Tandem Cycling - Multi Stokers

I got three different stokers, wife, daughter and another friend that all want to ride the tandem but can't agree on saddle. Thus I am subject to constant whining.

I'm thinking that rather than constantly mess with this, I'll buy a few really cheap KAlloy 29.8mm seatposts and let friend and daughter be responsible for finding a saddle they like. Wife gets the tamer and everybody else has to suck it with a fixed post. Then I can just mark seatpost height and switch out in a few seconds.

Am I missing any type of saddle quick connect technology, that might make this easier?

Anybody got any older suspension posts they don't need?


I specifically do not want to have to adjust angle every time.

i've got two set ups- one for the wife with her saddle and marked to her height and a second saddle and seatpost for everyone else that can be adjust however the stoker wants. both posts are rokshox suspension.

there are no quick connect setups that i know of, having two seatposts and saddles seems to be the easiest solution

andrOid:
Looks like you have that stoker issue under control!
If they pick their own saddle then they can blame themself if it's not correct.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

All my secondary stokers have to use what my wife likes: Terry buterfly with a tamer pivot plus. On the inside of the lid for the tote box that we use for gear and stuff I write down the name of the stoker and the distance from the center of the BB to the top of the saddle along the seat tube. So far the list has close to ten names and measurements. The sadle is always mounted horizontally and right on the middle of the rails.

Simple, just get two more tandems...:D



.

Like Cornucopia, my wife gets to pick the saddle (Fizik Aliante) on the Thudbuster ST post and the others have to lump it.

Fortunately, her choice had not raised any problems with the other stokers (mostly daughter and eldest son but occasionally a few others). It's a pretty damn comfortable saddle.

The youngest, however, is still too short for the extra length that the shock post requires so he gets his own standard seatpost and a saddle with a bit more cush. Also, I too write down their saddle heights and, with a quick-release seat collar, can slide up and down in a few seconds.

I also have an adjustable stoker stem, but found that all but the smallest boy like it in the same position; I only adjust the stem for the shortest stoker.

This reminds me of a very tasteless joke about a group of Nuns.

. . . one nun sees to it that other nuns don't get none?

Oh man, I would get in sooo much trouble. Better just to forget that post.

Even quicker than re-measuring each time, (even if you already have the measurements written down), is to take a Sharpie marker and mark the post for each stoker. I mark them in the back where it can't be seen easily. If your seatpost is black, they make a silver sharpie that does the job.

My stoker won't let anyone else stoke, but at least I know that it's just a matter of sliding the seat on our screamer recumbent tandem.

Even quicker than re-measuring each time, (even if you already have the measurements written down), is to take a Sharpie marker and mark the post for each stoker. I mark them in the back where it can't be seen easily. If your seatpost is black, they make a silver sharpie that does the job.The Thudbusters have marks down the front of the posts. Comes that way from the factory.

On black anionized aluminum seat posts I use a couple of pulls with a hack saw blade to go through the black finish and make and indelible mark. Works fine and doesn't weaken the post. DO NOT to this on a real carbon seat post! :eek:

On black anionized aluminum seat posts I use a couple of pulls with a hack saw blade to go through the black finish and make and indelible mark. Works fine and doesn't weaken the post.

Actually, it does. ANY scratch on a piece of metal creates a stress riser. It may not be a "weakening" that makes a difference with your particular team / how you ride / where you ride, but it does make it weaker.

Do be aware that there are people on these forums that have broken every brand of seatposts I can think of except a Thompson, and someone has probably broken one of them, too, and I'm just not aware of it.