Tandem Cycling - Tandem Touring Equipment

We're planning a Trans AM trip in the future. We'll be taking our Cannondale RT3000. We have already purchased a BOB Yak Trailer. Now we're wondering which panniers would work best...front, back or both. We're sort of leaning toward front panniers only; we feel this would take some of the load off the back wheel/tire. We're not sure we'll have enough storage space for two people with this arrangement. Any ideas here?
We're also toying with replacing the stoker's crank set (Ultegra 9 speed) with an XT or XTR crank set in an effort to gain more Granny gear capability. The cassette (12-35/37 or so)and derailleur are already XTR components. Is this a worthwhile goal? We're not a super strong team, but we have the endurance needed.

We're planning a Trans AM trip in the future. We're not sure we'll have enough storage space for two people with this arrangement. Any ideas here?

Less is more; be careful not to provide yourself with too much luggage capacity. Many teams who embark on long journeys quickly find themselves shipping excess luggage back home just a few days into their trip. That said, you may want to peruse some of the responses to similar questions regarding trailer vs panniers and how best to configure your tandem for touring in the Tandem@Hobbes archives: http://search.bikelist.org/?SearchString=trailers%20AND%20vs%20AND%20panniers&SortBy=MsgDate%5Bd%5D&Scope=tandem


We're also toying with replacing the stoker's crank set.

I'm guessing you have an 11 or 12 x 34t cassette, which is as wide a range as you can get. Your Ultegra triple cranks can be fitted with a granny (aka. alpine) ring as small as 24t so I don't think changing out your cranks is a worthwhile pursuit. I would think a 24/39/53 - 26/42/54 would probably do you just fine with your 12x34t cassette. Again, shop around for other opinions, but I think going below 24 x 34t starts to beg some questions regarding efficiency, i.e., it would probably take less strength / energy to get off and push.

...Your Ultegra triple cranks can be fitted with a granny (aka. alpine) ring as small as 24t so I don't think changing out your cranks is a worthwhile pursuit[/url]

Great advice, thanks Mark. We'll save a bit of cash that way too.

:D

trans am trip where from to gus

re yak bob good choice :D

ive read on other forums that front panniers balance out the load with the yak bob...

personally i dont bother i just use the trailer and yak sak

what about tyres my touring choise is scwhalbe marathon xr 1.9 with a folder as a spare its not the fastest tyre but due to the width itsmakes the bike more stable and provides a modicum of suspension...

:D

trans am trip where from to gus

re yak bob good choice :D

ive read on other forums that front panniers balance out the load with the yak bob...

personally i dont bother i just use the trailer and yak sak

what about tyres my touring choise is scwhalbe marathon xr 1.9 with a folder as a spare its not the fastest tyre but due to the width itsmakes the bike more stable and provides a modicum of suspension...

Steve,

Our trip will start at Florence Oregon and finish at Yorktown Virginia.

Thanks for your input concerning front panniers; I believe you are correct with that. It makes sense.

Currently our tires are Specialized Armadillos. They are 28 mm, and present a wide profile as well. They seem to be very puncture resistant too.

We swapped out our cassette from a 12-32 to 11-34 and chainged to of our chainrings from 52-42-30 to 52-38-26. This a made a world of difference in climbing any asphalt wall. We ride a recumbent tandem so we can't stand on the pedals. If I was to do it again, I would replace the cassette with a 12-34. Our trailer for touring is made by Bykaboose. I won it as a door prize at a bike show several years ago and would trade it for any other trailer. It tracks nicely, isn't noisey and can hold 80#. I've only loaded it to the max with weights when training for a weeklong ride and the load balances well with little to no tongue weight on the rear tire. We also have a set of rear panniers and a trunk bag, both by Jandd. I hope this helps and good luck with your trip.

My wife and I tour on a MT800 Cannondale using 26" x 1.5 Specialized tires, I've upgraded all of the stock parts with more dependable replacements. We have climbed grades up to approx. 15% and use an 11-34, 9 speed rear and a 24/38/50 x 130mm FSA road cranks on the front. You can purchase this gear combo direct from FSA and it will fit your Ultegra cranks. The 38T middle ring doesn't have ramps and it shifts great. I also use a jump stop to keep the chain from coming off the small front chainring when down shifting. Touring we pull a BOB with the water proof bag and place our Therma rest pads in a bag on top and figure 8 fold & zip tie a spare tire under BOB. We use a Blackburn rear rack with our two sleeping bags in one water proof bag on that rack. I use a large frame mounted bag from Nashbar that mounts under the top tube and up against the rear seat tube, this fits all of our tools, tubes, spare parts, tire gauge etc. we also mount a large seat bag under the stoker stem and a handlebar bag with map case up front. We have been tandem touring off and on for approx. 12 years and over the years we continue to refine and lighten our load. Most of our touring trips have been for 10 days or less at a time, we carry 3 days worth of riding cloths each and can be comfotable from approx. +20 degrees up to what ever. It's kind of wordy, hope it helps.

LaCarte

Great advice! I'm making a copy out of it and storing with our TransAm info. Thanks! :D

:D

keep us posted gus

we plan a trip poss in jan

staying in youth hostels

also next year plan to do a camping trip

no tent we will be using twin hoop bivvy bags