Tandem Questions-Mimi, Veronica??

[Triskeliongirl]

Another naive question. On a tandem, is the peddling coupled, i.e. to we both always have to work at the same cadence? If he pushes hard do I have to also, or if my knees are hurting can I back off a little. He's controlling the gears, so I can't downshift and spin faster like I might if my knees are hurting, or can I?

[tprevost]

Another naive question. On a tandem, is the peddling coupled, i.e. to we both always have to work at the same cadence? If he pushes hard do I have to also, or if my knees are hurting can I back off a little. He's controlling the gears, so I can't downshift and spin faster like I might if my knees are hurting, or can I?

I just got an aluminum burley on craigslist... it was a great deal... however, DaVinci makes a tandem where you can each pedal at your own cadence. I saw one last weekend and it looked pretty wierd to me but if it helps, I'm sure its nice to have that option.

We haven't even ridden on ours yet... well, SO has ridden it solo to get used to it and we are riding it together tomorrow I think it'll add another fun dimension to cycling and am now going through our organized ride list to see which ones we can ride on the tandem

[mimitabby]

from Raleighdon: "YOu can too buy a used tandem!"

honey:

here's the link I told you about. Maybe share with your forum.

http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

The magazine site itself is pretty cool, but this is a fantastic resource for used tandems. They will list both for sales and wanteds.

Happy searches, girls!

D

http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

[tprevost]

from Raleighdon: "YOu can too buy a used tandem!"

honey:

here's the link I told you about. Maybe share with your forum.

http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

The magazine site itself is pretty cool, but this is a fantastic resource for used tandems. They will list both for sales and wanteds.

Happy searches, girls!

D

http://www.tandemmag.com/classified/

I found mine on craigslist in Salt Lake City... bought it sight unseen and hoped for the best I was SO happy that it was actually even better than I expected!

Although I'm pretty sure it was also listed on the tandemmag.com site too

[salsabike]

And we found ours, a 91 steel Burley Duet, at Recycled Cycles in Seattle for $350. Considered the S&S coupler thing and decided against it for now. We love ours, have done about 5,000 miles on it in the last couple of years.

Here's a link with a bundle of different tandem articles, links, etc.--

http://www.thetandemlink.com/Learnin...anchor10417632

[SheFly]

We have bought tandems on both craigslist and eBay. Got a great deal on a used tandem for a couple we know who is getting married this fall - could be a good thing, could be a bad thing .

SheFly

[singletrackmind]

, DaVinci makes a tandem where you can each pedal at your own cadence.

On a Da Vinci you can coast whilst the other pedals, but when pedaling you maintain the same cadence, when the stoker begins to pedal, they time it so the pedals are in the proper position on the pedal strokes.

The biggest advantage to this that I could see is butt-rests at will, less need to get it together when starting off and lack of knee jerks when the captain forgets to mention a sudden stop or begin in pedaling.

[KnottedYet]

Anybody use those "Tandem Talk" headsets?

We're researching tandems because the person I want to ride with and I just don't have matching paces.

I'd get to be captain, cuz I'm bigger (and bossier!) and can hear. Stoker doesn't hear well, and sign language just ain't gonna happen on the bike. (and I only know a few "universal" signs, anyway... so far. )

Do the headsets help?

[Triskeliongirl]

I just want to thank everyone who posted for all the great suggestions. This is not going to be something we do overnight. I guess we'll start by borrowing a friend's tandem to see how we do. We are lucky that a really good friend recently bought a tandem to ride with his son/wife that is both light and exactly our size, so if I can figure out how to put my dropped pedal on it we are in business.

[mimitabby]

Knott, some friends of ours have the headsets and have used them for years.
Having said that, i've seen them try to get off the bike before disconnecting and it's messy when they forget.

[emily_in_nc]

I would be very wary of buying a tandem on ebay or craig's list unless you are sure of what size you need in a particular brand. Some of you got lucky, it sounds like. Since a tandem has to fit both of you, it can be even harder to fit than a single, and we all know how important fit is! A tandem is one item I'd be sure to test ride several brands and sizes at a bike shop (one that does a lot of tandem business). Once you do that and know what brand/size you need, and that you don't need to go custom, then ebay/craigslist are certainly options, but I wouldn't neglect that all important trip to the LBS (or several LBSs, since it can be hard to find many tandems in a size that works for both team members). We were lucky that we got to test ride tandems at Mt. Airy Bicycles in Maryland. Larry Black is opinionated, but he knows tandems and carries a bevy of brands and sizes. They are one of if not the biggest tandem (and recumbent) dealer in the east.

Emily