Tandem Cycling - Tandem on a budget

I'm sorry this is so long, I'm trying not to be vague.
My first couple of road bikes were built on a small budget. I don't remember exact amounts but I was able to easily pay for them hy cutting grass in high school. I would take an old frame (first one was a 1970 CCM from my father), and clean up whatever was on them. By this I mean cables, all bearings, bar tape, and simple stuff. The next frame was purchased as a frame and the components (friction shifters, Suntour RD....) were swapped. I lived happily in the world of a 10sp downtube friction shifters until early in college when I found an 8sp Dura Ace equipped steel Davidson bike for $300 and sold my current bike. The point of this is that I've been able to find frames that, while not new or great by any means weren't a Schwinn Varsity or any thing like that.
Moving forwards another 4 years (to grad school), my girlfriend (3 wonderful years) and I bike. I ride a lot, she rides a little. She will happily go riding with me whenever there is time but where I ride 20-32 mph on an hour ride, she rides 15-18. The result is that she doesn't like riding with me when I'm in the mood to train, and I don't like going that slow. I didn't mind biking slower when biking was a daily occurrence but as it's moved to weekly or less it's become a problem. We're both averaging between 4-5 hours of sleep a night when at school so please don't suggest waking up early to ride. Enter tandems.
We have ridden together on tandems a couple of times an loved it. However most of them have been good for a slow 10 miles at most, and they have been at best a decade older than me (I'm 22). I have been on newer tandems, both as captain and as stoker with some geographically distant relatives in high school so I'm not totally ignorant of 30 years of development.
Other than the headset, I have enough parts (including wheels) that I trust for tandem use. However, in 6 months I haven't found a frame at a reasonable price. I've found a lot of 30 year old Schwinns, and a lot of $1000-$1500 complete bikes (craigslist, Indianapolis), but no frames made in the last two decades.
Some friends suggested merging two bikes. Having built several recumbents for undergraduate projects (some steel, one carbon) including one recumbent tandem (back to back, I'm never doing that again) I have decided that I don't want to just merge two upright singles together.
And finally my question:
What kind of used frame set should I be able to find for $500? Do decent used tandem frames actually exist in the US? If so, where should I be looking as I'm clearly not searching in the right places?

Thanks in advance.

As one more note I should add that the wheels I indend to put on this are 700c and the handlebars will be road drops.

http://www.chucksbikes.com/store/

click on "Frames". The Tsunami tandem frame new is only $350. It is 7005 aluminum, but to put it in perspective, many tandem forks cost that much or more. Some twice as much.

Be aware you're in for a BIG learning curve. For instance, if the wheels you're talking about came off a single, they won't fit. Spacing is different, plus I wouldn't trust them anyway unless you are a very light team, (which you probably are!), and they were hand built, 40 spoke, tied-and-soldered wheels.

This is but one example of where there are major differences between single bike components and tandem stuff. If you're going to do this anyway, ask lots of questions about every components.

personally, I'd look for a used Burley Duet. Good examples can be had for around $750. Might take a little bit of looking but they pop up from time to time.

Onegun-
I have a 145 spaced rear hub, and I'm willing to use 36 hole rims. Our combined weight is under 300 lb and if anything that's slowly going down. I have built a dozen or so wheels and figure I can do these, plus I have some friends that do wheels. I don't believe in tying or soldering spokes, but we'll have that debate another time, unless you mean something else by tied and soldered.
Merlin- I'll keep an eye out, thank you for the model suggestion. I take it that given the replies, unlike singles, there are not used frames regularly for sale, just complete bikes?

That seems to be the case. I second Merlin - your best bet is an older used Burley, KHS, Trek. I also have noticed some pretty well equipped brand new tandems from Fuji and Raleigh at the LBS in the $1000 range and they looked perfectly adequate as decent entry level machines.

Go for used for the first time.

Our upgraded 1990 Arriva does fine... see recent comments from our groups Mt. Tam ride:


I've never seen a tandem team climb as fast as Marco and Ruth -- they are amazing!


Aye! Me either. :eek::eek:

They must be doing something right! :thumb:

The 2nd comment was made by the captain of a pretty strong tandem team riding a Co-motion Periscope Torpedo with full Campy 10s, disc brakes, and Rolf Primas.

:D

OK enough bragging ;)

Point is, you don't need an $8000-10000 machine to haul ass. They are nice to have, but not necessary

Onegun-
I have a 145 spaced rear hub, and I'm willing to use 36 hole rims. Our combined weight is under 300 lb and if anything that's slowly going down. I have built a dozen or so wheels and figure I can do these, plus I have some friends that do wheels.

That's a different story then. I thought from your comments you were going to try and slap some standard single bike wheels on a tandem. If you can build and you've got some 145 hubs, grab a pair of tandem rated rims, (or at least deep V), and away you go. A mixed team sub-300 lbs can get away with a LOT that a double-male Cat1 team or a Clydesdale/Athena or even a loaded touring team can't!

Merlin's comment about finding a used ride is spot on, though, if you can afford it. I'd much rather a used, higher quality tandem than a new Tsunami. They're not bad apparently, but with a used complete bike you generally get a better frame and all tandem-rated components.

Uspspro's comments are also on the mark. It ain't the bike, bro! Or, at least, not unless you're in that top 5% already!

The Trek T100 frame was a decent frame, and a T100 can be had for $ 500 if you find one. You might get some reasonable wheels and cranks with it, you only need to upgrade shifters transmission and brakes perhaps to bring it up to date.

I bought my T2000 frame with fork on Craiglist for $250, so deals can be had... It might take a while, though.

I bought my T2000 frame with fork on Craiglist for $250, so deals can be had... It might take a while, though.

So it does exist... That's about what I'm looking for +/- 15 years. I'll keep looking.
Thank you for all of the replies.