Originally Posted by
WheresWaldo
I wonder if they can be built with high enough tension to support a 330 pound team + bike weight. I know that they typically build with between 100 and 110 Kgf, as a reference Velocity builds all their wheels to 120 Kgf (I know, I asked them).
From Nimble's Website:
Horse FLY is nominally rated to 250 lb riders (see weight limits for details). The lateral stiffness is 25 to 40% greater than already stiff standard FLY models. It is offered in 650C and 700C models with tubular style rims. Tubulars are excellent for strength, toughness and performance (see tubular tire advice). Call us for specific tire recommendations.
Originally Posted by
WheresWaldo
Can we play a math game.
No, we can't.
You asked for recommendations, I've shared with you what I'm aware of in terms of available products and offered some comments on how those products will compare with what you presently have. The Alpha Q X2 is the only real odd-ball in the bunch when it comes to the tandem-rated carbon forks in that the Reynolds uses a 395mm fork length because that's what Santana spec'd for their tandems. Wound-Up uses 387mm because that's what Co-Motion spec'd. The Alpha Q CX tandem used 395mm which is a common cyclocross length and the X2 is just really short @ 374mm... single road bike length, if you will.
In the tandem steering trail spectrum where almost all of the tandems have 73 degree head tubes, your Cannondale's steering geometry is more like Santana's and Trek's (and also Burley's when they were still making tandems) than it is anything else. Going from memory...
Bilenky @ 57mm of rake with 73.5* headtube
Santana, Trek, Burley @ 55mm of rake
Cannondale @ 53mm of rake
Co-Motion & Trek T2000 w/carbon fork @ 50mm of rake
Burley Race w/Alpha Q CX carbon fork @ 48mm of rake
Co-Motion & Calfee tandems with Wound-Up forks @ 45mm of rake
Co-Motion & Calfee tandems with Alpha Q X2 forks @ 44mm of rake
If you talk to people who have ridden different examples of these tandems, while the difference in "the numbers" is small, the "feeling" and "handling" of the tandems is quite different. We changed the custom steel fork on our Erickson out for an Alpha Q X2 with 48mm of rake (now discontinued) and it changed the way that tandem "feels" and "handles". Our second Erickson tandem was built around the shorter Alpha Q X2 fork with 48mm of rake and it "felt" and "handled" differently than the other Erickson tandem that has the retrofit Alpha Q fork. Our new tandem is being built around an Alpha Q X2 fork with 44mm of rake: I have no idea how it will "feel" or "handle" compared to our other two tandems. However, none of these tandems "feel" or "handle" the way a Cannondale road tandem does: they are very different.
Bottom Line: If you change out your Cannondale's steel fork with a nominal 53mm of rake for a fork with less rake it will change the way your tandem "feels" and "handles" (Period). If you buy an Alpha Q X2 fork, the front end of your tandem and bottom bracket will be about an 1" lower than it is now. (Period). You will need to decide if these are changes you'd be willing to accept.