Tandem Cycling - Trying to find a suitable factory-build tandem in the UK

Hi, thanks for reading this.

My partner and I are trying to find a factory-build touring tandem to fit the both of us (custom build is too pricey for what we're doing). We're prepared to spend up to £1000 ish on the complete bike. I'm 6'3" and my partner is 5'6".

I've been looking for some time now trying to figure out what might fit us, but I'm just getting really frustrated by different companies providing differing types of measurement, and online size calculators producing different results.

So far the only tandem that I thought might be near-suitable is made by Schwinn, but they don't seem to have any dealers in the UK so we can't arrange a test ride.

I was hoping someone here might have a similar experience, and might be able to suggest a good place to look?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

Evans used to carry the Trek and Raleigh Tandems that would be around your price but looked on their site and they no longer list them. Have no idea where but secondhand would be your best bet. Another place to look is the "Tandem Club"

Cannondale RT3 would do it. Or an RT2 if you want to spend a bit more (though I don't know what prices these would be over there). We have an RT3 and are very pleased with it and I am sure there will be a Cannondale agent over there that can get one for you. I would think the XL/S or J/M would fit depending on how long you want it in the top tube (57.5cm for the XL and 60cm for the J).

Have you tried here http://www.msgbikes.com/buying_tandem.html ?

Suggest you check out St John Street Cycles/Thorn Cycles Ltd. 91-93 St John Street Bridgwater, Somerset

They apparently have a minimum 8 week lead time, but their entry level tandem runs in the £800 range, and it goes up from there. From what I've seen they make a quality frame, which is always the one thing you can't upgrade later. For fit you can either talk to them on the 'phone, or trek down there (to those of us on this side of the pond, nothing in the UK is far from anywhere else in the UK, but that is coming from the perspective of one who grew up in a country that takes 3 1/2 days of 24hr per day driving to cross... [St. Johns Newfoundland to Victoria BC])

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Have you checked-in with the Tandem Club UK's members? They also maintain a discussion forum: http://www.tandem-club.org.uk/_dboard.htm

I would think that as if often times the case, your best bet given the £1000 budget would be to acquire a gently-used second-hand tandem to get the most value for your money. The 'for sale' board at TCUK looks a bit thin at the moment, but again.... you may be able to stir up some leads via their discussion forum.

All, thanks for the advice, I'll have a scout around and post back if I have any breakthroughs. For some reason the forum only notified me about all the activity after the last post.

You probably get weekly notifications. I do.