Tandem Cycling - Any color's fine...as long as it's blue

I thought I'd share our new ride with the group.

We began our tandem experience several years ago on an older da Vinci JointVenture, but it didn't take too many miles to discover that it was just too small for me in the front cockpit. I longed for something longer (pun intended). Now that first bike has found a new home in Virginia with a happy new tandem family; the sale enabled us to order a new JointVenture in the proper size. While we were at it, we picked a flashy blue color and the 700c wheel option as well. After what seemed like forever (but was actually a week shorter then we were first told to expect), here it is.

We couldn't be happier. I can finally get the bars out far enough and up near the level of the saddle, which I prefer for long-distance comfort. Both my usual stoker-daughter (pictured) and the occasional stoker-wife (who is camera-shy) have commented on the increased comfort of the longer rear cockpit as well. We've put on many more miles this past few weeks than we did in several months last summer.

I think it's a hit at our place...

Hey Erastus: Sweet tandem!!!!! Comment on the stoker's handlebars. Do your stokers like those more than drop handlebar? I tried to get my stoker to even try something other than drop and she said no way - I guess she is too used to her way. Thanks

Frankie,

I'd prefer a drop-bar in the rear as well...but then again I don't ride there.

Our older tandem came with the Profile TT-style cow-horn bars as many tandems do these days. After riding with an older couple who had turned their bars up like shown in my picture, my wife asked to try it. 30 seconds and a 4mm hex-wrench later it was done. Both my wife and daughter say they prefer it this way; it gives them less neck discomfort and provides for a much easier view of the scenery.

When it came time for the new tandem, I arranged for both handlebar options. I figure that as they gain experience and strength, they'll eventually want to stretch out a little more and we'll flip the current bar forward as is normal. Perhaps one day I can replace it with the drop-bar with dummy aero levers I've already got wrapped and ready to go.

For now, I'm just glad they want to ride with me.

cranks are a little out of sync....oops!!! it doesn't matter!

Very Nice! How do you like the Independent Coasting System? Bike looks great.

John

R900,

We love the ICS; if you want details, search the archives of this forum for several long ramblings of mine on the subject.

In short though, we find it best suited for tandemists of vastly different experience levels (which is the case for me and any of my stokers, as they are either children or a very non-cyclist wife). It allows for the stoker to rest when they want and to not have to pay attention to what the captain's doing that much with starting and stopping.

There is a weight penalty to the ICS; I believe it's about a pound, but the four half-size chainrings are pretty nifty in the flexibility they give.

When we sold the first tandem, we could have had pretty much any steel-framed double-bike on the market for the price of this one, but chose da Vinci again. I think that goes a long way towards how we feel about it.

Todd S. & Co. does a great job building those daVincis.
Had the opportunity (about 11 or 12 years ago) to ride one of his first prototypes. Was duly impressed with workmanship and innovation. Using 4 cogs and doubler for chainrings made for the smoothest front shifting of any tandem we've ridden as well as a huge gear selection. However, personally, the Independent Coasting System is not our cupa tea as you never know when or if and how far you're pedaling OOP (out of phase). We have ridden 30 some years 90 degrees OOP, so that may color our preferences somewhat
Todd finally started offering the 700c wheel option a few years ago, although most folks still go for the original 26" version.
Glad you got a great fit and a great riding/looking daVinci

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

We picked up Eurastus' "old" DaVinci. I agree with all statements above regarding the ICS and the shifting. It is very smooth however if you encounter the steep grade surprise(like tonight) you have to communicate more with your stoker to stop pedaling so you can back off and let the chain drop in. I assume on non-ICS tandems you can say something short or backpedal to signal them. I think I could normally power through our short hills around here in most instances but we usually have the extra 100lbs of trailer and kids attached. It just amplifies that feeling of being in the mud. My primary stokers thus far are 6 and 5, the 2 year old wants to but he's not quite ready yet. After ~500 miles I also agree with zona about the ICS. If my primary stoker was my wife I would adjust us to a traditional tandem. Hmmm, on second thought maybe I would just have a second tandem because on the two rides she has done, she did say how much she liked the ICS. With the stoker output being "intermittent" (lol), I become the primary engine and this allows me to pick a cadence I prefer. It probably makes us a poorer team as we can ignore alot of the synchronization and communication issues of traditional tandemists. But it does make tandeming much more accessible to my family and that is priceless. We generally get 2 or 3 "yahoooooooo's" per ride.

The 26" are very nice and allow for trail riding and very light offroad with little worry.

Since my wife is due in Nov (this is the last one I swear), I am thinking I need a triplet in the next year or two. Anyone know of one that might be coming up? S&S preferred :).

Congrats on the new ride Eurastus. This worked out great for both of us.

I thought I'd share our new ride with the group.

We began our tandem experience several years ago on an older da Vinci JointVenture, but it didn't take too many miles to discover that it was just too small for me in the front cockpit. I longed for something longer (pun intended). Now that first bike has found a new home in Virginia with a happy new tandem family; the sale enabled us to order a new JointVenture in the proper size. While we were at it, we picked a flashy blue color and the 700c wheel option as well. After what seemed like forever (but was actually a week shorter then we were first told to expect), here it is.

We couldn't be happier. I can finally get the bars out far enough and up near the level of the saddle, which I prefer for long-distance comfort. Both my usual stoker-daughter (pictured) and the occasional stoker-wife (who is camera-shy) have commented on the increased comfort of the longer rear cockpit as well. We've put on many more miles this past few weeks than we did in several months last summer.

I think it's a hit at our place...

I just saw your sig... my solo road bike's a Ritchey Road Logic as well (2001). I love it to death :)

Both Rudy and Masiman bring up a good point that is often overlooked with the da Vinci ICS system.

It's possible to lock out the independant freewheel action without too much trouble if that's what you want.

As I understand the process, you remove the pair of single-speed freewheels on the left side of the jackshaft and replace them with fixed cogs, being very careful to align the teeth to set the crank phase however you want it--either in-phase or out-of-phase as desired.

Such a configuration would still have the advantages of the four double-speed chainrings, but allow the two cranks to be fixed in position relative to each other as they are on a conventional tandem.

Just another way to give each and every tandemista team just what they're looking for, sez I...

Hummmm, seems like I've seen that attractive tandem team (and bike) somewhere before. Was it Randy's Ride? 'Gotta teach that stoker to stop peddling backwards.

Seriously, I hope Janet and I get a chance to ride with you guys again soon. Been doing any of the Mini Me rides?

Erastus:
Todd has admitted that only acouple folks have opted for the fixed drive cogs.
Have sort of bent his ear over the years about offering 700c wheels and seems finally that dermand by customers have had him relent. Nothing wrong with the 26" he is offering, but some roadies have a fixation that 26" are meant for off-road only (not true, of course).
daVinci does give you loads of options on how you want your tandem set up and are great on customer service.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Hammer,

Yup, right you are. We opted for the shorter 30-miler that morning as it was her first outing of the season; seems like you did the 60, right?

I agree on the back-peddling, though. It's especially annoying when she lets up about 3/4 of the way up some steep grade. That can be a real killer!!

Haven't done any of the Mini-Me rides; we've been building up our (her) endurance on our own so we can safely handle 50-60 or so without too much trouble. I figure we're about there by now. What's on tap for this weekend?

Thanks for the good thoughts,

Eurastus...

Rudy,

I was never a huge fan of the 26" road wheels, even when we had them on the bike Masiman's now riding. They seemed more stable and durable to be sure, but also slower as well.

Todd offering the 700c option made all the difference to me when it was time to order. I imagine it is mostly in my mind, but the new bike seems 1-2 mph faster than the previous one on the same terrain with similar fitness levels. I'm aware that studies have shown it's not so, but sure seems that way to me, anyway.

Also, the larger wheels seem to soak up poor road surfaces better as well, though I know that's more a measure of the tires than anything else.

At any rate, I'm very glad we went the 700c route.