Tandem Cycling - Tandem Winter Project Update

The first week of Oct. I scored this '82 Schwinn Twinn Sport with the intent to upgrade and modernize it while keeping the cost as low as possible. I also had this pic on the C&V forum:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/Picture007.jpg?t=1227399046

Below is a "full-scale mock-up" of it in primer with some parts sort of attached. I just wanted to get an idea what it would look like complete. The 27" steel rims got recycled and I built a pair of 700c wheels with Matrix Strada 36h rims and stainless spokes. Rear hub is the original Atom drum so I had to use brass washers with the 14g spokes since I couldn't seem to locate tandem-specific spokes for it. Tires are Conti City Ride 32s. The fork is a steel cyclocross/touring/29er from NYC bikes I got off Ebay. The Brooks saddles (B17 ft., B6rr.) are sitting atop new (and longer) Wald 13/16th seatposts. The fork and seatposts are the only significant things I bought for this project since I had everything else in my parts collection.

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp001.jpg?t=122405381

More photos to come.

Smurfy
I just purchased one of these off ebay this morning and I'm awaiting delivery. I have some 700c wheels from my hybrid I had thought of , or maybe have a set built. Is there some reason no one uses a disc on these, or a second caliper in the back with the double seatstays? Just an idea. I'm probably going to do the same type of build you will toward spring so keep me posted

Here is a pic of the painted frame sans clearcoat, which I will apply before this weekend (sorry for the poor quality photos, it looks much better outside with natural light). I painted it over the Thanksgiving Day weekend. I'm using Dupli-Color automotive touch-up paint in spray cans which gives a very high quality finish (for spray cans, anyway, much better than Krylon or Rustoleum) as I'm on a tight budget.

The fork and front of the frame is Cardinal Red. The middle portion of the frame is a combination of Garnet Red and Medium Cherry. The rear end is Deep Cranberry.

Speaking of brakes, in the pic I have mounted old-school Shimano cantis with new Kool-Stop Eagle 2 salmon pads. The rear Atom drum is original (which will be used as the drag brake) and I will locate a standard-reach caliper for the rear (with reverse cable pull for the mixte frame of course).

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp018.jpg?t=1228269881

Looks pretty cool three staged liked that. I'm trying to think if I want to do something different like that or factory red. These aren't valuable enough to have to keep them original are they?

Happy New Year!

The tandem makeover is finally (almost) done. Here are a couple of pics:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp001-1.jpg?t=1230850334
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp002-1.jpg?t=1230850627

Stoker handlebar still needs grips and probably bar ends but I did some test riding on it today around the neighborhood. Not too bad for about $400 in it (including what I paid for the bike).

Very nice work..quite a transformation especially for the money. Have fun with it!

Bill J.

looks excellent!

nice job. im in the process of doing a makeover on my columbia single speed tandem as well.
how much did you get the fork on ebay for?
also, your rear chain ring - did you proposely put it that way? i think the smaller chainring is suppose to be on the inside.

^ Fork was $19 (+$13 shipping). Yes I did put the smaller chainring on the outside for the timing chain. I was concerned that a modern derailler (this one is a Suntour XC Sport double) would not reach that far out but apparently it actually does have enough reach where I could have used the timing chainring on the inside of the spider but it works okay the way its set up now.

I might get around to changing it but I'm not going to mess with it right now.

Some more pics for your ...um... viewing pleasure!

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp004.jpg?t=1230920894
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp005-1.jpg?t=1230921138
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp007-1.jpg?t=1230921474
http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc198/RuthlessDictator/TandemMockUp008-1.jpg?t=1230921654

So pretty :) - any pics of how the rear rack is attached to the seat post? I'm having trouble connecting mine to the seat post as mine is too short

Nice paint job. Did you do it yourself?

Does the second brake work well on the back? connected to the stoker? Looks great!

^Thanks. The drum works okay but not great and still requires alot of hand pressure. It's not spongy like when it was attached to the road lever in front but it's better than nothing. The drum braking surface was all rusty from years of storage and non-use but I tried my best to clean it up. Of course that brake will only be used to slow down the bike on fast downhills.

As far as the paint is concerned, it's actually a can job! I used Dupli-Color automotive touch-up paint which gives great results (well for a can, anyway). Still much better than Rustoleum or whatever. I'm a professional spray painter by trade and have sprayed many bike frames.

I was wanting to spray it with a gun and automotive paint like PPG but I don't have a garage and money is really tight at the moment. The pics don't show it but the paint has a series of cracks in it due to painting it outside in 40 degree weather and then bringing it inside with a sudden temperature change. Oops.. I guess I learned my lesson!

Also I'm going to try to get that stoker handlebar off and replace it with something with more rise but the darn thing won't budge out of the stoker stem! My stoker's knees kept hitting the bar while pedaling but since I have raised my seat and readjusted the bar but it's still too close.

PriO...I didn't forget about you. I'll get a pic of the rear rack attachment as soon as I can.