Tandem Cycling - ***Cyclocomputer w/ dual readouts?***

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
OK, I'm the captian, and I like to have the cyclocomputer up front. My 8 year old daughter is the stoker and when we had the trail-a-bike, I had a computer hooked up for her to see. Now that we have a tandem she still wants the computer, that way she can see how fast we're going and how far we've gone.
I know I could just hook-up another comptuer to her bar and run the pick-up to the rear wheel, but I'm trying to aviod running wires all over our new bike. I'm wondering if there is a tandem specific cyclocomputer on the market that has two head units. Maybe a wireless one. Or could you simply make one by purchasing a wireless unit and an extra head unit. Could this work? I'm sure I'll figure something out, but I'll take any advice or comments from any one that would like to chim in. I've told her that well have something rigged up before our next tour which isn't until next June.
Here's the team in street clothes doing a photo opp for Mom.
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f287/gransport/tan_1.jpg
Thanks
Shayne
garysol1
10-05-06, 10:38 AM
while not exactly the answer to end all answers.......I did a Wired Astrale 8 Computer for me (captain) and a double wireless Cateye for the Stoker. There is only one wire that runs up the fork and we both get all the info we want and need.
Thanks Gary, your solution might be the simplest as I already have a wired Cateye installed up front.
tuolumne
10-06-06, 07:01 AM
The wireless option will certainly work for you. In a different (and more expensive) direction, have you considered a small GPS unit. This would add an additional education component to the rides, allowing your daughter to build her sense of direction, a feel for space and distances, her awareness of where she is in the world, appreciation for maps etc. I've thought about this as our children are growing, since we are working with maps etc. with our 5 year old daughter. My children are a bit too young still. A GPS also indicates elevation which adds an interesting dimension to a ride (at least in New England). She could even be the official navigator! Anyway, enjoy your time together. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to share that intimacy with your children.
Retro Grouch
10-06-06, 09:46 AM
How about splicing a piece of speaker wire into your existing Cateye and routing that along the top tube to the stoker bar?
The GPS idea would be very cool. Of course I'd want it on my bar :). The education spin is what lead to her having a computer on the trail-a-bike. It gave her a feel for distance and time, plus, me being the evil dad that I am, I through in some math. Riding with her over the years has been such a joy. We've logged right at 2000 miles together, including 2 one week tours. We're hoping that Santa brings us a Tandem-com for Christmas, this should help with talking.
Good idea Retro Grouch, I could just get another head unit from Cateye and splice it in.
Thanks
Shayne
waterrockets
10-06-06, 03:27 PM
Could you just set up an inexpensive computer from the rear wheel to her? If the wire's long enough to make it to a chainstay or seatstay, that could work.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.12 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.