First Posting: I got a Tandem on Wednesday !
12-19-14, 02:40 PM
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First Posting: I got a Tandem on Wednesday !
Hello to all.
I picked up a Benotto tandem bike on Wednesday and have owned it for two days now. My first tandem.
It was on the local Buy 'n' Sell as a 3-wheeler for a week or so with one terrible picture and 128 people saw the ad but I am the only one who replied because the bike was so incredibly ugly.
I have spent the last two days fixing it up and hope it will be a good ride. It has a 23 inch frame, which suits me just fine.
It had some few parts missing, and some EXTRA parts bolted on, but it is coming along nicely.
Still needs good cleaning but I'm looking forward to trying it out. A work in progress.
Before and after pix...
I picked up a Benotto tandem bike on Wednesday and have owned it for two days now. My first tandem.
It was on the local Buy 'n' Sell as a 3-wheeler for a week or so with one terrible picture and 128 people saw the ad but I am the only one who replied because the bike was so incredibly ugly.
I have spent the last two days fixing it up and hope it will be a good ride. It has a 23 inch frame, which suits me just fine.
It had some few parts missing, and some EXTRA parts bolted on, but it is coming along nicely.
Still needs good cleaning but I'm looking forward to trying it out. A work in progress.
Before and after pix...
12-19-14, 04:29 PM
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Wow, that original photo is crazy! You had some serious vision to buy it. Looks great now! Nice job. What kind of components does it have on it? Can't quite tell from the pics... it doesn't have the Campy tandem grouppo, does it? That would be a score.
12-19-14, 07:17 PM
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You really rescued that bike from an inglorious fate!
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12-19-14, 07:24 PM
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Hmmm... CUTE... 
At times I've thought an extra pair of legs pulling my cargo trailer would be very helpful.
But, I admit the trike was just strange.
Perhaps find a beater MTB, attach the trike to it, and resell.
At times I've thought an extra pair of legs pulling my cargo trailer would be very helpful.
But, I admit the trike was just strange.
Perhaps find a beater MTB, attach the trike to it, and resell.
12-19-14, 08:47 PM
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Yeah: I think the picture on the listing with the hideous wagon bolted on the back scared off a lot of potential interest.
A real dog's breakfast of parts but the bike is 45 years old, so there have been changes. It came with Gardin front stem. Cellini rear stem. 2 Rino seat posts. Campagnolo brakes, Campagnolo drop outs. Campagnolo gear levers. SunTour Cyclone derailleur. Alloy rear bars and Starling front bars. Miche cranks. Campagnolo pedals.
I put a back wheel on it, seats, new bar tape and new chains. The rear seat tube was frozen and I had to hang the bike upside down and strip out the rear crank and pour penetrating oil down and up the rear seat tube to free it up.
The bike will look much nicer after I touch up the paint. Next I'll find some extra long brake and gear cables and replace those as well.
Where do we get gear & brake cables for tandems ???
I have not ridden it yet but I think I did well: I offered $10 for it but the owner turned me down - so I had to pay him $20, but it was only Canadian money so its really only $17.00 in real money. I am still shocked at how LONG it is.
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12-19-14, 08:59 PM
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It cleaned up quite nicely!
You can get tandem brake and derailleur cables from any bike shop, they usually have them behind the counter somewhere. I got mine from a Trek dealer for like $5 a cable.
You can get tandem brake and derailleur cables from any bike shop, they usually have them behind the counter somewhere. I got mine from a Trek dealer for like $5 a cable.
12-19-14, 09:08 PM
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When I was working on my Cargo Bike, I just searched for "Tandem" (brake,shifter) cables on E-Bay.
There are a few Chinese sellers.
However, if you go American, and can't get the shipping you want. Contact the seller.
They should be able to be sent as a First Class Letter at somewhere between $1.15 and $2.30, I think.
Of course, double check your cable lengths.
There are a few Chinese sellers.
However, if you go American, and can't get the shipping you want. Contact the seller.
They should be able to be sent as a First Class Letter at somewhere between $1.15 and $2.30, I think.
Of course, double check your cable lengths.
12-20-14, 08:14 AM
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When I was working on my Cargo Bike, I just searched for "Tandem" (brake,shifter) cables on E-Bay.
There are a few Chinese sellers.
However, if you go American, and can't get the shipping you want. Contact the seller.
They should be able to be sent as a First Class Letter at somewhere between $1.15 and $2.30, I think.
Of course, double check your cable lengths.
There are a few Chinese sellers.
However, if you go American, and can't get the shipping you want. Contact the seller.
They should be able to be sent as a First Class Letter at somewhere between $1.15 and $2.30, I think.
Of course, double check your cable lengths.
Thanks for the information.
I'll pick up some cables for it and redo all the cables.
Today, it gets a pair of new black wall tires !
Binky
12-20-14, 11:08 AM
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Wayne
12-20-14, 11:26 AM
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I've bought loooong cables for tandems and recumbents from Bikeman.com. Huge selection.
Bikeman: Cable
Bikeman: Cable
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12-20-14, 12:00 PM
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I've bought loooong cables for tandems and recumbents from Bikeman.com. Huge selection.
Bikeman: Cable
Bikeman: Cable
Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like a great shop.
I just checked them out. They want more for a single derailleur cable delivered to Canada than I paid for the bike !!
Shipping to American addresses is reasonable but they want anywhere from $13 to $45 to put their cheapest $3 cable into an envelope & drop it into the mail.... so I think I'll pass on Bikeman.
Thanks anyway !!
I'll hit up the local bike shop or try eBay. I'll be re-cabling it in the spring, after the snow melts, so there's no rush.
Binky
12-20-14, 03:41 PM
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Thanks for the suggestion. Looks like a great shop.
I just checked them out. They want more for a single derailleur cable delivered to Canada than I paid for the bike !!
Shipping to American addresses is reasonable but they want anywhere from $13 to $45 to put their cheapest $3 cable into an envelope & drop it into the mail.... so I think I'll pass on Bikeman.
Thanks anyway !!
I'll hit up the local bike shop or try eBay. I'll be re-cabling it in the spring, after the snow melts, so there's no rush.
Binky
I just checked them out. They want more for a single derailleur cable delivered to Canada than I paid for the bike !!
Shipping to American addresses is reasonable but they want anywhere from $13 to $45 to put their cheapest $3 cable into an envelope & drop it into the mail.... so I think I'll pass on Bikeman.
Thanks anyway !!
I'll hit up the local bike shop or try eBay. I'll be re-cabling it in the spring, after the snow melts, so there's no rush.
Binky
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12-20-14, 03:58 PM
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I think a lot of people forget about the first class envelopes which should still be dirt cheap to send.
One may loose some tracking options which are nice, but there is no reason to get one's knickers in a twist over a $3 package.
Hopefully your LBS has the parts you need. You can generally buy cable housing in bulk (lined or unlined) so you don't have to be tandem specific. On occasion I've greased up my cables which can extend their life a bit.
One may loose some tracking options which are nice, but there is no reason to get one's knickers in a twist over a $3 package.
Hopefully your LBS has the parts you need. You can generally buy cable housing in bulk (lined or unlined) so you don't have to be tandem specific. On occasion I've greased up my cables which can extend their life a bit.
12-20-14, 04:02 PM
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$20 CAD! Wow, that's a deal for sure. The Campy pedals alone are probably worth 5x that.
BTW, you need to tighten your timing chain a good bit. There should be an eccentric of some sort in the front BB that will allow you do so. Probably secured by a couple of allen bolts that pinch a split BB tube together.
BTW, you need to tighten your timing chain a good bit. There should be an eccentric of some sort in the front BB that will allow you do so. Probably secured by a couple of allen bolts that pinch a split BB tube together.
12-20-14, 04:42 PM
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$20 CAD! Wow, that's a deal for sure. The Campy pedals alone are probably worth 5x that.
BTW, you need to tighten your timing chain a good bit. There should be an eccentric of some sort in the front BB that will allow you do so. Probably secured by a couple of allen bolts that pinch a split BB tube together.
BTW, you need to tighten your timing chain a good bit. There should be an eccentric of some sort in the front BB that will allow you do so. Probably secured by a couple of allen bolts that pinch a split BB tube together.
Whenever I see Campagnolo parts and forged Campagnolo drop outs on a decent frame instead of stamped steel I figure the bike must be worth at least $20.
I just got lucky with this one.
As for the eccentric block for the Miche cranks & timing chain, thats exactly what there is.
Before I ride it in the spring I will set it up.
I already loosened off the bolts and rotated the eccentric CW and CCW about 15 or 20 degrees just to make sure it was free to move - and it rotated freely.
Really, though, I have no idea how much use I will get out of this bike.
My wife & I both have our own bikes and she may prefer riding solo but we'll give it a try.
The condition of the sprockets indicates that this old Benotto bike has seen very little actual use.
Binky
12-21-14, 06:16 PM
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That is a lucky find. For cable kits, try Jagwire, their XL kits have 2.5 meter rear cables and come with 3.5 or 4 meters of housing. They have 2 Canadian distributors so any decent local shop or Canadian mail order place should be able to get them for a reasonable price.
12-21-14, 08:13 PM
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That is a lucky find. For cable kits, try Jagwire, their XL kits have 2.5 meter rear cables and come with 3.5 or 4 meters of housing. They have 2 Canadian distributors so any decent local shop or Canadian mail order place should be able to get them for a reasonable price.
Thanks for this info:
I found that a full length derailleur cable that works for a 10-speed bike works just fine for the rear derailleur and for the front derailleur, so all I really need is a rear rake cable. The brake cable is OK..... but it is really thick and has two broken strands so I'll replace it.
The transformation from 3-wheeler to 2-wheeler is almost complete. I put on new tires today and cleaned the rims.
With the trike there was a really nice long-cage Shimano Titlist derailleur that looks unused so I put it on to try out. Very smooth shifting on the stand.
I'll keep the SunTour Cyclone as a spare.
The forecast is for rain and snow for the rest of the week..... Rats.
Binky
12-23-14, 11:11 AM
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The SunTour Cyclone is a nicer derailleur than the Shimano, IMO (unless the SunTour is beat or something).
12-25-14, 12:55 PM
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Sounds like you have the mechanics pretty well covered.
You and your riding partner should read: The Proper Method It works for my wife and I, and most couples - not all.
Make sure the brakes are really good - get new Koolstop or similar high quality pads. Tandems are FAST.
You and your riding partner should read: The Proper Method It works for my wife and I, and most couples - not all.
Make sure the brakes are really good - get new Koolstop or similar high quality pads. Tandems are FAST.
12-26-14, 10:40 AM
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Sounds like you have the mechanics pretty well covered.
You and your riding partner should read: The Proper Method It works for my wife and I, and most couples - not all.
Make sure the brakes are really good - get new Koolstop or similar high quality pads. Tandems are FAST.
You and your riding partner should read: The Proper Method It works for my wife and I, and most couples - not all.
Make sure the brakes are really good - get new Koolstop or similar high quality pads. Tandems are FAST.
Nigel: I'll get some good pads.
The stoker makes no mistakes.
The stoker makes no mistakes.
The stoker makes no mistakes.
The stoker makes no mistakes.
The stoker makes no mistakes.
Thanks,
Binky
12-27-14, 10:03 PM
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Here, here on tightening that timing chain.
12-27-14, 10:50 PM
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I did exactly that, and put a Shimano 105 RD on it, and had the bike out solo today for its maiden voyage.
8 degrees Celsius (about 48F), a bit windy, and it started to rain, so I only went about 5k and came home thoroughly chilled.
Delightful. I'm very pleased with it.
Brrrrr.....
Binky
8 degrees Celsius (about 48F), a bit windy, and it started to rain, so I only went about 5k and came home thoroughly chilled.
Delightful. I'm very pleased with it.
Brrrrr.....
Binky
12-28-14, 01:31 AM
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Well, pretty tight is what you want. When you try and squeeze the top and bottom together about midway between the sprockets, you don't want to be able to move it hardly at all. Maybe 1/4" (6 mm) max combined. The chain should spin freely and not make any creaky noises. If you get it too tight you'll likely hear some noise when you spin the cranks.
That's actually a pretty cool old tandem you scored. Those look like cruiser bars on the back. Looks to be a small size for your stoker.
All the best! Another tandem only shop in Pleasanton, Ca is called Crank 2 Performance Tandems Crank2 Pertormance Tandems Bicycles - Crank2 Performance Tandems They have a decent selection of tandem specific parts
That's actually a pretty cool old tandem you scored. Those look like cruiser bars on the back. Looks to be a small size for your stoker.
All the best! Another tandem only shop in Pleasanton, Ca is called Crank 2 Performance Tandems Crank2 Pertormance Tandems Bicycles - Crank2 Performance Tandems They have a decent selection of tandem specific parts