Help me decide please.

[TheBrick]

Hello all,

me again I am afraid.

I have been hunting in ebay for some tandems have reached a bit of a dilema. I am planningo n buying a low end tandem that will mainly be used for short pleasure rides shopping trips e.t.c with my girlfriend. There are two on ebay both comming from diffrent angles.

One is a new cheap tandem hi ten steal

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reflex-Timberline-Adult-Tandem-Mountain-Bike-POST-FREE_W0QQitemZ250091835323QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33503QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

it has a eccentric bottom braket front disk (all be it a cheap looking one) rear v brake, cheap drive chain, 21 gears. These are listed reguarly.

The other is this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TANDEM-Peugeot-racing-good-condition_W0QQitemZ130086395449QQihZ003QQcategoryZ33503QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This too has a eccentric bottom braket, 18 gears, a drag brake and some old looking cants, includes a tandem roof rack attachment. It is a Peugot which makes me nervous about the rear bottom braket being french, I know when needed I could get it retapped to Italian though. I have no idea about the tube set on the frame. Now I have asked the seller some questions about the bike. It has steel rims which sems to be the biigest problem. I build my own wheels so I could replace the rims (which would no dout be better than the ones on the first tandem) for about 60 - 70 gbp including spokes then replace the cants with vbrakes. This would give me approximatly equal specked brakes. I would also do a compleat rebuild to clean / regreace everything but would not be replacing anything much more than grips and any cables which need it. Assuming I can get this Peugot for a reasnoble price this would come in for slightly more than the new bike, but not so much that it would be worth getting upset about.

My question boils down to which would you prefere? The new cheap tandem stock or the upgraded and refurbed old tandem? Also which one do you think would hold it's value best? Should we find we can't stand tandeming or find we love it so much and want save up and upgrade to a better one.

MAny Thanks

Tommy

[mrfish]

Both seem OK for the money, but...

Personally I would offer the chap £100 1 minute before the auction closes for the Peugeot, then pick it up in person to make sure the frame isn't bent / rusted through and it shifts and brakes well enough to ride it safely round the neighbourhood. Then ride it for a while and upgrade a few bits only when absolutely needed. It's perfect for shopping rides as long as you accept that the braking and shifting won't be as good as your quality single bike. Worst case scenario then is that you can sell it on ebay for what you paid for it. I think it would be a fun project to surf ebay for parts, repaint it and do a few upgrades to make it work better, then either keep it or get back your money or maybe make a profit (excluding your time) by selling it on ebay. Unfortunately my wife has suggested I spend less time in the shed, so it's not for me although I'm tempted ;-)

The cheap aluminium bike isn't a bad deal either - it's a hassle free way to ride, and seems like quite a lot of bike for the money. Just understand that for £200 you're not going to get the same quality as on your single bike, which you probably paid >£500 for. It's fit for purpose with the advantage that it you will be able to ride it from the get-go without too much fiddling with mechanics. Only downside is you will probably struggle to get £100 for it if you sell it on ebay after deciding you don't like it.

PM me your choice - If you're in S.London area it would be fun to go for a tandem ride sometime. Tandem riding for us is limited by our 5 month old, so my wife and I pull our 5 month old daughter round Dulwich park in a trailer with our tandem at the weekend.

[Sammyboy]

The Peugeot will hold it's value better - a used bike is pretty much worth the same 6 months later, if in the same condition, whereas the moment a new bike becomes used, down goes the price. Bear in mind though, that £100 is not going to get the Peugeot - that's only the starting bid, and it says clearly that it doesn't meet the reserve.

Why would you replace the rims on the Peugeot? There's not a lot wrong with cantilevers, and even if there was, replacing the rims just seems.....unneccesary. Perhaps it's my cheapskate retrogrouch nature coming out!

[TheBrick]

Thanks guys.

I know I will not get the same quality as a single bike. You both make good points. I think that I shall see how the auction on the Peugeot runs out. If I can get it for cheap I will go for it. I am having to help my dad out with work in the New Forest alot on weekends at the moment so picking it up is not a problem as I travel the M3. I am in no rush and do not have to buy either so I will see how things go.

Sammyboy I just thought about replacing the rims becuase they where steel and I have never got on very well with getting good brakes on steel rims to work.

mrfish Yeah I live in the not so nice area of Plumbstead so not a million miles from Dulwich. I shall see what happens and get my girl friend comfy first but sounds like fun.

T

[Sammyboy]

Ah. Steel rims definitely = bad!

[TheBrick]

Dam I did not notice the reserve not met on the Peugot. Hmm Well I will see how it is running closer to the finish time.