Tandem Cycling - Stoker needing more real estate on the handlebar

Hi, everyone,
I'm a stoker who enjoys having lots of stuff on my handlebars.
It keeps me occupied and happy.
Problem is, with a mustache type handlebar, I don't seem to have enough space for
all the necessities: small gps, mini ipod speakers, bottle cage, speedometer, bell,
map clip, etc. The curve of the mustache makes it harder to avoid having individual
items tip into each other.
Are there any other stokers out there who like their stuff, and if so, what kind of handlebar
can handle all of it?

209659

Maybe getting one of those 2-bottle triathlete-style bottle cages, and mounting it under the captain's saddle, could help.
And clip the map to the captain's back pocket.
Could the speaker mount to the top tube, under the stoker stem?

We have two bottle cages under the handlebars, a computer, a Garmin mount, and a mirror. Since this picture was taken we added a handlebar bag that is thin enough to fit behind the captain's saddle.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Zr5BeFqVjV0/S6GUf6Yu2eI/AAAAAAAAAC4/SfhNx0Jcxlo/s640/IMG_0867.JPG

You could go with straight bars and bar ends. Can't imagine you would need more room than that.

We have two bottle cages under the handlebars, a computer, a Garmin mount, and a mirror. Since this picture was taken we added a handlebar bag that is thin enough to fit behind the captain's saddle.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_Zr5BeFqVjV0/S6GUf6Yu2eI/AAAAAAAAAC4/SfhNx0Jcxlo/s640/IMG_0867.JPG

Wow, what a setup!

Not to hijack the thread (I'm sure my bride would love to attach some shiny things to her bars someday), but...

Can you tell me what brands of equipment you've used to mount, from bars to seatpost? (Given the color match on the first arm, I'll guess that it's proprietary, but any suggestions will help.

My wife's shoulder/arm disability makes it difficult to get a bar setup which will allow her to have the bars close enough for her to rest/grip with her bad (left) arm. She ends up reaching with her right arm which leaves her left arm dangling... and painful, even for a short ride.

...
My wife's shoulder/arm disability makes it difficult to get a bar setup which will allow her to have the bars close enough for her to rest/grip with her bad (left) arm. She ends up reaching with her right arm which leaves her left arm dangling... and painful, even for a short ride.

For kids you also have the problem of having to bring the stoker's handlebar closer to the stoker: My stoker stem required 27.2mm diameter, which I simply couldn't find as stem. I used a sawn off 27.2mm diameter seat post and attached a regular aheadset stem to that, adjusted to the right diameter with a shim. The whole construction looks similar to the one on the picture (but not as professional). Careful with the amount of leverage the stoker can use to turn or bend the captains seat post, though...

flatbiker

Wow, what a setup!

Can you tell me what brands of equipment you've used to mount, from bars to seatpost? (Given the color match on the first arm, I'll guess that it's proprietary, but any suggestions will help.


This is the stoker stem that R+E provides with their tandems. You can see them at http://www.rodcycle.com (http://www.rodcycle.com/); click on "Other stuff we make", then "Adjustable stoker stem". If you have special requirements for seatpost diameter, handlebar clamp diameter, length, or rise just call them and they will make it for you (for a price.)

I'm not sure if you're aware there are also clips made for time trial bars that give more room for mounting accessories. Here's a big list of computer mounts:

http://www.google.com/products?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=DAUS,DAUS:2006-07,DAUS:en&q=aerobar%20computer%20mount&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf

This is the stoker stem that R+E provides with their tandems. You can see them at http://www.rodcycle.com (http://www.rodcycle.com/); click on "Other stuff we make", then "Adjustable stoker stem". If you have special requirements for seatpost diameter, handlebar clamp diameter, length, or rise just call them and they will make it for you (for a price.)

Thanks for the information.

Minoura makes some useful handlebar mounts that give you extra real estate, have a look in the section "light and computer mount" on this page (http://www.minourausa.com/english/accessory-e.html). When we mount some small iPod speakers, they are attached to the captain's seatpost using a bottle cage mount also shown on the Minoura page plus a custom cradle that I made which is bolted to the bottle cage mount.

SWC, that is one beautiful set up you've got there!
I ended up purchasing a space bar yesterday and will try it out on today's ride.
Thanks everyone for the advice!
Martha