Looking for advice on purchasing used tandem

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BLozano

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TandemGeek

http://thetandemlink.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/LearningCenter.html#anchor356041

stapfam

I am an experienced cyclist who is looking to buy a used tandem for myself and my ten-year-old son to ride. We plan to do long road rides, culminating in the Houston-Austin MS150 (184 miles) I've been to E-Bay and a few other places, but want to make sure I cover all my options.
Can anyone provide some good used tandem sites for me to peruse? Any other advice?

THanks!!!

Can't tell you about the sites, but You have a problem on sizing. I do not know how tall your son is, but whatever Tandem you get- It will have to fit both of you. The only way to do this is to sit on the thing and probably test ride. That might be a problem on E-Bay or mail order. This is why most of us will buy a New Tandem, as they are quite numerous, wheras the Secondhand one that catches your eye will only be in one size. If you look long enough, you will get one that fits, but may take a bit of searching for.

Doggus

here is what my 10 year old rides. It was purchased to fit me and my wife 6'2" and 5'11". However, we found that my daughter can ride it with a plain seat post and her bike seat from her bike. We have to set the post down as low as it can go and she does just fine. So far her longest was 25 miler and she begs for more. Those younguns butts are highly resilient. She is also in the bottom 10 percentile in size for her age so she is small and we still get her on it. As you can see in the photo, with my wifes setup the seat is nearly to her shoulder (and she's on her tippy toes trying to look at the computer in that photo). Flat-footed the seat is nearly middle of her throat. She is a small one.

She doesn't have the best form of course but she is only along for the ride, dad does all the work :D

...and now is the time to be buying a tandem too. Good luck

http://www.sterling-ranch.com/HostedImages/CoMo_01.JPG

BLozano

Thanks for the sizing tip! I do appreciate it! I rode a few times with him on a borrowed tandem last year, and we did 3 40-mile rides. He loved it! He is quite a good stoker. He never complained about being uncomfortable, although I was. The captain's postion was not really fit for me and I couldn't really change much, since the bike was not mine. I'm a 5'7" female, and he is kind of small for his age. I want to be able to adjust the reach more than anything (typical female build - long legs, shorter torso).

I wish I could afford a new bike. It's just not in the budget this year. I'll keep looking...

BL

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