Originally Posted by livngood

A couple of thoughts, some of which echo what Scott (SDS) wrote:

1. Learning Curve: The second tandem you test ride always feels more stable than the first when you're shopping for your first tandem, and the third one will feel even more stable. Of course, I think you already figured that one out: you came up a learning curve, rode "better" as a team on the second ride and were more attentive to what you were doing on the tandem. There are some tandem dealers who use this newbie phenomenon -- stacking the test rides -- to sell certain brands or models of tandems. The best way to deal with the learning curve during test rides is to re-ride each of the tandems you test rode in reverse order. The second rides don't need to be all that long; just long enough to recalibrate your initial first impressions.

2. All Tandem Dealers Are Not Created Equal: The last thing any good bicycle or tandem dealer should do is bias buyers with predictions about how a bike or tandem will feel. Every tandem has it's own ride characteristics and new buyers will perceive them to be good or bad depending on their exerpeince, expectations, and biases -- the last thing they need is to be told what to expect IF they are truly trying to be objective about the tandems being test ridden.

3. Frame Differences: The "Cadillac" feel of steel is real; bearing in mind that -- despite their current re-incarnation as a performance car producer -- "Cadillac" implies luxurious and cushy. All other things being equal, steel flexes and aluminum doesn't. Given your combined weight and what you described as something less than ideal riding form from your beloved, the steel tandem frame would have exhibited a lot of undesireable lateral (side-to-side) flex on your test ride. The aluminum tandem frame, on the other hand, does not flex and would have felt a lot more "stable" on it's own merits to any new team, and certainly more stable than the first tandem ridden (see above). However, I would note that the (with the exception of the small frames) the Trek tandems share the same steering geometry as the Santana and as Burley (~1.85") . Cannondale is a bit more racy at 2" and then Co-Motion has the raciest at 2.125".

4. Other Differences: As already noted, tires and wheels factor into the ride impressions. The Santana would have been sporting 28mm Conti Gatorskin tires on 40 spoke wheels (comfy and durable) whereas the Trek would have been sporting 28mm Conti Ultra 3000 tires and a pair of Bontrager RaceLite Tandem wheels which would would certainly be a "stiffer" wheelset than the Santana's.

Anyway, keep on test riding. As Scott noted, a Cannondale would be a good tandem to include in your comparision. The RT1000 is equipped very much like the Trek T2000 (Ultegra) and comes in at a similar price point; both of these tandems are "better values" than the Santana Arriva SE that comes with 105 level components, etc... Aluminum is a very popular frame material for many good reasons. Steel is also a perenial favorate with the traditionalists and lightweight teams. However, you'll need to trust your instincts when it comes to sorting out which brand/model "feels" best to you. On the bright side, I don't think there are any bad tandems at the price point you have indicated is included in your search.