Originally Posted by
bulgie
Hate to break it to you but the internet consensus is wrong. A canti/V with more adjustment range can let you put 700c on a 650b bike, but not the other way. Of course that doesn't happen very often but more often it's using 650b on a 26" (559) bike. But always where the rim is higher relative to the posts, not lower.
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Then again, just riding the 3Rensho with whatever 700c tires it can fit will be a thrill. Generations of tandem people have had a ton o' fun on bikes with tires that were too skinny, and they didn't know they were supposed to be miserable, blissful in their ignorance.
Bulgie to the rescue again! Thank you for saving me more trouble. You're the resident expert on 650B conversions, so I trust your advice and will drop this wild goose chase. You're right that 700C wheels will be fine.
Originally Posted by
Atlas Shrugged
There have been numerous attempts to walk you back on this adventure. Tandems are a very particular subset of cycling which needs to be taken in account. As modern bikes have become easier to use and more comfortable, and with e-bikes now readily available, demand has collapsed. Very few people are active tandem enthusiasts, and that number is diminishing steadily for a reason.
My recommendation is to either make it rideable as cheaply and easily as possible, without sinking too much time or money into it, or restore it to its original condition as a collector's piece. If you are seeking a good rider, this is the wrong base to start from. One last thing, the double crankset is an issue as well, tandems are notorious slow climbers and need low gearing. Unsure if that will be possible with the existing crankset.
I think I can assemble the bike cheaply. i have the brakes and drivetrain already, and just need to add a 700C wheelset, stems, seat posts, saddles, brake levers and bars. Most of this can be acquired cheaply at either the NYC Bike Jumble (next weekend!) or via AliExpress online. I'm not trying to restore it to original condition, just get it rolling and have some fun. The crankset is 110 BCD, meaning I can use very low gearing. As mentioned above, I'm going to go 1X for the crankset (narrow-wide 42T chainring from Velo Orange) and an 11-speed, 12-46 cassette in the back. That should give me plenty of range for the relatively flat roads I'll be riding around New York.