Tandem Cycling - Calfee Journal: Final Update

The Much Anticipated & Final Installment of My Calfee Journal Has Been Published! (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_12.html)- At long last, I finally found a weekend where the combination of my immobility coupled with horrid weather and a lack of other tandem news left me with idle fingers to tap upon my keyboard. Hard to believe it's been 7 months since my penultimate update was published back on August 12; however, be that as it may... you can now find my final thoughs and impressions regarding what is now our year-old Calfee Tetra travel tandem, high-end tandems in general and some additional details on disc brake installation, touring gear and my flitation with exotic wheelsets HERE (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_12.html).

And, for the truly bored or masochistic, here is the hot-linked index to all of my journal entries:


Update #1: January 3, 2008: Our Calfee Tetra Tandem Arrives (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem.html): Background on why I selected a Calfee and what makes our frame unique.

Update #2: January 12, 2008: Build 99% Complete... And The First Ride (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_2.html): First impressions on the build-up and ride qualities as well as a description of the initial components, the weight, cost, and some other thoughts.

Update #3: February 10, 200: First 30 days & 250 miles (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_3.html): Dealing with a new type of eccentric, trying to resolve some handling issues and working around an RF interference issue with my stoker's wireless computer.

Update #4: February 24, 2008: First 45 days & 300 miles (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_4.html): Back-to-back riding comparisons with our Erickson steel tandem and first impressions of low-spoke count / paired-spoke racing wheels.

Update #5: March 2, 2008: Ever Wonder How Much Influence Wheels and Tires Have On Your Tandem's Performance? (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_5.html) Our first chance to ride the Calfee with conventional wheels solves the early handling issues.

Update #6: March 16, 2008: As The Wheels Turn.... And Other Weighty Issues (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_6.html): A little more on wheel comparisons, disc brake rotor clearance, and some final thoughts on our experience with low-spoke count / paired-spoke racing wheels.

Update #7: March 30, 2008: And Now For Something Completely Different: Tandems East's '08 Tandem Expo (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_7.html): Meeting Craig Calfee for the first time along with several other industry representatives and enthusiasts while attending one of the few tandem expos held here in the US.

Update #8: April 19, 2008: It's the Little Things.... And Some New Wheels (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_8.html): A few tweaks, some different water bottle cages, and yet another wheel set: these babies are keepers.

Update #9: May 11, 2008: Back In Black... And More On Wheels (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_9.html): The Calfee takes on a more stealthy look, an update on the Topolino's and a new set of old wheels: Rolfs Part Deux.

Update #10: May 27, 2008: Wheels, Rims, & Unexpected Consequences (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_10.html): Debbie's Calfee: We are so impressed with the Calfee tandem that a 3rd Calfee bike is added to the family livery, plus updates on wheels, creaks, and a short photo retrospective on US: 2008 compared to 1997.

Update #11: August 12, 2008: The Perfect Ride & The Penultimate Update (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_11.html): After about 8 months and a couple thousand miles of fine tuning, our Calfee Tetra Tandem is Perfect. This update includes a summary of the final adjustments made since May and will likely be the last update before our final, year-in-review over Christmas.

Update #12: Narch 28, 2009: The Final Entry (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_12.html): This is it, the last installment. A final summary of our impressions and thoughts on uber-light / performance tandems, our Calfee and some additional details on disc brake installation, touring gear and a final installment on our flitation with exotic wheelsets.

Final Wheel / Tandem Configurations & Build Sheet With Cost & Weight Data (http://www.thetandemlink.com/calfee_tandem_build.html)

TG...thanks for the entire journal, it has been great reading and educational on many fronts. ' hate to see anything this much fun wind down.....it may be time for a major new project...Bamboo??..Magnesium??....Adapt a KERS system for a little added power??

Hope the healing is on track...when will you be able to ride again?

Bill J.

Thanks for sharing your adventure. It has been quite informative, especially since we are probably going to be getting a custom tandem sometime this summer.

It was a good read, we should have our new Ruegamer tandem in another week or so. All that remains is paint then shipped here to assemble. Maybe someday we will meet and share notes.

Hi TG

Thanks for all the information and observations about the various equipment you’ve tried.

Your Calfee journal has been a great read, and instrumental in my purchase of a Calfee S&S coupled Tetra. My Tetra frame arrived at Precision Tandems last Friday, and Mark will start the final build once I provide him my final list of components.

I have one question for you regarding cassette selection. What cassette do you like for cycling a moderately hilly ride (100 km with 1000 – 1500 metres of climbing)? I see you have used a 12-27 ten speed; do you find the gear selection adequate or do you miss having the 32 on the longer climbs, or the 11 on the decent? FYI, I’m planning to use a 53/42/30 chain ring set.

Cheers,
GC

I sincerely appreciate the kind feedback y'all.


...when will you be able to ride again?

I hope to start doing some stationary spinning at home this week and be back on the road by the end of the month. Of course, my ortho may have a different plan. The bone is healing but still technically broken.


What cassette do you like for cycling a moderately hilly ride (100 km with 1000 – 1500 metres of climbing)?

It would depend on the grade. For 5,000' of climbing over 60 miles with 4-5% long grades with the occasional short 8%-10% climb the 12x27t would be fine for us if we were in good shape and riding light; however, if we had any luggage or the climbing included some long 5-8% grades and 15%+ switch backs or 'humps' then having those 28t and 32t sprockets would be essential. Don't think I've ever found myself 'missing' the 11t; we aren't power riders and can usually go faster tucked and coasting vs pedalling down the mountains.

Interesting reading, thanks.