[Closed] Tandem curious

Don't wear a helmet.

Kick as many dogs as you can.

And never walk away from an argument.

The what, now?

There’s a guy on here called tjagain, who, despite the good natured banter, knows his stuff re tandems.

he used to be called tandem jeremy, hence the username.

but genuinely, he will do his best to help.

now, how do you feel about helmets on a tandem, yay or nay?

Sound, hope TJ sees this! 🙂

Yay to helmets. 🙂

SJS and JD Tandems are probably the biggest dealers in the UK now. There are many smaller frame builders who'll make you one but might be best to know what you want first.

I'd try a mid range s/h jobbie first (and did) then if you click, go off shopping for something special.

I only ride road/touring but my wife started as a complete non cyclist and completed her first century within a few weeks. We've toured all over the world on ours at times for many months.

It's a great way of riding together as there's no way we'd be in the same place at the same time if we were riding solo's.

Have a look at the Tandem Club website and/or Facebook. They have a for sale section too which frequently turns up decent used kit.

Any specific questions, just shout.

We have one, originally a 26" wheeled Dawes Double Edge.  Essential upgrades are a suspension seatpost for the stoker and a wider, stronger bar & stem for the captain.  Non-essential have been changing to 650b each summer, with Hope36h and good Mavic rims.  3x drivetrain is vital to get a good climbing gear, as this thing is a hefty beast on steep terrain.  You will climb more slowly and descend more quickly than most riders can.  Once cruising along in touring mode, they can eat up the miles on flat terrain and we've managed 120+ miles two days in a row on ours across Scotland when we've been pushed for time, towing a trailer..

We've used it for all sorts of things; as a commuting wagon in bad weather, as it's far less affected by strong winds than a regular road bike; long tours, including 9 days around Ireland, again towing a trailer;  fast road riding on the 3 Pistes Sportif.  As it can reach 60mph on a big descent, good brakes are sensible and the stock 200mm Avid BB7 have lasted years, although the front has just been replaced with a Hope M4.

JD Tandems sell a good roof rack that is designed for bikes this long and are an invaluable source of advice.

Car wise, you can fit one inside a large estate, with both wheels and the front saddle off, although you'd need to plan on having something to protect the interior from all that length of chains..

Finally, they eat parts.  Chains, bottom brackets, cassettes and chainrings all last much shorter lifetimes than they do on more conventional bikes; change everything to steel rings, buy quality strong chains and aim for strength over lightness every time on BBs, headsets and wheels.  Tyres get worked hard too.  I've never looked at the second hand market; we'll not be selling ours, way too much fun.

now, how do you feel about helmets on a tandem, yay or nay?

Is this about that naked bike ride thing?

Soon to embark on a Thorn Me'n'u2 experiment. Can't wait! Nothing to add to the tandem debate, just really looking forward to it!

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bikes/thorn-me-n-u2-2012-yellow-new/

oh - something relevant! SJS do see to be the go-to source

Hi,

I'm selling one.

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span>

There seemed to be two types of tandems on ebay. Either ridden round the world and left to rust, or pretty much brand new. Make of that what you will about tandem ownership. I went for a dawes as I could fit disk brakes and run normal kit on it rather than a 30 year old one that needs odd sized bits and bobs. We hit 40 mph and I was very gad of the disks!

Mine is pretty much brand new (make of that what you will) as my wife now has an MTB and a road bike

Ours fits in a Skoda octavia or a honda civic estate. It does need mild dissassembling to do, mostly just the mudguards and rack off the back, although I think I have had to remove the bars in one car.

<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2388654/</span>

Cheers

Martin

^username checks out!

I know of one for sale in Cornwall if that is any use (a roadie touring one) if martin's isn't useful to you.  PM and I'll put you in touch.

Do It! I was in a similar situation a few years ago and bought a 2nd hand Dawes off ebay for about £200. We've had loads of fun on it over the years.

Biggest hassle is it takes up a fair bit of room in the garage and anytime I need to get in the car is a mission (both wheels off situ, mudguards too ideally if can be arsed)...but in reality this is very rare for us as we always ride locally. Only wear issues we've had are a few spokes popping.

Child number 1 didn't stop the fun....he joined us via a weeride seat on the front. My mission this weekend is to rig up another kids seat on the back for number 2 to join us too!

Reading above disc brakes is actually a really good idea. We have old cantilever brakes that I always forget/fail to adjust properly....it's always fun hurtling down a country lane knowing you can't stop any time soon. I'll definitely investigate how easy it is to fit disc brakes to ours...

Google Jd Tandems, and Landescape Tandems. Both very good shops,

We have a landescape custom built to our awkward sizes, couldn't be happier.

There's a Uk mtb tandem page and a Tandem club page on facebook that often have some for sale. Do it, its great fun (for a very small handfull of couples who seem to not want to murder each other after the first ride)

H

And how do you cart the things about?

We have a Cannondale in 20/16 size and it's small enough to go sideways on a bootrack with both wheels and mech off.  Most of the time now I put it on the roof using a modified single bike rack and the rear wheel off. At some point I'll buy a 'proper' rack but they aren't cheap

A couple of our friends have different flavours of folding tandems, with the Ritchey version looking beautiful.

They rock.  I'm interested to know if bigger wheeled versions steer better as our 26in tandem feels quite old skool. Might just be because it is a tandem though

Essential upgrades are a suspension seatpost for the stoker and a wider, stronger bar & stem for the captain

And if you have an older design with a 1 inch steerer, replace fork and steerer after however many miles seems appropriate - my brother and his wife found out the hard way that they get a lot more stress than an ordinary bike and can fail suddenly.

Ours goes in the back of either a V70 or E class estate with just the front wheel off so they are the only two approved tandem lugging wagons 😀 I used to use an across the back tow bar mounted thingy which is fine, the wheels stick out ~400mm either side depending on the car. I prefer inside now for security and keeping the crud off though I appreciate it's an extreme purchase just for carrying a bike.

The maxim to remember is you can't have too low gears or too much braking. We use drag brakes on ours on the old Sun Tour power shifters to stick the brake on and forget about it when descending long/steep passes. Good for a handbrake as well to stop the beast from rolling away.

We use a 20 up front and a 34 on the back, 9 speed. Gets us up steep stuff fully laden without walking.

Thanks all, some really useful and interesting info - Tall Martin, we'll be in touch! 🙂 Only question for us is transporting the beast - I'm guessing it'll be too wide to go on the rack across the back of the car, even wheels out and mudguards/rack off? I'll investigate the world of roof racks... 🙂

AFAIK tj is away riding for a few days.....on his tandem....without a helmet 😜

In other news, Dog helmet sales are up 380%

Van is one of the most popular tandem accessories. Ideally LWB so you can fit in a bunch of tandems no problem without taking off any wheels.

Our Dawes discovery twin goes in the back of our insignia with just the front wheel off and stoker bars loosened. Stuck some MTB tyres on it recently and tried some off-road for the first time, brings the trails alive I tell thee ☺️

Really? Wow - wondering whether I'd get one in the back of a Focus, wheels out and 'guards/rack off...?

Well I've also carried one across the back of a Nissan Micra on a standard bike rack. Wheels off, it might have been just about legal 🙂

Wherever your relationships is going, you’ll get their faster on a tandem.

Have a Dawes Super Galaxy for rides with Mrs TiRed and a kiddyback tandem for my kids since the eldest was four and the youngest rode in a baby seat on the back.

Some of the very best cycling I’ve ever done. Insanely fast with a good stoker who matches power, joyful riding with kids who travel on a bike at Speeds they can only dream of over adult distances.

For a beginner, look for flat bars and reasonably modern components. Disc are nice, but if it’s flat, good Vs with decent pads are not so bad- and my kiddyback has a tagalomg mounted! They do pick up speed very quickly on even modest descents. You will use the granny ring. Learn to spin

if starting out, but used. Cannondale are super, Landscape produces greatvtrames by some former friends, Dawes are the long established go to brand and there are smaller brands  a George Longstaff is a hing of beauty. us top brands are Santana who loves the game on, and Com-motion who I prefer

Want to ride off road? Go for double edge like spec and start with easy trails.

Get a thudbuster  the stoker takes a pounding. Call bumps and get them to stand out of the saddle, use clipless and have them stay clipped in. Put the computer on their bars. Get an adjustable stoker stem.

The Stoker is always right, and surprisingly has a better ride than the Captain. Whenever ive ridden as stoker I’ve always been much more relaxed!

Mmm, interesting - that might be the interim solution. Cheers! 😀

Cheers TiRed, useful stuff! 🙂

Thread resurrection.

I've been getting more and more interested in trying out a tandem, so we're going to give it a go with a hire bike next week in Portugal. I'll let you know if we're still together!

Also, why no TJ in this thread?!?

You'll love it. 😉

@pondo, did you buy one in the end? What did you get?

Only just seen the thread - when it was put up a year ago I was wandering around the highlands on mine. MUch of the advice is what i would have said anyway

Shermer - rule number one - the captains job is to make sure the stoker enjoys the ride. there is no rule 2

Starting off can be tricky -captain gets on, sits on the crossbar and puts their feet wide to avoid a pedal in the shin. Stoker climbs on and gets settled on the pedals both feet up. Stoker brings the pedals to the right position to start - leading foot at just above horizontal. Captain puts their foot on the pedal but don't lean the bike over. then on call - go - half a turn - pause to get your other foot up and off you go. ~Call out gear changes and bumps for the stoker. Have fun!

Amazing! Thanks!! 🙂

@pondo, did you buy one in the end? What did you get?

We did! Dawes Galaxy with flat bars off of Tall Martin of this parrish. Lovely bit of kit that gets nowhere near the use it deserves, but great to get out on. 🙂

PS - TJ's rules are bang on the money for us. 🙂

Glad its getting any use rather than languishing with none at mine!

The one pictured above? Very jealous!!

George Longstaff used to be the go-to tandem maker I think. I remember drooling over one of his gorgeous tandem trikes once upon a time but luckily I didn't have enough money.

So here's a question- how do you clamp a tandem in a workstand?!?

So here’s a question- how do you clamp a tandem in a workstand?

Assuming rotating clamp head, at an angle with one wheel still on the ground is how I do it.

Aaah, that makes sense!!

Thinking about buying a Cannondale Los Dos MT900, from 1997. A lot of the parts have been changed from original, some for the better and some possibly for the worse. Is it a good frame? I'm pretty excited to be honest..

Yes

Mine is an earlier mt800. Decent frames I think

Amazing, thanks! It has Paul thumbie shifters instead of the original gripshifts. I'm hoping that's a good thing! They look like they'll be in the wrong place tho, perched on top of the bars as they are. If only my thumbs were on the top of my hands!

Mine had triggers. Any Pics?

The only original parts left on mine are the frame and cranks Everything else has been changed

I'll see what I can do!

What's it like replacing components? Are they all difficult to find Cannondale specific sizings? Thinking about bottom brackets and the fork in particular (wouldn't mind changing the fork so I can have a disc brake at the front)

Cannondale tandem https://imgur.com/gallery/aDzhd4Y

Sorry, wasn't able to post an image, I hope a link is ok!

https://imgur.com/gallery/aDzhd4 Y" alt="tandem" />

That looks a fine bike if the price is right. MY frame is all standard sizes of stuff and is of a similar vintage. Octalink cranks and 1 1/8 headset 27.2 mm seatposts

Im suprised it does not have disc brake mounts on the fork mne has both disc brakes and canti munts. If it hasn'f got disc mounts on the frame it would need to e cheap

Thanks for the speedy reply! Octalink is a shame but 1 1/8 steerer and 27.2mm seat posts are a relief.

Yep, I would have loved it if the fork and frame had disc mounts...

TJ, I eyeballed the size as 20"/18" based on that piccie, does that look about right to you?

I guess so - ours I think the top tube slopes down more to the rear.

And it's 18"/16"?

Be careful on older forks, our Dawes tandem came "disk ready" but when I spoke to Dawes they suggested that a 203mm rotor (most tandems run 203 front and rear) might be too much for the tabs

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8342/29859039371_0e572d3eb9.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8342/29859039371_0e572d3eb9.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://flic.kr/p/Muxo8D ]Tandem Evolution[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/n_b_t/ ]Notoriously Bad Typist[/url], on Flickr

This tandem has been through several phases - rigid MTB, HT MTB, HT tourer, rigid tourer with 29er forks, rigid tourer with 26 jump forks. We upgraded to a new tandem earlier this year so I restored it to the original rigid MTB state (with v-brakes) ready to sell, but Martyn Ashton's "random tandem" videos inspired Mrs NBT to ask me to set it up as a HT MTB again. She's now having second thoughts about the suitability of this idea...

Thanks nbt- good to know!

I've checked with Planet X re: max disc rotor size for the forks I'd be able to replace them with (I already have a pair, On-One CroMo 26ers) and they've got back to me to say they are most likely(!) 180mm max...

We have exact same model of tandem as nbt, very versatile indeed, I think just the frame forks chainsets and headset are left original. Been running 200mm disc up front on original forks for loaded touring in alps and rigid mtb in Chilterns and south downs - surprising a few people at the speed of our descents too - without any fork failure yet but the disc mount does look a bit of a potential weakness so might get that seen to once I've got the bouncy forks fitted. If nbt is selling, that dawes is a good starting point 👍

Tyring to think what's original on mine

• Frame
• Headset (I don't specifically recall replacing it anyway)
• Captain's seatpost and clamp
• Stoker seatpost and clamp

other than that we're spent a fortune on it over the years,either in new bits or in repurposed hand-me-down gear from other bikes

• new drivetrain - went square taper
• new shifters (old dual-release SLX ones from when Mrs NBT went 1*11)
• New rear wheel - the threads failed on the disk adapter mount on the old one. Still got it, it'll still work with a rim brake wheel but not with disks
• new fork, obvs (still have the old one)
• new front wheel with 20mm adapter for these forks, plus other options like QR thru-axle. again, still have the original front wheel
• new stoker stem (came with a regular stem and a shim, which I stil have somewhere) and bars
• new oversize bars and stem on the front
• new disk brakes (twice - Avid Code hydraulics at first, now avid BB7s)
• new saddles
• new pedals
• new grips

I was gonig to sell, now I've built it up as an MTB I'd like to give it another whirl. but I'll inevitably end up having to sell it I suppose. Drop me a PM if you're tempted

I've just bought the above Cannondale from eBay. I went up to £380, which was more than I was intending to spend, but I hope I got a bargain! At least I'll be able to try out some thumbies!! 🙂

Thats an OK price even for one without discs.

We got a cheap Raleigh Pioneer and after I changed the awful gripshifts to Shimano Alivio triggers and stuck a new back brake cable on it (cable discs f&r) it's really good fun to ride- it actually shifts and stops now! It was only £260 and I reckon we've chucked another £50 at it making it fit us. Oh, and I chucked a height adjustable stem on it too cos the front was way too low, so probably £80 all in to sort it out.

It's a good laugh, we've got a drive/coast system sorted (OH shouts 'drive' or 'coast' when he fancies, basically 😆 ) and we've used it more than I thought we would.

I'm so relieved it's an ok price! I've contacted the seller and he's happy with it too. Picking it up on Sunday, so excited!!

nbt why did you go from Avid Codes to BB7s?

Codes needed bleeding too often. I've never really liked SRAM brakes tbh

Just picked it up! So excited!!!

https://imgur.com/gallery/an7VVxk

nice ride! You ever take it off any sweet jumps?

[strong]Dickyboy[/strong] wrote:

So here’s a question- how do you clamp a tandem in a workstand?

Assuming rotating clamp head, at an angle with one wheel still on the ground is how I do it.

That's how I normally do stuff, but my back was killing me indexing gears yesterday so i had a brainwave

https://imgur.com/a/kpUrZWs

Blimey nbt, nobody has mentioned the weeds on our path (s****).

Shermer - remember rule number one is that " the captain makes sure the stoker enjoys the ride" there is no rule 2

Also a suspension seatpost is a great aid to comfort for the stoker

Done it. (re)Built it, ridden it.

Need to fettle the limit screws on the front mech, it was rubbing on the tyre - the 2.4" knobblies in the there are a tad bigger than the 1.25" marathon we used when it was a touring tandem. There was some screaming but as the ride progressed it grew less frequent and by the end, it was declared to have been a fun experience

https://www.strava.com/activities/2515106953

Ah - the "squealing rear brake"

I'm not saying which end was screaming 🙂

Shermer - I have sent you a pm

Amazing, thanks TJ!!

Also a suspension seatpost is a great aid to comfort for the stoker

Yep, luckily enough there's a USE suspension post on there:-)

How are you getting on with the tandem? We've come to the decision that MTB tandeming is not going to feature heavily in our future so we'll sell ours, and stick to solo bikes off road. We'll still ride the road tandem but personal circumstances mean the off-road version is not as appealing 🙁

If there is anyone else tandem curious the dawes that nbt is selling is a really good starting point. Had ours 4 years now, done touring, road riding and off roading without any problems. Sorry to hear you are selling yours nbt I'm just gutted I didn't get into offroad stuff on a tandem year ago...

slowoldman

Subscriber
George Longstaff used to be the go-to tandem maker I think. I remember drooling over one of his gorgeous tandem trikes once upon a time but luckily I didn’t have enough money

Can't believe I missed my opportunity here...

I have a Longstaff...
.
.
.
No, I really do 🙂

We bought an off the peg jobbie at first then on our first tour, bumped into some pensioners in SW Portugal with a Longstaff in lovely British Racing Green. Got home and immediately went to see the auld fella... It's all a bit obsolescent now but still lovely so we'll just keep on trucking with it.

Ever take it off any sweet jumps?