Tandem Cycling - C'dale ordered today

After looking at a couple of used ones I decided to order a new Cannondale tandem. Lots of bang for the buck, imo. Oh, what I really wanted was a Santana steel w/all bells & whistles with campy of course. With all my $'s tie up in single bikes, I thought we'd give this a try.

I really can't wait to spend more time w/my wife doing an exercise we both enjoy, she just can't ride 50-60 miles and average 18+. So hopefuly this will solve our problems! or make them worse.

Thanks for a Tandem specific board.

BTW, I'm located in Nashville, TN

Sure you'll be happy with the C'dale compared to the 'tana . . . and see how much $$ you have left over now to buy some matching jerseys and stuff?

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Tucson? I'll be at the El Tour in November, sans partner. My parents live in Green Valley.

After looking at a couple of used ones I decided to order a new Cannondale tandem. Lots of bang for the buck, imo. Oh, what I really wanted was a Santana steel w/all bells & whistles with campy of course. With all my $'s tie up in single bikes, I thought we'd give this a try.

I really can't wait to spend more time w/my wife doing an exercise we both enjoy, she just can't ride 50-60 miles and average 18+. So hopefuly this will solve our problems! or make them worse.

Thanks for a Tandem specific board.

BTW, I'm located in Nashville, TN

We got a new Cannondale last year and it's working out great for us. Very solid bike.

The rear seat was awful. My wife tried it on the first ride and that was enough of that. She's always cycled and about any seat has been fine for her but not that one. Got rid of the suspension post, put on a sprung Brooks, and now she's happy as a clam.

It's much easier for her to keep up now. No matter how hard I push or how far we go she never gets tired or even breathes hard. We were climbing a big hill the other day, towing the kids, into a headwind, near the end of a long ride, and I was suffering like a dog. Meanwhile, she was chattering away like she was having tea at the kitchen table.

It's much easier for her to keep up now. No matter how hard I push or how far we go she never gets tired or even breathes hard. We were climbing a big hill the other day, towing the kids, into a headwind, near the end of a long ride, and I was suffering like a dog. Meanwhile, she was chattering away like she was having tea at the kitchen table.

Thats odd. My girlfriend also mentioned that she doesn't get as good a workout on the tandem as on a single.

Thats odd. My girlfriend also mentioned that she doesn't get as good a workout on the tandem as on a single.

My girlfriend says the same thing so I make sure we ride singles at least once a week (on my easy day). I think some folks think its OK to nap back there....

BNA Roadie:
Have ridden 21 El Tour de Tucsons (missed only one because boss would not let me off work . . .) No longer do the 100+ mile part and now mostly ride Bike Patrol for them.
Have done it about 15 times on tandem with spouse Kay.
If you haven't ridden the El Tour: now 7,000+ riders and very well organized/supported
event. Youll love it!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Great to hear.
My wife and I started on a Cannondale and didn't know any better until one day.....
We were in Boulder and rented a Santana steel tandem to do a quick road ride with college buddies. Man, was I surprised! The Santana felt like limp pasta compared with what we were used to. Now I know why so many couples have difficulty standing - especially sprinting! Our Cannondale has always been rock solid climbing out of the saddle and sprinting. We've always been comfortable on our 'Dale, and we went ten years without a suspension post until someone gave us one, so I figured "Why not?" Now I'm sure that rental had seen better days, but I expected FAR more from the much heralded Santana.
Enjoy your new ride!

Thats odd. My girlfriend also mentioned that she doesn't get as good a workout on the tandem as on a single.

My wife says exactly the opposite: she works WAY harder when we ride together. (And this isn't a complaint on her part - she's always happy to announce it!)

our 2004 cannondale road tandem is our 3rd tandem. 1988 Santana soverign, 1991 Rodriguez and now the 'dale. Its not light for an aluminum frame. But its plenty stiff and rides well. The brakes are awesome avid discs, and replace the prayer method on 50 mph descents. As we get older and slower the bikes get better. Not fair, but hey, happy to be still riding. and married. to the same stoker.

Like you, we purchased a new C'dale seven years ago. It did wonders for our marriage and health.
This bike was not cheap but pales in comparison to newer bikes I bought for just me. The shifting of gears on Shimano XT or Ultegra are so much better than the old C'dale rotary grip shift. The hydraulic rim brakes are now less than perfect compared to newer disk designs.
The point I am trying to make is that going too cheap could be unsafe as well as well as detract from your pleasure of riding. Your choice of a new C'dale will be good until a few years from now but is much better than many other choices you could have made.