Classic & Vintage - My new C&V tandem: 1990 Schwinn Duosport. Ooh baby.

Today I started the day thinking I might buy a Mercier on the local CL with front and rear racks as a sport tourer, but I really didn't need it. Instead I made not one but two trips to the outer Cape and came back with this awesome Duosport (and a parts mtb for my new build).

Here are some "as found" pics:

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0105.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0106.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0107.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0108.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0109.jpg
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMAG0110.jpg

I really couldn't get far enough away, but you get the picture (heh). Cameraphone, sorry.

I've had a Schwinn with this paint job before and I can't wait to get it cleaned up and out in the sun. I bought it from two very nice identical twins who bought it new in Upstate NY (iirc). They even threw in the original hang tag and 1990 catalog. Bonus! It has 18 speed indexed Suntour XCD 6000, Sakae seatposts, stoker stem and cranksets, old logo Cinelli captain stem and both handlebars however. A super fine addition to the family. Watch this space for new cleaned up and better res pics. She's dirty from sitting in the garage for years but looks to be in very good condition.

It has the look of what the Paramount tandem could have been had the name survived onto the late-1980's tandems. Very unusual and very interesting find - keep us updated.

-Kurt

Way cool. Tandems are great fun. Looks like a good snag.

A twin to our first tandem! The duo sport is a great ride.

That's sweet! I've been casually looking for a tandem myself but don't know how I would even pick it up if I found one... Keep me in mind if you decide to pass it along.

Oh and I keep looking at that Mercier too. It's too big for me so I wouldn't actually buy it but there is something about it that I really dig.

What do you have left in the stable? You just sold your race bike on Serotta right? And didn't you ditch that stunner of a Bianchi a while back?

Are those Dia Compe 990's?!? I had them on my Haro Master back in the day, they are insanely strong.

Keep me in mind if you decide to pass it along.

Didn't think either of you had the legs for the 23" captain on that thing.

Didn't think either of you had the legs for the 23" captain on that thing.

Is it that big? Doesn't look it from the pictures but the different geo on a tandem might be throwing me off. I would guess 55/56cm or 22" but I bet Alex can confirm....

Wow! Great find! I've causally kept an eye out for one on NH & VT CL. It would be nice to replace my '80 Twinn Sport. I never realized they were lugged frames. For whatever reason I assumed they were welded aluminum. I'm looking forward to the better pictures!

That's awesome. I've often lusted after the Duosport, as vintage tandems go, but I'm still inclined to get a modern race tandem since I've often heard that C&V race tandems just don't seem to cut the mustard. Even so, I've wondered if the Duosport might be stiff enough with that large diameter tubing.

What a beauty. That is pure class.

Oh and I keep looking at that Mercier too. It's too big for me so I wouldn't actually buy it but there is something about it that I really dig.

What do you have left in the stable? You just sold your race bike on Serotta right? And didn't you ditch that stunner of a Bianchi a while back?

Yeah that Mercier has some class, or maybe I just like front racks. That and an extra set of tubular wheels. Can't go wrong at that price. But alas, the budget is blown as of yesterday. The duosport is longer than my miata is wide and would definitely not fit into my mom's Outback so I don't really know how it's going to get anywhere unless I ride it! Luckily my dad let me borrow his Honda Pilot which it barely fit into but that's a rare event.

Left in the stable is the Bottecchia which I've been path cruising on for now, can't really get much speed up since most of my weight remains on my right arm. I can use left to brake (weakly) and hold 5% of my weight. I'd like to get a shifter to run Shimergo on the thing eventually when I start racing again. Although I bet you dollars to donuts that bike will get sold before I start racing again haha. Ideally I want to get a full Campy 8s Record build at some point, shouldn't have sold those 2 groupsets I had.


Are those Dia Compe 990's?!? I had them on my Haro Master back in the day, they are insanely strong.

Oh yes, they sure do look unusual but are super strong. Note the rear brake placement!


Didn't think either of you had the legs for the 23" captain on that thing.

Well the captain spot has a 56cm top tube (ctc) but a 60cm seat tube (ctt) which is nuts. I can ride it with just barely a fist full of seatpost. With a short stem, I'll make it work.

My gf and I ride almost the same saddle height but she's 2 inches shorter than me and rides a 52ish top tube where I ride a 55ish so we're never going to find a stock tandem that fits us perfectly, but this is close since I don't mind stretching a bit.


Wow! Great find! I've causally kept an eye out for one on NH & VT CL. It would be nice to replace my '80 Twinn Sport. I never realized they were lugged frames. For whatever reason I assumed they were welded aluminum. I'm looking forward to the better pictures!

Thanks PB! I had no idea what to expect but I had the white pearlescent paint job in mind. It's listed at 41 lbs and it sure feels that light.


That's awesome. I've often lusted after the Duosport, as vintage tandems go, but I'm still inclined to get a modern race tandem since I've often heard that C&V race tandems just don't seem to cut the mustard. Even so, I've wondered if the Duosport might be stiff enough with that large diameter tubing.

I'm sure that modern tandems are much stiffer and will be equipped better, that you'd need for racing. For our uses I think this will be perfect. Like you said the OS tubing helps, and I read that they reduced the wheelbase to increase stiffness. I dig on the Suntour indexed bar ends.

That is a nice tandem indeed! Do you know what the dropout spacing is on the bicycle? My 1984 Davidson tandem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157621588391107/) is spaced at 140mm, while my 2003 Burley Rivazza (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157625874469463/) is spaced at 145mm.

Also, does the bike have a freewheel or a freehub?

That is a nice tandem indeed! Do you know what the dropout spacing is on the bicycle? My 1984 Davidson tandem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157621588391107/) is spaced at 140mm, while my 2003 Burley Rivazza (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157625874469463/) is spaced at 145mm.

Also, does the bike have a freewheel or a freehub?

Thanks! It looks like 140mm, and it's a freewheel. I know Suntour did 6s cassettes but not here.

Love the look of the Davidson. Are you the tandem leader on C&V? I count 3 with the Fiorelli, do C&V tandems have their own thread here?

That's sweet! I've been casually looking for a tandem myself but don't know how I would even pick it up if I found one... Keep me in mind if you decide to pass it along.

If you have a rack on the rear of your car you can use that to carry a tandem. I have a SoftRide Elements rack and carry all but the Fiorelli Tandem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157629193586033/) with that quite often. It is nearly impossible to carry a mixte tandem on the rear of a car using a normal bike carrier unfortunately.

Thanks! It looks like 140mm, and it's a freewheel. I know Suntour did 6s cassettes but not here.

Love the look of the Davidson. Are you the tandem leader on C&V? I count 3 with the Fiorelli, do C&V tandems have their own thread here?

Harlan, there are some that have mentioned that I may have the most tandems on the C&V Forums, but I'm not going to make the claim. ;) I'm sure there is someone here that has more tandems than I do, just as there are some that have more bicycles that I do (30 or so)! I do not think there is a C&V tandems thread, but I think it would be a great idea to do something like Keith did with the "For the love of English 3-speeds..." thread a couple years back and is one of the most popular threads on the C&V forums.

Maybe I should start that thread with new pics of the cleaned up Duosport!

One thing I didn't think about is that since the seat is so far down the reach is greatly decreased. Even with that wimpy 75mm stem near-slammed I feel quite cramped. I need to raise the seat a little, move the saddle back a smidge (it's nearly slammed forward) and see where I stand. Might have to get a new stem, and definitely want to swap bars. The stoker has 64-44 and the captain's are 64-40.


Edit: started the thread. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/798918-For-the-love-of-C-amp-V-tandems...)

I love this bartape but it's really tattered. I might try to save it with white electrical tape or rewrap with another color unless anyone can tell me where to find something like this.
http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMG_3044.jpg

I bought a few modern saddles that fit us but the seatpost clamps don't fit between the rails and the saddle part! The top of the clamp is really tall. Anyone know what size the seatposts would be on this? They're Sakae but unmarked otherwise. I'd like to get some newer ones so we can run what we like. The post is smaller than 27.0 (just checked).

Also my stoker doesn't really like the Dia-Compe nubs on the bars. I do have an extra set of aero levers (Tricolor 600) I could put on, think I might get stabbed by the blades though?

Anyone know what size the seatposts would be on this?

SR CRE-100 26.6mm (lower right corner (http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1990/MTB_And_Road/FULL/1990_MTB_Road_Cat_33.jpg))

SR CRE-100 26.6mm (lower right corner (http://bikecatalogs.org/SCHWINN/1990/MTB_And_Road/FULL/1990_MTB_Road_Cat_33.jpg))

Totally forgot that exists. I even have the catalog that came with the bike. Der.

Thanks!

New posts, seats, and pedals (waiting for new Keos)

http://i660.photobucket.com/albums/uu321/cleverbastid/IMG_3054.jpg

DuoSport?!
We did test riding for Schwinn before they introduced the DuoSport.
Stiff frame with the OS tubing.
Short wheelbase, by several inches, compared to other tandems of that vintage.
Rear of that tandem fit stoker Kay perfectly; she is only 4'11". Would be problematic for taller than 5'3" stokers.
Mounting of rear brake is great except if you manage to go through a lotsa mud.
The rear laterals from stoker toptube to dropouts stiffened frame considerably as did the then OS boob tube.
Lack of internal lateral tube was not an issue with the shorter wheelbase, OS tubing and rear twin laterals.
Yes, had nice pearlescent white paint.
The Diacompe round handrest were one of stoker's favorites; currently have round c/f handrest for her on our Zona tandem
DuoSport sold for about $1400 when new.
Brings back a few memories!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem