Tandem sizing question--just curious
 

The Claud Butler thread in the ISO/FS section got me wondering....is there a tandem that fits me at 6'4" and my wife at 5'4"?

I just don't know, and I am curious, so I asked....;)

you would certainly need one with a ladies style stoker seat for sure. wether you can buy off the rack with a 63 for the captain I don't know

If you buy custom they will make it fit you. My wife's bike fits her at 5' 2" as captain and me at 6' 0" as stoker. Roger

Almost anything is possible in the tandem world. Since the top tubes often slope downward, the stoker's seat tube can be very much smaller than the captain's, making it possible to fit nearly any combination of rider heights. You'll find that having a tandem custom made is not that much more expensive than buying one off the rack, since the tandem market is so small that each one is pretty much made to order anyway. Not quite literally true always, but close. That's one reason why good ones have always been expensive. Very unlike deciding you don't like any of the single bikes on the floor at your LBS and asking an artisan to make you up one like a bespoke suit.

If you wanted to test the waters by buying a used tandem, that could be a lot harder to find one that would fit you both, but as long as the top tube slopes downward toward the back, you can probably do a lot with seatpost height. A common complaint of stokers is that her rear compartment is too short horizontally for comfort. If she is much shorter than you, this can work to your advantage since she will fit into the space better. She may need a long stem extension to bring her handlebars close enough for her to reach -- remember her stem is attached to your seatpost usually.

Always bear in mind: Wherever your relationship is going, it'll get there a lot faster on a tandem. But if it works, neither of you will ever want to ride your singles again. Hope you give it a try!

Co-Motion Periscope, size large. Several models.

A friend of mine is 6'1 and his wife is 5'2 at best. They ride a Cannondale tandem that works just fine, no major modifications. On level ground, they can simply leave us all in the dust.

I saw a recumbent tandem the other day. That could be an option.

Yes, but you will have to shop around. I am 6'-2" my bride is 5'-1". We have a Raleigh Companion that works for us. I have no clue what the actual frame sizing is. FWIW we have friends that are of similar height disparities and they ride an older Burley Zydeco.

Aaron :)