Hello from Phil in Miami Fla. Re; Tandem looking for feedback
 

I am looking for a tandem for my wife & I. We would like a quality bike to take relatively short hops to the store, dinner or a Sunday ride. We also will bring it with us when we camp with our airstream. We are not serios cyclists but I don't want a chepo bike ether. I have 36" inseam and need a very large frame to fit me. My wife is average about 5' 7". I weigh about 185 and she is about 155. After looking around for a while I have stumbled on a shop that has some 1994 Trek T100 Tandems new in the box sized 62CM / 56CM. I am considering buying one for about 1200.00 including shipping. It will arrive UN-built and although I am mechanically inclined I will probably have a bike shop assemble it. I would love to here any comments. They said they would include new tires of which I can pick the width. I am leaning towards 35s with a cross tread?

I personally think a 56 cm for the wife @ 5'7" may be to big for her have you tried it for fit?

We have been measuring carefully and I had them check exactly ow the measurements are taken from and it looks like it will just fit with the seat all the way down. I am not so concerned about the top bar as she should not be having to put her foot down. Unfortunately the bike is in the NE and we are in Miami. This was my biggest concern though and I am hoping that it works out as I went ahead and pulled the trigger on it. Thanks for your input. Phil

There is a serious safety issue here. She needs to be able to straddle the bar without it striking her anatomy. Typically there is 4-6 inches clearance... at least.

Here's a catalog scan and spec sheet on it. Not any real choices for stoker with that 62 captain size.

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/...2_itemId=15846

http://bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeS...T100&Type=bike

Should be a fun bike for your intended use.

Shame you didn't see this before ordering the Trek, local too http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/bik/1520960463.html

PK

Thigh Master thanks for your concern. Pmk I did talk to the guy with the Cannondale and the way the bike actually measures it is really a 22" Captain and I feel that is just too small for me. I have been looking on Site Mash http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cpbike which lets me look nation wide on Craig's list & eBay and it seems like unless I have a custom frame made we are going to make some compromises. The way the trek is measured is to the top of the clamp the seat post drops into and not the center of the bar. That makes it 1/2" higher than one of my wife's old bikes (22") that she has ridden for years with an issue. It wont do any thing about the top bar but hopefully that wont be an issue.

Not so.

While it is more common for tandems to be set up so the stoker can straddle with flat feet on the ground, it is not at all unheard-of for them to just need adequate reach to the pedals when seated. Different couples have different techniques, but it's not at all unusual for the stoker to never put a foot down except when getting off.

I think so too. There are a lot of kid-stoker bikes out there that aren't even close.

Let me clarify... I'm talking about when one is STANDING OFF THE SEAT. The BAR should be easily straddled/cleared. On the other hand, if one can touch the ground WHILE ON THE SADDLE, that's an another problem (for their knees while riding, too much flex in the longest stroke aspect).

It is highly desirable for female/male adult pilot/stoker to be able to straddle the top tube with feet touching the ground in case of a panic stop. It sure as heck could ruin your weekend if they hit crotch on top tube in a panic stop.
And yes, at sometime you will have a panic stop!
Just our experience/input.
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Thanks for the replies everyone. I guess we will find out in a week or two how it fits. I am going to remain positive and hope for the best. It certainly wont be my first mistake if it turns out to be one.

Thanks, Phil

Phil, I did some quick goofing around on the net and the Cannondale in 23/19 would be small for you. Cannondale wise it would be one of their vintage frames of 25/21 that would be close for both of you.

Also, looking at the old Trek Catalog, it shows the standover to be 34.1 / 32.5. Not sure how this relates to a "My wife is average about 5' 7"." but you'll find out soon enough.

From Co-Motions site, "Select the tandem size which best fits the captain, and then consider the stoker's fit. Stokers don't need stand-over clearance to achieve a comfortable position. Inseam range for the stokers on Softride™ beam tandems is less than on rigid frames." Sounds like this is how you went about it, please be careful though.

With the frame also being Cro-Moly, if there is a standover concern, it should be reasonable to get a frame shop to modify the rear compartment with a new rear top tube and shortening the seatpost, then a little paint touch up.

Hopefully it is a good and safe fit for both of you. Maybe we'll see you along A1A or some other South Florida location.

PK

Thanks PMK for all the info I am exited tom get it and see how it works out. I hope we wont be customizing the frame but if push comes to shove I guess it would not be the end of the world. I will post the out come after we receive it. We are looking at the rallies coming up. Looks like they could be interesting. Have you attended any and how serious are the rides?

Phil,
Check out Craig's list

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/bik/1520960463.html

Don't know if it's still available but it might fit.

Thanks, that is the same one refered to earlier in the thread. Unfortunatly it is too small for me.

Did your bike make it yet?

We attended a few events this year and had a great time and met a lot of great people. It appears there is a Florida tandem group forming so keep an eye and ear on alert.

PK

I think it shipped on Monday. They said approx 5 working days and with the holidays who knows? I will post some pictures when I get it built. I will keep an eye out for the Fla. tandem groups. Thanks and Happy New Years!!

I got it!
 

The bike arrived Monday and a local bike shop built it for me. I had a rack and fenders installed at the same time. Then size is good for my wife and I. She is able to straddle the bar almost flat footed. We are still tweaking the seat/bar positioning but I think we will be comfortable. I am pleased so far.:)

But now it's to cold to ride. Heard there may be snow flurries in Vero Beach.

PK

Well we have put on about 30 miles and enjoying it allot! The size seems to be good for both of us. The fenders worked nice when we got caught in the rain at the farmers market today. We are finding our average speed is considerably faster than when we ride solo.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=133602

Please post the name and city/state of the bicycle shop. I would like to buy one.
 

Please post the contact info for the shop. I would like to buy one of these 62cm Trek tandems.

You might want to check the dates of the last posts on a thread before you answer it. This thread is over two years old, which is OK if you're asking the forum a question along the same lines. But you're asking a question from a specific person who hasn't posted here in over two years. He may still look in occasionally, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Didn't want you thinking people here are too rude to bother answering.

Tandem Info
 

Phil,

Attached please find the specifications for the Trek T100 tandem as requested. I do not know two things about the tandem: pedals and tires. The model we have on the floor has no pedals and replacement tires. I assume that Trek has included two pairs of their excellent name branded pedals with the tandem. I will see that we do if Trek has not. I also assume that there will be Trek branded tires on the bike. We will leave these tires on the bike, and, if you can use them, that would be great. However, we will also include a new set of Vittoria Randonneur tires with this tandem. Please specify what width (700x28, 32, 35, or 38) that you would like.

To reiterate our earlier telephone conversation: Wheel Works will sell you a new, boxed version of this tandem for $1200 delivered to your business location in Florida. We will ascertain that the bike is complete before shipping. If you would like to have the bike assembled and then re-boxed before shipping, we will need to charge you an additional $100.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reply or to call me.

Best regards,

Doug.

Doug. MacKenzie
Belmont Wheel Works
480 Trapelo Road
Belmont, MA 02478

Sunday through Thursday
Home Office Telephone: 207/240-9803
Home Office Facsimile: 866/237-5750

Friday and Saturday
Telephone: 617/489-7620
Facsimile: 617/489-5807