Tandem Cycling - Touring tandem

Hi,

I am looking for a touring tandem. Our team is 6'1 captain and 5'1 stoker, combined weight is 290 lbs. We are going to do one-day rides as well as self-supported touring (maybe 2-3 weeks tours), mainly on paved roads. Unfortunately, here in Finland there are not too many choices. So far I am aware of the following two options:

1. Thorn Explorer or Adventure (http://www.sjscycles.com/thornbrochure.asp). Both tandems can be fitted with front and rear racks, and I have heard nothing but good about these tandems. The L/S size would be fine for us, I think. Wheels are 26'', and you can use really wide tires in these bikes. This is important, since the stoker is not used to road racing -type riding. Both bikes have a susp.seat post.

The problem is that we would have to order the tandem from UK. This costs about $330, and we would get something that we can't test ride. Fitted with racks, fenders etc. and shipped to Finland, total cost of the Thorn Explorer would be $2800, and Adventure $4000. Both bikes have bar end shifters, which may be a problem - I have always used STI:s and do like them.

2. Cannondale RT 2005 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/05/cusa/model-5RT.html). My LBS here in Finland has this tandem, so bying it would be a lot easier. X/S size fits us, the bike has STI shifters, suspension seat post and I know that this a quality bike. But the bike seems to be made for racing, not touring. WITHOUT racks, it costs $3300, and the LBS owner said that he can try to fit front and rear racks but did not gurantee that they would be firm enough for touring (the bike has disc brakes which make the fitting of racks difficult). The tires are IRC Tandem 700x30c; are these wide enough for touring? How wide tires can you fit to this bike?

Shortly, I like the Cannondale, I would like to buy the bike from my local LBS, but I don't know whether it is good for touring. How have you converter the Cannondale Road Tandem to a Cannondale Touring Tandem?

About the Cannondale, I have seen one of the 2003 models and I think you could fit something like 700x35 or 37.
For your information, on rims that are 22-24 mm wide (from memory), Continental Top Touring 700x37 tires measure 36 mm wide and 37 mm high (above the outside edge of the rim). I suggest you visit your LBS with a measuring tape or a caliper and check clearance around the stays and the fork. And please, consider some space for a fender (i.e. insert a piece of fender to see how it works).
If you are serious about that bicycle, you might ask the LBS to fit wider tires, or make the purchase conditional on the fact that wider tires fit. To travel on paved roads or other hard surfaces, I think 700x30 is ok, but you might prefer 700x35 on the rear wheel.

But one aspect bugs me more about the 2005 Cannondale Tandems: their disc brakes. Fitting racks is a chore -- and the few Old Man Mountain racks I saw (they are supposed to be compatible) didn't ispire me at all. That element alone would rule out the Cannondale tandems for me.

In my case, when I shopped 1.5 years ago, I looked at the Cannondale road and mountain series. The MTB uses 26" wheels and may be equipped with narrower slicks and drop bars, and the price might be interesting if the shop doesn't ask you to pay retail price for different road-compatible bars, brake levers, etc.; but it still has disc brakes.
However, I finally went for a Co-Motion Primera, with steel frame, 700 wheels (700x37 fit with fenders, though it's maximum size). The design seemed slightly better (subjective, I know), I preferred many components, but most importantly, they offer a large-small frame (23"-18") which fit us well, whereas Cannondale had large-medium or medium-small frames.
I am 1.81 m tall, but with 88-cm legs, and my daughter is 8 years old, 1.22 m tall.

We have aThorn Explorer. Only 4 mnths old. Have only been for an overnight fully loaded,but have been out for a 3night CC ride. We found her realy great. We plane to use her for self sufficent touring 2 to 3 months a year until we are to old to turn the cranks.
Have you thought about a trailer to go with the Cannadale. Quite afew tandemers use them. We decided it would be like driving a semi rig,so went with the paniers. HAve fun decideing.
Regards Brian & Sue