Our first tandem was a beater that we bought at a garage sale. I tuned and lubed it, and then it was a well-tuned and lubed beater

Despite it's very humble heritage, it was good enough for us to learn that we enjoyed tandems. Within a few months I sold it for a little more than we paid for it, and we bought a much nicer tandem. We're on tandem number four now, and we aren't quitting any time soon!