Da Vinci Alternative

[bigboy]

Hi,

I'm looking into a tandem bike. I had thought, without knowing anything about tandems, that they would be built by default with independent drive system. But surprise for me the default is locked motion. I saw in another post one other manufacturer besides Da Vinci that had a independent drive system aftermarket solution, the ATP by visionrecumbents.com. Unfortunately they are out of business. I'm not interested in spending more than $300 for a bike, so thought I would get a cheaper tandem off ebay and put the ATP on it till I found out they were out of business. Bummer!! Any other solutions anybody knows of or where I can still get the ATP???

Thanks,
bigboy

[zonatandem]

You'll be spending a whole lot more $$$$$$ than the original $300 to adapt your bargain tandem to independent drive!
Contact Todd @ daVinci to see what it would cost to retrofit.
Cheaper way out of this: pull your feet, or the stoker's feet, out of the pedals if you want 'independent coasting!'

[Brian]

J&B Imports still offers an IPS system for tandems. Check with your LBS.

[lmzimmer]

Learing to ride as a TEAM means adjusting cadence etc. Most tandem riders have a stronger rider and weaker rider and this is part of the fun. Unless there is a serious issue here(handicaped individual or small child) You might want to try tandeming in the traditional way before investing in something like this. I am curious what other teams think about this?

[Brian]

We'd kick a little more butt in the technical stuff off road if we had IPS, or the Da Vinci, but I think for some couples independent is the way to go. I'd like to give my wife a break once in a while, and let me see how hard I could push our tandem.