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Pics of our C'Dale Tandem... Pic heavy.
We purchased this bike last year and are just now getting it comfortable for both of us to ride it. Still want to upgrade to brooks saddles as soon as cash is plentiful and get a Shimano Flight Deck, which should I use, so I know my gear selection. I curently have one computer but would like to add the Flight Deck for gear selection. Still need to get a P-clamp or u bolt for the front rack to finish the modification to mount it. Lots of pics here they are:
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140356.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140357.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140358.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140359.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140360.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140361.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140363.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140365.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...e/P7140367.jpg Thanks for looking now to find out what I can upgrade:thumb: Craig |
Well you can start by getting some real bicycle water bottles . . . you don't have to unscrew the tops to drink and they will not fit as loose in the bottle cage as shown on your C'dale.
Upgrading the pedals would not be a bad idea either . . . As for the Flitedeck: our legs tells us if we need to shift. Just our opinion . . . but hey, it's your bike! Enjoy the ride TWOgether! Rudy and Kay/zonatandem |
I would have said wash it first, it certainly needs it! Then saddles, then pedals. The rest as things wear out or as your experience level grows.
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Yeah the real water bottles are in the freezer getting cold, had to find them after the move this spring, also need to wash it but living in an apartment I can't just go out and hose it down whenever.
What do you guys recommend for pedals? Prefer something smaller but non clip for the moment. Craig |
Focus.....
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re. washing, even in an apartment it's possible.
Avoid using the hose other than for a gentle rinse as it will wash the grease out of the bearings. I prefer to use a soft brush like the ones used for alloy wheel or bodywork and bucket of warm water and car shampoo. Work down from top to bottom to avoid getting the brush oily. Finish line sells a more expensive bike specific cleaning brush, which I also like. If you do this regularly the grime washes off in a few minutes and does not get a chance to build up. Re. Upgrading - I would personally recommend not to bother with the flight deck - you need some gear indicator 'widgets' that fit into the gear cables and show the gear you're in. These should be only a few $ rather than a lot for the computer. There was a thread with links to these a day or two ago. - Second upgrade you should spend money on is either toeclips and straps or clipless pedals and shoes. These will make a huge difference to the way you ride and allow you to get more power onto the road, while also moving better with the bike - in my view very helpful for climbing hills and getting out of the saddle. - I would perhaps pass on the brooks saddles and stick with the ones you have for a while. My experience is that if the position is good, some degree of adaption from the body is necessary before it becomes comfortable. The Brooks will certainly not be comfortable at the start. Hope that helps. Andrew |
Here's a link to the widget from the other thread:-
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...s.php?id=16742 |
first thing has to be clipless pedals and good shoes.
next, are you riding on gravel/dirt? if not, you should consider a good set of better rolling road/touring tires |
Originally Posted by mrfish
(Post 7084294)
re. washing, even in an apartment it's possible.
Avoid using the hose other than for a gentle rinse as it will wash the grease out of the bearings. I prefer to use a soft brush like the ones used for alloy wheel or bodywork and bucket of warm water and car shampoo. Work down from top to bottom to avoid getting the brush oily. Finish line sells a more expensive bike specific cleaning brush, which I also like. If you do this regularly the grime washes off in a few minutes and does not get a chance to build up. Re. Upgrading - I would personally recommend not to bother with the flight deck - you need some gear indicator 'widgets' that fit into the gear cables and show the gear you're in. These should be only a few $ rather than a lot for the computer. There was a thread with links to these a day or two ago. - Second upgrade you should spend money on is either toeclips and straps or clipless pedals and shoes. These will make a huge difference to the way you ride and allow you to get more power onto the road, while also moving better with the bike - in my view very helpful for climbing hills and getting out of the saddle. - I would perhaps pass on the brooks saddles and stick with the ones you have for a while. My experience is that if the position is good, some degree of adaption from the body is necessary before it becomes comfortable. The Brooks will certainly not be comfortable at the start. Hope that helps. Andrew Thanks for the advice about washing hadn't thought about that. Also will go look at the Widgets. Craig |
Originally Posted by smiller
(Post 7131120)
first thing has to be clipless pedals and good shoes.
next, are you riding on gravel/dirt? if not, you should consider a good set of better rolling road/touring tires Yeah pedals are on my need to upgrade list hopefully in the next week I will be doing that. All the trails we ride are 80% crushed lime that is why with the help of the LBS we chose those tires. Unless you have any ideas that would still work for what we ride. We do alot of road riding as well but the roads in IA aren't very nice. Craig |
Really like your tandem -it's just like ours!
I asked for widgets when I bought mine. Shop told me that widgets would not work with the in-line barrel adjusters, as opposed to having the adjusters on the down tube like my single bike. Maybe I was just being gullible. If your shop can make them work, let me know and I'll drive to Iowa to get them installed. I did buy a wireless flightdeck computer, mostly so I would know what gear I'm in. Now I'm older, wiser, and have less cash. Quirky is too nice a word. I use it for current speed, gearing, and thats about it. Still trying to get into mode two to find out our average trip speed. It's works a little over 95% of the time, but only in mode one, and occasionally it will go blank for no good reason, and who knows if it lost any stats while it was asleep! Good luck! Hope to see you on the road. |
I don't see any reason why a gear indicator widget would not work with barrel adjusters. IMO you should minimise your visits to that bike shop, perhaps only to pick up the tools to do the work yourself. Check out the Park tools website to see what you need and how to tackle things.
If I had to choose I would ditch the barrel adjusters since once gears are set up 'adjusting' while riding along is rarely worthwhile. I also find most barrel adjusters are so stiff they are almost impossible to move while riding along. Only exceptions is if you want to run campag brakes with shimano shifters as you loose the brake release to get the shoes over wide tyres, and of course for the front deraileur (although on bikes with double chainsets setting the cable tension carefully also works fine). |
I put a widget on our cannondale tandem (just like yours) for the rear derailer. I can see the front reasonably easily. I got rid of the barrel adjuster on the right level and installed a pair of these in both of the brifters:
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking...PCBLADJ/BR4058 These stick right in the brifter cable hole and work really well. Sheldon |
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