Any tandem riders here?

[zax]

I'm pondering the idea of buying a tandem for touring rides with either Mrs Zax or junior. They're both into the idea, so now trying to figure out what's available.

I'm tall (6'6") and around 110kg, she's 5'5" and "around half my weight ", junior is 10 years old and 5'1", growing rapidly. Weight something like 40kg.

Am I expecting the impossible if I try to find a tandem that would fit me plus either her or junior whilst leaving room for him to grow quite a bit? Also hoping to be able to carry moderate luggage for longer trips (camping gear etc.)

[Laurel Green]

Rode one in my youth, that's about it but, have seen them set up with big'un up front and with two more positions behind for child-sized riders, so anything must be possible. As for luggage, how about a cycle trailer.

[zax]

Sorry, just to be clear I'm only looking for a two seater. It's just that I'll be switching rear passengers Luckily they're close to being the same size, which I hope should help.

Been looking at http://www.viking-bikes.com/products?label=Tandem as a budget priced option but sizing is a little tricky. Largest is 20"/18", which may I think be a little small for me (current hybrid frame is 24") but a little large for them...

[benny.c]

I realise that this is no use whatsoever, but we hired this on holiday. It was funny but terrible

[bbc]

We were a tandem family until my boy wanted his own bike. They're great fun; ascents take a bit longer, downhill can be faster (do not skimp on tyres) and on the flat, even with a 10 year old on, you can make them go really well. We had a Cannondale frame with flat bars, mtb gearing and hydraulic brakes. Cannondale did a range of frame size so you could have a XL size on the front and a S on the back, and ours had plenty of brackets for the fitment of pannier racks, etc. Unfortunately I think they have stopped making them... If needed you could fit kiddy cranks to the back to make up for any shortfall in leg length.

I'd still have one now but the wife and boy both like riding their own bikes.

Andy.

[donfisher]

I always like seeing tandems. There's something inherently cheerful about them. I don't get what the attraction is of a tandem vs two bikes though.

[Kell]

donfisher said:

I always like seeing tandems. There's something inherently cheerful about them. I don't get what the attraction is of a tandem vs two bikes though.

Me either.

I always feel sorry for the woman on the back (as I don't think I've seen one yet with a woman at the front and the bloke at the back) as all she gets to look at is a sweaty back all ride.

[zax]

Benefits to my mind - a way for two people to cycle longer distances efficiently and whilst staying together It works for me in a kayak, I often borrow a double for longer trips where differing levels of skill, fitness or equipment can limit the options. I'm hoping the same theory will apply to the bicycle. It's also quite a good feeling when you hook everything up just right as a team and make good progress. I can't imagine we would use it for local rides or to pick up the groceries, but you never know...

[yellowjack]

Kell said:

Me either.

I always feel sorry for the woman on the back (as I don't think I've seen one yet with a woman at the front and the bloke at the back) as all she gets to look at is a sweaty back all ride.

Any man who elects to ride 'pilot' on a tandem when paired with a female of the species is, IMHO, a fool. Think of how much <ahem> more attractive the view is from the stoker's chair. All that wiggling in tight lycra, etc, etc.

Then, thinking about it, maybe these female 'stokers' insist their lecherous 'partner' rides up front simply so they can see what he's "eyeing up".

Smallest half of the pair on the back also brings about more aerodynamic benefit, if they tuck right in, as the stoker creates far less drag when sheltered behind their 'larger' riding partner.

[gifdy]

We have a tandem and rode it for a couple of years before the young 'un came along, including a tour round the west coast of Scotland. I always rode up front. We tried the other way round but it was really unstable. I lasted about 5 min before switching back....the last 4 only because of the view

I also had to fit a panic brake on the back for descents. The missus doesn't like going to fast when she can't see where she's going.

On the flats you can really cruise along at a fair speed. It was fairly normal to breeze past lone cyclists.

[rhinochopig]

:wave:

We have one: Cannondale XL - M size. Brilliant bits of kit. Our is set up for Red / Black routes so has tripple clamps and DH brakes and wheels and a Thudbuster, which is essential on a Hardtail tandem. Next step for us is either a Ventana or a Nikolai FS tandem. Some friends have Ventanas and they really are lovely, although with a decent build spec they're not cheap.

Once you get the hang of them, there is little you can't ride on them - you can suprise a lot of people when the trail points down and gets technical. The only issue is lack of ground clearance, but you can useually ride around this. Oh and hills - you can climb up the side of the house on one as they have superb traction, but you won't do it quickly - a solo is much faster on the ups.

Re sizing: you should be able to get a 'dale to fit you. I'm 6'5" and my wife is 6' so we have the XL/M IIRC. Ours would accomodate someone down to 5'6" I would imagine. And as said, they do a smaller version.

Re fitting kids on one: you can get kiddie cranks that allow them to pedal - or pegs if you don't need them to.

Have a look at the Thorne cycles and MTBtandems websites for some useful ideas of what you can get.

[rhinochopig]

Kell said:

donfisher said:

I always like seeing tandems. There's something inherently cheerful about them. I don't get what the attraction is of a tandem vs two bikes though.

Me either.

I always feel sorry for the woman on the back (as I don't think I've seen one yet with a woman at the front and the bloke at the back) as all she gets to look at is a sweaty back all ride.

Benefits are manifold:

• Most couples have one person that is much fitter so it means one isn't always being left for dead.
• Same can be said for technical stuff - there is no way my wife can do a black run on her own, so it means we get to do the same ride at the trail centre
• Easier to chat as you're so close
• The stoker can do all the fiddly jobs like map reading, opening food wrappers, etc. so you don't have to stop.
• They take some real effort to master which is fun in its own right.
• Faster on the flats and DH than two bikes.
• There is nothing like scalping a solo bike on the trails as they're mostly viewed by most as a harold and hilda trainspotters bike.
• I also found riding the tandem improved my bike handling skills on my solo - especially slow and high speed balance.

The negatives are only really the ups and the trust needed to be a stoker

Edited by rhinochopig on Tuesday 30th July 13:14

[bbc]

Just another thought - a decent one might be quite expensive but, we had the Cannondale for about three years and sold it for what we bought it for - residuals are good.

[Magic919]

I'd also suggest having a look at Thorn (no E) as they are experienced at selling tandems. Bought my Cannondale tandem there years ago, before they started making the Thorn branded ones. Much better than separate bikes if the wife is struggling on some journeys. Used in in UK and in France but eventually sold it for a good price and got something else.

[rhinochopig]

Here's a picture of our 'dale from last weekend out with our four year old on his Islabike on some easy singletrack. They're great with young kids as the stoker can lean over and help them up the hills if they start to struggle.

[DrMekon]

We use a Circe Helios - ours is custom spec - Alfine, Versa drop bar shifters, BR505 cable discs. Did a 115km audax on it with my then 5 yr old with a moving average of 24kph. We were first tandem back, "beating" 2 adults a £4K Lapierre. When they arrived at the end to see us having finished, they shouted "st!" or arrival, which made me laugh.

The clever bit is the mix of telescopic seatposts (like Co-Motions), and crank shorteners, meaning anyone from a tiny 3 yr old to a 6'7 person could fit it on the back. Very stiff, relatively light, and the short wheelbase means it's really chuckable compared to a normal tandem. Haven't been much over 70kph on it with the boy yet, but at that speed, it still corners fantastically. It it is a beast. Hilarious fun. Slower club runs are doable on the flat - it does not hang about.

Also use if for family hols, where we tow a chariot. Had 68kph out of it with the trailer, which didn't please my missus.

Lots and lots of options - http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/
If you ring and speak to Richard, the designer (also designed the Airnimal range, with which some parts are interchangeable), even more custom options become available. It's a trick piece of kit.

Review here - http://magazine.bikeradar.com/2010/11/24/make-mine...

Ours is closest to the Helios Auster, but we went for IGH rather than derailleurs for the ability to shift gears when stopped, as it needed to be simple with a kiddie stoker. Didn't have a problem with the standard Auster though, and it would give a better gear range. Do upgrade to a rear disc though - we felt it was underbraked without - just too fast!

Edit to add, if you have the funds, periscope Co-Motions have to be the ultimate for speed and size adjustability.

http://www.co-motion.com/index.php/tandems/models/...

Utterly gorgeous!

Edited by DrMekon on Saturday 3rd August 12:19

[rhinochopig]

DrMekon said:

We use a Circe Helios - ours is custom spec - Alfine, Versa drop bar shifters, BR505 able discs. Did a 115km audax on it with my then 5 yr old with a moving average of 24kph. We were first tandem back, "beating" 2 adults a £4K Lapierre. When they arrived at the end to see us having finished, they shouted "st!" or arrival, which made me laugh.

The clever bit is the mix of telescopic seatposts (like Co-Motions), and crank shorteners, meaning anyone from a tiny 3 yr old to a 6'7 person could fit it on the back. Very stiff, relatively light, and the short wheelbase means it's really chuckable compared to a normal tandem. Haven't been much over 70kph on it with the boy yet, but at that speed, it still corners fantastically. It it is a beast. Hilarious fun. Slower club runs are doable on the flat - it does not hang about.

Also use if for family hols, where we tow a chariot. Had 68kph out of it with the trailer, which didn't please my missus.

Lots and lots of options - http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/
If you ring and speak to Richard, the designer (also designed the Airnimal range, with which some parts are interchangeable), even more custom options become available. It's a trick piece of kit.

Review here - ours is closest to a Helios Auster, but we went for IGH rather than derailleurs for the ability to shift gears when stopped, as it needed to be simple with a kiddie stoker. Didn't have a problem with the standard Auster though, and it would give a better gear range. Do upgrade to a rear disc though - we felt it was underbraked without - just too fast!

Nice bit of kit - my BIL uses the same chariot with their tandem. The only thing that would put me off your set-up is I think a thudbuster is essential on a hard-tail as the stoker can't see the bumps coming and on a long ride you do sometimes forget to warn them.

I fancy swapping to a gear hub though - a Rolly set-up - but the 'dale is an odd spacing at the rear 145mm IIRC.

On the topic of being under-braked you really cannot have big enough discs on a tandem. On a group ride around the dales, we had a couple of very spirited descents that went on and on. By the bottom, the pistons on my hopes had burned through the back of the pad - pad fault where the friction material delaminated - and the pistons were acting directly on the disks. On my BIL's bike, the rear brake boiled the fluid to a temp where the hose blew off the calliper and the fluid instantly flashed off to 'steam' resulting in a huge white cloud.

[DrMekon]

rhinochopig said:

Nice bit of kit - my BIL uses the same chariot with their tandem. The only thing that would put me off your set-up is I think a thudbuster is essential on a hard-tail as the stoker can't see the bumps coming and on a long ride you do sometimes forget to warn them.

Thudbuster is an option - http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/univers...

But I only use ours with our 7 year old, and he's never complained. If he does, I'll get one.

Tempted by the new all metal cable discs that are supposedly tandem proof, albeit I guess you can warp anything in the end. Again, suspect my kiddie stoker means I'm okay for now.