Originally Posted by
speedevil
My wife and I are interested in trying out a tandem, but I have not been able to find a used one with a small/small cockpits. There are a number of chinese bikes on ebay but I would likely be very disappointed with them. I ride a Cannondale CAAD8 50cm with Campy Veloce, and she rides a Trek hybrid.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
I think that since it sounds like you have not tried out a tandem to see if you would even like it. Unless you don't mind throwing money at stuff blindly,I think that you should see if their are any bike shops within striking range, that might have small rental tandem(s) or for sale, to try out. I used to be in tandem retail, and can tell you that without trying, it will be hard to tell if you will like it. Over the years, I experienced a lot of different reactions from different people. I had one couple who were sure that they would love tandeming, but 50 feet later, she jumped off and said that she did not know that she could not take the lack of control.