davidfrench

Hi mtnbke, I'm totally ok with what you wrote. I've been looking at the Cannondale. Not one my size, and prices range was from 1800$ to 3000$. Yes used. They are so rare that some aren't afraid of selling them at that price. I know my Trek T100 isn't an exact fit, but at $250 you can't really ask too much. Plus I don't ride drop bars.
I'm actually building a 36er at my size. Talk about a geometry challenge.
:-)

ksisler

I think an XL Captain from Santana (95CM or 37" inseam) should do. I think they keep XL/S in stock or you could specify a specific custome size for a bit more cash. Rodriguez cycles produces very fine tandems. In fact most all the builder brands that get mentioned in this forum could fit you up without difficulty as the size disparity is not that great. Before writing a check, be sure you have a good understanding of sizing for tandems and how it differs from single bikes; basically the captain's should be about a an inch or so less that a well fitted single and the stokers sizing can be larger by a size or two than the single they ride, as long as the pedals can be reached well.

mtnbke

Okay the scoop on the 36er...I talked to Zinn about big wheels for his big bikes one day while I was down in his shop. Leonard shared that he can only fight battles on so many fronts, and that trying to carry the flag for a completely different wheel size for his BIG bikes just wasn't something he could do. He's a smarter man than I.

I talked to the folks at Velocity. They are absolutely ready to roll rims in a size larger than 27" (630) and a 29er (really just a 700c or 622). They would call it 750b or something similar keeping with a naming convention that sounds like the legacy french naming conventions (see Sheldon Brown article on wheel sizes). They could roll out this size TOMORROW. The problem is that they haven't found anyone willing to commit to building a batch of tires. Everyone they are talking to is asking for a minimum run of 6,000 tires. That's a lot of tires for a single run in a single width. Stay tuned though, this is probably going to happen.

I LOVE the 36er concept. Again the problem is tires. As soon as someone starts making a tire that isn't just a low speed unicycle tire I expect more and more of these to get built. The funny thing is that the 36er is probably close to being proportional for a 68cm - 72cm frame, at least in the same way an 52cm race bike has 700c wheels, anyway. Unless, I'm wrong. In which case it isn't!

Big WHEELS, please.

mtnbke

Listen, everyone sizes tandems, more or less following that perspective. It is near universal.

That doesn't make it right. Fit for a bicycle doesn't, and shouldn't change because it is a tandem as opposed to a single. A tandem is so much more uncomfortable to ride than a single. You can't just weight and unweight, or coast and spin at your whim. In a connected (not independent drive) system every movement is coordinated with your stoker.

I know people that have bought Fitsticks to exactly compare the angle, bar to saddle distance, etc. They can't understand why the tandem is so much "more" uncomfortable than their single. The thing is that riding the single most cyclists don't understand how many little motions or efforts they make to rest their position on the bike. On a tandem that just sort of becomes impossible in comparison.

I guess my point is that you can fudge fit on a single relatively easily. Your tandem ought to be your best fitting bike if you want any chance of being comfortable on the bike.

You can ALWAYS fit a bike to get proper leg extension. What is very difficult to compensate for is top tube length, and handlebar height, without affecting how the bike handles and its innate "feel." Starting with a bike that is an inch, or 2.5cm "sizes" too small is just a train wreck in terms of trying to get the handlebar height up. I say this because I'm of the opinion that the captain should have a much more neutral handlebar position on a tandem, that is he should be starting with bars HIGHER than he would ever ride on a single. If a captain is being honest with you he'll communicate that the physical fatigue from captaining the tandem (not stamina or legs mind you, but neck, back, wrists, etc.) is incomparable to that of their single. There is just something physically exhausting about captaining a poor fitting tandem. Proper fit almost starts and ends with correct TT length and proper handlebar height. You can almost always get an acceptable extension and knee to pedal position if these things are properly fit. If they aren't everything is a complete compromise.

Listen, I doubt I'll ever have a properly fitting tandem. My 25" (63.5cm) Captain's compartment on my Cannondale is as big as it gets. It is rideable. It is better than nothing. However, that is a far cry from suggesting that someone who is tall should buy an XL Santana. In my experience non-custom tandems have too long of top tubes as the sizes get larger, and the neutral handlebar height is much much too low. I think if Rivendell made tandems this point would be proven.

Just my two cents.

ksisler

[Partial QUOTE=mtnbke;14894342] Listen...I doubt I'll ever have a properly fitting tandem. My 25" (63.5cm) Captain's compartment on my Cannondale is as big as it gets. It is rideable. It is better than nothing. However, that is a far cry from suggesting that someone who is tall should buy an XL Santana. In my experience non-custom tandems have too long of top tubes as the sizes get larger, and the neutral handlebar height is much much too low. I think if Rivendell made tandems this point would be proven. Just my two cents.[/QUOTE]

MtnBke; Sorry to read that you are so unhappy with the comfort aspects of your aluminum Cannondale tandem. Glad to see that you are not letting a poor fit keep you home. Best I could recommend is for you to look into a well fitted, high quality, custom steel bike as they are often felt to be more comfortable. I read through your points on sizing and agree with most all of them. Knowing what you want/need and why will make it easier for you to lead your builder of choice to a perfect bike for you when that opportunity comes. Keep spinning!!

Rootman

hey, no recommendations but the link you listed is cool! I had no idea they actually made 3 seaters - called tridents! I thought they were strictly out of 3 Stooges movies. So the front is the captain, the rear is the stoker, is there a name for the middle and back stoker?