Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/15/2022 05:35 PM |
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We got home from our tandem trip in Norway and had such a fun time my wife said "Book it!" when news of a ten day New Zealand trip came up.
We bought a used coupled tandem for that trip... an older model but certainly serviceable. A bit large for us and painted steel which get dinged every time it's packed and rebuilt, plus the salt air takes a toll on the places that get chipped so it's new bike time.
I looked at a few builders who can make a coupled Ti tandem but the truth is they do the design and have one of several companies in China make the frame.
Anyhoo, I've found a couple of builders that can make the frameset for about $3,200 which is 2k less that I've been quoted. Rather than reinvent the wheel and pretend I'm a design engineer I just sent the geometry and measurements from a tandem that fits us perfectly.
I still have a few industry connections on various parts so I should be into it for about what I can sell my other two tandems for.
Here's what I have in mind-
Coupled Ti brushed finish
Sram Rival AXS 1x12 (40 or 44 x 10-50)
Hydraulic brakes
Thru axle
Carbon fork
Same bar/ stem/ saddle we're comfortable with
Ti seat posts
Ti cages
Gates timing belt
Di2 compatible (even though were doing eTap)
Rear brake line retainers on the top tube at 7 o'clock
Cage bosses in the usual places plus on the boom tube
Bosses on the top of the top tube back from the headset for a bag
Pump peg
I'll make up a cool logo to have engraved in the head tube
Rolf tandem wheel set
...what am I overlooking? |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/15/2022 05:57 PM |
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New Zealand nice! Although better for tramping, hint hint. Spent 6 weeks there as part of extended honeymoon back when...
No idea what makes a good tandem bike LOL. |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/15/2022 06:01 PM |
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OC, we're heading down a few days early and hiking is part of the plan.
What makes a good tandem? Partially it's a comparable captain & stoker. She hasn't yelled at me yet 
..well, there was that one time when I cornered like we were in a crit and I clipped a pedal that sort of had her rattled. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/15/2022 06:20 PM |
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Nice nice nice. We spent those 6 weeks doing a total of six 4-5 day treks across various parts of the islands, fjords, glacier, beach, more beach, volcano, rainforest. Awesome.
The human ingredients of a good tandem, that's the easy part. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/16/2022 10:34 AM |
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Gates timing belt
Oh, that is an interesting spec....but one in hindsight is kinda obvious! I am ssume that is becoming more standard on tandems?
Pics when it is done please!!
I have an old Co-Motion tandem with a Softride stoker slot....should probably get rid of it since Mrs. CK can't ride anymore. It is 25 years old, but pristine and barely ridden. Any suggestions on unloading it?
Sachs New Success drivetrain w/ canti's... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 11/16/2022 08:10 PM |
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| Back to the OP: been married a long time to a non cyclist. Been riding even longer. Both are good. N + 1 has been a successful approach here. |
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smokey52
Posts:498
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| 11/16/2022 08:29 PM |
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| lights! |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 11/17/2022 10:42 AM |
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Posted By Cosmic Kid on 11/16/2022 10:34 AM
I have an old Co-Motion tandem with a Softride stoker slot....should probably get rid of it since Mrs. CK can't ride anymore. It is 25 years old, but pristine and barely ridden. Any suggestions on unloading it?
Several places to sell tandems
https://www.tandemclassifieds.com
There are two buy/sell groups for tandems on Faceboo.... uh, yeah. Welp...
If you want you can email me pics and info and I can post for you.
Best to do so in the spring, not much demand when it's ten below. |
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smokey52
Posts:498
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| 11/19/2022 04:50 PM |
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My wife has taken up crocheting and has bought lots of yarn. She thought she might be buying too much since she has hundreds of dollars in inventory. I explained the n+1 rule for bicycles and assured her she can keep buying yarn.
She's spent hundreds, and I've spent thousands, although I think I'm done (for now). |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 11/19/2022 05:44 PM |
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I think you have it wrong Dale.
One bike. Two people. That’s n + 0.5.
Which means get a second tandem to make it a proper integer number. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 11/19/2022 05:55 PM |
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| OC does math…😎 |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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