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Height challenged?

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Old 07-09-10, 01:13 AM
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Height challenged?

So I'm curious, I'm 6'4" and my girlfriend is 5'3", logistically would this be possible at all? Unfortunately with tandems being so rare on the road, I don't get to see may combinations of different couples, and most that I see are all around the same height.

Would it even be possible for us to ride a tandem together?
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Old 07-09-10, 05:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Lenaxia
So I'm curious, I'm 6'4" and my girlfriend is 5'3", logistically would this be possible at all?
Well you have two inches more difference than we: 6'3, 5'4; but we've been happily riding together for well over a year. We managed to get a rental bike to fit "well enough" to ride from Lake Louise to Jasper (credit card touring); we're now on a custom Bilenky. We have friends in the area on what I believe to be a Co-Motion L/S (i.e. not custom), and he's probably 6'1 or 6'2, but she's lucky if she can make five feet in cycling shoes.

In a word, yes it can be done. And you can probably make something work in non-custom, although it might be tricky. If you use what Bill McCready calls "the proper method", she doesn't need to be able to touch the ground while astride the bike (even when starting/stopping), which helps some.
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Old 07-09-10, 07:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Lenaxia
So I'm curious, I'm 6'4" and my girlfriend is 5'3", logistically would this be possible at all?
6'4" and 5'4" here. We opted for a custom, 64/52, but I think there are many stock options that would work, particularly some of the compact frame styles.
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Old 07-09-10, 01:01 PM
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It'll work just fine.

[IMG][/IMG]

If you are getting a new tandem make sure it's is sized properly.
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Old 07-09-10, 01:51 PM
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I'm 5'10", my wife is 4'11", our tandem allow both riders to have full view of vision..

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Old 07-09-10, 05:09 PM
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You'd likely fit on a Co-Motion Large/Small (23/18) according to Co-Mo that fits Captains to 6' 4", and stokers between 4'10" and 5'10" We're 6'1" and 5'7" and ride a 22/19.
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Old 07-10-10, 11:03 PM
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I'm 6'4" and my Auxiliary Power Unit is 5'4". We have a Cannondale XL/S. We would prob do better with a Jumbo/S but it works well for us. I like the low top tube--easy to clear. I don't think a 1-foot difference is altogether unusual.
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Old 07-11-10, 04:47 AM
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Tandem bike riding is more comfortable if the stoker (back person) is shorter because most tandem frames are built shorter for some reason. Frames can be custom made and height is no problem. The biggest problem is what the Pilot (front person) eats lol. The stokers head is right near their butt hehehe. Good luck with the ride
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Old 07-15-10, 11:40 AM
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I'd go to your local bike store (if they have any tandems at all) and try things out.
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Old 07-15-10, 12:09 PM
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We're 6'3" and 5'1", and we've never had any problems. Both of our bikes were custom-built to accommodate taller/shorter riders, but we once checked out a Santana that worked just fine. Without going the custom route, I would imagine many companies do offer a bike that'll work for you.
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Old 07-18-10, 04:03 PM
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As stated above, there are several tandem brands than can fullfill your need.
However, if you really enjoy tandeming, a custom machine is always something to consider.
In 33+ years and 230,000+ miles of tandeming we've owned one production tandem (Follis) and 4 custom tandems: Assenmacher, Colin Laing, Co-Motion and now a Zona.
Stoker is bit height impaired at 4' 10 3/4" while pilot 'towers' over her at a mere 5'7".
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
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