Tandem Cycling - Rising the stoker

All,
Now that we have a few hundred miles on our Co-Motion Speedster we are creating a list of items that could use improvement. There are the usual ones: A high rise captain stem, saddles, and pedals
The one I have a question about is the stoker stem. The seatpost is the standard 29.8 seatpost. The stoker stem is the standard Co-Motion stoker stem. This stem is mounted as high as possible on the seatpost and extended all the way to the Max Extend mark. I am not sure what the diameter of the extension part of the stoket stem is
Mrs. Duppie, the stoker, is comfortable with the fore-aft position of the handlebar, but would like to see it raised 1-2 inches. (which might also allow us to replace the bullhorn bars with drop bars)
I've read previous treads on stoker stems and visited various websites (Tandems East, Jenson). Most solutions talk about extending the stoker stem, but as said that is not one of our concerns. I was hoping to come up with a solution that would not require us to shell out $135 (http://tandemseast.com/parts/stems.html) for a Dimension high riser stoker stem. For example coould I safely insert a quill stem into the part of the stoker stem that is attached to the seatpost? I am not concerned about weight, but prefer to keep the stem in black brushed alloy.
Does anyone have experience solving this problem?

I appreciate any suggestions
Duppie

We're new to this tandem stuff, but one of our first changes to our Burley was to raise the stoker stem and get a set of bullhorn bars for Mrs. Mono.

Mark at Precision Tandems was spot on in helping us get what we needed. Talk to him about what will and won't work safely. A very knowledgeable and helpful person. A couple of hundred dollars for stems and bars is cheaper than having an injury.

Here are before and after pics.

We're new to this tandem stuff, but one of our first changes to our Burley was to raise the stoker stem and get a set of bullhorn bars for Mrs. Mono.

Mark at Precision Tandems was spot on in helping us get what we needed. Talk to him about what will and won't work safely. A very knowledgeable and helpful person. A couple of hundred dollars for stems and bars is cheaper than having an injury.

Here are before and after pics.
I took your advice (sort of) and called Tandemseast. They guy is spoke to (Mel?) had a pre-made solution for this problem that he has sold "hundreds" of. Cost: $65. Sounds reasonable to me. It should be getting here in the next few days.....
Duppie

Would you care to share with the rest of us what Mel's solution is?

I would consider using an extender like this:
https://www.veloplus.ch/images/shop/artikelimg_gross/201077_07g.jpg
Which is available here (https://www.veloplus.ch/veloartikel/shopartikeldetail.asp?grp=6343) for about US$25. I've heard that they are not a great idea on steering handlebars, but I wouldn't have any reservations about putting one on stoker's bars. This model is only made for bars and stem with a 25.4mm clamp diameter, but there may be similar things available for 26 or 31.8mm bars.

We had the same issue. Mel at Tandems East insisted he knew it cold, and even though I always distrust such statements, we had run out of options. Anyway, Mel was right, it is the right solution. The only thing I am not happy with is the weight of the these fixes (also thinking of Thudbuster ST seatpost); all hopes of getting the machine lighter are erased by these heavy chunks.

I appreciate any suggestions
Duppie

Flexibility and core strength training? Unless the Captain is pretty short, and therefor not extending much if any seatpost, and the stoker is quite tall, I can't imagine a setup where thestokers bars can't be raised at least even with the stoker's seat with the OEM stem.

How much have you ridden the bike? It may be that the stoker will adjust to the height of the bars with a little time, and it would certainly be more aero than raising them.

It may be that the stoker will adjust to the height of the bars with a little time, and it would certainly be more aero than raising them.
I agree with that, but I rather have a happy stoker than no stoker at all :)

Duppie

I agree with that, but I rather have a happy stoker than no stoker at all :)

Duppie

I forgot the first rule of tandeming.

Would you care to share with the rest of us what Mel's solution is?

The call went something like this....
Me: Yes, Hello, I had a question about a stoker stem
Mel: Yes, you want to raise it by 1-2 inches?
me: uh....yes....! How would you know that?
Mel: People call me all the time about that. I have a solution that I have sold hundreds of times.

He then proceeded to explain what he was going to sell me. It's a two piece contraption where piece one is inserted into the male part of the current stem and piece 2 is inserted into or clamped onto piece 1. I had zoned out by then. After all, anybody that can describe my needs without me stating them....well...they deserve my business.

Yes, I am painfully aware that don't actually know what I bought. I think it is the hi-rise stoker stem insert combined with the Ahead stem. So much for being an informed consumer.:o Once I get the part I will post some pictures of it.
Duppie

It sounds like he is talking about adding one of these:
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/01.jpg
Plus one of these:
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/03.jpg
To your current stem to make one of these (which you can also buy from him as a complete unit):
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/06.jpg

Similar to what is posted above, I have seen where the CoMotion max adjust stem had the original billet block bar clamp removed and a 1 1/8 threadless stem was installed on the chrome tube.

Granted it deviates from both of your specifications of not being brushed / anodized black and cost would be there.

Just the unmodified max adjust increases the height pretty good.

http://www.co-motion.com/shopping_cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=31&zenid=6badd39046b040668200ba1e7247c55f

http://rodbikes.com/graphics/stokerstemlittle.gif

PK

It sounds like he is talking about adding this:
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/01.jpg
Plus one of these:
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/03.jpg
To your current stem to make one of these (which you can also buy from him as a complete unit):
http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems/06.jpg


That was exactly what I got. I received the package on Saturday. Shipping time was excellent to the midwest, albeit expensive. I nstalled the insert and added a stem that I had lying around. Stoker loves it. Even though she is more upright now, the top of her head still reaches no further than the middle of my back. (I'm 6'2" with a long torso, she's 5'2" with a short torso)

During all this I learned another lesson in why it pays to be an informed consumer...
The stem (piece #2 that I bought) is a standard 1 1/8" stem with a steep angle. I already had multiple stems that will fit that purpose. Now I have to see whether I can return it....:o

Thanks for all your replies!
Duppie