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WindingRoad
05-30-2011, 12:32 PM
Hey girls, I have been looking for a used tandem for me and my mom to ride. I found one on craigslist and went to look at it today. It is an IronHorse mountain tandem prolly a 1993. It was in great shape, no rust, clean, everything worked great. Came with a computer already on it. The frame is steel so it was plushy to ride. Me and my friend took it for a spin and I think I can handle the beast okay :)

My question is from what I read online it looks like IronHorse used to be an American manufacturer of higher end mountain bikes. It looks like new this tandem sold for about $1000 this seller is asking $375. Only thing that needs replaced is the chain: not the big one but the 'normal' sized one on the back. I really love the way it looks it's purple on the front and fades into blue on the back, very neat. What do you all think? Is this a good deal? Any thoughts on this manufacturer. Me and my mom aren't looking to break any speed barriers just out for a 'brisk' ride for fun.:D
pll
05-30-2011, 03:58 PM
I don't know the first thing about tandems, but it sounds like a great deal. Get it! Post pictures and a ride report. What a cool idea to ride with your mother. :D
Kiwi Stoker
05-30-2011, 04:30 PM
You also probably want to replace the tires as well- it's often hard to see perishing.

This website is very good for info about tandems and also has a tandem price estimating guide for used tandems. The guy who runs the website, Tandem Geek , is really helpful and if you go to the tandem section of Bikeforums.net and post he is normally there to answer.

Have fun!

Opp would be good it I put the wesite in! www.thetandemlink.com
emily_in_nc
05-30-2011, 04:47 PM
Any tandem at that price is a great deal unless it's a wreck! We've paid up to $6000 for a (new, very fine) tandem, so I'd say if it fits, go for it! :D
WindingRoad
05-30-2011, 06:16 PM
I have a nice set of MB slicks I plan to put on it to make her a lil more 'peppy' and tomorrow we are gonna check it for fit but since we are almost the same height and I can do front and back on it I'm hoping we will be okay. Nontheless we are trying it out together tomorrow just to be sure she is okay with it.
Biciclista
05-30-2011, 07:29 PM
sounds great! pictures??
WindingRoad
05-31-2011, 11:42 AM
I'm working on pics :D
Catrin
05-31-2011, 12:11 PM
Sounds awesome to me - looking forward to the pics!
WindingRoad
05-31-2011, 03:35 PM
Yeah Catrin YOU would like it, it's purple on the front! ;)


Sounds awesome to me - looking forward to the pics!
WindingRoad
06-02-2011, 07:00 PM
You know it can take a LOT of elbow grease to get a bike up and running and comfortable for TWO people. As of today I swaped the captains stem to something shorter, we cut down both sets of handlebars and I just finished putting the computer on, getting the handgrips back on, installing the cargo rack and adding bento boxes and a seat bag. That's not including the ALL DAY cleaning job we did yesterday. Whew!!! We have done a couple of short "fitting" rides. Tonights ride was WAY fun and super comfy so I think we may be ready for 30 miles tomorrow. :D
Catrin
06-02-2011, 07:07 PM
Sounds wonderful, and looking forward to seeing pictures :)
WindingRoad
06-06-2011, 06:24 AM
Here it is! You can't tell for whatever reason from this picture but the front is purple and the back is blue. It looks solid blue here?
Catrin
06-06-2011, 07:04 AM
Here it is! You can't tell for whatever reason from this picture but the front is purple and the back is blue. It looks solid blue here?

Beautiful! I can see the change of color, it is a dark purple? It is nice in the picture but I bet it is stunning in person!
indysteel
06-06-2011, 07:06 AM
You know it can take a LOT of elbow grease to get a bike up and running and comfortable for TWO people. As of today I swaped the captains stem to something shorter, we cut down both sets of handlebars and I just finished putting the computer on, getting the handgrips back on, installing the cargo rack and adding bento boxes and a seat bag. That's not including the ALL DAY cleaning job we did yesterday. Whew!!! We have done a couple of short "fitting" rides. Tonights ride was WAY fun and super comfy so I think we may be ready for 30 miles tomorrow. :D

But isn't it cool that you know how to do all those things!!!

I'm glad you and your mom are having fun. What a cool thing to do together.
Tri Girl
06-06-2011, 11:18 AM
That is gorgeous!! How fun that you and your mom can ride together now! :D
I can see the change in color- but I'll bet it's so pretty IRL. Congrats on your new steed!
Desert Tortoise
06-06-2011, 11:27 AM
I was impressed with the idea of riding with your mom. You find this bike for such a good price and then you cleaned it up resulting in a beauty. Way to go!

dt
callmej
06-06-2011, 04:33 PM
Beautiful bike! I love the matching pink bento boxes - gives it a little splash of "girly". I'm sure you and your mom are going to be an awesome twosome on your rides. Enjoy.:D
Catrin
06-06-2011, 04:37 PM
You and your mom will be "two" of a kind on that outstanding bike :) I am looking forward to seeing the two of you out there :cool:
emily_in_nc
06-06-2011, 07:28 PM
It's gorgeous -- just like you and your Mom when you're riding it, I'm sure! How very cool. I am envious...my mother doesn't do anything physical at all, other than a little light gardening. Can't even get her to take a walk, much less get on a bike. Sigh...

Enjoy! :p
Owlie
06-07-2011, 10:10 AM
Very nice!
Jaclyn
06-10-2011, 03:12 AM
Congratulations on your IronHorse tandem. I have an old (1990's) IronHorse single mountain bike still in my fleet. They were a solid manufacturer "back in the day." I wasn't aware that they made tandems.

My DH and I primarily ride tandems and we own three (a race tandem, a touring tandem, and a restored vintage cruiser) and just test rode what might become our fourth (a 29'er mountain bike tandem). You've gotten a very nice tandem for an excellent price and will enjoy it immensely. You did a good job to get it up and running.

The tandem forum over at BikeForums will have a lot of useful information on riding a tandem. There's also a very old listserv called Tandem@hobbes (How to subscribe: http://hobbes.ucsd.edu/tandem/info.html). Finally, there's a yahoo group called Double_Forte for off-road tandem enthusiasts.

You may want to attend an upcoming tandem rally. The Eastern Tandem Rally (MATES and ETR rally information) information is at: http://www.easterntandemrally.org
We attend the Midwest Tandem Rally annually. This year it is in Ann Arbor, MI. There are often as many as 600 tandems at this large rally.

Good luck, enjoy the bike, and let me know if I can answer any questions.