garysol1
09-22-06, 04:30 PM
I would love to see how you guys tote around your Tandems when traveling. Fancy or tied to the roof with bailing wire. Show them off please
View Full Version : Lets see your car/truck racks
Pages :
[1]
2
regomatic
09-22-06, 06:31 PM
We don't need no stinkin' racks. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/rullmann/TrekinOdyssey50.jpg
15 seconds from garage to securely fastened inside our Honda Odyssey mini-van, Semi-Official team vehicle of tandem riders everywhere.
When we decided we were hooked on tandem riding, I traded in a really nice and nearly new F-150 Lariat for the mini-van and have no regrets. The tandem backs in to the console and the straps go around the steerer in a snap.
It comes out even faster, top off the tires, don shoes and helmet and we're ready to go. No putzing around getting wheels off and on and off and on again, no extra washing of road dirt acquired during transport, no lugging it back and forth to the hotel room.
I think that we are much more inclined to go off on more frequent and adventurous tandem excursions if we don't have to deal with the inhibitions and hassles associated with packing, handling and securing the bike.
One friend says that when someone asks how much your tandem costs, you should total the price of the bike and the cost that you incurred to buy a vehicle to transport it. Using this format we paid about $12k and feel that it has been a very worthwhile investment.
15 seconds from garage to securely fastened inside our Honda Odyssey mini-van, Semi-Official team vehicle of tandem riders everywhere.
When we decided we were hooked on tandem riding, I traded in a really nice and nearly new F-150 Lariat for the mini-van and have no regrets. The tandem backs in to the console and the straps go around the steerer in a snap.
It comes out even faster, top off the tires, don shoes and helmet and we're ready to go. No putzing around getting wheels off and on and off and on again, no extra washing of road dirt acquired during transport, no lugging it back and forth to the hotel room.
I think that we are much more inclined to go off on more frequent and adventurous tandem excursions if we don't have to deal with the inhibitions and hassles associated with packing, handling and securing the bike.
One friend says that when someone asks how much your tandem costs, you should total the price of the bike and the cost that you incurred to buy a vehicle to transport it. Using this format we paid about $12k and feel that it has been a very worthwhile investment.
Duane
09-22-06, 09:55 PM
Feb 2006: Order Tandem
Mar 2006: Buy Yakima Sidewinder for Subaru Outback
Mar 2006: Tandem arrives
Jul 2006: Buy Honda Odyssey, get rid of Outback
We second what regomatic says......a Minivan is the way to go. We don't have kids, but the Tandem and the 3 dogs fit nicely (though not at the same time). I would love to see a larger pic of how you guys strap your bike down in the Odyssey. We have a board with at Cleat attached that we lock the fork to (front tire removed).
With that said, I still have the Yakima Sidewinder around for when I have to transport on our other car which is a Honda Civic. It's nice and secure although a bit pricey.
And I know you asked for pics but I'm too lame.
Mar 2006: Buy Yakima Sidewinder for Subaru Outback
Mar 2006: Tandem arrives
Jul 2006: Buy Honda Odyssey, get rid of Outback
We second what regomatic says......a Minivan is the way to go. We don't have kids, but the Tandem and the 3 dogs fit nicely (though not at the same time). I would love to see a larger pic of how you guys strap your bike down in the Odyssey. We have a board with at Cleat attached that we lock the fork to (front tire removed).
With that said, I still have the Yakima Sidewinder around for when I have to transport on our other car which is a Honda Civic. It's nice and secure although a bit pricey.
And I know you asked for pics but I'm too lame.
djembob02
09-22-06, 09:59 PM
These are pics of our triplet on the top of our Honda CRV. The cross bars are yakima and the bike rack is home-built out of square steel tubing, a fork mount, diagonal brace (made of conduit), u-bolts. Putting it on top is pretty because because the fork mount is attached to a swivel which allows me to mount the front first, then pick up the rear wheel and swing it around.
garysol1
09-22-06, 10:03 PM
the bike rack is home-built out of square steel tubing, a fork mount, diagonal brace (made of conduit), u-bolts. Putting it on top is pretty because because the fork mount is attached to a swivel which allows me to mount the front first, then pick up the rear wheel and swing it around.
WOW....Nice work there!!
WOW....Nice work there!!
masiman
09-23-06, 02:56 PM
diagonal brace (made of conduit), u-bolts. Putting it on top is pretty because because the fork mount is attached to a swivel which allows me to mount the front first, then pick up the rear wheel and swing it around.
Do you have detail shots of your diagonal brace? Seems like it would take awhile to get that attached with U-bolts.
Do you have detail shots of your diagonal brace? Seems like it would take awhile to get that attached with U-bolts.
zonatandem
09-23-06, 04:08 PM
Concur, carrying tandem inside a vehicle beats using/investing in a rack.
We carry our custom Zona tandem inside a '97 Honda Accord station wagon. In a hurry? Leave on both wheels, let front wheel hang out on rear bumper, put some padding (piece of carpet) between tandem and hatch and bungee the hatch down.
Or, take off one or both wheels, toss tandem in and go!
More secure than a rack, less hassle and still get high gas mileage (mid- to hi-30's mpg, depending how fast we drive).
Carried our tandem (wheels off) inside an old Honda Accord hatchback for years, 'til we bought the station wagon.
Works fine for us!
We carry our custom Zona tandem inside a '97 Honda Accord station wagon. In a hurry? Leave on both wheels, let front wheel hang out on rear bumper, put some padding (piece of carpet) between tandem and hatch and bungee the hatch down.
Or, take off one or both wheels, toss tandem in and go!
More secure than a rack, less hassle and still get high gas mileage (mid- to hi-30's mpg, depending how fast we drive).
Carried our tandem (wheels off) inside an old Honda Accord hatchback for years, 'til we bought the station wagon.
Works fine for us!
djembob02
09-23-06, 11:55 PM
The brace doesn't take too long to attach, it is held with one U-bolt on the frame, probably 1-2 minutes. What takes a little longer is attaching the tubing to the yakima cross bars (4 U-bolts). I've attached some more detailed pictures. I can always e-mail some larger higher quality pictures if desired
I usually attach the tube the night before hand. I would say it then takes about 15 minutes to put the bike on or take it off. Goes like this. 1. tie handlebars so they can't turn 2. take front wheel off 3. put fork on mount 4. swing rear around put in wheel tray 5. attach brace. Its not too bad, we just leave a bit early for things. Having said that, our usual rides are close enough that we ride to the group meeting place. We only drive to special events.
I usually attach the tube the night before hand. I would say it then takes about 15 minutes to put the bike on or take it off. Goes like this. 1. tie handlebars so they can't turn 2. take front wheel off 3. put fork on mount 4. swing rear around put in wheel tray 5. attach brace. Its not too bad, we just leave a bit early for things. Having said that, our usual rides are close enough that we ride to the group meeting place. We only drive to special events.
masiman
09-24-06, 12:57 AM
I've attached some more detailed pictures. I can always e-mail some larger higher quality pictures if desired
PM sent.
PM sent.
jj tandem
09-28-06, 03:03 PM
I have a bike friday tandem and a 2002 Subaru Outback. I am trying to decide among a Yakima Sidewinder Rack, Tandem Topper (ATOC) and a rack made by Precision Tandems (Recommended by an acquaintence but I can't get to the Precision site to see it). Do you have an opinion among them? Can I install these racks directly on the Subaru factory roof rack or do I need the Yakima load bars?
Dr.Deltron
09-28-06, 04:08 PM
Show them off please
OK...this our Greenspeed on our 93 Accord. The Burley trailer is in the trunk.
$8,000 tandem on a $2,200 car. Held in place by a $50 Hollywood rack!:rolleyes:
OK...this our Greenspeed on our 93 Accord. The Burley trailer is in the trunk.
$8,000 tandem on a $2,200 car. Held in place by a $50 Hollywood rack!:rolleyes:
garysol1
09-28-06, 04:26 PM
Know thats a big bike...
Bill G
09-28-06, 05:09 PM
OK...this our Greenspeed on our 93 Accord. The Burley trailer is in the trunk.
$8,000 tandem on a $2,200 car. Held in place by a $50 Hollywood rack!:rolleyes:
:eek: The bike should always cost more than the car, He He!!!!!!......
Take Care, :)
Bill G
$8,000 tandem on a $2,200 car. Held in place by a $50 Hollywood rack!:rolleyes:
:eek: The bike should always cost more than the car, He He!!!!!!......
Take Care, :)
Bill G
TandemGeek
09-28-06, 05:27 PM
I have a bike friday tandem and a 2002 Subaru Outback. I am trying to decide among a Yakima Sidewinder Rack, Tandem Topper (ATOC) and a rack made by Precision Tandems (Recommended by an acquaintence but I can't get to the Precision site to see it). Do you have an opinion among them? Can I install these racks directly on the Subaru factory roof rack or do I need the Yakima load bars?
Link to Precision Tandems car rack catalog section; dial-up users need lots of patience.
http://www.precisiontandems.com/catframeaccess.htm
I'm not aware of a house-branded rack offered by Mark Johson at Precision Tandems; however, Mel Kornbluh of Tandems East offers one (scroll down to the middle of the page) http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/bags.html
If memory serves, our friends in Bend, Oregon, have low-rider mounts w/48" crossbars (~$194) on their Subaru Outback that they use with an Atoc/Thule non-pivoting tandem mount for their tandem. The weight and wind loading on a tandem makes for a pretty big load on a tandem mount and the less expensive clips that attach to the cross bars that are adequate for a solo bike just don't provide a lot of safety margin for tandems: think heavy crosswinds and wind blast from tractor trailers hitting the back wheel and 6' frame and you can appreciate the piece of mind that comes from a good roof mount system. A metal fabricator could probably come up with a beefier crossbar and mounting base but at the end of the day, unless they did it for the cost of materials, the Yakima or similar systems that mount (and lock) to the side rails on your roof rack aren't a bad investment if you plan to keep the vehicle for a long time... which seems to be the norm with Subaru cars.
FWIW: REI puts the Yakima stuff on sale about twice a year -- once in the Fall and again in the Spring -- which is worth waiting for.
Link to Precision Tandems car rack catalog section; dial-up users need lots of patience.
http://www.precisiontandems.com/catframeaccess.htm
I'm not aware of a house-branded rack offered by Mark Johson at Precision Tandems; however, Mel Kornbluh of Tandems East offers one (scroll down to the middle of the page) http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/bags.html
If memory serves, our friends in Bend, Oregon, have low-rider mounts w/48" crossbars (~$194) on their Subaru Outback that they use with an Atoc/Thule non-pivoting tandem mount for their tandem. The weight and wind loading on a tandem makes for a pretty big load on a tandem mount and the less expensive clips that attach to the cross bars that are adequate for a solo bike just don't provide a lot of safety margin for tandems: think heavy crosswinds and wind blast from tractor trailers hitting the back wheel and 6' frame and you can appreciate the piece of mind that comes from a good roof mount system. A metal fabricator could probably come up with a beefier crossbar and mounting base but at the end of the day, unless they did it for the cost of materials, the Yakima or similar systems that mount (and lock) to the side rails on your roof rack aren't a bad investment if you plan to keep the vehicle for a long time... which seems to be the norm with Subaru cars.
FWIW: REI puts the Yakima stuff on sale about twice a year -- once in the Fall and again in the Spring -- which is worth waiting for.
TeamTi700
09-28-06, 05:43 PM
If I'm able to post this picture correctly, you should see our tandem mounted on our Saturn L200 using a Saris rack. We were able to convert two single bike mounts with a tandem tray. This is mounted on our Saturn (made by Saris) load bars, connected to the factory roof rack.
JanMM
09-28-06, 06:44 PM
KHS Tandemania Comp wouldn't fit in '93 Mitsu Expo wagon/mini-minivan so we got a Thule Tandem rack and mounted it on a Barrecrafter roof rack. Moved up to Mazda minivan and had to get Yakima crossbars to attach to factory rack to use Thule. But.........found it much easier and more convenient to put the bike in the van, right down the middle, with the fork tips secured in a <$20 Delta Bike Hitch mounted on a 1x6 board.
woog
09-28-06, 08:27 PM
I've got a Honda Element. I flip up or take out the one back seat I keep in there, take the front wheel off of my old Burley Duet, roll the bike in backwards with the rear wheel between the driver and passenger seats, and clamp the fork dropouts into a Biketite mounted on a 1x4. So far so good.
DBC Steve
09-28-06, 10:09 PM
Anyone had any experience getting a tandem inside a Honda CRV? Our tandem is coming in a few weeks, and a roof rack looks like our only option since the CRV seats fold up against the front seats and don't allow anything to go between the front seats.
Redpath
09-29-06, 01:48 PM
I couldn't get a roof rack for my Chrysler Concord so I came up with this. I had a reciever hitch installed on the car and made an adaptor that I just leave in place. The rack pivots back to make loading and unloading a snap. Works great. I like it being behind the car and not on top. You don't even know it's there.
galen_52657
09-29-06, 02:03 PM
Too slick for words Redpath!
TandemGeek
09-29-06, 02:18 PM
I couldn't get a roof rack for my Chrysler Concord so I came up with this.
Slick...
As an aside, and pardon me for noticing, but unless your saddle is not in the normal riding position it sure seems like your tandem could be a bit on the small size and forcing an unusual riding posture.
I'm also guessing that your frame pump is too long to fit under the internal tube???
Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself.
Slick...
As an aside, and pardon me for noticing, but unless your saddle is not in the normal riding position it sure seems like your tandem could be a bit on the small size and forcing an unusual riding posture.
I'm also guessing that your frame pump is too long to fit under the internal tube???
Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself.
waterrockets
09-29-06, 02:35 PM
These are pics of our triplet on the top of our Honda CRV. The cross bars are yakima and the bike rack is home-built out of square steel tubing, a fork mount, diagonal brace (made of conduit), u-bolts. Putting it on top is pretty because because the fork mount is attached to a swivel which allows me to mount the front first, then pick up the rear wheel and swing it around.
Cool design. With these fork-first racks, does the fork mount fully lock down, but still allow the bike to pitch up/down around the fork axis? Or do you leave the QR open while you work the rear wheel on, then tighten it down? I'm guessing the former, but the later is easier to implement :)
When I bought our old Burley and put it on top of the car to bring it home, I barely had the strength to hold it up there solo while I got the forks lined up and the chainring in the tray (spider leg down). This was on my solo Yak rack. I've seen racks like your design before, but I'm much more likely to roll my own than buy one.
Cool design. With these fork-first racks, does the fork mount fully lock down, but still allow the bike to pitch up/down around the fork axis? Or do you leave the QR open while you work the rear wheel on, then tighten it down? I'm guessing the former, but the later is easier to implement :)
When I bought our old Burley and put it on top of the car to bring it home, I barely had the strength to hold it up there solo while I got the forks lined up and the chainring in the tray (spider leg down). This was on my solo Yak rack. I've seen racks like your design before, but I'm much more likely to roll my own than buy one.
gregm
09-29-06, 02:41 PM
Bungeed on top of the VW Beetle:
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Another one... can't drive the car, but here it is, for fun, fully assembled (http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/) in the VW Squareback:
http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/index-Images/1.jpg
-Greg
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Another one... can't drive the car, but here it is, for fun, fully assembled (http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/) in the VW Squareback:
http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/index-Images/1.jpg
-Greg
waterrockets
09-29-06, 02:42 PM
I couldn't get a roof rack for my Chrysler Concord so I came up with this. I had a reciever hitch installed on the car and made an adaptor that I just leave in place. The rack pivots back to make loading and unloading a snap. Works great. I like it being behind the car and not on top. You don't even know it's there.
That's really nice. I like all these photos of cars being eaten by tandems. Do you have to lift the rack into the fork, or are you able to target the rack with the bike nose down a bit, then roll it up into place?
That's really nice. I like all these photos of cars being eaten by tandems. Do you have to lift the rack into the fork, or are you able to target the rack with the bike nose down a bit, then roll it up into place?
Redpath
09-29-06, 03:08 PM
That's really nice. I like all these photos of cars being eaten by tandems. Do you have to lift the rack into the fork, or are you able to target the rack with the bike nose down a bit, then roll it up into place?
Loading is easy. Tip the rack vertical (no tools required) and drop the front wheel (obviously). Swing the bike up on the rear wheel and walk it up to the quick release. Nose the fork over the quick release skewer and clamp it tight. Then just swing the rack back horizontal. The rear wheel self guides into the wheel tray if you lined it up anywhere near close. I tie the rear wheel in with a short cord being a hillbilly. Someday I'll get a strap. I added stops to the rack so it doesn't crash into the car-ever. It's an easy one person job. Very secure. I've even used it as a work stand. The rack takes about 2 minutes to install and remove and stores easy to boot.
Loading is easy. Tip the rack vertical (no tools required) and drop the front wheel (obviously). Swing the bike up on the rear wheel and walk it up to the quick release. Nose the fork over the quick release skewer and clamp it tight. Then just swing the rack back horizontal. The rear wheel self guides into the wheel tray if you lined it up anywhere near close. I tie the rear wheel in with a short cord being a hillbilly. Someday I'll get a strap. I added stops to the rack so it doesn't crash into the car-ever. It's an easy one person job. Very secure. I've even used it as a work stand. The rack takes about 2 minutes to install and remove and stores easy to boot.
Bill G
09-29-06, 05:31 PM
Bungeed on top of the VW Beetle:
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Another one... can't drive the car, but here it is, for fun, fully assembled (http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/) in the VW Squareback:
http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/index-Images/1.jpg
-Greg
There is no way I could haul my tandem like that, in the back on its side or tied down on top. I am way to picky about my tandems paint job being we got close to $8000.00 invested in our Co-Motion Robusta with custom paint, even if I had only $1000.00 invested I could not haul it like that, I go out of my way to keep my bikes scratch free. The only way I haul our tandem is in the back of my pickup with a truck rack attached by the front fork only, standing straight up locked in. I haul all my bikes this way, no damage to the bike or paint in all the years I have done it this way.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Another one... can't drive the car, but here it is, for fun, fully assembled (http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/) in the VW Squareback:
http://69squareback.nannynannybooboo.com/tandem/index-Images/1.jpg
-Greg
There is no way I could haul my tandem like that, in the back on its side or tied down on top. I am way to picky about my tandems paint job being we got close to $8000.00 invested in our Co-Motion Robusta with custom paint, even if I had only $1000.00 invested I could not haul it like that, I go out of my way to keep my bikes scratch free. The only way I haul our tandem is in the back of my pickup with a truck rack attached by the front fork only, standing straight up locked in. I haul all my bikes this way, no damage to the bike or paint in all the years I have done it this way.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
wsurfn
09-29-06, 07:18 PM
[QUOTE=gregm]Bungeed on top of the VW Beetle:
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Right on! Here is my OEM roof rack with my modified bike rack attachment for my 66 coppertone StingRay on my 64 Bug.
http://home.nannynannybooboo.com/bike/tandem_roof.jpg
Right on! Here is my OEM roof rack with my modified bike rack attachment for my 66 coppertone StingRay on my 64 Bug.
garysol1
09-29-06, 07:25 PM
http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=25978&d=1159579049
Right on! Here is my OEM roof rack with my modified bike rack attachment for my 66 coppertone StingRay on my 64 Bug.
DING DING....You win for coolest overall rig award...
Right on! Here is my OEM roof rack with my modified bike rack attachment for my 66 coppertone StingRay on my 64 Bug.
DING DING....You win for coolest overall rig award...
mchell
09-29-06, 08:19 PM
Redpath, your rig looks a lot like a "Draftmaster" by Atoc which is what we use behind our Subaru Forester to haul our Rans Screamer recumbent all over the country. Works like a charm.
wsurfn
09-30-06, 12:48 PM
Thanks Gary.
Sorry for the lack of tandem content to all. The bike was supposed to be a father/son project to get my kid out from under the bug while I worked on it. Like most of those projects, they lose interest fast, and you end up finishing it. I think it tuned out O.K.after a ton of elbow grease and the rides with the kids around the block are a time warp.
I was stoked to see a tandem on a OEM VW rack perilous as it may be!
Sorry for the lack of tandem content to all. The bike was supposed to be a father/son project to get my kid out from under the bug while I worked on it. Like most of those projects, they lose interest fast, and you end up finishing it. I think it tuned out O.K.after a ton of elbow grease and the rides with the kids around the block are a time warp.
I was stoked to see a tandem on a OEM VW rack perilous as it may be!
landstander
09-30-06, 01:15 PM
http://home.kc.rr.com/snidely/prius_bikes2.jpg
http://home.kc.rr.com/snidely/prius_bikes3.jpg
I haven't needed to transport the tandem recently, since my stoker collapsed unexpectedly and died earlier this year... right at the end of a tandeming excursion to the Katy Trail, in fact. :(
Nevertheless, the Atoc Tandem Topper (http://www.atoc.com/tandemtopper.html) pictured above served its purpose rather well. I'd highly recommend it, in the event that a rooftop carrier is desired.
http://home.kc.rr.com/snidely/prius_bikes3.jpg
I haven't needed to transport the tandem recently, since my stoker collapsed unexpectedly and died earlier this year... right at the end of a tandeming excursion to the Katy Trail, in fact. :(
Nevertheless, the Atoc Tandem Topper (http://www.atoc.com/tandemtopper.html) pictured above served its purpose rather well. I'd highly recommend it, in the event that a rooftop carrier is desired.
garysol1
09-30-06, 01:29 PM
I haven't needed to transport the tandem recently, since my stoker collapsed unexpectedly and died earlier this year... right at the end of a tandeming excursion to the Katy Trail, in fact. :( .
Was that Judy I assume? So sorry to hear that her new adventure in life ended so suddenly. Really very sorry for the loss.
Was that Judy I assume? So sorry to hear that her new adventure in life ended so suddenly. Really very sorry for the loss.
landstander
09-30-06, 01:35 PM
Was that Judy I assume? So sorry to hear that her new adventure in life ended so suddenly. Really very sorry for the loss.
Yes, unfortunately that was Judy. She really loved riding the tandem, so at least she got some good times out of it...
Yes, unfortunately that was Judy. She really loved riding the tandem, so at least she got some good times out of it...
gregm
09-30-06, 05:03 PM
There is no way I could haul my tandem like that, in the back on its side or tied down on top. I am way to picky about my tandems paint job being we got close to $8000.00 invested in our Co-Motion Robusta with custom paint, even if I had only $1000.00 invested I could not haul it like that, I go out of my way to keep my bikes scratch free.
I'll bet! Those Co-Mo paint jobs are to die for. So awesome. How *could* you risk anything happening to such a work of art? I love just looking at the sample paint jobs on the Co-Mo Web site.
Fortunately I have a tandem that gets ridden well over 300 days and over 3,000 miles every year, to work, school, the grocery store, etc. etc. etc. during the week, and club rides and centuries on the weekends. Fortunately it cost me less than $1,000, and is painted black -- otherwise even the Kryptonites I use to lock it up where it sits in public outdoors (all day, every day, all through the year, when I'm at work) would noticeably mar the finish. :D
Also, it's quite fortunate (and on purpose!) that I live somewhere with a million and one fabulous bike rides that start from my door, so I only go to drive-away rides maybe 3 or 4 times per year. Heck, most weeks I don't even drive a car at all.
I definitely lust after those gorgeous Co-Mos, but I know that I'd end up leaving it at home for some trips where I gladly take the 1993 Trek. Like my *other* VW Beetle... which stays under its cover, in the garage, all the time, shiny & fully waxed... but hardly ever sees the light of day, except for the occasional car show, for fear that it might get wet or dirty. I would *never* risk putting any bike in or on that car, it's too nice!!
-Greg
I'll bet! Those Co-Mo paint jobs are to die for. So awesome. How *could* you risk anything happening to such a work of art? I love just looking at the sample paint jobs on the Co-Mo Web site.
Fortunately I have a tandem that gets ridden well over 300 days and over 3,000 miles every year, to work, school, the grocery store, etc. etc. etc. during the week, and club rides and centuries on the weekends. Fortunately it cost me less than $1,000, and is painted black -- otherwise even the Kryptonites I use to lock it up where it sits in public outdoors (all day, every day, all through the year, when I'm at work) would noticeably mar the finish. :D
Also, it's quite fortunate (and on purpose!) that I live somewhere with a million and one fabulous bike rides that start from my door, so I only go to drive-away rides maybe 3 or 4 times per year. Heck, most weeks I don't even drive a car at all.
I definitely lust after those gorgeous Co-Mos, but I know that I'd end up leaving it at home for some trips where I gladly take the 1993 Trek. Like my *other* VW Beetle... which stays under its cover, in the garage, all the time, shiny & fully waxed... but hardly ever sees the light of day, except for the occasional car show, for fear that it might get wet or dirty. I would *never* risk putting any bike in or on that car, it's too nice!!
-Greg
Bill G
09-30-06, 06:07 PM
I'll bet! Those Co-Mo paint jobs are to die for. So awesome. How *could* you risk anything happening to such a work of art? I love just looking at the sample paint jobs on the Co-Mo Web site.
-Greg
Greg, I do understand what you are saying :D and I have a few beater bikes myself for the same reasons you listed. We do ride our Co-Motion all the time, but we do not leave it anywhere out of our site and we go out of our way to keep it nice like you do with your VW Bug that you mentioned. Also by the way if it is the one above with the Sting Ray bike on the top she is beautiful........ very sweet for a vintage VW Bug, so I know you understand where I was coming from with my post. It takes a lot of work and care to keep somthing nice when the average person that gets around your stuff could care less about it or the time you have put into it. That is why no bike shop has, or ever will work on any of my tandems or bikes. I do all the work myself, that way I know it is right at the end of the day.... It also helps if the wife feels the same way about the tandem or the VW Bug in your case, again that is one sweet VW Bug.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
-Greg
Greg, I do understand what you are saying :D and I have a few beater bikes myself for the same reasons you listed. We do ride our Co-Motion all the time, but we do not leave it anywhere out of our site and we go out of our way to keep it nice like you do with your VW Bug that you mentioned. Also by the way if it is the one above with the Sting Ray bike on the top she is beautiful........ very sweet for a vintage VW Bug, so I know you understand where I was coming from with my post. It takes a lot of work and care to keep somthing nice when the average person that gets around your stuff could care less about it or the time you have put into it. That is why no bike shop has, or ever will work on any of my tandems or bikes. I do all the work myself, that way I know it is right at the end of the day.... It also helps if the wife feels the same way about the tandem or the VW Bug in your case, again that is one sweet VW Bug.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
Dr.Deltron
09-30-06, 10:48 PM
I'll bet! Those Co-Mo paint jobs are to die for. -Greg
Thank you!
I say that, as I did have the opportunity to train one of their best painters!
Thank you!
I say that, as I did have the opportunity to train one of their best painters!
Dr.Deltron
09-30-06, 10:51 PM
Thank you!
I say that, as I did have the opportunity to train one of their best painters!
That would be Alan Cline, who is now in sales!
I say that, as I did have the opportunity to train one of their best painters!
That would be Alan Cline, who is now in sales!
Bill G
10-01-06, 09:12 AM
That would be Alan Cline, who is now in sales!
Dr. Deltron,
Alan is a personal friend of mine and he is a top notch guy. Alan has left Co-Motion and retired to raise his new born son, he sent me an e-mail about a month or so ago informing me of this. Since then I have talked with Dewan at Co-Motion and they miss him quite a bit around there. I believe his wife is still working while he is being a stay home dad and enjoying the good life.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
Dr. Deltron,
Alan is a personal friend of mine and he is a top notch guy. Alan has left Co-Motion and retired to raise his new born son, he sent me an e-mail about a month or so ago informing me of this. Since then I have talked with Dewan at Co-Motion and they miss him quite a bit around there. I believe his wife is still working while he is being a stay home dad and enjoying the good life.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
NewbieIATandem
10-01-06, 06:49 PM
Anyone use a full size conversion van? I am looking for something that I might be able to put the tandem in (between the rear captain seats), and the two kids single bikes behind the captain's seats and still able to close the back doors?
I've got a Ford Windstar with Thule kit on OEM rack sliders, Rocky Mounts Tandem Mount (last years , no swivel:( ) with two Rock Mounts single mounts for the kids.
We are looking to possibly replace my car with a Taurus or Sable wagon with the same OEM sliders so we could transfer the whole kit and caboodle and load it more easily (about 2 feet shorter than the Windstar).
I would agree, the transporting of a tandem does impact car buying decisions.
(Heck we also are considering a Ford F250 Crew Cab with a full length bed. Try parking one of them at the local grocery store.)
I've got a Ford Windstar with Thule kit on OEM rack sliders, Rocky Mounts Tandem Mount (last years , no swivel:( ) with two Rock Mounts single mounts for the kids.
We are looking to possibly replace my car with a Taurus or Sable wagon with the same OEM sliders so we could transfer the whole kit and caboodle and load it more easily (about 2 feet shorter than the Windstar).
I would agree, the transporting of a tandem does impact car buying decisions.
(Heck we also are considering a Ford F250 Crew Cab with a full length bed. Try parking one of them at the local grocery store.)
gregm
10-01-06, 06:53 PM
(Heck we also are considering a Ford F250 Crew Cab with a full length bed. Try parking one of them at the local grocery store.)
Where I live, cars (of every size) wait in the street to try to get a parking place at our local grocery store at convenient shopping times... like all weekend.
This is why we usually take tandem + trailer when we go there. :)
-Greg
Where I live, cars (of every size) wait in the street to try to get a parking place at our local grocery store at convenient shopping times... like all weekend.
This is why we usually take tandem + trailer when we go there. :)
-Greg
Trsnrtr
10-01-06, 06:56 PM
I own an '05 Odyssey and roll it in between the second row seats. I can either leave the wheels on and strap it from the bars to the floor to keep it upright or I can use a fork mount on a board and take the front wheel off, which is my normal way of hauling it. If I remove the second row seats, I can haul my tandem, my wife's Trek 5200, and my highracer recumbent. I do this occasionally when traveling and should take a pic sometime.
Dennis
Dennis
Dr.Deltron
10-05-06, 03:07 PM
Dr. Deltron,
Alan is a personal friend of mine and he is a top notch guy. Alan has left Co-Motion and retired to raise his new born son, he sent me an e-mail about a month or so ago informing me of this. Since then I have talked with Dewan at Co-Motion and they miss him quite a bit around there. I believe his wife is still working while he is being a stay home dad and enjoying the good life.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
Thanks for the update Bill G! +1! on Alan being a top notch guy! When you have contact again, tell him I said HI! I too have become a happy househusband( X4! ) The twins turn 4 next week. And YES, it sure is the "good life"!!! Thanks again for the update.:)
Dr. Deltron
Alan is a personal friend of mine and he is a top notch guy. Alan has left Co-Motion and retired to raise his new born son, he sent me an e-mail about a month or so ago informing me of this. Since then I have talked with Dewan at Co-Motion and they miss him quite a bit around there. I believe his wife is still working while he is being a stay home dad and enjoying the good life.
Take Care, :)
Bill G
Thanks for the update Bill G! +1! on Alan being a top notch guy! When you have contact again, tell him I said HI! I too have become a happy househusband( X4! ) The twins turn 4 next week. And YES, it sure is the "good life"!!! Thanks again for the update.:)
Dr. Deltron
intensepedaler
10-05-06, 04:21 PM
On the back of my other favorite toy...
stokell
10-09-06, 06:10 PM
On the back of my other favorite toy...
Do you have another shot taken the other way? I'm wondering how wide the tandem is compared with the car.
The only car we have access to is an aging Ford Escort. From mirror to mirror it is 2 metres. Our bike without the wheels is just a bit more. We want to use a trunk/boot mounted rack, but don't want to be a hazard on the road.
Is that possible?
Do you have another shot taken the other way? I'm wondering how wide the tandem is compared with the car.
The only car we have access to is an aging Ford Escort. From mirror to mirror it is 2 metres. Our bike without the wheels is just a bit more. We want to use a trunk/boot mounted rack, but don't want to be a hazard on the road.
Is that possible?
intensepedaler
10-10-06, 05:03 PM
The rack is custom made for this type of car. My husband searched high and low to find a solution. We can actually load both my single and the tandem on the back if we want. Although this shot looks like the forks are extending much wider than the car, nothing really extends further than my side mirrors. It's a great set up - when I unload my bike, the rack scissor folds and fits in the front trunk if I choose to take it off. Anyway, here is another shot....
DBC Steve
10-14-06, 08:19 AM
Anyone had any experience getting a tandem inside a Honda CRV? Our tandem is coming in a few weeks, and a roof rack looks like our only option since the CRV seats fold up against the front seats and don't allow anything to go between the front seats.
I continue to think about this, and wonder about the possibility of building or buying something like the tandem support frame included in the Bike Pro Tandem Race Case.
I continue to think about this, and wonder about the possibility of building or buying something like the tandem support frame included in the Bike Pro Tandem Race Case.
zzzwillzzz
10-23-06, 11:57 AM
here's our rack, yakima rack with a cheap delta bike mount and a 1x3 rectangular piece of scrap aluminum extrusion bolted to the fork mount with a big piece angled aluminum and a u-bolt to attach it to the rear crossbar. $20 or so each for the bike mounts from nashbar $40 for a 10 foot long piece of scrap and a couple of bucks for the bolts. it works great, the piece of angle behind the fork mount is a good place to rest the forks once we lift the bike into position before dropping into the actual mount without having to worry about the forks slipping and putting some dents into the roof. the rectangualr tubes sways more side to side than i had expected so i put a little tie down from the rear wheel mount to the far (passenger) side rear crossbar to stop the swaying.
chainedtogether
10-23-06, 11:59 PM
The brace doesn't take too long to attach, it is held with one U-bolt on the frame, probably 1-2 minutes. What takes a little longer is attaching the tubing to the yakima cross bars (4 U-bolts). I've attached some more detailed pictures. I can always e-mail some larger higher quality pictures if desired
I usually attach the tube the night before hand. I would say it then takes about 15 minutes to put the bike on or take it off. Goes like this. 1. tie handlebars so they can't turn 2. take front wheel off 3. put fork on mount 4. swing rear around put in wheel tray 5. attach brace. Its not too bad, we just leave a bit early for things. Having said that, our usual rides are close enough that we ride to the group meeting place. We only drive to special events.
Nice job with the rack. I am using the Thule (ATOC) rack. I noticed some wobble and decided to experiment with bracing. With a cross-country trip pending, I didn't have a lot of time to fabricate parts.
I found that REI has a brace bar called an Ultimate Handlebar Holder ($16). It has telescoping length
adjustment and rubber bungies attachments on both ends. It's meant to brace the handlebars of a
bike while in a repair stand. I used it to form a brace between the seat post and the crossbars.
With the rubber bungies, it attaches quickly and doesn't scratch the bike. 2000+ miles, working great,
even with some strong cross winds. Not as rigid as conduit, but still enough to prevent the wobble
- and you can use it on the repair stand, as intended, too.
I usually attach the tube the night before hand. I would say it then takes about 15 minutes to put the bike on or take it off. Goes like this. 1. tie handlebars so they can't turn 2. take front wheel off 3. put fork on mount 4. swing rear around put in wheel tray 5. attach brace. Its not too bad, we just leave a bit early for things. Having said that, our usual rides are close enough that we ride to the group meeting place. We only drive to special events.
Nice job with the rack. I am using the Thule (ATOC) rack. I noticed some wobble and decided to experiment with bracing. With a cross-country trip pending, I didn't have a lot of time to fabricate parts.
I found that REI has a brace bar called an Ultimate Handlebar Holder ($16). It has telescoping length
adjustment and rubber bungies attachments on both ends. It's meant to brace the handlebars of a
bike while in a repair stand. I used it to form a brace between the seat post and the crossbars.
With the rubber bungies, it attaches quickly and doesn't scratch the bike. 2000+ miles, working great,
even with some strong cross winds. Not as rigid as conduit, but still enough to prevent the wobble
- and you can use it on the repair stand, as intended, too.
dubbelop
10-25-06, 05:36 AM
Inside a VW Transporter (European model, of course)
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mmhoff/images/Santos/Santos_in_T5_1.JPG
http://www.xs4all.nl/~mmhoff/images/Santos/Santos_in_T5_1.JPG
t4mv
11-02-06, 11:30 PM
Another VW van, this one's a T4 Multivan: ATOC DraftMaster
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1063/img0253jo3.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3968/img0254cq3.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9206/img0255ze0.jpg
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1063/img0253jo3.jpg
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/3968/img0254cq3.jpg
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9206/img0255ze0.jpg
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.