I thought I would post a recent picture of my stoker and I on our tandem. This image was taken this past Sunday in Waxhaw, NC.



Now as far as upgrades. I need to drop about 5 pounds off this tandem, along with the 15-17 pounds that the stoker and I will drop by this spring. That should put as at a great weight to train for The Assault on Marion this upcoming June. I will probably build my own wheels and I am thinking that is probably the place where a large chunk of the weight will come from. If I do some judicious eBaying, I could probably get most of the stuff I need and save some money too.

Looks like It will be DT 540 Tandem Disk hubset, Velocity Deep-V non-machined rims, DT or Wheelsmith 14-15-14g DB spokes w/brass nipples. 36H front/rear in a 3x rear 2x front pattern. With 36 spoke wheels straight 14g spokes just seem like overkill. Will most likely replace the crankset, I have never liked the way the Truvativ Elita shifted. It seems as if you have to ease up excessively to get it to shift smoothly (maybe I am spoiled by the DA drivetrain on my single bike). Other little things to help get the weight down would be helpful, I am willing to take suggestions. The one thing that can't go is the rear drop bars. Bittersweet did not like the bullhorns at all, plus they are now going to go on an upcoming fixed gear project bike.