Chris_in_Miami

I finally got around to taking some "after" pictures of my '92 Santana Vision after powder coating and a few hours of cleaning and polishing. Total investment is just over $700 so far, though I still need to replace the saddles and I'd like to find some faster tires.

Before pics show some of the minor rust that was bubbling the paint, and the factory paint was flaking off pretty badly. I attempted to touch it up, but came to the conclusion that it was worth the money to powder coat it. The metallic red coat cost $200, which seems very reasonable for a shop that normally charges $125 for non-metallic coating on a single frame.

Chris_in_Miami

The after photos were taken in subdued light and the color is quite a bit more vivid red than the photos suggest, I just didn't want the details to get washed out by direct sunlight.











This is my second tandem, and I've put less than 100 miles on it since refinishing, but I can already tell it's going to be a blast!

David Newton

WoW!

pastorbobnlnh 

It is stunning. Does it have a drag brake in the rear hub? I don't see one. I guess you would not need one in FL. I like your bar choice better then the ones which came with it. Fantastic!

I wanted to have my Twinn Sport PCed, but the shop's oven is not big enough for a tandem frame.

Chris_in_Miami

Thanks David & Pastor Bob, I'm really happy with it. The hub does have threads to accept a drag brake, and there are cable guides and a stay braze on for it, but you're correct in that we don't need one in Florida. I just put the Kool-stops on it and they're pretty effective, plus my wife and I are under 300 lbs combined.

The bars are Dimension Arc bars from Niagara, I bought a similar bar in black on eBay for my Rockhopper, and I find it to be more comfortable for me than a straight MTB bar.

I followed your Twinn Sport build and nearly bought one that was on the local CL at the same time as this Santana, but I missed it and decided to go all-out

noglider 

I'm envious! I want a tandem! I haven't been able to talk My Lovely Wife™ into one... yet.

We test rode a tandem that a cousin is selling. To be honest, it was very difficult for me to control, but it might have been the bike, not the genre.

Bianchigirll 

beautiful bike! I am in Tom's boat here I am very envious of you. I always wanted a nice tandem but never had a SO interested in being a stoker and no I am not going to be captain!

noglider 

I can't parse that last sentence of yours, bianchigirl. You wanted a partner to be stoker but you don't want to be captain, so what position do you want to ride?

David Newton

How about sitting up front on the handlebars.

Not exactly off-topic, but a friend bought a Schwinn-Twin for her daughter, a college cheerleader. It was so out of shape it couldn't be ridden. I spent an afternoon truing wheels and greasing and adjusting everything, then we went for a short ride, and I was pronounced a "hero" by the cheerleader.

I would love a tandem for me and the wife, who also rides her old Raleigh Sports. Everything I've seen is out of reach price-wise.

KonAaron Snake 

I'm digging the bike!!! Really cool!

I need to get the 3 seater mobile again.

Chris_in_Miami

There was a T&C at the last bike show/swap, it looked to be several steps above Schwinn's later Twinns quality-wise, it was a real beauty. I'll bet the triple is a handful to captain!

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Oh man I would love to ride on that. I understand that 2 reasonably strong riders can get a 2 seater going hella fast..I can only imagine what 3 horsepower can do.

I've only ever ridden a tandem with a girlfriend in a recreational setting...it was fun as hell (for me) but she was not really into cycling so I've never experienced tandem riding with someone who was actually interested in it.


There was a Rear-Steer tandem frame at the Trexlertown Swap...guy wouldn't come down from 100 bux though and it was a serious basket case.

KonAaron Snake 

I haven't actually ridden the 3 seater in AGES. It was really difficult to captain and the turning radius was utterly insane. We used to ride it around and target the houses of cute girls we liked...we'd leave the middle seat open and get them to ride with us. We'd do the same thing on the boardwalk. It was also very hard to work on...it had drum brakes, like a car, and I believe they were lined with asbestos.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

That is the awesomest reason to have a 3 seater I've ever heard.

Chris_in_Miami

There was a rear-steer frame on the local CL for a few months and the seller had dropped the price to $50 last time I saw it, I believe the seat posts were welded in place on this one. I was tempted to grab it for a neighborhood Halloween ride and cruise around with a full size skeleton on the front saddle...

noglider 

Years ago, I worked in a bike shop in Manhattan. A customer had a hobby of building and selling tandem bikes. He was single, and he would go for rides alone in Central Park. He picked up women there. He gave me advice on women's saddles. He told me which model got the best reviews, and I figured that with his sample size, no one would know better.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

well you could do it this Halloween ...just stick a headless horseman on your stoker seat

WNG

Turned out gorgeous, Chris! What a cool ride. That color is stunning.

Kobe 

Thanks! Now you have given me the bug. My oldest daughter is 10 and wants to do some long charity rides this year. I think a tadem is the best way to get done before the sun goes down.

CV-6 

Insanely jealous. I can't find anything like that around here for what you have in it. Beautiful ride you have there.

Chris_in_Miami

Thanks for the compliments!! One of my main reasons to buy this bike was to help to familiarize my wife with how & why to shift gears - her 12-speed has probably been shifted twice, and only then by accident It will probably take some time before it becomes second nature, but it will be worth the effort.

illwafer

really nice.