Tandem Cycling - Another newbie

Hi all. I've been lurking for a few weeks now and finally pulled the trigger on what looks to be a great deal on a 1994 Burley Duet. For it's age, it's in remarkably good (if not great) shape. I don't know how much of this is stock, but it's got Sugino cranks, Sansin hubs (40 hole), Suntour XC cantilevers, and Deore LX RR deraillure for $400. It's probably overkill for my wife and me, as we're not planning on putting tons of miles, with little chance of off-roading, but I figure we aren't gambling too much at that price.

I think I need to change over the handlebars to something straighter, at least for my wife (stoker). Can someone tell me if I'll need to change over the thumbshifters if I do that?

I'm thinking that the tires look pretty old so I should probably replace those while I'm at it. In the interest of comfort I'm thinking a wider tire might be nice. How wide would you recommend seeing as we'll be on pavement 99.9% of the time? It's on 700C rims.

Seats might be an issue, but I think we'll ride 'em for awhile to see.

I'll probably get her a Thudbuster too. I know the pictures aren't great, but is there anything glaring that I should address?

I think the bike looks pretty good from your pictures.

If it were mine, I would:

1) retape the handlebars
2) replace the tires/tubes (unless they look new...can't tell from the pictures)...not sure what's on there now, but 700x28 makes for a good sized road tire
3) tighten the timing chain...could be an optical illusion, but it looks really loose--and either the cranks are click out of phase, or they just look that way because the timing chain is loose
4) oil the chain
5) ride!!!! (and maybe replace the saddles if they're uncomfortable)

RE Handlebars: were you thinking of changing over to flat bars for the front?

One more thing: I'd take those reflectors off the wheels. I bet it's a 200 g weight savings. That's worth a couple hundred bucks.

Thanks for the input! You're right about the chain being loose. I tightened that up as soon as I got it home, but I didn't phase the cranks. Didn't even think about that...thanks for the heads up.

I don't know if I'll change the front bars, but I don't like where the brake handles are, so I'll move them, tape the bar and see what I think.

Oh man, take off the reflectors??? My wife thinks they're purdy!:D

A real bargain at $400!

What kind of rims are those? They look awful narrow for tandem wheels, but they sure have enough spokes.

Something about the brake cables does not look right to me, very sharp angles. I would check those. That a deal for $400! I have a Burley & they are very nicely made bikes.

What kind of rims are those? They look awful narrow for tandem wheels, but they sure have enough spokes.
We own a Duet a couple of years newer than yours. After spokes kept breaking regularly, we decided to replace the wheels.

We own a Duet a couple of years newer than yours. After spokes kept breaking regularly, we decided to replace the wheels.

So do you think mine might be original? They look kind of narrow to me also. For the price I paid, I would certainly not mind replacing them.

Something about the brake cables does not look right to me, very sharp angles. I would check those. That a deal for $400! I have a Burley & they are very nicely made bikes.

thanks, I'll check it out. Definitely don't need stopping to be a problem. I'm, shall we say, a clydesdale?

So do you think mine might be original? They look kind of narrow to me also. For the price I paid, I would certainly not mind replacing them.

I think so. At the time ours started to brake spokes we were about 340 lbs and were doing some steep hills. If I were you, I would ride it with the current wheels and see how they behave.

Is yours a seven speed? I have changed mine to a nine speed and reset the rear spacing to 145. I also changed the RD and the bar end shifter.

I think so. At the time ours started to brake spokes we were about 340 lbs and were doing some steep hills. If I were you, I would ride it with the current wheels and see how they behave.

Is yours a seven speed? I have changed mine to a nine speed and reset the rear spacing to 145. I also changed the RD and the bar end shifter.

I measured the rims. They are 13/16" wide and the tires are 26C. Our team weight is 385 (but dropping).

The rear cluster has 7 gears and the front has 3.

What kind of rims are those? They look awful narrow for tandem wheels, but they sure have enough spokes.

They are Sun Chinook rims with Sansin sealed bearing hubs.

FWIW I've ran the narrow 48 spoke Sun Chinook Tanden wheels on Phil hubs for many many years with 700 -28c tires. We are a 305 pound team and ran those wheels on some pretty unforgiving roads. They were/are indestructable...in fact I still use the front wheel on our C'dale today despite having something a little more zippy that I bought when we upgraded the rear from a 7 sp freewheeel to a 9 sp cassette. Just do your maintainance .... ride 'em...have fun.

Bill J.

FWIW I've ran the narrow 48 spoke Sun Chinook Tanden wheels on Phil hubs for many many years with 700 -28c tires. We are a 305 pound team and ran those wheels on some pretty unforgiving roads. They were/are indestructable...in fact I still use the front wheel on our C'dale today despite having something a little more zippy that I bought when we upgraded the rear from a 7 sp freewheeel to a 9 sp cassette. Just do your maintainance .... ride 'em...have fun.

Bill J.

Will do, Bill. Thanks for the input.

So do you think mine might be original? They look kind of narrow to me also. For the price I paid, I would certainly not mind replacing them.

We had a Burley Duet, bought in 1994, but I believe a 93 model. It came with 48 spoke wheels, and a six speed freewheel. I'm guessing your rear wheel might not be OEM. Is it a freehub, or does it use a frewheel? Also does it have a quick release? Ours was a solid axle, no QR.

We had a Burley Duet, bought in 1994, but I believe a 93 model. It came with 48 spoke wheels, and a six speed freewheel. I'm guessing your rear wheel might not be OEM. Is it a freehub, or does it use a frewheel? Also does it have a quick release? Ours was a solid axle, no QR.

Now I'll really demonstrate what a "non" I am. I don't know what the difference is between a freehub and a freewheel:bang:
I can tell you, however, that it does have quick releases on both wheels.

A reading from the gospel according to Sheldon- Freewheel VS Freehub:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

Yeah, it looks like you got a deal to me too. My wife and I just bought our first tandem about a week ago. Burley Samba, paid much more than you did (I don`t know whether I`m a worse shopper or a worse salesman. Either way, it`s a good thing I don`t go into business for myself).

A reading from the gospel according to Sheldon- Freewheel VS Freehub:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

Yeah, it looks like you got a deal to me too. My wife and I just bought our first tandem about a week ago. Burley Samba, paid much more than you did (I don`t know whether I`m a worse shopper or a worse salesman. Either way, it`s a good thing I don`t go into business for myself).

I think I'm just a lucky shopper, but thanks to the info I was able to glean from this board I was a little more knowledgeable than the guy that sold it. Thanks to all!
Bottom line: he was as glad to be rid of it at that price, as I was to get it at that price. He even through in some extra parts he had lying around.

So far, so good. We're having fun but our butts are sore. Apparently we have more investigation to do in that area....or shall I say, "those areas"? :D

A reading from the gospel according to Sheldon- Freewheel VS Freehub:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/freewheels.html

By the way, thanks for that link. I'll study up.