Originally Posted by
jethro00
Nigel,
We have some reluctance about rebuilding our Trek T900. New Orleans does not have a bike shop that specializes in tandem bikes. We use one of the premier bike shops owned and run by a guy who has a lot of experience (but not with tandems). When we get our bike back after work has been done on it, sometimes it is fine and sometimes not so fine. We're having a hard time with the idea of putting out a lot of cash in the hope that our local bike shop will get a rebuild right. If we lived where there is a shop specializing in tandems, we might feel differently.
Apart from that, I think the learning curve would be too great for us to figure out what components we would want. I have spent a lot of time researching models and features trying to figure out what would be a good fit for us. The input from this forum has helped a good deal. The next thing I will research is "a 559 rimmed tandem that is capable of accepting 58-622 tires (larger OD than 28-622") from your reply. I think it would take me forever to go through all components on a tandem bike sufficiently to know what we want.
Besides it having a timing chain and an eccentric bottom bracket at the captains position, a tandem is a bicycle when all is said. A bike mechanic who can set up a regular bike should be able to figure out a tandem without too much trouble. So could you, just saying. I don't know... if you have been riding your T900 for 13 years and didn't feel it lacking enough to upgrade, then it might be a sign that you don't really need to. I agree with the earlier poster who suggested a rebuild. I am sure your local bike shop can handle it. You might also consider just buying a fresh 2016 T900. We are in the process of shopping for a new tandem and are considering a T900. There isn't much not to like.
You might also look at Craigslist. I am not that excited about buying single (1/2) bikes on Craigslist because there are so many flippers of 1/2 bikes there. Anything interesting usually has substitutions from stock with lower cost crap components. Not usually the tandems. I haven't seen any in person, but I've seen a nice Cannondale that I may investigate. The asking price is less than the price of a new T900. It is a way nicer bike than a T900. A Santana Smooth or Co-Motion Periscope are overkill for a daily driver. We have a 700C Shimano 105 level road tandem for club rides and such, but haven't touched it in two years. We are on the Kent every single day, rain or shine. I do all the work on it so it has been extensively modified from stock.