Show us your tandem!
#101
Junior Member
Thanks!
The stem is the original Burley stoker stem, which came painted to match. We have the drum brake connected to a cheap old friction shifter shifter that I clamped to the captain's stem. A little awkward at first but you get used to it. We thought about putting it on the stoker's bars but the cable routing on the frame is designed for captain control.
The stem is the original Burley stoker stem, which came painted to match. We have the drum brake connected to a cheap old friction shifter shifter that I clamped to the captain's stem. A little awkward at first but you get used to it. We thought about putting it on the stoker's bars but the cable routing on the frame is designed for captain control.
#102
Junior Member
This is our Burley Duet, acquired about a month ago. From the components (Suntour XCE, 7-speed) I believe it's an early model, probably 1993. It's mostly original.
So far I have replaced wear items including cables & housings, both chains, brake shoes, bar tape. I found some correct brake lever hoods and freed up the stoker seat stem which was seized – someone installed a super long one and just rammed it in there past the corrosion in the tube and got it well stuck. I replaced the two large chain rings which were difficult to match but I found suitable ones. I fixed the rear derailleur - the pin that stops it from over-rotating was missing so of course it fell apart when I removed the rear wheel. The freewheel had a broken tooth, replaced that. It had cruddy racks on it which I removed and will replace with better ones. It had ugly pedals on the front which I replaced. Maybe some other small improvements in the future but mostly just get it working close to new shape and add some touring gear like bottle cages and proper racks.
I got it to ride with my daughter who has a mild disability that prevents her from riding a two-wheeler. She's been on it a few times and I have ridden with my wife as well. It's a really decent bike and fun to ride, never owned a tandem before. We'll mostly ride it in the city.
So far I have replaced wear items including cables & housings, both chains, brake shoes, bar tape. I found some correct brake lever hoods and freed up the stoker seat stem which was seized – someone installed a super long one and just rammed it in there past the corrosion in the tube and got it well stuck. I replaced the two large chain rings which were difficult to match but I found suitable ones. I fixed the rear derailleur - the pin that stops it from over-rotating was missing so of course it fell apart when I removed the rear wheel. The freewheel had a broken tooth, replaced that. It had cruddy racks on it which I removed and will replace with better ones. It had ugly pedals on the front which I replaced. Maybe some other small improvements in the future but mostly just get it working close to new shape and add some touring gear like bottle cages and proper racks.
I got it to ride with my daughter who has a mild disability that prevents her from riding a two-wheeler. She's been on it a few times and I have ridden with my wife as well. It's a really decent bike and fun to ride, never owned a tandem before. We'll mostly ride it in the city.
#103
Bike Doctor
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 141
Bikes: Norco Cape Cod tandem, KHS Tandemania Cross, 1952 Claud Butler ladyback tandem, 1971 & '73 Raleigh Suberbes, 1985 Gazelle Sport Solide, 1985 Rossi professional
Liked 52 Times
in
24 Posts
I like the Burley! Welcome to tandem life. We started with an old Norco Cape Cod, then bought a new KHS Cross, and now, as you know, we've snagged the Claud Butler. We can't wait till this lockdown is lifted so we can do day trips and stop for refreshments. Even finding a place to pee is almost impossible up till now.
That picture looks like it was taken on Queen St. by the storefront display!
That picture looks like it was taken on Queen St. by the storefront display!
#105
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 516
Bikes: 2004 Trek 520, resto-modded 1987 Cannondale SR400, rando-modded 1976 AD Vent Noir; 2019 Wabi Classic; 1989? Burley Duet
Liked 93 Times
in
51 Posts
Cool thanks for the details. I am going to give that friction lever on the handlebar stem a try for the drum brake. Seems like that is one of the better ways to do it and it surely was how the bikes came from the factory? The cable routing is designed for something at the front for sure. On the stem I meant the stoker seat stem, did you mean that too? It looks like is a suspension type.
#107
Junior Member
#108
Junior Member
Likes For PedalingWalrus:
Likes For rjhammett:
Likes For act0fgod:
#113
Our tandem has been featured before in this thread but it was a while ago and I've done some minor upgrades since last, so I hope it's okay to show it again. The photos are fresh from a couple of days ago. It's a 2017 Cannondale Road tandem where we have built custom 650B wheels to ride gravel, with these wheels 47mm rubber fits. To make it more friendly for the stoker I have nowadays installed an ee-silk seatpost, which is like a thudbuster mini, with 2 cm of travel. I've also installed a mudguard. I wanted to have one that is easy to remove so for riding fast/racing style we could remove it, turns out that a "permament" mudguard like this only has four screws so it's easy to take off and on.
I think the stoker bike computer is new since last time too, I wanted to have a speedometer to look at for the stoker. Unfortunately the wide frame made it impossible for normal mounting of sensor/spoke magnet, so I had to have the spoke magnet on the brake disc. The distance is too far for any wireless computer I've tried, so I had to use a wired computer. The wiring is a bit messy but I've at least hidden it on the non-drive side so it doesn't show up on drive side photos . If someone has a suggestion about "long-range" wireless bike computer I'm all ears. Of course a GPS unit would solve the problem, but for the stoker I rather want a computer that can hold battery for quite some time.
Other notable adjustments from original is a 24 inner ring giving us 630% gear range (52->11 to 24->32), and shimmed down the front seatpost from 31,6 to 27,2 to be able to use standard stems for the stoker. We also swapped out the bullhorn bar to a drop bar, extra wide at 46 cm to fit a captain's butt in between if needed.
I think the stoker bike computer is new since last time too, I wanted to have a speedometer to look at for the stoker. Unfortunately the wide frame made it impossible for normal mounting of sensor/spoke magnet, so I had to have the spoke magnet on the brake disc. The distance is too far for any wireless computer I've tried, so I had to use a wired computer. The wiring is a bit messy but I've at least hidden it on the non-drive side so it doesn't show up on drive side photos . If someone has a suggestion about "long-range" wireless bike computer I'm all ears. Of course a GPS unit would solve the problem, but for the stoker I rather want a computer that can hold battery for quite some time.
Other notable adjustments from original is a 24 inner ring giving us 630% gear range (52->11 to 24->32), and shimmed down the front seatpost from 31,6 to 27,2 to be able to use standard stems for the stoker. We also swapped out the bullhorn bar to a drop bar, extra wide at 46 cm to fit a captain's butt in between if needed.
#114
Junior Member
Great description and photos of your Cannondale upgrades. It's a nice looking rig and looks like a comfortable ride too (although my stoker might complain about only 2 cm of seat travel!) I bet the 47mm tires soak up the bumps. Are those your regular pedals or do you use clipless pedals also (i.e., SPD)?
#115
Great description and photos of your Cannondale upgrades. It's a nice looking rig and looks like a comfortable ride too (although my stoker might complain about only 2 cm of seat travel!) I bet the 47mm tires soak up the bumps. Are those your regular pedals or do you use clipless pedals also (i.e., SPD)?
Indeed the 47mm soaks up a lot, especially with a bit lower pressure. We have 28 mm road wheels as well, and it's a huge difference.
#116
#118
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: SFBay
Posts: 2,335
Bikes: n, I would like n+1
Likes: 0
Liked 133 Times
in
108 Posts
I've done one, but it was coupled so it fit in 2 cases.
I'd start with Bikeflights and Shipbikes. Both are just reselling UPS/FedEx/etc. shipping services, but at a lower price than you can get walking in off the street. In my case I think it was less than $200 cross country and insured. If you see the bike in person I understand that it is sometimes possible to check a full size tandem on a flight for a bike fee, but I've never tried.
I'd start with Bikeflights and Shipbikes. Both are just reselling UPS/FedEx/etc. shipping services, but at a lower price than you can get walking in off the street. In my case I think it was less than $200 cross country and insured. If you see the bike in person I understand that it is sometimes possible to check a full size tandem on a flight for a bike fee, but I've never tried.
#121
Junior Member
This is our full custom titanium Merlin Telluride XL Tandem. We did just race the Leadville Trail 100 on it. This is at Twin Lakes during a training ride.
Likes For mtn_cyclist:
Likes For masispecial:
#123
Senior Member
the beast got his name
#124
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,700
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Liked 4,538 Times
in
2,522 Posts
Basically have changed as much as I’m going to change. I have a 450 mm Thomson seatpost coming but that is only to replace the one that was cut off too short (not by me) for the captain.
New brakes installed last night.
What it looked like about a month ago when I bought it.
New brakes installed last night.
What it looked like about a month ago when I bought it.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute: