Tandem Cycling - Wanted! Tandem for solo trip across U.S.

I'm embarking on a journey across the U.S. with a group of folks. We'll be stopping at Universities to talk to youth about the economy and the environment, and I'd like a tandem so that I can pick people up along the way! Anyone interested in loaning/selling/giving/finding me a tandem would be greatly appreciated and would receive major big time good karma. I'm located in the pacific northwest. Surely there must be an answer!

I'm in Portland OR and have a tandem for sale if you're interested.

Email me direct:

rhea (dot) kevin (at) g mail (dot) com


KRhea

The idea of picking up peple along the way sounds like fun. However yous hould be prepared to ride the tandem alone, and it becomes hard to handle, particualry I suspect if loaded with panniers in the rear. I wonder if riding with a trailer is better or worst than panniers without a stoker. Perhaps your trip will be supported so you don't have a load.

yes I will be riding with a partner (on a separate bike), and potentially a group of others. I am wondering however, if it would be better to take a trailer rather back panniers...at this rate I'll be the length of a tractor-trailer. Any insight?

As someone who rode across the country last summer.... I would question the wisdom of a tandem with no stoker. There is ALOT of the country where there is VAST openness and SEVERAL big mountain ranges to cross and does not include the multiple sections you will encounter of BIG rollers.

Now do not get me wrong ....the trip for us was AWESOME!!!!! Just the thought of all that extra weight and such ....boggles my feeble mind.

here is the link of our adventure
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/tourdemiller

enjoy your ride..... read a bunch of journals on Crazyguyonabike.com --- you can learn a ton from those that have done it....

ride safe

Paul Parry did a 5,000 mile solo tandem ride from Norway to Nebraska from May - Aug '04 as a fundraising challenge and as a watershed career move; he's now doing comedy instead of pursuing a law enforcement career. His original website for the ride is gone but I'm sure he'd share his lessons learned with you. I believe he used a Thorn tandem with panniers front & rear.
http://www.literally.tv/content/view/21/51/

Another Brit, Dominick Gill, did a more serious 20,000 mile Alaska to Argentina solo on tandem that lasted from May '06 to August '08. He used a trailer and, again, has a website and contact info.
http://www.blue-ant.tv/takeaseat/home.php

Have ridden tandems solo.
Longest ride was 40 miles in the mountains of New Mexico.
Worked just fine.

this is great stuff...some really noble bike riders. THanks for all the tips tips...still no tandem though.
-alec