Zonker

[As far as computers go, I have to say you can't go wrong with the flight deck for a tandem due the the features already mentioned above. I cannot vouch for simplicity of initial set up of the flight deck. I purchased our tandem from Mark @ precision tandems and he had already programmed and mounted it all before shipping. (edit: Our flight deck IS NOT wireless, I prefer the wired and we all know why)
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Ok, I profess to *not* knowing why you would prefer wired. I have a wireless Flite Deck on my road bike, and it has worked flawlessly...is there an issue with tandems?

phil.

Some ppl don't prefer the fact that there's alignment issues and another battery in the system. Wireless systems can also be interfer with heart rate moniters.

I really like our computer setup on our tandem: I've got a flightdeck up front and a cateye Astrale 8 for the stoker.

Fightdeck: I installed it myself b/c the bike shop I bought the tandem forgot to order it in time for me to get it when I picked up the tandem and the LBS wasn't sure if it'd work w/ a tandem and would charge me to install since they do take more time to setup than normal. I ordered online and installed myself w/ no problems. I didn't think the setup was hard, just follow the directions. You have to unwrap the handlebar tape to the hoods to install the sensors, other than that I thought it was easy. Yeah it was annoying entering the teeth count on the cassette, but worth it to know virtual cadence.

Astrale 8: It's designed for a single bike and has cadance (everything non wirless). I bought it for about $25 online and already had one on my single so I thought it was a good choice for the stoker. The wires were too short to run to the rear wheel for speed, so I ended up running it to the front wheel, and it was easier to run cadance off my cranks than the stoker's so I did that there. Pickup wouldn't work on the crank b/c of the wide Q factor w/ triples and tandems in general, but I just installed the magnet on the front chainring spider and no problem.

I wanted my wife to have cadance just so she could know how fast we were spinning and perhaps she know when to expect a shift based on cadance.

Like another user mentioned, I just run my flightdeck showing cadance in big and speed in small. Knowing what gear you are in is really nice: I can look at a hill coming up, see what gear we are in and if we have enough speed to not need to downshift the front or not. My wife really appreciates smooth shifting on hills. Virtual cadance is nice when coasting and not spinning my wife's legs off trying to find the gear. Or I can leave it in the same gear and then know exactly when I can start pedaling after we slow down a bit.

I like the color of your tandem, definetely unique looking. The first thing I thought of when I saw it was "duke's of hazard" and "general lee".

Doggus

I'm seriously thinking about finding a decal as was used on the top of the General Lee and naming our bike as you mentioned. Thanks!

P.S. but I'm afraid some dumba55 will mistake us for racists. Maybe not such a good idea to put the confederate colors on our bike...damn. It was a good idea though.

mslrep

Hey Doggus - awesome color on your Co-Mo. Just picked mine up this weekend (Primera) and love it. Were the stoker bars you got optional?
Best, Dave

Michel Gagnon

In my case, we were asked to choose between a selection of bars available at the bike shop.

We went for drop bars on both seats because that's what my daughter and I wanted, but if she had preferred stoker bars or straight bars, that's what would have been installed.

Doggus

I asked the stoker if she preferred to get drop bars and she decided to stick with this set. I assume they would have swapped out for us. You gotta pic of your new ride?