Just had a fitting for a Rodriguez tandem!

[lauraelmore1033]

I've been reading with jealous interest of various purchases of custom built bling mobiles on this forum for years, and I never would have thought we would be in the market for such a thing ourselves. Ever! But Dh proposed that a tandem would be just the thing to enhance our marital bliss this spring and we decided that we would get one as a combined birthday, anniversary,birthday (all happen within the same week) gift to ourselves. After some research we decided on Rodriguez, since they make a damn fine bike and will customize it for chunky mamma touring needs and they are local!

Went in today and had a fitting with a seriously cool guy named Smiley which turned out to be more fun than I thought it would be since he clearly loves his job and loves putting people onto tandem bicycles. He had some good pointers about posture, hand positions and pedal strokes while we were on the trainer which were right on. It was really interesting how he could spin some nobs and change the configuration of the bike while was being ridden, step back and observe, twiddle dials some more and arrive at a perfect set up for each of us. we picked out colors and goodies and watched over his shoulder as he "built" our bike on the computer. We then went on a tour of the "factory" which, amazingly, consisted of a couple of rooms in the basement. I don't know why I was surprised that such snazzy bikes start out as piles of unpainted, straight tubes and blocks of aluminum. Dh is usually very cautious about making big purchases, but the whole process really appealed to his engineer's sensibilities and he agreed to plunk down the whole balance right there and then. Our beautiful custom built bike will be ready in 6 weeks. Then we can take it through their tandem 101 class. Can I wait that long?! I guess I'll have to

[murielalex]

Congratulations! You definitely must post pics when you get it. What color(s) did you choose?

[SadieKate]

Way cool awesome!

[lauraelmore1033]

We chose sky blue with silver accents

[lauraelmore1033]

You're so lucky to have someone wonderful to share cycling with.

Indeed!

[TigerMom]

Custom Tandem and marital cycling....AWESOME!!!
______________

2012 Specialized Amira Elite, upgraded carbon handle bars, Jett saddle 143mm switched to 145mm 2012 Selle Italia Max SLR Gel Flow saddle

2011 Specialized Ariel Sport,suspension post,Serfas Rx Women's Microfiber saddle

[roo4]

Sounds wonderful! We will need some updates.

[lauraelmore1033]

Definitely will update! 6 weeks is such a long wait!

[lauraelmore1033]

Was up all night, too excited to sleep! We picked up our beauuuutiful tandem yesterday. Today we ride it! We had a brief lesson at the shop which was a little scary because we were trying out something so new and different on a very busy
Seattle street (Ravenna) in rush hour traffic. We were a little shakey, but we're going to work that out this afternoon with an easy, straight-shot trail ride. eeeeeeee!
I lost my camera in Montana on our tour, so it might be a while before I can post pictures (still devistated about losing all my tour pics)

[MM_QFC!]

Congratulations! Wishing you many happy miles on it. Yes, Smiley is terrific, isn't he? I worked with the previous co-owner (and x-country tandem recordholder, Estelle) for my first bike purchase - a custom steel Rodriguez and loved being able to stop in and see the progress of my bike being built, then painted. My friends chuckled at me telling them watching the progress from plain steel tubes, to a beautifully welded frame, etc...fun!
You'll be tandem-proficient in no time, I'm sure; have tons o' fun!
Mary

[Biciclista]

my son is getting a bike there too. congrats. His is to replace his father's stolen bike.

[lauraelmore1033]

my son is getting a bike there too. congrats. His is to replace his father's stolen bike.

That has to be so bittersweet. It will be a beautiful bike, to be sure, but not the one with the enormous sentimental value.

[lauraelmore1033]

Congratulations! Wishing you many happy miles on it. Yes, Smiley is terrific, isn't he? I worked with the previous co-owner (and x-country tandem recordholder, Estelle) for my first bike purchase - a custom steel Rodriguez and loved being able to stop in and see the progress of my bike being built, then painted. My friends chuckled at me telling them watching the progress from plain steel tubes, to a beautifully welded frame, etc...fun!
You'll be tandem-proficient in no time, I'm sure; have tons o' fun!
Mary

Love that guy...
We had a customer stop and ask us about our new bike on the way out and he sighed and said he loved his Rodriguez tandem so much that he now hated riding his "half bike" (which he was straddling at the time). We were tickled by the notion of a regular bike being only half a bike. I hope we feel the same some day. I have to say that my half of the bike was super comfy

[Biciclista]

That has to be so bittersweet. It will be a beautiful bike, to be sure, but not the one with the enormous sentimental value.

I guess my son will have to build his own memories on it. Bottom line, he'd never been able to get a bike like this without his father's gift of a bike. Yes, it is bittersweet. But Katrina couldn't bear to be without Donald, so she left too.

I look forward to your photos and your joy.

[maillotpois]

But Katrina couldn't bear to be without Donald, so she left too.

Beautiful and profound spin on this.