CHAS

I like tandems.
Sold one when I was divorced. Had to stop for her to light cigarettes. She said she never pedaled anyway. The tandem was not the problem

How crazy would it be to buy a Co-motion Periscope and look for a stoker?

Could advertise for a visually impaired stoker.

Secure men rode the tandem I had with me, that was a powerful ride.

With a Periscope size differences are less important. Either could ride captain or stoker.

Ritterview

Here's an idea. Find an antique but rideable lady-first courting tandem. Stoker/girlfriend prospects would likely be intrigued/amused by the novelty, and they'd probably like being in front.

zonatandem

CHAS:
Had a divorced guy in our bike club that had a tandem. Told him to take it on a club ride and put sign on the back: "Help Wanted!"
He ended up with a great lookin' stoker and later married her.
So it's worth a try.
Yes, the Periscope is very adaptable, have ridden a few of them. Just our input!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

professorbob

Think of all the great pickup lines you could come up with.

Carbonfiberboy 

It's called trolling. Works. I know currently unattached males and females who own tandems. Can you think of a better way to find out who someone is (other than that other way)?

CHAS

trolling? Surely there is a nicer word for it.


"that other way" You mean traveling with them?

ScottCarney

https://bicyclingblind.org/

I do have stokers, but I also have used my Davinci with visiting friends quite a bit more than anticipated. I think the ICS on the Davinci helps with that.

As far as the whole spouse magnet thing goes, yes get the courting tandem, add a nice big basket and put a puppy in it.

apage4u

The Help Wanted sign gets my vote. I had my tandem from first marriage and riding was required of wife two. No need to ever have wife three.

Nick & Chris

Speaking of "Help Wanted" signs to find a stoker, here is interesting advertisement in this months Fresno Cycling Club Newsletter:

Fresno Cycling Coed-Tandem RAAM Team 2011
Sponsorship Proposal
Race Across America (RAAM)
World’s Toughest Cycling Endurance Event;
Oceanside, CA. to Annapolis, Maryland

Similar to the Tour de France, our team of experienced and determined endurance cyclists, and dedicated support crewmembers are set to compete against the world’s best in the June 2011 Race Across America (RAAM), a 3,021-mile, non-stop bicycle race from Oceanside, California, to Annapolis, Maryland. Our team expects to complete the race within six days.
In 2009 Richard Hoff and Roehl Caragao were on a team with 8 tandems (Team JDRF). We completed the race in 6 days 10 hours.

In 2011, we hope to have an all Fresno Cycling Coed-Tandem Team consisting of: Roehl Caragao, Richard Hoff, Roger Hogan, & Tom Guevara as the captains. We are still searching for women who are interested in joining our team as stokers (back seat).

Please support our team by purchasing our DISCOUNT CARDS, TIME STATIONS ($100 per TS or $500 per state- more to information to follow) or donate gas cards, food certificates, etc.

Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made to: Fresno Cycling Club with a memo: FCC RAAM Team
Address: Fresno Cycling Club, P.O. Box 27571, Fresno, CA 93729
RAAM Race Site: https://www.raceacrossamerica.org

JSNYC

there a terrific group of folks here in nyc who take visually impaired folks (kids, often) for rides around central park.

it's truly awesome.

use your tandem for some good!

CHAS

Eyecycle Colorado is a group that works to take the visually impaired for a tandem ride. There may be similar groups where you live.

https://eyecyclecolorado.org/

I emailed them.

DrMarkR

Worked out ok for Bill McCready at Santana. I'm pretty sure that's how he met Jan.

CHAS

Drank the kookaid.
Bought a Santana Fusion. Was told it has 266 miles on it. It is 10 or so years old and has been in a garage and looks new. Neighbor used it and put new tires, shifters and a computer on it recently.
Will post pictures soon.

Bent In El Paso

Great philosophy! Buy it and they (stokers) will come.

stevegor

On the vision impaired (VI), stoker comment....
I have 2 young VI guys I take riding, and they love it. One in particular is very fit and we're looking at doing long Audax rides in the future. You could approach a Blind and VI Society as a volunteer and see if there is any interest, you will have a BLAST!

CHAS

There is a group in Breckenridge that teaches visually impaired people to ski and skis with them. Have contacted them.
Breck is 15 miles away by bikepath or road.

stevegor

That's great.
You might find some potential stokers there because they're already enjoying outdoor activities, I met my stokers through a walking group.
Here in Oz we have to pass a police check and a short guiding course before we can volunteer with the VI and blind, also Vision Australia's insurance company have to approve coverage for a "risky" activity. This requires the client's consent etc etc. No big deal, might take 2-4 weeks to finalize.
Take time for your stoker/s to familiarize themselves with the bike, to sit still and pedal, tell them what you're doing, your surroundings and generally chat about life. I found that once your VI stoker trusts you a great friendship blossoms and you have a lot of fun.

BTW, 15 miles is a good warm up solo on the tandem ride before you pick up your stoker.

CHAS

Need a shorter stem. Any need of ordering a forged stem from Santana or can I simply get a mountain bike stem?

WebsterBikeMan

Does it have a 1 1/4" steerer?