What's this tandem?

[N Dentressangle]

Mrs D has just paid a pittance for something to do this event on:

https://www.tandemtriathlon.org.uk/

It's been in someone's garage for yonks, so will get a full workover by her brother. There are no identifying marks, and it looks 60's / 70's to me, but maybe someone recognises the make / model?

Pics in my next post...

[N Dentressangle]

[sociopath]

I think she paid too much for it, whatever it is, and whatever she paid

[smifffymoto]

I have no idea but as a tandem rider I can tell you straight away you haven’t got enough gears.

[Bacon Is Proof]

smifffymoto said:

I have no idea but as a tandem rider I can tell you straight away you haven’t got enough gears.

That's handy as I doubt they have enough brakes either!

[springfan62]

And its quite a hilly route on the Tandem Triathlon, wish you luck with that machine.

[Scrump]

Bacon Is Proof said:

smifffymoto said:

I have no idea but as a tandem rider I can tell you straight away you haven’t got enough gears.

That's handy as I doubt they have enough brakes either!

[gazza285]

sociopath said:

I think she paid too much for it, whatever it is, and whatever she paid

Heavy steel scrap is £120 a tonne.

[N Dentressangle]

springfan62 said:

And its quite a hilly route on the Tandem Triathlon, wish you luck with that machine.

I think that's part of the 'fun'. It's not a serious event, as you might have guessed - Mrs D will be in a team with her brother, who already does Ironmen and stuff, so insufficient gears will only add to the challenge!

He likes tinkering with bikes, so he'll be doing it up, too.

[Master Bean]

Could be a 3 speed hub gear.

[gazza285]

Bacon Is Proof said:

That's handy as I doubt they have enough brakes either!

Three not enough for you?

[N Dentressangle]

Master Bean said:

Could be a 3 speed hub gear.

Yes, it's the old 3 speed Sturmey Archer. Seems to work OK, as do the brakes, actually.

It all needs a good clean and set up, plus new tyres / tubes. The rims might need replacing, but I'd go for a rub down and a can of silver paint, personally.

Frame paint and graphics will be in the spirit of the event

[Julietbravo]

sociopath said:

I think she paid too much for it, whatever it is, and whatever she paid

Tandem frames are ridiculously expensive. I would strip it down completely, respray and rebuild using new/period components. There's not much on that bike I would save. Could be a nice project for the Spring.

[yellowjack]

That's crying out for an 11-speed internal gear hub at the back, and a dynamo hub up front, with Di2 to swap cogs. Brakes look fine to me - Weinmann centre pull? Swissstop pads in those and a fandango set of rims laced to those hubs by a decent wheelbuilder, using strong, lightweight spokes. The rest of the bike is sorted by stripping the paint and a bit of effort with a rattle-can, plus all the usual cable replacements and fresh tyres.

[mike9009]

The frame and general construction looks similar to this restoration..... so it might be French??

https://www.instructables.com/Restoring-vintage-ta...

Edited by mike9009 on Saturday 29th January 10:24

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Given triathletes' legendary bike handling skills... What could possibly go wrong on a 40 year old tandem with those brakes at 55mph

[Bill]

N Dentressangle said:

Mrs D will be in a team with her brother,

Very wise!

[N Dentressangle]

Bill said:

N Dentressangle said:

Mrs D will be in a team with her brother,

Very wise!

You're down as first reserve if he drops out

[jrb43]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

Given triathletes' legendary bike handling skills... What could possibly go wrong on a 40 year old tandem with those brakes at 55mph

which has apparently been maintained by someone who doesn't own a pair of cable cutters (see hub photo)....

[Bill]

N Dentressangle said:

You're down as first reserve if he drops out

I'll send C, it'll be like old times!