Where are all the tandems at?

[Pikey]

Yeah I love riding tandem with my toppie on the back. He may be 62 but he is strong and still so motivated to ride ride ride. I don't know where he finds all the energy. Our first and only sub 3 was done together on the tandem.

The motivation at 62 is awesome .

My old man is 80 and am sure if they lived here I would have him out riding even though he’s a runner or was anyway .

[Long Wheel Base]

Those climbs on a tandem must be flipped tough at race pace.

 

Good luck to you & Dad ...here’s to pb ✊

Climbing on a tandem isn't as bad as a lot make it out to be. We both have very similar riding styles and it's all about syncing. Sure, we not as fast as some of the tandems up the climbs but we do ok. My toppie comes from a triathlon background, he was a triathlete in his younger days so he is used to doing long flat rides at a constant pace. 

[Pikey]

Climbing on a tandem isn't as bad as a lot make it out to be. We both have very similar riding styles and it's all about syncing. Sure, we not as fast as some of the tandems up the climbs but we do ok. My toppie comes from a triathlon background, he was a triathlete in his younger days so he is used to doing long flat rides at a constant pace.

 

So he is obviously mentally strong & knows how to dig deep.

 

Being in unison and a cohesive unit must be key . Dude you super lucky to have the time with your Dad. Best of luck at ctct,ride safe ????

[Big_Al]

Almost ready for the ARGUS.

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Hey Long Wheel Base,

 

How did the CTCT go? What wheels are you using on the tandem? And how did they perform on the race?

[LeoKnight]

Wanted to so much ride the CTCT on a tandem, but they quiet scares, had a look at how many participated.. which was quiet a few.

[Long Wheel Base]

Hey Long Wheel Base,

 

How did the CTCT go? What wheels are you using on the tandem? And how did they perform on the race?

Howzit, Sorry only saw your post now.

CTCT went well thanks, Did a 2h55m.

The rims are from a Chinese store called lightbicycle. I got them to make the braking surface slightly thicker, it added about 50grams per rim. The hubs are DTswiss 540 tandem. The spokes are pillar. We wanted bladed/aero spokes but the rear is such a short spoke(219mm) that no one had or could get us. Even double butted was a mission and trust me, we shopped around. The rear is 88mm deep and the front is 55mm deep. 

We only finished them a week before the race, did about 50km in joburg over 3 rides and they didn't need much re tensioning. Then did another 2 rides on Friday and Saturday before the race in CT so only did about 120km on them before the race. But they didn't give a moments issues in those few rides leading up to race day. Race day I really noticed the difference over the rolfs we had on before. First decent down hospital hill we hit 86kph with little to no effort and I had to keep grabbing the brakes(wish I was further up to the front to see how fast she could have gone). Those wheels love the flats and decents, plenty free speed!!!!

And they climb ok, can't say I felt them to be sluggish up the hills. We climbed Edinburg drive in the big blade which we have never done before.

Overall weight, as a pair they less than 100g heavier than the Rolfs. I just wish I could have gotten tandem specific hubs with less spokes. These are both 36 hole and I reckon we could have gone 28 rear and 24 front no problem. All those spokes is obviously where the extra weight comes in.

[LeoKnight]

What are the steps of riding a tandem?

 

I am sure there is like things you go through, thinking about it, hearing all the dangers to your relationship, believing yours will be different, looking for a bike and not finding it, etc.

 

Well I have taken the step of actually buying an entry model road bike(Fuel Quasar Tandem), so will have to see how it goes, 3 x 9 speed, with 28c tyres, the back seat even have a bit of a suspension in it.

 

Chain was a bit tired, so will replace that and maybe get the wheels all trued again at my LBS.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Give it a go one day. It's lekker. I started off at 6 on the back of the tandem with my toppie. Once I was old enough I went onto a single. Raced single for many years but then decided to get back onto the tandem a few years ago. When I started racing vets 3 years back I did both but end of last year and this year I have only been on the tandem. I still enjoy racing vets but while my toppie is still able to race hard I will take the opportunity to race with him.

Did a 2hr 43 Argus in 1994 with my son when I was 56 and he 16 . On a steel Hansom tandem . Still one of the best memories I have of doing something with Hannes .

[King_Crispy]

Im selling an old steel Peugeot tandem which would make a good renovation project for someone. I want

R1800 for the bike. Also have an old 105 groupset to go with it for an additional R1400

[Long Wheel Base]

Did a 2hr 43 Argus in 1994 with my son when I was 56 and he 16 . On a steel Hansom tandem . Still one of the best memories I have of doing something with Hannes .

We still have our old steel DHC and Hansom. Would like to get one of them going again just for the fun of it. They both still complete so won't need much to get them going.

[Fly2High]

We own 2 tandems , a local built Ravo road tandem and an imported Ventana MTB. The Ventana is a fullsus 29'er where the frame was imported but the rest was built up by Williams in Somerset west. My wife and I have just completed the Joberg2c on the MTB and it was as per the marketing, a journey. Well worth the 9 days. As far as I am concerned it is most likely the most "fun" you can have on a bicycle, the top speeds are phenomenal, the flats are great, the climbs are climbs. Neither of us are weight weenies so the MTB has been built to withstand "hits". We had an Envi Avalanche MTB 29'er before, most likely the best value for money bike I have ever purchased. I did change the group set and the wheels but paying R12k for the frame was well worth it. We sold the Envi as it was a hard tail and nine days on a hard tail did not appeal. The Ventana performed well, and we had no mechanicals for the 9 days. We enjoy the tandem and it is quite different than riding a single.

[Shebeen]

Ventana DS

 

freedom challenge 2009

 

Glenn Harrison and Mike Woolnough

 

Record holder for tandem category (ie. no one else dumb enough has been located yet)

 

 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdxyJz9P2U/SjuWHsrxWTI/AAAAAAAAAFw/qzheMlE-pE4/s1600/Glenn+lehana-738431.jpg

 

bike weight - 27kg

 

read all about it here

[GrantMcD1]

Hi everyone. If someone could please point me in the right direction.

 

I am looking to buy a Tandem for my dad and I, I am 1.74m and he is 1.78 m so I can't really find a Cannondale Tandem which suits us as they all seem to be L/S. We also looking for something with disc brakes.

 

CycleLab has a Ravo Tandem which will apparently suit us but I've never heard of them, are they any good?

 

Is there anything to look out for when buying a tandem?

 

Are there any stores who specialise in tandems that I could contact?

 

Thanks so much

Grant

[Long Wheel Base]

Hi everyone. If someone could please point me in the right direction.

 

I am looking to buy a Tandem for my dad and I, I am 1.74m and he is 1.78 m so I can't really find a Cannondale Tandem which suits us as they all seem to be L/S. We also looking for something with disc brakes.

 

CycleLab has a Ravo Tandem which will apparently suit us but I've never heard of them, are they any good?

 

Is there anything to look out for when buying a tandem?

 

Are there any stores who specialise in tandems that I could contact?

 

Thanks so much

Grant

I can write a whole book as a response here.

Where are you based?

[CharlesZ]

Climbing on a tandem isn't as bad as a lot make it out to be. We both have very similar riding styles and it's all about syncing. Sure, we not as fast as some of the tandems up the climbs but we do ok. My toppie comes from a triathlon background, he was a triathlete in his younger days so he is used to doing long flat rides at a constant pace. 

I'm looking to buy a tandem for C and I

 

Nick which option can I look at? Shitdale? Matrix?

[GrantMcD1]

I can write a whole book as a response here.

Where are you based?

 

Based in CPT and Gauteng. I popped into Olympic cycles today and they had a nice looking Tandem on the floor which I got. Apparently it will be the right size for my dad and I.

 

It’s a new Cannondale T2, very neat looking bike and seems to check all the boxes. Looking forward to the first ride.