Tandem Cycling - Upgrading my C'dale road tandem

Hi, I am trying to find what parts I can change on the 2004 road cannondale to improve weight and performance.

What kind of wheels can I use? Wil bontrager racelite word with the disc brakes?
What kind of carbon fork can I use to keep the disk brake and will work well with the geometry of the bike?

Another thing, I am taller than my girlfriend/captain, would it be an improvement to put crank arms the seme lenght as the front since they come shorter on the stocker side?

Any other upgrades suggested?

Only upgrade so far : carbon seat post for the rear instead of the suspension post

Better wheels are the most noticeable improvement you can make on almost any bike, and on that bike, fork is next. I have a Cdale road tandem as well. I'd work with a good shop to ensure you're getting the right model for your specific needs: i.e.- wheels and fork that will work with the disk brakes. As for brands, I like Reynolds forks a lot. I have the Bontrager wheels, too and they're great. DOn't know for sure if either work with the disks. Sorry. Have fun.

What kind of wheels can I use? Wil bontrager racelite word with the disc brakes?

For dual-disc application, Rolf's Prima Vigor Tandem model is being offered that way per Co-Motion's specs for it's dual-disc racing tandems: very $$. Any of the other tandem rated disc hubs -- White Ind, Chris King, and I believe DT/Swiss (who provides the hubs used by Rolf &* Bontrager for their tandem wheels) are also offered in front & rear disc models. Mated to either a lightweight low-profile aero rim like the Bontager or Velocity disc-specific 700c off-set rims, the Mavic CXP-33 or a Deep-Section rim like the Velocity Deep-V, a 36h wheelset would be a little bit lighter and more aero than your 40h Mavic T719?stockers. Bontrager's Racelite Tandem wheelset is disc rotor compatible. None of these options are inexpensive upgrades that may or may not be worth the added performance unless you're both already in peak form, serious racers, or just have money to burn for a "sportier feeling" ride.


What kind of carbon fork can I use to keep the disk brake and will work well with the geometry of the bike??

The only carbon, disc-compatible forks for tandems on the market are made by Wound-Up. The earliest versions were Wound-Up forks modified by Bill Davis at AriZona Cycles which cost about $575. Wound-Up & Co-Motion showed an all-carbon disc-compatible Wound-Up fork at this year's Interbike that was to be introduced in '06; can't confirm off hand if they're available yet but if memory serves they were going to be offered at $575 also. The Wound-Up fork uses 45mm of rake whereas your stock Cannondale uses 53mm; you would initially find the steering to be heavier and "floppy" at slower speeds, lighter and more lively at cruising and downhill speeds: some like it that way others don't. After the initial rides the handling would likely (but not necessarily) begin to feel more "normal" but would remain noticable more lively than the stoker.


Another thing, I am taller than my girlfriend/captain, would it be an improvement to put crank arms the seme lenght as the front since they come shorter on the stocker side?

Hard to know without knowing your respective inseams. It could be that the front cranks (175mm?) are too long for your girlfriend and the ones you're using (170mm?) are a good fit for you.

Bottom Line: How much do you want to spend? You're easily looking at $1k - $1.5k for a carbon fork and new wheelset if purchased new. You can sometimes find the Bontrager wheelsets on Ebay for around $500 - $600, but 1 1/8" carbon forks aren't as easy to come by on the cheap -- some no-name house branded models sold by Chucks Bikes notwithstanding.

It if was me, I'd probably same my $$ for a future tandem upgrade in a year or two and just ride the heck out of the tandem as it is... assuming the crank lenghts are in the ballpark.

*See Below; Rolf uses White Ind. Hubs

For dual-disc application, Rolf's Prima Vigor Tandem model is being offered that way per Co-Motion's specs for it's dual-disc racing tandems: very $$. Any of the other tandem rated disc hubs -- White Ind, Chris King, and I believe DT/Swiss (who provides the hubs used by Rolf & Bontrager for their tandem wheels) are also offered in front & rear disc models. Mated to either a lightweight low-profile aero rim like the Bontager or Velocity disc-specific 700c off-set rims, the Mavic CXP-33 or a Deep-Section rim like the Velocity Deep-V, a 36h wheelset would be a little bit lighter and more aero than your 40h Mavic T719?stockers. Bontrager's Racelite Tandem wheelset is disc rotor compatible. None of these options are inexpensive upgrades that may or may not be worth the added performance unless you're both already in peak form, serious racers, or just have money to burn for a "sportier feeling" ride.



The only carbon, disc-compatible forks for tandems on the market are made by Wound-Up. The earliest versions were Wound-Up forks modified by Bill Davis at AriZona Cycles which cost about $575. Wound-Up & Co-Motion showed an all-carbon disc-compatible Wound-Up fork at this year's Interbike that was to be introduced in '06; can't confirm off hand if they're available yet but if memory serves they were going to be offered at $575 also. The Wound-Up fork uses 45mm of rake whereas your stock Cannondale uses 53mm; you would initially find the steering to be heavier and "floppy" at slower speeds, lighter and more lively at cruising and downhill speeds: some like it that way others don't. After the initial rides the handling would likely (but not necessarily) begin to feel more "normal" but would remain noticable more lively than the stoker.



Hard to know without knowing your respective inseams. It could be that the front cranks (175mm?) are too long for your girlfriend and the ones you're using (170mm?) are a good fit for you.

Bottom Line: How much do you want to spend? You're easily looking at $1k - $1.5k for a carbon fork and new wheelset if purchased new. You can sometimes find the Bontrager wheelsets on Ebay for around $500 - $600, but 1 1/8" carbon forks aren't as easy to come by on the cheap -- some no-name house branded models sold by Chucks Bikes notwithstanding.

It if was me, I'd probably same my $$ for a future tandem upgrade in a year or two and just ride the heck out of the tandem as it is... assuming the crank lenghts are in the ballpark.

Thank you for the good info!
That was my next question, if the bike I have was worth building around or I would be better waiting for a better model.

I was looking at the bontrager wheels on ebay, because even if I change bike, I could use them on it too, just wanted to make sure that they were disc brake compatible.

Would probably go custom frame later on to fit better our sizes since I am taller and stuck in a small rear stocker frame.

(QUOTE ) FROM ABOVE POST. I believe DT/Swiss (who provides the hubs used by Rolf & Bontrager for their tandem wheels)

I had a chance to meet Rolf personaly when I was at Co-Motions facility a few weeks back and we talked about his wheels for a bit since I was getting a set for my new Robusta. Rolf told me he uses White Ind hubs on the Rolf tandem specific wheels. I also did some research on the Bontranger wheel and looked a set up close and they use the DT Swiss hubs in a paired spoke configuration, other than that they are just like the DT Swiss hubs I have on my Co-Motion Supremo.

Take Care,:)
Bill G

just wanted to make sure that they were disc brake compatible.

Just to be clear: the Bontrager rear wheel is disc brake compatible... not the front.

Rolf told me he uses White Ind hubs on the Rolf tandem specific wheels.

*I stand corrected... After doing some checking it would appear as though Rolf has always used White Ind. hubs on its tandem-rated wheelsets. Somewhere along the line I recalled reading where the earlier model's internals used a DT/Swiss star ratchet which was apparently erroneous. I've never had reason to take a Rolf hub apart and assumed this to be the case.

Save up your $$$ and get a custom tandem next time around . . . that way there is no need to upgrade.
Weight improvement will be on frame, wheels, fork . . .
Experience is a wonderful teacher!

Save up your $$$ and get a custom tandem next time around . . . that way there is no need to upgrade.
Weight improvement will be on frame, wheels, fork . . .
Experience is a wonderful teacher!

I agree sometimes its cheaper in the long run to upgrade to a top line tandem than up grade a lower end one or try and up date an older one. It all depends on the amount of upgrading a person wants to do.

Take Care & Ride Together,:)
Bill G

wound up is making a tandem disk fork.... that was one thing I liked about the co motion We test road.

That would look very nice on our new cannondale.

ditching the suspenson post was a good first step. mine is about to come off Stoker thinks it useless I will find a nice carbon post.

I ridden a 2000 cdale it felt a little quicker than the 06 we just got.. I could be the disk brakes or the wheel sets. (maybe we are just tired or the fit could still be a little off)


One add on we made was the profile design aqua rack that attaches to the seat post for two extra water bottles. we have a MS c dale so that gives us a total of 5 bottles.

thank you all for the info.

I know that custom is the best but I dont have 8 to 10k US to put on a bike and wont have for some years.

So I just wanted to know what upgrades were possible on the cannondale that would help on the weight and performance. I like the bike, and I am not asking for a total change of everything, just some improvements.

I am also looking for a water bottle rack so I will look for the profile design aqua

thank you