Tandem Cycling - Trying to get back on the bike kick...and our Duet tandem needs new rubber

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AD-SLE
07-11-10, 06:05 AM
Lived in Memphis and biked a BUNCH! Moved to NH and for reasons which are mostly excuses, fell off the bike kick. All of them are in the garage. I had early generation Conti Ultras on the Duet when I got it. Bought a new set of 25cm Ultra Sports thinking they were the same tire and....they are not and get panned by many. We never put any mileage on them or had a problem. They are now on a single that needed fresh rubber so the Duet is again in need of some tires.

What to buy? Given my new girth, my wife is VERY fit, we are all in 375. I figure on NH roads and our weight I have to go with 28cm. The biggest disadvantage being 28s are kinda tandem specific and are less of a single tire...there are 5 of us with 10+ bikes so try to buy stuff that is universal.

Conti 4 seasons sound nice but given the expense and our non mileage now, I am inclined to just buy 28cm Ultra Sports again and if we get bit by the riding bug again....buy up.

Any other advice?

specbill
07-11-10, 06:38 AM
I'm a real big fan of the 4 Season GP's even though we only get 1200-1400 miles out of the rears,.. but I hear you on the $'s. We are a 300 pd team plus the bike and I use 28's on a variety of rough roads. Many people here use the Ultra GatorSkins with mostly good results....glad you are back riding and hope you get back to doing it regularly.

Bill J.
lmzimmer
07-11-10, 06:17 PM
I use conti 28 gatorskins and a 28 pannaracer t-serv folder on both my tandem , as well as my wife and my singles as - but tubes can be bought 23-28 multi size or 28-32 both work well, buy them in 6 packs.

zonatandem
07-12-10, 03:31 PM
We have been using Maxxis Re-Fuse 25mm for several years and quite happy.
briwasson
07-14-10, 10:02 AM
For NH roads and your team weight, I'd be looking at 32 or 35mm tires, not 28. I'm cheap: I've had great luck with Performance Bicycle tires like their 700x35 Kevlar-belted road tire. Nearly indestructible and reasonably priced (on sale they go as low as $15). Not the lightest tire out there, but on a Burley Duet carrying 375 pounds I think you'd be hard pressed to tell.