Tandem Cycling - Newbie needs advice on a 1994 Cannondale tandem...

Hello,

The wife gave the OK to a tandem, so I'm looking for my first tandem for just cruising around. I have no idea if my wife will take to cycling, so I don't want to spend a lot right now until we figure out if tandeming is for us. I came across this http://www.craigslist.org/pen/bik/170557639.html It looks like it's in decent shape, but from what I've read here, some of the new inexpensive tandems are excellent bikes. Any opinions or advice about if this would be a good tandem or if I should look at something like a Raleigh or a KHS? I'm a little hesitant to buy a 12 year old bike because of parts and maintenance- also, I'm a big guy and about 250. With my wife on the bike, we're talking about 360 pounds total, so do I need to look at disc brakes?

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

Go for it, If it doesn't work out you can get your money back.IMHO. It's exactly what I have done with buying a used Burly.

FWIW, we rode the exact same bike for nine years. To 'do I need disc brakes?' I'd say no. You may consider fitting the excellent Arai tandem drum brake to keep the speed at bay on long descents. Or, as we always do, let gravity do its thing and brake late and hard. The only thing we didn't like too much were the brakes, I could never get them dialed in properly, especially the rear one. After 4 months we replaced them with Magura rim brakes.

The heart of a tandem bike is the frame. C'dale alu frame, even 10+ years old, would be superior to the 'inexpensive' new tandems out there now. With your 'heft' I'd trust a usedC'dale before any of those new cheapies! And, if needed, an Arai drum brake will add to the stopping power.
As stated before, if spouse doesn't like the tandem thing, you can always resell it without taking a big hit in the wallet.

I guess I shouldn't have hesitated! It's sold already, so I'll just have to keep my eye out for another! Thanks for all the advice!

We (a 300 lb. team) bought a used (1991!) C'dale last winter and stripped darn near everything off it and built it back up with new, but not high-end, components. The frame, even 15 years old, is just bomber, if you like a stiff, responsive ride (which we do). Of all the bikes we test rode, the C'dales felt the most to us like riding a single bike. We passed on adding disc drakes or a drum. More of a personal preference with speed issue, or an issue of what kind of terrain you're riding, than anything else....

Sorry to hear that the bike sold, but keep your eyes out for another. There seem to be a lot of them on the market!