestral music here). I want to do a ride tomorrow, maybe I'll boogie down to Recycled and talk to the guys about watching for a tandem for me.

Dunno when Trek will be up here next. March is my month to go to CA.

[Trek420]

okay, you're 1/2" taller than Raleighdon. Great news on the Trek Test~!

Thanks, full details of the Trek tech test over in thread drift. :)

knott, you saying I can't keep up with you? :rolleyes: :cool: ;)

[KnottedYet]

knott, you saying I can't keep up with you? :rolleyes: :cool: ;)

No. Just saying I want to be closer to you at all times....;) And I'm just naturally bossy, so I yearn to be a tandem captain. yeah. that's it.

[Trek420]

good answer :p ;) :cool:

[KnottedYet]

Well, lets tentatively plan to try everyone's tandems when we're both in SF and when we're both in WA. Thanks for your generosity V, Mimi, and Salsa! You guys are great!

I'll put a bug in ReCy's ear about keeping an eye out for another miracle tandem like Salsa's.

This could be fun!:D

[KnottedYet]

Had a great time hanging out with my guys at Recycled Cycles. They are gonna keep an eye out for a cheap/decent tandem for me. (a la Salsa's) They had a barely-used "comfort" Diamondback tandem for $520, which was kinda frightening. Ewww.

They also have a new Raliegh Coupe (flat bar road) tandem. Disc brakes and other nice goodies. With my Team Survivor discount a new one would be $840. And a used custom Rodriguez with S+S couplers. That was a gorgeous, but weird bike. The stoker compartment was HUGE and the captain's was tiny. They said it had been made for a two-women couple. I know who wore the pants in that family...;)

Anyway, they were all ready to send me out on the Raleigh alone to get the feel of it, but I didn't have time today.

I love my LBS.

[carolp]

I'm doing the SF to LA AIDS ride on a Trek T-100 Tandem. It's a large because we both are. It's a hybrid tandem, but we changed the tires, wheels and cassette to have some good climbing gears. We may get new wheels before the ride to make it lighter.
I think I would classify ours as a "beginner" tandem, though I've rode others and am not sure what the difference would be.
The most important thing is to make sure it fits both the captain and the stoker.

[Trek420]

Hey Carolp,

I'll see you in June if not earlier on a training ride or such. That'll be 7 TE'ers on the long ride.

Maybe we can do a group photo or ride out together one or more of the days.

If you want I'll add you to my footer, just need your rider number.

[carolp]

I'm 6009, my husband is 6008.
I'm blogging; he's adding silly pictures to his home page.
We got a little screwed up and started fundraising before we got a team number, so we decided we would just continue with our own pages.
I'll also be blogging for UCSF Medical Center on the road. We have lots of volunteers.
We haven't trained with any other tandems. We live in Marin and usually do the rides our of Sports Basement or Mike's Bikes in Sausalito.

[Trek420]

I'm 6009, my husband is 6008.


ok, and there you are :D


We got a little screwed up and started fundraising before we got a team number, so we decided we would just continue with our own pages.

That's ok, you just explain to your sponsors that their pledges will post when the official site is up. If they give you checks and or want a receipt you'd need to let them know.


We haven't trained with any other tandems.

That's because there aren't many. ;)

You won't be the only tandem on the ride, and you won't be the only couple either, but most couples who participate one rides, the other crews.

There also are some who both ride single bikes.

My theory
* unless you're both already riding it's less costly to have 2 bikes
* also easier to train on individual schedules
* 2 riders = twice the pledge goal
* if your SO crews s/he may be able to put up/strike down tent, that's nice!

But it certainly would be nice to tandem the ride. :) :D It's a long lonely ride.

You can't draft, you can't ride two up, no head phones, no internet, nowhere to charge your cell so I'll be off the phone for the week which for me is sort of a relief..... but other than rest stops which I do enjoy, they are a hoot but I don't linger at it's a loooooong a** lonely ride.

Lot's of time to think, reflect, ponder, mull things over.....but you're on a tandem and ride well together you will always have someone to say "hey, lookie over there! Isn't that Trek?"

Do say "howdy Trek" when you blow by.

Hey, weren't you two on the opening training ride from Sports Basement? I remember a green Trek tandem?

I'll post this later on as we get closer. I've asked my cyclebuddy to put Team AV (all two of us, my niece UK Elephant and I) near Team Bear so can see and maybe ride with my friend and co-worker John. So if any of you ask to be situated near either of these teams it'll be easier to spot each other.

[KnottedYet]

How 'bout a Treknot tandem in ALC someday?

[Trek420]

'scuse the hijack TE.

This will be my 5th time participating and 3rd time riding. Ask me again after the ride .... in October. ;) :D That's usually been when I decide.

Right now I feel I won't ride again.

Lead training rides again? Oh Yeah. In a heartbeat.

But doing the ride kinda eats up your life, it's stressful, right up to the night before "do I have enough socks, do they match? :eek: am I trained enough? where's my cat crap? :cool: ;)"

I expect this year to be my best ride ever because I'm riding with niece UK Elephant. I look forward to seeing friends from rides before and new experiences too. What fun to spend a week supporting an important cause and showing UK beautiful CA.

The plan also is for my Mom, Duck on Wheels & Mr Duck on Wheels to see us ride into LA.

This could make up for all UK did playing tour guide in Norway when I saw the winter Olympics. Especially translating when the rentawreck broke down in the snow ;) :cool:

Will I want to go for a 6th? MWBR. :cool: :rolleyes: ;)