[bidaci]

I am new to tandeming and have a question regarding low speed handling. I expect that due to the wheelbase that the tandem will feel slower responding to steering input then a single would, but I am having a sensation of the wheel trying to flop on low speed manuveuring. I have never ridden a tandem before this one but couldn't resist the $150.00 price tag. It is an old Columbia Twosome that was modified by the person I bought it from. I have a feeling that during the buildup by the previous owner there was too much trail allowed in the front wheel geometry. I have seen trail figures run from about 1.9 to 2.6 inches and the trail on this bike appears to be around 3.2 which would seem high and probably explain the low speed steering sensation. I was hoping to get more experienced tandem riders inputs on this. The bike can be seen here (http://mysite.verizon.net/resotaxt/id4.html).


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[K&M]

Sounds like you've figured it out. All else being equal, the more trail you have the less stable the bike is going to feel at slow speeds. How does it handle when you go more quickly?

[bidaci]

How does it handle when you go more quickly?
I haven't been over ~25 mph as my stoker gets extremely nervous, yet it feels very stable at faster speeds. I was curious as if the sensation is normal based on the design of a tandem itself or more pronounced in my application. I know the feeling is subjective and the stability isn't overly concerning as long as it is stable as I go faster. I am just assuming that this is not as much of a concern with newer tandems based on the trail figures I have seen. Guess I'll dig around for a different fork and try to lessen the trail and see what happens.

Thanks for the reply

Bill

[TandemGeek]

Sounds like you've figured it out.

What he said...

If the numbers are right, your tandem would be a handful at slow speeds or with a stoker who tends to shift their weight even at moderate speeds.

[bidaci]

If the numbers are right, your tandem would be a handful at slow speeds or with a stoker who tends to shift their weight even at moderate speeds.

So the sensation I described is normal and good?


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[TandemGeek]

So the sensation I described is normal and good?

It's normal for a tandem with a lot of trail, as to whether or not that's good... you'll have to make that call. Again, if the trail numbers for that bike are correct it's off the charts. We ride road tandems that are considered off the charts by most people's standards (~2.5") and as a small team it's no problem. However, that said, I sure wouldn't want any more trail that what we have.

[galen_52657]

I know nothing about your particular bike. And, photos can be deceiving, but it looks like the bike has a slack head angle, maybe 72 degrees or less. If that is the case and the person before you replaced the fork with a fork with less rake, than the trail would increase. You could take the fork to a shop and have it cold-set to add some rake which would reduce the trail.