tandems

[princeperch]

I fancy buying a tandem bike in a few weeks time to go away with the missus in the summer for a week or so

now, do I buy a used dawes galaxy tandem for say aroudn 500 quid and risk having to spend another 200 quid getting it in order (I can imagine the parts take a tonking on a tandem) or do I purchase something like this on the cycle to work scheme (I can get it for closer to 600 quid so 300 net to me roughly)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/dawes/duet-twi...pcrid_19994834336_kword__matchplid_&gclid=CIaqxOSZqLwCFYYBwwodTXkAkw


any thoughts?

[Engineer1]

I can see issues with a Tandem on the cycle to work scheme as it is fairly obvious that unless you and your wife work at the same place the bike can't be used for the commute to work.

[princeperch]

nope ive checked its fine (I will actually use it for cycling to work in the summer and dropping her off half way!)

[Disco You]

That depends. Do you want a good tandem suitable for everything, or do you just want something to pootle about on?

[princeperch]

just something to have a ride out with

the dawes duet looks good value and I'd not lose a lot of money on it after a year if we were to sell it on

the galaxy is obviously a different league but i'd be worried about dropping 500 quid on something second hand then having to spend another 300 quid getting it up to scratch ..

[rhinochopig]

My BIL has the Dawes and it is a great machine for the money. His has been hammered on and off-road and is still going strong - and I mean hammered he used to race DH (sponsored) and rides the Tandem like his solo.

This being PH though you need to go and buy yourself a full-sus Ventana - superb machines and offer a much more conformable ride for the stoker.

We have a 'dale which is also excellent value for money.

One key piece of advice though is to make sure you have some meaty brakes as they can cook them on fast DH sections - on or off road - as 50+ mph is very easy to achieve on a tandem when it's steep. I have Hope 6 pots on the front and a Gustav M on the rear. The other advice is to buy yourself a thudbuster seatpost for the stoker as they make a huge difference to stoker comfort (and willingess to get on it again ) The stoker can't see the potholes that you can and you won't always remember to pre-warn them.

[henrycrun]

Has she ridden tandem before ?
If not hire one for the day, there is a steep learning curve...