I just wanted to let you all know that many people are reading your posts and gleaning valuable information even if they don't have two cents to add.
After reading and researching for the last month, my wife and I made the leap yesterday and ordered a Santana Arriva through our LBS.
We're eagerly awaiting it's arrival and the opportunity to begin learning all that we've read about.
As a result of your posts we believe we were able to make an intelligent informed decision as to the mount that would fit us best. I can't underscore how critically important your posts have been. The nearest true tandem dealer to us is 6 hours away and we don't know any other tandem teams from whom we can get reliable first hand information. So, even though this purchase is proceeding without the benefit of a test ride we feel fairly confident that we will have no regrets.
In addition, we're certian that your willingness to share the mistakes you've made will make our transition from roadies on Orbea singles to roadies on a tandem, much less traumatic than it might have been otherwise.
I am amazed at how excited my wife is; she's already planning our evening rides.
Finally, any suggestions you may have for a new tandem team will be much appreciated.
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Good choice!! We have ridden an Arriva for the last couple of years. Works great! Very faithful on our tour last year. The only problems were Conti tires. Should have listened to Tandemgeek when he said we could have problems with the side walls. By the way he was right and it is a good idea to listen to what he has to say.
SDS
If you have been reading here there is not much we can tell you. All the right answers are here, sometimes more than one per topic (!).
I like my second post in the "Scared" thread, and most any thread that can be found by searching on "Proper Method" is likely to be good. Dread's is a good example.
I really enjoy mixed pack riding with tandems and singles, and I hope you will too.
TandemGeek
Finally, any suggestions you may have for a new tandem team will be much appreciated.
There's a post at this link from a previous thread that catalogs several links to additional information; some of which you have probably come across already:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=600451&postcount=8
However, the summary remains a constant:
1. Take it one step at a time.
2. Communicate, communicate, communicate.
3. Remember, you're both in this together; "where you go, I go" applies to both riders.
4. Remember to have fun, after all, that's at least 50% of the rationale behind a choosing to ride a tandem.
zonatandem
Enjoy riding TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/Tucson, AZ
Jessica
Thank you, thank you Tandemgeek. We just bought ourselves a used tandem, after one ride on a rental. We are so excited, and your links will help us to enjoy what promises to be a great addition to our social and physical lives!!
Thank you, thank you.
TandemGeek
I'm humbled by your kind words. Keep us posted on your progress...
Jessica
we rode the new machine for the first time today. needs adjustments... brakes could be better, and had to tie up cables so they did not rub. Pulls to the right for some reason I do not yet understand.
It was easier riding the rental we had than the used bike we bought... even tho' the tandem we bought fits our size better. We will definately be getting a better tandem after some time passes.
However, all that being said, we bought our cat food, went to the bank, post office and grocery store. Pulled all the load in the kid trailer we already had. Walked across streets when we were not sure of our ablilities to jump on and ride fast.
HAD A BALL. Love that tandem thing!!
TandemGeek
Pulls to the right for some reason I do not yet understand.
One thing to try as a step towards "trouble-shooting" the problem would be fitting a different front wheel/tire to the tandem just to make sure you don't have something as simple as a mis-centered wheel. For test ride purposes, the front wheel on one of your single bikes should work fine.
If that doesn't make any difference it could be a bit more complex. This isn't the definitive answer, but bikes (or tandems) that "pull" to the left or right often times have a mis-aligned fork or frame which causes the front wheel to track off-center. You might want to take the bike to a good bike shop that can check the frame and fork for proper alignment. If it's steel and there is a minor alignment problem, like a bent fork leg, the shop may be able to cold set it back into proper alignment. If the frame is out of alignment they may need to refer you to a tandem builder or frame shop with a tandem-sized alignment table.
Just curious, what year/make/model of tandem did you acquire and what kind of brakes does it have?
Jessica
it is a schwinn frame, with diagonal supports (what they used to call a girl's frame) front and back, but I do not have any specifics on it... It looks to me like it may be not as strong as we need in the long run, BUT as a starter, it was in my budget range. I'm thinkin' we need a mountain bike frame, cause we want to haul large amounts of groceries, as well as grandkids sometimes, and I am over 200#.
The rims are alloy, but they are not spoked for tandem, so I am expecting they may not meet our needs for the long haul...
the brakes are center pull but a style I have never seen before.
Maybe I can figure out how to post some pix...
one of the things that being on this forum helped me with is that when we were approaching intersections, tandem plus trailer, we took the lane in our place in traffic a couple of times. my usual behavior to turn left on a single is to go forward thru the intersection, manually turn my bike while at a stand still, and then go forward with the light again. I needed the respect of the traffic in the case of my slow moving tandem, and knowing that option made riding safer for us. so thank you, all of bikeforums!!