Making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.......
11-01-14, 03:24 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
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Making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.......
Had to make a few repairs to the Northwoods Safari 18 speed tandem I got in trade a few weeks ago and things got a little out of hand. Yeah, I know, I would have been better off fiscally just buying a different bike but I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. It's now a 21 speed and several pounds lighter. I took it for a test ride this afternoon, still have some tuning to do and the usual adjustments but it rode very nicely. It didn't feel one ounce heavier than my "half bike". I basically kept the frame, fork and wheels. Don't worry the stem adapter is a good inch below the minimum insertion line, it's ugly but it works. My wife is anxious to try it out.
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11-03-14, 05:54 PM
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tucson, AZ
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Bikes: Custom Zona c/f tandem + Scott Plasma single
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We think it is better to buy a better tandem than making pricey upgrades.
In the long run you've still got the same hefty frame . . . and a lighter wallet.
We are on tandem #5 and been riding as a duo since 1975. In the long run the more 'expensive' tandems have paid off.
Our first tandem was a French Follis that showed us what worked and what didn't; from then on designed our own frames
Have fit issues with standard production bikes. Stoker Kay is 4 feet 10 1/2 inches 'tall' and custom is the only way to have a proper fit for her. Have pedaled as a duo for over 240,000 miles. Our custom tandems and miles accumualted were: Assenmacher (64,000 miles); Colin Laing (56,000); Co-Motion (55,000) and our current Zona (with 40,000 on the odo).
However, your wallet will dictate what's best, and affordable, for your team.
We do not have a second car; we buy the best quality we can afford when it comes to our tandems.
And . . . quality last$!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
In the long run you've still got the same hefty frame . . . and a lighter wallet.
We are on tandem #5 and been riding as a duo since 1975. In the long run the more 'expensive' tandems have paid off.
Our first tandem was a French Follis that showed us what worked and what didn't; from then on designed our own frames
Have fit issues with standard production bikes. Stoker Kay is 4 feet 10 1/2 inches 'tall' and custom is the only way to have a proper fit for her. Have pedaled as a duo for over 240,000 miles. Our custom tandems and miles accumualted were: Assenmacher (64,000 miles); Colin Laing (56,000); Co-Motion (55,000) and our current Zona (with 40,000 on the odo).
However, your wallet will dictate what's best, and affordable, for your team.
We do not have a second car; we buy the best quality we can afford when it comes to our tandems.
And . . . quality last$!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
11-03-14, 08:22 PM
#5
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I kind of fell into this bike, I wasn't actively looking for a tandem, I had kicked the idea around a little but that was the extent of it. Had I been seriously looking for one I would have bought a better tandem but I would have just done the same thing to it. Down the road if I get a good buy on a better frame I'll already have decent components to put on it and I can make some other "tinkerer" a smokin' deal on this frame or, I can use it as a ladder. 
For now we're going to enjoy it. 
For now we're going to enjoy it. We think it is better to buy a better tandem than making pricey upgrades.
In the long run you've still got the same hefty frame . . . and a lighter wallet.
We are on tandem #5 and been riding as a duo since 1975. In the long run the more 'expensive' tandems have paid off.
Our first tandem was a French Follis that showed us what worked and what didn't; from then on designed our own frames
Have fit issues with standard production bikes. Stoker Kay is 4 feet 10 1/2 inches 'tall' and custom is the only way to have a proper fit for her. Have pedaled as a duo for over 240,000 miles. Our custom tandems and miles accumualted were: Assenmacher (64,000 miles); Colin Laing (56,000); Co-Motion (55,000) and our current Zona (with 40,000 on the odo).
However, your wallet will dictate what's best, and affordable, for your team.
We do not have a second car; we buy the best quality we can afford when it comes to our tandems.
And . . . quality last$!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
In the long run you've still got the same hefty frame . . . and a lighter wallet.
We are on tandem #5 and been riding as a duo since 1975. In the long run the more 'expensive' tandems have paid off.
Our first tandem was a French Follis that showed us what worked and what didn't; from then on designed our own frames
Have fit issues with standard production bikes. Stoker Kay is 4 feet 10 1/2 inches 'tall' and custom is the only way to have a proper fit for her. Have pedaled as a duo for over 240,000 miles. Our custom tandems and miles accumualted were: Assenmacher (64,000 miles); Colin Laing (56,000); Co-Motion (55,000) and our current Zona (with 40,000 on the odo).
However, your wallet will dictate what's best, and affordable, for your team.
We do not have a second car; we buy the best quality we can afford when it comes to our tandems.
And . . . quality last$!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
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".....distasteful and easily triggered."
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
11-03-14, 09:57 PM
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ft Worth, TX
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Bikes: Custom 650B tandem by Bob Brown, 650B tandem converted from Santana Arriva, Santana Noventa, Boulder Bicycle 700C, Gunnar Sport
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I kind of fell into this bike, I wasn't actively looking for a tandem, I had kicked the idea around a little but that was the extent of it. Had I been seriously looking for one I would have bought a better tandem but I would have just done the same thing to it. Down the road if I get a good buy on a better frame I'll already have decent components to put on it and I can make some other "tinkerer" a smokin' deal on this frame or, I can use it as a ladder. For now we're going to enjoy it.
For now we're going to enjoy it. 
11-04-14, 08:25 AM
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Valley CA
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Bikes: '04 Serotta CIII, '01 Lemond Poprad, mid 90s Burley Rock N Roll Tandem, Old School Specialized HardRock, '15 GT Grade alloy
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I kind of fell into this bike, I wasn't actively looking for a tandem, I had kicked the idea around a little but that was the extent of it. Had I been seriously looking for one I would have bought a better tandem but I would have just done the same thing to it. Down the road if I get a good buy on a better frame I'll already have decent components to put on it and I can make some other "tinkerer" a smokin' deal on this frame or, I can use it as a ladder. For now we're going to enjoy it.
For now we're going to enjoy it. 
