Tandem Cycling - Tandem Bicycle on Ebay called "Caddie Up"

Has anyone heard of CaddieUp® brand bicycles. I came across a distributor of these tandem bikes on ebay. They sell Brand New 18 Speed Two Seat Tandem Bicycles. After checking the completed auctions, dozens have sold for approximately $200 plus $99 shipping/handling. The price is hard to ignore and the feedback on the seller is 100%. I've never owned a tandem and am ready to go for it because it could be at my front door within a week! I know I could hunt around for a used tandem that probably would outlast this one but it's very tempting. Someone please give me a reason not to do it!


SPECIAL FEATURES


* FRAME: 26" Tandem Hi-Ten Steel
* SIZE: 19"16
* FORK: Hi-Ten Steel
* DERAILLEUR: Shimano
* CRANKSET: Alloy 28/38/48T
* BRAKES: Alloy V-Brake
* SHIFTERS: Shimano Grip Shift Index
*HANDLE BAR: Alloy
*STEM: Alloy
*SEAT POST: Alloy
* HUBS: Alloy 36H
*RIMS: Alloy 26" x 1.75"
*TIRES: 26" x 2.10" Black

I don't know this particular bike, but I would be extremely skeptical of any bike (much less a tandem) for $200. If you want to try a tandem, find a local place that rents one or test ride at local shops. I suspect that this bike will ride poorly, will not shift or brake well, will be very heavy and uncomfortable, and will not make you or your partner a fan of tandems in general. It is not just a matter of it lasting; I think that this bike would not even give one satisfying ride. Is the bike even assembled? Cheap no-name components will be very hard to get set up properly and will make for scary riding. Maybe you could get a few short enjoyable rides out of it, but I doubt it. Seems like an exercise in frustration that will turn you guys off from tandems forever.

Let's see.... there are so many.

Here's one: Because there are several other high-tensile steel tandems for sale on Ebay for even less?

And a Bonus one: You can run down to Walmart and get a Kent tandem that might actually be a little bit better for a little less money that you can see before you buy. If you're still inclined to buy it after inspecting it (perhaps even taking a test ride??) only to have problems once you get it home, it's an easy trip to take it back with no return shipping costs/hassle.

Save your $$ . . . if it sounds too good to be trtue, it is!

Thanks to you all...I think I'll avoid the temptation and keep looking.




Save your $$ . . . if it sounds too good to be trtue, it is!

I just bought a Kent tandem two weeks ago and I agree. It is if not a better bike than the Caddie no worse and at least it will be assembled albeit possibly by conscripted bike mechanics (mine had the cranks out of phase 45 degrees!). The Kent has a 7 speed 14-34 Mega-range freewheel to go with the 28/38/48 chainwheels which I think is a big plus on a bike that heavy. You may actually use that 28/34 combination a time or few. There is a tandem called a Mantis that is sold mailorder for $353.00 and if you know where to shop you can get it with free shipping and a rebate good for a pair of helmets, if you can get past the garish paint scheme I think it is a nicely equipped entry level tandem. We will have to buy new saddles, seatposts, pedals and maybe handlebars but that would possibly have been neccessary no matter what price range of tandem we bought. Considering the bi-monthly and seasonal nature of what our tandemriding is likely to be we just could not justify a greater outlay of cash for our introduction to the pastime. The early trials have not been disappointing.

H

Mark,

I bought one of the CaddieUp Tandem bikes off of eBay. For the money it isn't a bad deal at all. However be prepared to dump some money into it on better components. I replaced all the cranks, stem, front handlebars, pedals, seats, and tires. I wanted to make the bike rideable for my wife and myself so Nashbar got a lot of business along with eBay. Here is why I did what I did.

1. I replaced the chain tensioner wheel bolt with a stainless steel bolt and nuts from the local hardware store. The other would bend and not stay on well. This turned out to work well.

2. The cranks that came with the bike were absolute junk. I just bought standard non tandem cranks off of eBay and put them on. The timing side uses a single 44 tooth wheel. Because three of the cranks will be threaded incorrectly you will need to get some red loctite to keep them from unscrewing. Even with the standard equipment cranks you will need to do this. I have not had a problem with the loctite...it works great keeping the pedals on.

3. The stem was junk and was bent. I wanted more rise so I put on a Kalloy adjustable stem.

4. I didn't like the handlebars that came with it so I replaced them with a cheap $10 bar from Nashbar. There was nothing wrong with the bar...just a personal choice.

5. The pedals that came with the bike are plastic junk. I bought some clip pedals from the front cranks and reversed the clips so they would work going on backwards (see about on the thread problems). My wife on the back likes standard BMX platform pedals. I had to purchase two sets of those because one thread is backwards, and one is correct. So I ended up using the right pedals from two sets.

6. I found the seats uncomfortable. They might be fine for you. I bought two matching seats off of Nashbar.

7. The tires are fine that come up with it. I purchased some cheap wide Bell slicks from WalMart at $10 a piece. I just wanted a smooth wide road type tire to cut down rolling resistance.

8. I peeled all the CaddieUp stickers off the bike. The stickers make it look like junk. It looks a lot more custom now.

Results: It was a pretty nice bike for the money. I have less then $400 in the bike and it can go pretty well. I have taken it out and can get it going pretty fast. The bike is not light, however it is pretty strong. I am around 300lbs, and my wife is 150lbs. It seems to handle our weight just fine. I say go for it as long as you understand that what you get won't be totally what you want...and your willing to invest a bit to get it the way you want it.

Cliff

So as long as you replace everything on the bike, make multiple trips to the hardware store, and strip the frame of any identifying marks, you can be the proud owner of a tandem that might last a few months.

I'd agree that spending a little more cash up front will get you a nice used tandem that you can feel good about owning and that will keep you riding comfortably and safely without many stops at the hardware store.

DrPete

$400 to see if you and your partner are going to enjoy pedalling twogether (Thanks Rudy) seems like a fair investment. If it gets ridden into the ground, there shouldn't be any problem justifying a better one next time around. If it turns out that a tandem is not right for you guys, you can probably get back 1/2 your money. Good on ya for having a go!

Please do not help bring more junk into this world. It would be much better to buy a quality tandem from/through your LBS or at a garage sale, and then sell it if need be. If the bike depreciates any in value, you can consider this a minimal cost of introduction to the activity, and feel good knowing that you helped bring a quality bicycle into the world that will be enjoyed by many people over many years.

Not everyone has the money to spend on a "Quality" tandem. And they've already bought it, they're not giving birth to it.

Please do not help bring more junk into this world. It would be much better to buy a quality tandem from/through your LBS or at a garage sale, and then sell it if need be.

If I might ask, what type of tandem do you and your partner ride?

I've never heard of caddie up. better yet i would never buy a bike off of ebay. I would recommend saving for a brand that you cant trust like cannanondale or Trek you know something like that.

For the money the frame on the CaddieUp was worth it. We have put about 1200 miles on the bike and it works just fine. No breakdowns, and no issues. FYI, I made ONE trip to the hardware store at the beginning, ONE.

Nice, way to go on the attack DrPete. Your sarcasm really shows me the type of individual you are. It sounds like you need to justify why you spent so much on your Tandem.

Sorry, but I don't have $1-3k to drop on a bike right now. Sorry you think it won't last. It is in perfect shape after 1200 miles. Yes, I did visit the local bike shop and test drove the better tandems...and they are not four to five times better then mine (as their pricetag would indicate).

I listed my modifications on the bike for others to consider. I now have a decent rideable Tandem for under $400 with VERY LITTLE work and energy put in. I think the cheap tandems do have a place in the market and I have enjoyed mine quite a bit.

Cliff

You'll get no argument from me about spending $1k-$3k on a tandem but lets not kid ourselves, a Hi-Ten steel frame is not going to give the kind of ride that better steel or even aluminum can provide. The reason I bought the Kent was that for $200.00 the componentry was actually quite serviceable. If I had had to replace the cranks, stem and tires it would not have made sense at all. In fact I have about a $200.00 order in to Nashbar to go with my purchase of the Kent at Wal-Mart and it is all for things to enhance our experience of the tandem, not make it over: pump, rack/bag, f/r/ strobes, headlight, tights, spare tubes, etc. These are things you will also need in addition to what you have spent on basic running gear for the bicycle. We do plan to change the pedals, not because they don't work but because they won't take toe clips, the saddles are also on the list of things to upgrade but the basic running gear of the Kent tandem is very sound and should be on any bicycle that one wants to consider a 'good purchase'. In the end I don't blame you for wanting to point out your experience vs the multi-thousand dollar extremes I've done as much in other posts but you give those of us that have bought ultra-cheap tandems a bad name when you try to say with a straight face that you put VERY LITTLE work into making it pleasant to live with after mentioning that you actually had to loctite cranksets made for 1/2 bikes into your tandem to make it work for you. Some folks like to wrench on their cars on the weekend and some like to wrench on their bikes, I'm not putting that down but you have to look at it from where we do. It doesn't really seem like you came out as well as you think you did.

H

If I might ask, what type of tandem do you and your partner ride?

We ride my parents' Burley when visiting family in Chicago, and I rent a Schwinn tandem for us from our university. It's humourously heavy, but it only costs like 20 bucks for a month and is always available since apparently I'm the only guy on campus who likes to ride a cruiser tandem around in the corn with his girlfriend. The front brake works even if you stoker is pedaling, and the coaster brake works in the rain :) We are both poor college students, but I'm saving up to buy a used steel Trek tandem. There is a guy in state with a T1000 that I might be able to get cheap and convert to drop bars using parts salvaged from another family bike.

Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes by speaking against disposable bicycles :) On our campus, the bike racks are choked with department store bicycles, and half of them are obviously abandoned. Students think they are getting a good deal with department/grocery store bikes, but they typically last less than a year and are dangerous for half that time.

Well here is how I see everything.

1. Learning about how to maintain your bikes is a good skill to have. I have learned so many different things working on my tandem that I consider valuable that I have lost count.

2. No matter what bike you purchase it will not last if you fail to take care of it. If your bike is wiped down after each ride, not left out in the rain, and has everything looked after and replaced then it will last. From cheap department store bikes to the high end. Leave it out in the elements and it will take it toll. 90% of the reason those college bikes last only a year and are dangerous.

3. Customizing a bike is fun stuff, even with a cheap bike.

4. There are a lot of different price points for Tandems. As you spend more you get better frames, better made components, etc. It is not possible to duplicate a 2k bike on a $400 budget. It is possible to build a low end rideable bike on a $400 budget however.

5. Riding a tandem, yes even a properly fitted cheap tandem, is a lot of fun.

6. Riding a tandem with your wife is a good team building experience. You learn how to communicate, listen better, and build a better relationship because of it.

7. Loctite is really easy to use. Just put it on and screw the pedal in, then wait for a day.

So has it been worth my $400 investment?

Sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes by speaking against disposable bicycles.

There's no need for anyone to apologize for speaking their mind; however, at the same time it's fair to expect that there may be dissenting opinions or ensuing discussions. In regard to my question to which you kindly responded, I tend to search for context when I don't have any to go on... and your response was quite interesting in that, while you have access to a premium grade tandem -- the Burley -- you also find yourself on a Schwinn cruiser. So, let me ask you this: even though the Schwinn is hardly a premium grade machine, do you enjoy riding it? Yes, it's a rhetorical question because obviously you do otherwise you'd put the $20/mo to use in some other way.

So, this brings up back to this particular thread which really deals with the economics of a luxury item and both its intrinsic and non-intrinsic value... after all, if you don't "need" a bike for transportation or rely on it for livelihood it's a luxury item. While I too wince when people speak of department store bicycles, I try to put myself in their shoes by asking questions to fill in any gaps that help me to understand their budget, goals, and expectations for the purchase they are contemplating (mark 317) or, in Cliff's case (chorvath), had already made. Mark317 clearly understood what he was looking at and didn't have any unrealistic expectations but merely wanted to know if he should pass on it and why. I think the follow ups were all fairly objective, to the point, and Mark317 was ultimately appreciative of the feedback.

Cliff, on the other hand, was in a different boat along with "H" (Leisesturm), as they were kind enough to offer first hand experience with the purchases that they had already made. Within both of their posts it was clear that they too knew what they were getting into when they purchased these bikes and, at the same time, it was also clear they were both satisfied with what they had acquired. Therefore, we must assume that for them the amount of money they paid for their respective bikes was equal to or greater than the non-intrinsic value and pleasure they were deriving from it. Will this condition change over time, e.g., if and when spokes break or bearings need attention? Perhaps. Will either of these two gentlemen be surprised if and when that happens? Based on what they shared in their posts, probably not. However, as a tandem enthusiast and advocate I firmly believe that they have at least been able to find out if tandeming was something they would enjoy NOW rather than procrastinating and perhaps never acting on.... and the cost associated with that certainly appears to have been comfortable with respect to their individual economic situations. Which, with respect to your $20/month Schwinn, sounds quite familiar.

On a final note, and to add context, if you search the archives or find yourself in the company of other tandemists in the future you will find that there are many tandem buyers who parallel the buying pattern of Cliff and H but who found that $1,800 or perhaps $2,500 was an easy pill to swallow for their view of an "entry level tandem" (remembering that economics are what they are) and within their first year of ownership opted to "upgrade" the mediocre wheelset that came on the bike with a "better" set of wheels for $500 or decided to add that $395 carbon fork... making the point that it's all relative.

Just some food for thought.

Edit: This was composed off-line and, in the interim, Cliff has reaffirmed the thought I was trying to express.

Better to ride a cheap tandem than to never ride a tandem at all . . .
Lots of expen$ive tandems are gathering dust in a shed or garage; it's not what you've got that counts, but do you enjoy being TWOgether?
We all have our priorities; no, we don't have, or need, a second car. No we don't have golf clubs that cost $300 each; no we don't have a fancy 'watercraft' or or off-road 4-wheeler, no we . . . well you get the picture!
But we do have a pretty nice tandem that we ride and enjoy.
So go out there and pedal . . .

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

My solution to this particular issue was to buy a 8 yr old Trek T100 for about $500. I think this will be enough of a tandem to give my wife and I the idea of whether or not this is something we want to put more money into later. If we do, the chances are good that this tandem will be going back on sale for someone else to give it a try for a bit cheaper than we did.

Keith

I was looking at the Kent tandems when the shop that I worked at got them in and got to build one, it was extremely cheap and obscenely heavy, however when put together it would hold up ok for awhile, probably as long as it will take to realize the sport isn't right for you or that you like it and need to get something better. I decided to hold off and when a used one showed up I got it for 200.00, since then I replaced the wheels from 27" to 700c using a cyclocross wheel set up, changed the rear der to a LX, tossed on a LX shifter, two flat bars since the wife hates drops, a sram cassette and chain, and a basic set of mtb levers. I actually got the rear der and shifters for free, but even going with deore shifters this leave a fine working 27sp tandem for under an additional 200.00, so 400.00 total. Everything worked fine before abd at 200 was better then the kent with out a doubt, for the additional 200.00 it became a respectable 39lb 27sp tandem. So my recommendation is hold out for someone to sell a used one locally rather then buy a kent or similar off ebay. The final argument for a used is if you decide you don't like it you can probably get most or all of your money back through the local swap sheet which won't be possible with a kent.

Mark, I also bought one of the CaddieUp Tandem bikes off of eBay and (chorvath) is correct “For the money it isn't a bad deal at all” and if in Houston, as I am, you can pick the bike up and not pay any shipping. I have not dumped a lot of money into it yet on better components, but I do plan to make some replacements like the seats. For me I am new to the Tandem world and I did not want to dump a lot of money into something that might not use. I have enjoyed the CaddieUp as is and it seems to be worth the money. CHORVATH made some good points that you should be aware of; my investment has been $175 and I plan to make $100 in upgrades.

I've some questions for those of you who have bought the Caddie Up tandem;
Are the wheels holding up OK?
Is the frame stiff enough for a couple weighing about 180lbs each?
Freewheel or cassette?

We're so fussy about seats, bars and tires, that we'd be replacing them on anything we buy. The contents of my basement are such that I'd probably be able to upgrade all the other components without spending a dime. I even have new, crossover drive TA and Sugino tandem cranksets stashed somewhere down there.

We've a couple of rather nice custom tandems already. One is all Campi and Phil Wood equipped and the other a recumbent. But lately we've been enjoying leisurely rides in the evening, her on a '73 Schwinn Breeze and me on a '73 Raleigh Sport. We'd like a tandem we can just hop on and ride, without putting on funny shoes.



"I was looking at the Kent tandems when the shop that I worked at got them in" Is there a Non-Walmart source for the Kent? The Kent looks like it would actually suit us better, but I wouldn't shop at Walmart if they were selling titanium Santanas for $59.95.



"I rent a Schwinn tandem for us from our university. It's humourously heavy, but it only costs like 20 bucks for a month and is always available since apparently I'm the only guy on campus who likes to ride a cruiser tandem around in the corn with his girlfriend."Is that a Schwinn Twinn? I've been told there is a shop in a nearby town with a couple of these frames hanging in the rafters.
Is there any chance that the frame is stiff enough for a (no longer very strong) couple weighing about 180lbs each?
Do you know the distance between the BBs?

If you've got most of the components sitting around, why not go for a Chuck's Bikes tandem frame & fork?

http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/fr022a.htm

-Greg

You might want to cruise Craig's List as well. I see tandems all the time on there. I almost bought a nice 21 speed Schwinn road tandem with barcons for $400, but it was too big. I ended up finding a clean early 90's cromo Univega mtb tandem for $200. I spent $100 customizing it for the wife and daughter (slicks, saddles, brake pads, pedals, grips), and about an hour or two adjusting and tuning.

They did about 9 centuries on it last year, and have a ball with it.

I don't own any stock in KHS....
But you can get an new Milano for $900 off ebay or BicycleBlowout (free shipping from BB).

TrueTemper butted Chromoly frame
Shimano 105 8 speed STI
Shimano hubs
everything else Chinese knockoffs....!

Its gotta be 10-12 lbs lighter than the Kent plus it comes in 2 sizes.

I know I am becoming a broken record....

On subject of low-cost tandems such as Kent or Caddieup;;
I (150lbs) plan to ride with my daughter (50lbs), I see several posts where the team weight is 350-400lbs. With our team weight of 200 lbs, are we less likely to have issues with frame flexing and component wear rates?? Would a cheapy tandem hold up better for lighter team?

To re-phrase the question: What contributes more to frame flex and drivetrain wear ? TEAM WEIGHT, or PEDALLING FORCES (riding harder)

But you can get an new Milano for $900 off ebay or BicycleBlowout, Lovely bike, for the price. But if I wanted something like that, I could have a very low milage KHS Tandemania Compe for free. I gave it to my son and his wife for wedding present. But now due to health problems, he no longer rides and says I can have it back.

I'm just looking for a low cost cruiser type bike for putzing around the neighborhood. Rear has to be a step-through, and a step-though front, or at least a low front TT would be nice. There are cruiser type tandems on ebay but the split rear top tubes look flexy.

I could just build a frame, and get exactly what I want. But tubes, an eccentric and a paint job would cost much more than the Kent, and I'd still have to build up some wheels.

I bought one of the Kent "Dual Drive" tandems from Walmartabout a month ago for $258. It rides smooth and shifts just fine. The rims, tires could be upgraded, but that's not too expensive to do later. For a first tandem it is great, especially considering it the closest option is 4 times the price. Walmart.com shipping is $80. If you have actually ridden this bike and had a problem, please speak up, but if you're just calling them junk out of habit, you should think twice. The asian bike makers are getting very good at producing excellent quality at low cost.

Riding too cheap of tandem may turn you off to the whole concept. For years, I wanted to get a tandem, and my wife wasn't big on the idea. We rented beach cruiser tandems on occassion, and she really didn't like it, and I think it had a lot to do an insecure feeling arising from frame flex. I tried to explain that a "real" tandem would be better. When we finally bought our Burley Duet, she loved it. So for us, the too cheap Tandem delayed getting a bike we could actually use. Thus, based on our experience, I'd reccomend finding a decent tandem used, as oppossed to a Wal Mart level bike new.

I find it kind of funny to see the back & forth discussions folks have about these far-too-cheap-to-be-true bikes.

My guess is that the people who have them and like them get them home, get on them, pedal them down the block, or even across town, get tons of beeps and waves, the bike goes, stops, & looks great, and they have a blast every time they get on it. They are right -- they have a great bike and have a great time, and their bike did not set them back $6,000. This team is wise and having fun.

If your team's idea of a good day finds you climbing 10,000 feet, riding 150 miles, and descending at over 50mph, the Caddie Up or the WalMart bike is a ridiculous joke. Ditto if you plan a week's touring vacation by bike. Actually, it's not even funny; it's just preposterous, injurious, and downright unsafe. Every penny of your $300 would be wasted on the WalMart bike.

One thing's for sure -- I'm glad that there are lots of choices, and that people are riding their bikes!

-Greg

Better to ride a cheap tandem than to never ride a tandem at all . . .
Lots of expen$ive tandems are gathering dust in a shed or garage; it's not what you've got that counts, but do you enjoy being TWOgether?
We all have our priorities; no, we don't have, or need, a second car. No we don't have golf clubs that cost $300 each; no we don't have a fancy 'watercraft' or or off-road 4-wheeler, no we . . . well you get the picture!
But we do have a pretty nice tandem that we ride and enjoy.
So go out there and pedal . . .

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem


Nicely Said! However, it good to see the passion for Tandeming in the air :)

My guess is that the people who have them and like them get them home, get on them, pedal them down the block, or even across town, get tons of beeps and waves, the bike goes, stops, & looks great, and they have a blast every time they get on it. They are right -- they have a great bike and have a great time, and their bike did not set them back $6,000. This team is wise and having fun.

If your team's idea of a good day finds you climbing 10,000 feet, riding 150 miles, and descending at over 50mph, the Caddie Up or the WalMart bike is a ridiculous joke. Ditto if you plan a week's touring vacation by bike. Actually, it's not even funny; it's just preposterous, injurious, and downright unsafe. Every penny of your $300 would be wasted on the WalMart bike.
*****
Greg,
I found your post to be quite enlightening. My GF and I are a couple new to cycling. I've got a Specialized Sirrus Comp, and she has a Trek 7500. Both are hybrids, both are our first "real" bikes. I've also got an older (2001 or so) Kona Blast! that I brought back to life for the GF's 15 year old daughter. Her 12 year old son rides his Mongoose BMX bike, and the 10 year old son rides in the InStep trailer (which I pull). The 10 year old has Down's Syndrome, and I was able to get him riding his bicycle (without training wheels) for the first time a couple days ago. Son was ecstatic, mom cried, friends cheered him on.

We've already had several "family bicycling rides", and expect many more. We wouldn't have purchased the (expensive for us) Specialized and Trek bikes if we didn't plan on riding them. That being said, the road gearing on the Specialized, the Mtn bike gearing on the Trek, and our riding styles (I just want to ride harder) mean we don't ride together very well. She's always lagging back, I'm always trying to hold myself up, and conversations are yelled and full of "I can't hear you!".

Which brings us to the idea of a Tandem.

The LBS which sold us the Trek and Specialized has a Trek beach-cruiser style tandem in the showroom for ~$650. I like the styling, paint, and relaxed persona of the bike, but it's hard for me to justify $600 for a tandem with the same Shimano "Tourney" derailer as the "high end" bikes at Wal-Mart and Target. :|

A trip to a different LBS today let us see the Burley Zydeco Mixte-X. I don't like the styling of the Burley (too "business" looking to me, vs the complete "play" look of the Trek), nor did I care for the $999 price tag.

On and off, I keep checking out that Kent at www.walmart.com. The Burley is just more than I want to spend in a first tandem, period. It's out simply due to that. Which leaves me with the Trek for $600, and the Kent for ~$260. And I keep seeing that "Tourney" R/D on the Trek, and the same unit on some of the bikes I see at Wally World. Hard to justify the price difference on componentry, when they both appear to have the same shifters / R/D (and probably F/D, too).

I think I'm looking at this purchase with a pretty realistic expectation; looking to try the tandem "thing" as inexpensively as possible, but want a rideable, functional bike should we find we like it. Not the lightest in the world...not the fastest...not carbon nor looking to tour or race. Just a bike to ride around town and have FUN. That's it.

With that being said, I think I've just been sold on the Kent. The $80 shipping from www.walmart.com turned me off, but in this thread someone was able to get a local store manager to order it for him (so no shipping). Problem solved. I've checked the other offerings from eBay (such as the Island brand, the CaddieUp, etc. Shipping charges, questionable parts, etc scare me there. Kent = refund w/ receipt at Wal Mart. Problem solved. Posting seem to state that, should you know what to expect (adjustments, not up to my 105 equipped Sirrus, etc), the Kent will work fine.

It just seems like, within my (seemingly reasonable expectations), the Kent will fill my needs. I'm going to hit one of the local Wal-Marts tomorrow and see if the "bicycle guy" or manager will order one for me. For a fun, around town, converse-while-getting-excericise bike, the Kent seems to be a good call.

As a bonus, since I'd have to get one special ordered, it'll be quite rare around here. Possibly the only one. So, I think I have a great chance to get back much (or all?) of my money, should I not like it. I think sending someone to the LBS to check out the $600+ and $1000 competition would work in my favor.

So what's the input here, from the guys who have (and have ridden) the Kent? Input from guys who aren't biased against the Mart-quality bikes? It sure seems to be the way to go for me.

I just hope you don't get turned off the idea by a flexy, ill-fitting bike that shifts poorly and doesn't stop well. But that could apply to any bike, not just a cheap tandem. No hope for a used one where you live?

I just hope you don't get turned off the idea by a flexy, ill-fitting bike that shifts poorly and doesn't stop well. But that could apply to any bike, not just a cheap tandem.
*****
True. I realize it's a possibility, but I think that going into the purchase expecting some "issues" will mitigate the disappointment. Also, the Kent seems to share a frame with the Diamondback (which I also realize isn't much of a step up), which makes me think the frame at least is salvageable. If we decide we like riding, and the basics of being on a tandem, I could always upgrade the bike to something minimal like Deore or even 105.

Owning quality road bikes may exascerbate the flaws of the Kent, but I think it will also arm us with the knowledge that the bike can be made to be "better". And while we are riding it and enjoying it a couple times a week, I can be scouring eBay for some good deals on better components. At that point, I could have a basic Shimano equipped bike for around $400 or so.

We've also discussed how we're limited by our current road bikes, as we don't feel comfortable riding them somewhere (movies, show, dinner, wherever) and leaving them chained out front. By having a low $$$, somewhat "disposeable" tandem, we could 1) enjoy the benefits of a tandem 2) integrate the bike into our activities more, by not being afraid of losing it while we're not present. If someone were to rip off a $2500 C-dale while we're watching a movie, I'd be pizzed.

Also, discussing these issues (losing the bike while at a movie / dinner, etc) may better describe our intentions for the bike. Touring, training, long-distance riding, etc are NOT the targets of owning this bike. Be-bopping around town after work, hitting a bike trail or two, etc ARE the targets of tandem ownership. For now. And I thinkt he Kent will satisfy this criteria, for now.

Some people have discussed renting a tandem a few times. The $260 price point of the Kent kind of works against this, though. I could rent a couple times for $50 / $75 a weekend and lose all that money, or own for $260 and recoup most (if not all) of that money should we not like the bike. The way I see it, I can own the Kent for the same amount of money I may save simply negotiating the price of a "quality" tandem.


No hope for a used one where you live?
*****
I don't think so. I've never seen one, and I've been scouring the classifieds, Craigslist, etc. No joy so far. While I think we WILL eventually run across a used one, I'm concerned about how long that may take. For $250, the Kent is nearly disposeable, and I can have it immediately. I think I could sell it and get a large % of my money back if we don't like it. Or, as mentioned above, salvage the frame and put on some basic components.

Unlike individual bikes, which we knew we wanted, we don't know if we want a tandem. So while buying the quality road bikes made sense, I'm not sure if dropping the coin for a new "quality" tandem does make sense. If we don't like it, I'm more likely to move / sell / dispose of the tandem quickly, if for no other reason that the garage real estate it takes up.

A bike that needs to be super-inexpensive, durable, and difficult to steal parts off of should not have gears. Gears are a specialty item for people who need to ride extremely fast, or on steep hills. For most joy and utility riding, they are a luxury item that has no place on an inexpensive bike.

In my eyes, the problem with today's department store bikes is not that they are inexpensive, it is that they are poorly engineered, even for their price point.

Old schwinns were heavy, but they were built like tanks, and still sell for a few hundred bucks decades after they were manufactured. If they were built like Wal-Mart bikes, they would have all been destroyed by now, and even the lucky stragglers would be worthless.

If you describe the bike as being disposable, why do you think could get most of your money back if you sold it? (or are you referring to the return policy?) Do you think a disposable Wal-Mart bike will withstand offroad riding for long?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1969-Vintage-Schwinn-Tandem-Bike-Bicycle-Twinn-Two-2_W0QQitemZ130015148269QQihZ003QQcategoryZ56192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1972-SCHWINN-TWINN-DELUXE-5-SPEED-TANDEM-FOR-2_W0QQitemZ110016632958QQihZ001QQcategoryZ56192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tandem-Road-Bike-with-stoker-kit-XLNT_W0QQitemZ110018261206QQihZ001QQcategoryZ56192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Have fun riding,
Drew

A bike that needs to be super-inexpensive, durable, and difficult to steal parts off of should not have gears. Gears are a specialty item for people who need to ride extremely fast, or on steep hills. For most joy and utility riding, they are a luxury item that has no place on an inexpensive bike.
*****
I don't agree. Well, not entirely, anyway. Our Trek, Specialized and Kona are used for (what most BF'ers would call) 'joy riding'. We certainly use and appreciate the gears on these bikes, even for our light, recreational riding. Not that our rides could not be done on a singlespeed, but it wouldn't be as enjoyable.

I realize the Kent isn't going to shift nearly as well as our more expensive, "quality" bikes, but I think it'll shift well enough for the little time we'll probably spend on it. Also, should we find ourselves spending a lot of time on the tandem, we can always upgrade the components cheaply through eBay. Should we find we LOVE the tandem, and want a quality one, we can always buy a "real" bike at that time. And still have a usable Kent to share with friends, or re-sell to get most of the money back. The entry price of the Kent is low enough that I can justify it for an extended tandem "trial run". If we like it, and want to move up, we can / will.



In my eyes, the problem with today's department store bikes is not that they are inexpensive, it is that they are poorly engineered, even for their price point.
*****
The Kent bike shares a frame with the Diamondback Wildwood. While hardly a ringing endorsement of quality, the people on the Wildwoods seem to really like them. To me, this means the frame itself is an ok unit. Not world beating, not light, not outstanding road feel...but for the little amount I expect us to ride it, it will function ok.
This means we can buy the Kent NOW, ride NOW, I can search out inexpensive used quality components on eBay, and buy them for installation when the original parts are deemed too frustrating. Whe should be able to have a bike of superior quality to the Diamondback for maybe $400 or so. More importantly, we'll be able to ride together in the meantime.



Old schwinns were heavy, but they were built like tanks, and still sell for a few hundred bucks decades after they were manufactured. If they were built like Wal-Mart bikes, they would have all been destroyed by now, and even the lucky stragglers would be worthless.

*****
I can't help but feel the old Schwinns also have a nostalgia or Americana-type emotion tied to them. I think that may be one reason the Schwinns from the 60's and 70's are 1) restored, and 2) still bring a couple hundred bucks. I'm sure they're perfectly functional as well, but I feel $$$ are being spent on them on eBay for more than just the hardware. To be fair, I feel some of them are bought strictly for decoration / art. I have a couple of riding friends who buy old "cool" bikes for just this reason. To them, $200 - $300 for an "bike to display" is completely reasonable. Indeed, it's really not that expensive for the purpose.



If you describe the bike as being disposable, why do you think could get most of your money back if you sold it? (or are you referring to the return policy?)

*****
Well, yes, the return policy is one refund vehicle. That returns all our money + tax if we decide within a week or two that we don't like the bike (or tandems). Also, tandems are rare enough / hard enough to find around here, I that I think I would find another buyer for it in the local classifieds for the near-retail price. If a local buyer considered buying online, they'll pay roughly 1/3 to 1/2 the price of the Kent in shipping charges alone. The only other alternatives are $600 and $900+ local tandems (from the LBS), or shopping used (with an unknown, and probably extended, wait / shopping timeframe).



Do you think a disposable Wal-Mart bike will withstand offroad riding for long?

*****
I have zero intention of taking this bike offroad. Should it ever go offroad, I don't think it'll be anything more stressful than a hard-packed dirt trail, that is nearly as smooth as the pavement. As such, it's off-road durability is of zero consideration for me.

I just noticed that you're in Springfield. The Kent would be fine for riding around such a flat place. As far as upgrading, that's just throwing money away. No sense hanging decent parts on a cheap frame. You could spend the coin to upgrade your shifters, only to find that they still don't work well with a flexing frame.

*****
I don't agree. Well, not entirely, anyway. Our Trek, Specialized and Kona are used for (what most BF'ers would call) 'joy riding'. We certainly use and appreciate the gears on these bikes, even for our light, recreational riding. Not that our rides could not be done on a singlespeed, but it wouldn't be as enjoyable.


Ok, have fun!
Drew

We've had the Kent for about 4 months now, and put about 300 miles on it and everything works OK. I changed out the stock balloon tires to 1.50" tires to make it more roadie. We rode a 50-mile road ride with lots of hills with no problems. If I was to upgrade something I'd start with the rims. They are mountain-bike spacing so I'll be watching for a used mountain bike to buy that has good rims.

I recently bought a Caddie Up from ebay - paid 99.00 + 114 shipping. It is the black and white mountain bike model.
My girlfriend and I have a nice road tandem that we put a lot of miles on, but wanted a bit of a beater for unpaved towpaths, etc.

I am not trying to trash this bike in any way, it is what it is, but here is my experience with it.

The big problems with the Caddie UP that I have seen so far:
1. No sync chain tensioner. They gave me two chains with the bike - one shorter and one longer - neither is a good fit. I have tried adding and removing links(including half links) - still have a very droopy sync chain. I may try to improvise a tensioner pully.
2. Captain seatpost(with stoker handlebars attached) cannot be tighted sufficiantly with the stock parts. I had to replace the seatpost and bolt to get it semi-tight. I will probably install an aftermarket seatpost clamp(and cut off the factory welded on clamp) to finish the job.
3. Out of the box the wheels are out of true - almost unrideable out of true...not hard to fix, but...
4. Bottom bracket bearings are dangerously loose right out of the box - actually almost everything is poorly assembled from the factory.
5. The factory crankset is really bad - does not spin true and is flimsy. I am not a bike snob, but the plastic trim on the sprockets really hurts my eyes...


The good news?
214.00 delivered.
Bike is pretty attractive at ten paces. Decent paint scheme, except for goofy "Sport Tandem" logo. Girlfriend suggested that I make up a "Genelli" decal set.
Shimano switchgear is pretty decent. At least I have heard of it before.
Bike can be parked anywhere without worries.
Does not feel to be that all that heavy - considering it's price - but I have not weighed it yet.


I have not ridden the Caddie UP much yet, I will probably wait until I have replaced the crankset and tires before I try a long ride on it. (my girlfriend and I tend to go 40 to 60 miles anytime we get on our other tandem, which during the summer is a few times a week).

I have a lot of bike parts strewn around my house - and I am pretty good with a wrench, so most of this is servicable, but be aware that these bikes can be a bit of a science project if you want to use them for more than runs around the neighborhood.
I was expecting this for the money, and I think with a little elbow grease, it will be a useable bike for
situations where I don't want to beat up my good tandem. But if you are new to biking or not good with a wrench, the Caddie UP may be not be a very good first tandem.

Just my 2cents,
Tim

I figure I'd chime back in on this. Sitting in my garage, next to the Specialized, Trek and Kona, is a Kent Dual Drive Tandem from Wal Mart. I had a local store order it, had a friend utilize her discount, etc. Total price to my door is about $246.

First impressions: The bike looks nice. Really nice. I liked the "relaxed" styling of the bike, the swoopy tubes, the fat, white-wall tires, etc. The bike is very attractive, given what it is. Everyone who has seen it is very impressed with it's looks.

The manager of the store ordered 2 bikes when I mentioned it to him / gave him a stock #. I picked my bike up in the box, unassembled. The store assembled the other bike, and put it on display near the front doors. It sold within 30 minutes.

Upon further inspection: Lots of little issues. The threads were stripped off of the bolt / nut holding the chain tensioner. I had to replace this bolt / nut with one I had in the house. Relatively minor, but sucks to get a broken bike out of the box.

Some of the welds on the bike are definitely sub-par. Some of them look really nice, but in other spots there is noticable splatter and even some air voids. I don't think it's a safety issue, but it's certainly not my Trek or Specialized (not that I expected it would be).

Shimano gear. "Tourney" RD, and Revo grip shifts. Not my favorite, and not that good, but at least it's Shimano, I've heard of it, and it's the SAME stuff on the Trek beach cruiser tandem that starts at $650. We've taken a few test rides, and it's certainly not as smooth as our other bikes. Then again, we've made no adjustments at all. It's set up as it was when it left the factory. Given the current shift feel, and the adjustments to be made, I think the components will be adequate for our use. I'm also searching eBay for 7speed components, and it looks like I can equip the bike nicely for right around $100, if not less.

The brakes aren't anything to write home about. They work better than the disc setup on the Koni mountain bike, but they obviously suck compared to the name brand bikes. They stop ok, though. Particularly when you consider the weight they're bringing to a halt. The biggest gripe is the "tic-tic-tic" feel as the brakes pass over the rim seam / joint. I'm even seeing a bit of black pad material left there.

This bike is HEAVY. I picked this bike up to move it around, and then went to move my Specialized. I feel like I almost threw the Specialized OVER the house. The Kent is heavy, but I expected that. It's steel, it's cheap, and it's low-tech. Not that much of an issue, as long as you know to expect it.

Pulled the fork / headstock out to check the grease on the bearings. I expected them to be bone dry. To my surprise, there was a pretty good amount of grease in there. I went ahead and cleaned / flushed them off, and re-greased with my grease. Pleasant surprise, though.

The stickers are cheapo stick-on units, that go OVER the paint. Which means they're easy to peel off. :) I've already peeled most of them off, and I'm looking at making up a few new ones to put on.

Overall, for ~$250, I'm quite satisfied with it. Actually, I'm more than satisfied with it. It's a very attractive bike, it seems to function adequately, and my GF likes it. Serving solely as a way to "test" the tandem waters, I think it's a very good way to go. We probably won't be riding the bike a lot, or putting a ton of miles on it. One more reason we figured this $250 bike would be adequate, and a $1500 Burley would be a waste of money (for us).

If you're looking for a tandem to ride a billion miles and last forever...you should probably pass. But if you just want a knock-around bike, or are looking to test the tandem waters for yourself or your partner, I think it's a good way to go. I'm content and satisfied with my purchase decision.

It is what it is.

I second the T100 idea. That is what we have been riding on, I did not replace anything except for the rear rim that got bent when the whole bicycle fell off the roof rack, dismounted by low clearance and tires eventually. One just sold on e-bay for $ 505. My team on the T100 can give many teams on much more expensive rides a run for their money.

If I lived in the US I would buy one of these in the blink of an eye. For the money it is the bicycling bargain of the century. You just don't get things like this so cheaply in Europe.

When we ride out expensive tandem to the playpark with 1 yr old in the trailer, we always get questions about the bike. If I could say 'you can get one to try for £130', I'm 100% sure we would see 5 or 10 in the area before long.

We also have friends in the cycling club who would like to take their other halves out on the bike, and couples at the church including the minister who have expressed an interest in tandeming. They aren't serious cyclists and only use bikes instead of taking the car on short journeys so I wouldn't want to lend them our expensive tandem. If I had a £130 bike I would lend it to them and they could buy it if they liked it. For my in-laws and my sister I would be tempted to buy them one each for Christmas.

Only hitch in the plan is that the shed we use for storing bikes wouldn't really take another tandem.

Thought I would chime back in on this. It has been nearly three years since I purchased this bike. I just replaced the chains and tires last night. This cheap tandem has stood the test of time. For $400 we have ridden this all over the place. The only thing I had to do was fix the idler with something more heavy duty. I picked up a rolleblade wheel and machined it out so the chain would ride in it. We have enjoyed the bike and it got us into the entire tandem experience.

We have ridden other tandems since this purchase and have been tempted to buy a Trek, Cannondale, etc upgrade. We probably will in the future once the money is all saved up. I don't regret getting this bike one second. It fit the budget at the time and we have gotten our money out of it and more.

My two cents. All you doubters were just plain wrong.

Word. I'd be too skeered to work on my bike if it were thousands of bucks. And working on it is a big part of the fun. That goes for cutomizing too. Yeah you can have a rideable tandem for $400.. hell mebbe less than half of that if you are resourceful.

Better to ride a cheap tandem than to never ride a tandem at all . . .
Zonatandem you are right on the "money"!
Just do it and enjoy it!

I got what i thought was a great deal on a Burley tamburello on Craigslist. I simply put a 'wanted to buy" used tandem add out there and got a dozen responses. Some were not what i was looking for, but i looked at 2 Steel Santana's and 2 Burleys. I got a bike with less than 500 miles on it for a grand. Try craigs list...

Is this topic even worth discussing? A $200 tandem is not the same as a $2000 tandem. They are mint for two (four) different riders with vastly different goals. Both probably serve their owner well if the owners where honest to themselves about what they expected. My brother , for example, has a Wall-mart Schwinn that served it's purpose. It showed him he is to lazy to ride a bicycle & it only cost him $99.99. Thats all he wanted from the beginning & i suspect the same applies here to tandems.
Sorry you caught me on a bad day.