Tandem Cycling - Retro Specialized Tandem Hubs

Sorry Guys,

Awaiting better weather been hanging out with the Vintage/Classic forum. Tonight I bought NOS Specialized Tandem Freewheel hubs - went pretty cheap - ebay item
280188538196 - 40 HOLE,130 to 145 adjustable rear axel - take 5 to 8 speed freewheel. Question to you is who actually made them - they are much nicer than Sansins and maybe even nices than Superb Pro High Flange - although I suspect Suntour is actually made them.

I saved a set of Velocity Symetries in 40 hole when they stopped making them in that configuration - so I am set for the build accept a freewheel. Any info will be appreciated - TG this right down your alley. MW

There was a reason why they were cheap. My advise would be to sell them and not waste money on building them into wheels.
The Front hubs are OK if you don't mind the weight.
There were a couple of reasons why I stopped using the rear hub.
1/ The axles bend really easily and getting spares is a pain.
2/ They use freewheels.
We have torn the cogs off or destroyed the ratchets on all brands of freewheels (145kg team weight. and fit - those were the days)
They just don't survive for long on a tandem.

We have yet to break a cassette hub (Chris King/ Hope/new Hugi) and the gear changes are so much smoother. No more having to warn the stoker when changing gears.

Cheers

Geoff

This particular hub seems to get good review from the classic guys - it appears most of this type were made by the Sanshin/Sunshine folks who also made Suntour and Specialized hubs. Not all of these hubs are created equal though - there were a number of different performance levels. Most likely I'll build this up as a tour hub for a single - this hub along with the current Shimano tandem cassatte hub and some older Hugi itandem is easily spaced for a number axel lengths and I like for 40 hole for touring.

I am surprised to hear about bent axels because it's 10mm same as most good tandem axels today. Last year I heard similar review on the older German Hugi tandem hubs = but 9,000 miles still going strong - I begining to think who builds a wheel is as important in a wheels reliabilty as the hub itself. Finding a supply of big freewheels will be challenge, but they are readily rebuilable with a supply of new cogs.

As a FYI I run my current two tandems run on White Industry and Hugi modern hubs
so I am not apposed to cassatte hubs. I am more particular about my dislike for V-Brakes and clunky STI shifting.

Harris Cyclery has some NOS Atom 4-pawl freewheels "for heavy tandem use"

6-speed, 14 16 20 24 28 32 -- not very imaginative there, but maybe you can find other cogs to work.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/freewheels.html#5

I'd be sure to grease the threads while installing the freewheel on the hub -- someday you may want to take it off after the two of you have torqued it down really tight.