[strokerwannabe]

Hi!

I am looking for a tandem mountain-bike. Would buying a 13 year old Rodriguez ever be a good idea? We have a limited price-range, but would love to try the tandem experience. Although not mentally or physically challenged, I somehow never learned how to ride a bike. My captain is an experienced mountain biker but hasn't tandemed before. Also, I don't really understand the sizes thing. If my captain is 5'10" and I am 5'4", what should we be looking for?

Thanks,

StrokerWannabe

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[TandemGeek]

Is it the polished one on Ebay?

Regardless, Rodriguez is a very good brand of tandem and their frames are up to the task. However, a 13 year-old frame would have been designed to work with a rigid fork so a good question to ask yourselves is, will we need to install a suspension fork to ride it on your local trails? Your captain would also need to consider if the other components on the tandem are up to the task. For you as the stoker on an off-road tandem, a suspension seatpost -- such as the Thudbuster discussed in a recent thread about shockposts -- would be an essential piece of equipment. Obviously, the cost of adding a tandem-rated suspension fork (not inexpensive) would need to be factored into your acquisition cost as part of your decision process. In other words, while the asking price "as is" might be attractive and competitive vs. the cost of a new off-road tandem, once you start adding upgrades it may not be as good of a "value" as a newer entry level off-road tandem like a Fandango (http://www.mtbtandems.com/fd_tandem_models.html)from MTBTandems.com or perhaps a newer used C'dale Los MT800, MT1000 or MT2000, or MT3000.

As for size, unfortunately stoker size on a production tandem is a default function of finding a tandem that fits the captain. Therefore, you should probably be shopping for a Small or Medium size (15" - 19") frame, depending on your captain's proportions, the length of the tandem's top tube and available standover height. With regard to the latter, standover height on an off-road tandem usually ends up being a bit less generous than what you would optimally want on a personal mountain bike, with C'dale's, Ventana's, and Santana's dropped top tube designs being the exceptions. Bear in mind, if for example the Rodriguez you're looking at "fits" with whatever fork it has now you'll want to consider how any changes, like the aforementioned addition of a front suspension fork, might change standover height.

Bottom Line: Go cheap if you can if you're really not sure how this will work out; used tandems bought for a reaonable price can usually re-sold without taking a bath. However, temper your impressions on tandeming against any equipment compromises made on your entry level tandem. In other words, the captain-to-be can't expect a rigid tandem with enduro geometry and 7 speed thumb shifters to perform as well as a newer off-road tandem with off-road specific geometry, suspension, and slick shifting 9 speed components.

Also, if he hasn't captained a tandem before and you're not already a cyclist, you will want to spend your first several outings on the tandem riding on the road or hard packed double track / fire roads so that you can develop your "team skills", i.e., communication, balance, and learning to move together as a team.

[strokerwannabe]

Thank you for the advice! Yes, it was the Rodriguez on e-Bay which ended up selling for $680 plus shipping. I will keep my eyes open for the tandems you mentioned, but the new ones in those lines are out our price range since neither of us has ever tandemed. What do you think of a used Burley Rock n Roll or a Nashbar? There is a Rock n Roll on eBay but the seller hasn't responded to my questions yet. I met someone with a 10 year old Nashbar chro-Moly Mtn tandem for sale with 26" wheels, inverted treads, Shimano deore xt components, thumb shifter, 21 speed, telescoping handlebars for stoker, cantilever breaks. They are asking $500. Is this reasonable? I am looking to spend no more than $800 at this time. I have been reading some of your postings and realize this is a laughable number to you, but it is all we can afford right now! If it turns out to be something we enjoy and stick with, I could then justify selling and buying something better...

[TandemGeek]

What do you think of a used Burley Rock n Roll or a Nashbar?

At 13 and 10 years old, with what the Rodriquez sold for I would say that anything over $500 for either bike would be too much unless it included shipping and right of refusal if, upon delivery, it was determined to be a basket case. $400 - $450 would seem more in line, but that's just me. I say that only because the Burley looks pretty ragged and probably needs new tires, tubes, derailleur cables, brake blocks, and chains which would also suggest that the hub/headset/BB bearings and wheel truing have probably not been attended to. If you do your own wrenching, probably not a big deal but something to think about in terms of the total cost / sweat equity associated with the acquistion. The Nasbar (9000T ??) would be a wild card sight unseen but, again, I would expect it to have similar issues unless it was given exceptional care and attention or, perhaps, ridden hard and put away wet which could mean other hidden costs. However, once either bike was cleaned-up, it would probably work just fine for all but the most demanding types of riding.

No worries about the cost of a ride falling below some magic threshold with me. I'm pretty much of the "it doesn't matter what kind of tandem you ride so long as you ride" mindset.

Although a bit more than your budget of $800, I noticed this recently added and attractively priced '02 Burley Rock & Roll at http://www.tandemmag.com/classified


FOR SALE 02/18/05: Burley Rock and Roll 2002. Size Medium/Medium. This bike is painted a beautiful pearl orange. It has 1500 miles on it and is all original. Comes with Ritchey pro 1.5" Rizer bar with scram grip shift on the front. It has the usuall bull horn rear bar with an adjustable stem. Bike is very clean with no scratches or dings. Call me at 231/932/2856 days or 231/947/3784 evenigs or e-mail at davisddc@dteenergy.com. I can send photos at your request. Asking price of $1000.00. I can ship bike UPS. My locall bike store will help me package bike for safe shipping. Thanks Dale
Dale C Davis
Home Phone: 231-947-3784
Work Phone: 231-932-2856
DAVISDC@DTEENERGY.COM

His asking price is well under what my handy-dandy used tandem pricing tables would normally assign to a tandem of this vintage and in this type of stated condition. If shipping was included or could be negotiated into the sales price and the bike is properly sized, it would be a great first tandem in that it has more contemporary components, lighter wheels, and a lighter frame than the models from the early 90's.

[strokerwannabe]

I talked to Dale and his $1000 price is firm. He said the bike is ride ready except for it doesn't include the pedals. And the shipping is extra, which he doesn't know how much it will be.

I have also been calling my local shops and the only new things in my range are the KHS Tandemania Sport and the Trek 900 (plus a Shwinn and a Diamondback which I have ruled out). Nobody has any used mountain Cannondale's or Burley's or Fandango's... I was already seriously considering sucking it up for the $1000, but it will need pedals and shipping and I'm afraid the price has krept up so much from the original $500 we had hoped to spend! So now it looks like I am looking at a new KHS, a new Trek, a 10 year old Nashbar with a small frame for $500 (still waiting for the picture they promised to send me), the 13 year old Rock n Roll on ebay (guy still hasn't answered my sizing questions), or hoping Dale doesn't sell his and decides to include free shipping at least). Which do you think is my best bet...one where I would lose the least if this turns out not to be for me? Also, how much do average pedals cost for two pair?

[TandemGeek]

Which do you think is my best bet...one where I would lose the least if this turns out not to be for me? Also, how much do average pedals cost for two pair?

If you had to turn around and re-sell, IMHO the '02 Burley which you should be able to sell for nearly what you paid once spring comes around the corner. I also think the more contemporary bike -- assuming it's the right size -- would also increase the likelihood of success if only because it should be a relatively problem-free ride, a bit lighter and therefore a bit more spry.

All of the new bikes will take a hit on resale from that immediate depreciation that occurs when they are sold, unless they are last year's models and the dealer is motivated to move them. I believe Galen got a pretty good deal on a KHS like that last year, nabbing it for a couple hundred under MSRP. Those kinds of deals are what make some of the very old (10 yrs) bikes less attractive unless they were very high-end models that have been updated with newer components. Sometimes folks forget about trickle-down technology. Even the value-priced components today are better than some of Campy's and Shimano's mid-level stuff from the '80's.

As for pedals, depends on what you're looking for. If you or your partner already have a bike with pedals that you/they are comfortable using then you have at least one pair: just "borrow them" from the other bike when you're riding the tandem (I do this all the time). For the second pair, there are pedals in every price range and many house-brand models from folks like Nashbar or Performance are under $50.

Bottom Line: If you have a firm budget, just be patient and keep looking or post "Wanted to Buy" notices on some of the classified ad sites that specialize in tandems. There are lots of good Fishers, Cannondales, Burleys, Specialized, and other brands or models of tandems sitting in garages collecting dust -- having been replaced by newer bikes or just not ridden.