Tandem Cycling - CoMotion Speedster Co-pilot Report

We ordered our tandem in early August; I just got the call that it will ship next week.

I plan to use this tread to provide my review of the bike as well as photos etc as we enter the world of tandem riding.

We are excited and have learned a ton lurking here and reading about the tandem world. We had used a Santana tandem for 6 months about 3-5 years ago and loved it. (it was one a friend owned and did not have room to store) ---It did not even fit right and we still enjoyed it.

We are ready to get to know the CoMotion Speedster and welcome any hints or tips to basically new tandem owners.

We got our Speedster in July, and we are enjoying it. I am experienced on the half-bike, and my wife-stoker is a non-cyclist long distance runner. It definitely takes practice, especially starting and stopping.
I wasn't sure I was going to ever get used to the way it handles (like a truck). Now its fine. A side effect is that my performance on the half-bike has improved dramatically.

Also being new to tandem and relatively new to cycling in general, it is good to hear that your perfomance on the half bike are improving. Long tandem ride to date is 65 miles.

Our longest ride so far is in the low 40's mi. I'm having some comfort issues because we haven't mastered standing yet. I can get out of the saddle for about 10 strokes before we get a little unstable.

I have rode bikes and motorcycles all my life.. 52 now. My wife of 11 years(20+ together) cannot ride a bike. We have well over 300,000 miles on the motorcycle but I always missed riding together on the bike. This year we bought a new Burley and are having a blast, we try and get out 3 times a week. Arlene is a natural stoker after all those years on the back of the motorcycle.. no fear, 100% confidence in the captain. We actually left the motorcycle parked quite a few weekends this summer to ride the tandem. My only regret is I didn’t get one 10 years ago!

I know exactly what you mean. Thousands of miles on a single, then about 25,000 miles on a sport touring motorcycle and now I'm having an absolute ball riding a tandem with wife and kids... It was fun transitioning.

Well after several months of waiting...We got the call from Eugene OR and the bike was shipped today. It should reach FL by Wed at the latest... then we should be riding by Friday

Yippee.... and the anticipation continues

We did get a 40 mile ride on the single bikes today....

Hey bikeguy,

So it took about 10 weeks to get your bike? We're probably going to order a CoMotion this winter so I just need to time it right so it shows up when day-light saving time kicks back in.

Roland

It will be more like 14-15 weeks since we ordered it..... they told us we would have it late sept or early oct .....it is now looking like the 12th or 13th of November.

They were super helpful in answering questions during the fact finding part of the buying .... just a bit off on the time table... the good news is we had not upcoming event we were planing on & riding in FL is a year round thing.

until it gets here we still are riding our single bikes... and waiting:innocent:

well according to UPS.... it is out for delivery today. That means VERY SOON ---we will have it. Just got to have the shop put it together....

anything I need to be especially aware of when we take delivery????

How many Co-Motion tandems has this shop built... this year?

none......(I know) --- but I have used them for a long time on both road and mtn.... and the mechanics are VERY good.... tandem experience is limited but high on mechanical ability.

I wanted to but local....and comotion said they would work with them if any issues come up.

I realize this is not the best ... and will take some heat for my decision....but driving hours to get a bike did not make sense...

hope I do not regret it.....

It is in the garage....YAHOO!!!!!:D:D

Looks: Awesome finish and I love the paint....it is Snow white Pearl .....

We took our first ride.... a very short one only 9 miles.... we had already ridden our single bikes this AM and picked up the bike this afternoon.

The ride: Well.... we have a lot to learn but it went well. Felt a bit more responsive than I had remembered a tandem but that was not a Co-motion. It was really windy and going into the headwind seemed much easier than on the single.

Fit: It fits us perfectly. A small tweaking of saddle height and handlebar position and Viola we were very comfy.

Pics to follow.....

I guess now I will continue to scourer this site for riding tips how to's on starting and so forth...

Good luck! Look forward to seeing the pics of your new ride.

Here is a link to the initial pics of the new tandem

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=84539&l=e2693&id=513665733

I will take better and post them to my blog then be able to put the image here....

but a a first blush look... here ya go

Nice... :thumb:

Very clean-looking with the black components on white frame and s/s couplers.

Anal Retent Tip: You can take the Velocity rim decals off without too much trouble with the tires removed by using a heat gun to soften the adhesive and then a little WD40, Acetone, or Goof Off will take off the residual adhesive.

Congrats on the Great looking new CoMo...White is fast!

Bill J.

cant figure out how to post a pic here.... grrrr..

http://www.626mikebike.blogspot.comhere is a link to my blog with pics and video uploaded