Tandem Edge

Yes, I was in a daze when the LBS called and said they had put our new T2000 Trek on the bike stand and held it by the top tube. The tube has a permanent crease that resembles a bike stand clamp directly under the stoker bars. Before anyone gets into lawsuits and the like, the shop has ordered another frame and will replace their mistake.

My mission is to remind all tandem owners that most LBS may be experts on repairs but may not have a great amount of experience handling tandems. Aluminum frames are not forgiving nor, once damaged, can they be repaired or, in this case, even used until replaced. I will never have to remind this shop about handling the bike but it may be wise, especially if your shop does not see a lot of tandems, that the Winibago you just leaned against the counter is a delicate beast.

Tandem Edge

C-Dale MT 1000
Trek T2000

stapfam

Hate to say it but I have wrecked a solo frame by clamping on the top tube. My Tandem does not go to the LBS for repairs but they do work on tandems. They use two seat post mount repair stands and they also have a "Safety" rope from the Pilots bars to a hook in the roof. At Home I just use a bottom bracket/ down tube clamping repair stand and a rope from the stokers seat post to a hook in the roof. It is a 2 handed job to get the Tandem into position. Secure enough but a bit of effort and skill to get the Tandem so that I can work on it.

Old Hammer Boy

Only really beefy bikes should be clamped by the top tube, and even then it's a gamble. I clamp our tandem by the stoker's seat post and let the front wheel touch the ground with the nose down. If I need the front wheel up, more level, I place something like a 5 gallon plastic pail under the wheel or fork, or hang the old girl from the ceiling pully & rope system where I normally store her. Either way works just fine.

TandemGeek

Finding a good mechanic who knows how to work on tandems is like winning the lottery... and it happens just about as often.

There are lots of good mechanics that don't know jack about tandems, but can quickly learn. Unfortunately, there are far more bike shop employees who work on bikes and tandems that don't know jack about being a good bicycle mechanic... and the tandem will highlight their shortcomings in a New York minute.

zonatandem

Another solution, besides the ones alreay mentioned:
Keep an extra bare seatpost around. Remove captains seatpost/saddle/stoker bar unit. Insert old seatpost.
Then you, or LBS, can clamp onto the extra bare seatpost, without fear of squeezing/denting/ruining
your tandem.

mrfish

Similarly bad day: About 10 years ago returning from a race, I put my steel racing bike into a friend's well-used and trusted cartop rack with a downtube clamp. After 30 miles my downtube had squashed flat and the bike worked its way out, hitting the road at about 70mph. Thankfully no other traffic was around so no accident caused, but I did need a new downtube, paint, handlebars, saddle and a rear wheel true.

I should have had straps to hold the wheels onto the rack but didn't. Now I don't take any chances with any frame tube clamps on any of my bikes.

Tandem Edge

Update: The frame has been replaced by the shop and we're back on the road.