wobblyoldgeezer

Good evening all

Any of you keen tandem riders got an opinion about the bike cited in the thread title above, for long distance rides?

Spouse'o mine and I took a trial ride on one a few weeks ago. We both were very impressed - compared to our 20 year old Santana, it seemed extremely zippy - and the shifting and the braking were a whole generation better than ours. Made us feel like athletes, much faster for same output.

But, I'm wondering - it felt pretty responsive, but maybe a bit 'twangy' if that expresses anything. Not arsh, but a bit less absorbent of road buzz. Which is only what I might expect from a tandem half the weight of the one I have.

I'm asking, because for our 25th anniversary I'm tinkering about buying one and joining an outfitted tour from Calais to the Mediterrean. Could do it on singles, andthat'd begood, but to stay happy on a quick tandem would be ever better.

All advice and views thankfully received

Hermes

Here is an interesting review....https://www.sudibe.de/articles/roadtest/rt2000.html

I suspect your old steel Santana weighs 50 pounds. We had a 1980 Santana and it was great for the time but heavy compared to what is possible today. The RT2 comes with a steel fork which will dampen out a lot of the road vibration.

For our new 2006 Santana, aluminum, I changed out the heavier steel fork for a carbon fiber fork and added a Tamer shock absorbing seat post for the stoker. The aluminum frame with that combination rides great.

We see a lot of Cannondale tandems on the road and in tandem TT races. I think the stiff frame and lower price appeal to the performance cyclists who may not want to spend more money for a slighter lighter and more comfortable tandem.

wobblyoldgeezer

Thanks, Mr Hermes

I'm about 50% towards the Cannondale, and inclined towards spec.ing it with a carbon fork and a thudbuster for the spouse

Ride with you one of these days when we leave here back to our little cottage in Santa Cruz??

crtreedude 

We have a Cannondale tandem, it isn't the road bike, but a cross. We have been very happy with it. I will admit to breaking the long chain twice though till I learned to not stand up when going up a hill.

wobblyoldgeezer

Heavens, Pal, that's awful
I've thrown the chain a few times on our old Orbit tandem shifting into the granny gear whilst under load, but that was entirely driver error
But breaking a chain - never so far
How's your soprano in the choir? Spellbinding, I trust

stapfam

Have the offroad version which is basically the same frame. Aluminium will give a stoker a very harsh ride so Suspension post is going to be needed. We did try a steel frame before we got this one and the flex on it was frightening. And that was just starting while on a test ride from the shop.

On the chains and gearing. We are hard on chains- all that mud and slogging up the hills.The crossover chain has never broken in about 14,000 miles but I did change it at 8,000. when I suddenly got a bit of stretch in it. And we went for an XT chain. Drive chain and that get changed about every 1,000 to 1,500 miles. We run 9 speed and also need the lowest gear we can get. I did try an11/34 cassette but first time out and we bent it. Got it changed by the LBS as that should not have happened. Next ride out and we bent it again. Wemt back to an LX 11/32 and never any more problems. Two sets of legs are powerfull so watch out.

Overall on gearing- If you are touring- then you will need low gears. We have 48/36/24 and 11/32 cassette. Good enough to get us up the steepest offroad hills and fast enough for 30mph at a cadence of 100. You might not need as low as 24 but you will need the 32.

crtreedude 

I really don't know why I didn't hit bottom, to say it delicately, but I suspect I was only saved because I have clipless pedals.

But it is enough to cause one to break out in a cold sweat... Not the fault of the bike nor chain in my opinion.

crtreedude 

Regarding the stoker, she has a strut on her seat post and she says it is rather comfortable.

zonatandem

A good tandem for the $$.
Very stiff frame, so suggestion of carbon fork and good suspension seat post negate some of the harshness of the alu frame.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem