As has been pointed out having the stoker coast is only possible only the DaVinci independent coasting system. OK I guess, and many people like it but I wouldn't recommend it. Do a lot of research before you buy because a lot of what you take for granted about riding a single is not applicable to a double.
My wife, Pat, and I love riding the tandem, but there is a saying in the tandem world - whatever direction your relationship is headed in, it will get there faster on a tandem! Riding a tandem requires a lot of communication, coordination and compromise. The team needs to come to agreement on cadence and gears. The captain needs to keep the stoker informed of everything that is about to happen. Front end shifting requires both riders to relax and reengage at the same time. In the tandem world, "the stoker is always right" rules, and things go better when the pilot relaxes and gives the stoker control. Just go as far and as fast as your partner wants. Our tandem is a 26" wheel custom Bilenky, S&S coupled travel tandem. I'm pretty sure most RBW riders would much prefer a 26" or 650b tandem. Santana and CoMotion are the big sellers in this market and both design their 700c bikes around 28mm tires! Considering that all but the lightest teams will be well over 300 lbs. that's bizarre. Our fully loaded touring tandem is well in excess of 400 lbs but handles very easily. If you want a new coupled tandem Bilenkey is the way to go. Tandems require more stand over for the pilot because he must straddle the bike with his legs spread apart while the stoker climbs on and clips in (another tandem must). Smaller wheels are stronger, create more tire clearance, and and offer more stand over. Also, another rule of thumb says a tandem will cost three times as much as a single of comparable quality. There's a web site dedicate to selling used tandems, but i have lost track of the url. Also, check out the tan...@hobbes.edu.org discussion, but it has a decidedly racing slant. Also check out John & Pamela Blayles web site for a wealth of good info. http://www.blayleys.com/index.htm Michael On Thursday, January 30, 2014 1:39:50 PM UTC-5, Michael wrote: > > And could I put Albas on the back for my stoker wife? > > I am going to do the Six Pillars Century ride in Maryland this year, Lord > willing. > > They have a 37 miler my wife might be interested in. > > I told her if we had a tandem she could go on the full century with me and > just stop pedalling whenever she gets tired. At least I think you can do > that on a tandem. > > Anyone here have any ideas about tandems? Is steel still real, or are > lighter materials in order for a frame of that size? > > Wonder if RBW will ever go tandem, not that I could afford it. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
