Looking for small/small used tandem bike
#1
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Looking for small/small used tandem bike
My wife and I are interested in trying out a tandem, but I have not been able to find a used one with a small/small cockpits. There are a number of chinese bikes on ebay but I would likely be very disappointed with them. I ride a Cannondale CAAD8 50cm with Campy Veloce, and she rides a Trek hybrid.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
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Last edited by speedevil; 09-30-17 at 07:30 PM.
#2
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Obviously there's craigslist and ebay. But there are several tandems that might work for you listed here: https://www.tandemclassifieds.com
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I bought one of those Pacific Cycles tandems locally in Craigslist as a bare frame and built it up. I haven't had it out much, but it was ok for "trying out".
Since it was a bare frame, the first thing to go on were drop bars.
From your notes, your wife apparently has a hybrid, so isn't a road racer, so perhaps the tandem would work for the two of you.
Since it was a bare frame, the first thing to go on were drop bars.
From your notes, your wife apparently has a hybrid, so isn't a road racer, so perhaps the tandem would work for the two of you.
#4
Junior Member
A 26" wheel bike makes the size problem a lot easier to solve for smaller folks. One possibility is a MTB tandem, because MTB frames usually size smaller than road frames for the same rider. Swap it over to road tires and drop bars... only you know if that approach could work for you.
#5
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I've done more looking around, and maybe a Giordano Viaggio might work for us. It seems to be a step up from the hi-ten frames I've seen. Once we've put in some miles, and are sure that tandeming (sp) is for us, I can look at brake/mech upgrades for it.
This one uses a tensioner for the timing chain, not sure if an eccentric BB would be available and could be made to work. Getting ahead of myself, I know. I prefer to think of it as "future improvements". Don't we all do that?
Is this a reasonable way to go? We sure would like to find a tandem in western KY that we could rent/borrow, but none of the LBS in this area seem to have any available.
This one uses a tensioner for the timing chain, not sure if an eccentric BB would be available and could be made to work. Getting ahead of myself, I know. I prefer to think of it as "future improvements". Don't we all do that?
Is this a reasonable way to go? We sure would like to find a tandem in western KY that we could rent/borrow, but none of the LBS in this area seem to have any available.
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Is this one small enough? 53cm/51cm in Denver for $900:
https://denver.craigslist.org/bid/d/...300686500.html
here's a another one, $500 Burley:
https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/b...281647102.html
https://denver.craigslist.org/bid/d/...300686500.html
here's a another one, $500 Burley:
https://fortcollins.craigslist.org/b...281647102.html
#7
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I saw the ad for that Santana, but the captain cockpit is a little large for me. Since I'll need to stand over the bike while my wife gets on and settled, I need to have a lower stand-over height. I may have to go to 650B size wheels to get one that will fit both of us well. I can lace new rims to the existing hubs, which my be the best bet for us and a decent frame. That would lower the stand-over by about an inch, but might need long-reach brakes. But honestly, I am hoping to be able to pick up a tandem cheaply enough that we can put some miles on it and be sure that tandeming is for us before we look for a better bike.
Looking at this frame, it has V-brakes so a smaller diameter rim would require additional changes I think - possibly rebrazing the posts to a lower position.
I ride a 50cm CAAD8 and she rides a 18in Trek hybrid, if that is helpful. Neither of us will be playing NBA basketball anytime soon. Ha.
Looking at this frame, it has V-brakes so a smaller diameter rim would require additional changes I think - possibly rebrazing the posts to a lower position.
I ride a 50cm CAAD8 and she rides a 18in Trek hybrid, if that is helpful. Neither of us will be playing NBA basketball anytime soon. Ha.
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Last edited by speedevil; 10-01-17 at 08:28 AM.
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Not so common to be traded, but: recumbent tandems can be very flexible seem it comes to sizing. And very comfortable to ride!
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We have a M/S Cannondale road tandem dating from about 2003. Captain standover measures 74 cm if that would be small enough. Top tube is 54cm, but you can play with the eccentric position to effectively shorten that some, and I don't think running a very short stem has as much of an effect on handling for a tandem as for a single given the longer wheelbase.
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[QUOTE=speedevil;19899405] I need to have a lower stand-over height. I may have to go to 650B size wheels to get one that will fit both of us well. I can lace new rims to the existing hubs, which my be the best bet for us and a decent frame. That would lower the stand-over by about an inch/QUOTE]
Generally people use bigger tires on 650B conversions so that the effective height doesn't change. I'd be very hesitant about using 650Bs to lower the height of the bike like that...not sure what it would do to the handling, but you'd need to be really careful about hitting a pedal in turns.
Generally people use bigger tires on 650B conversions so that the effective height doesn't change. I'd be very hesitant about using 650Bs to lower the height of the bike like that...not sure what it would do to the handling, but you'd need to be really careful about hitting a pedal in turns.
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My wife and I are interested in trying out a tandem, but I have not been able to find a used one with a small/small cockpits. There are a number of chinese bikes on ebay but I would likely be very disappointed with them. I ride a Cannondale CAAD8 50cm with Campy Veloce, and she rides a Trek hybrid.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
I think that since it sounds like you have not tried out a tandem to see if you would even like it. Unless you don't mind throwing money at stuff blindly,I think that you should see if their are any bike shops within striking range, that might have small rental tandem(s) or for sale, to try out. I used to be in tandem retail, and can tell you that without trying, it will be hard to tell if you will like it. Over the years, I experienced a lot of different reactions from different people. I had one couple who were sure that they would love tandeming, but 50 feet later, she jumped off and said that she did not know that she could not take the lack of control.
#12
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I think that since it sounds like you have not tried out a tandem to see if you would even like it. Unless you don't mind throwing money at stuff blindly,I think that you should see if their are any bike shops within striking range, that might have small rental tandem(s) or for sale, to try out. I used to be in tandem retail, and can tell you that without trying, it will be hard to tell if you will like it. Over the years, I experienced a lot of different reactions from different people. I had one couple who were sure that they would love tandeming, but 50 feet later, she jumped off and said that she did not know that she could not take the lack of control.
So, my plan is to find an inexpensive (relatively) tandem, buy it, and find out if it will work for us. If it does, then I can upgrade the components or find a better one. If not, I won't have too many $$ in it.
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#13
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You could also spend that money on a short tandem vacation with a rented bike. You'll find out quickly whether if will work for you our not. If it works, go and buy something proper that does not demand constant compromises and is plenty of fun.
#14
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What are the standover heights that you need? A medium with 26" wheels might work for you. I'm 5'8" with a 29-30" inseam and can stand over both our Co-Motion Mocha and Santana Fusion 26" wheeled tandems; my wife/stoker is 5'2" and around a 28" inseam and the mediums are ok for her, too. Standover height in the back isn't quite so critical for most stokers.
Small-sized tandems are hard to come by used. I'm keeping my eyes open for a good one with couplers as I have some back issues currently that make the medium sizes just a bit too hard to throw a leg over and the small might work better for me in the near term.
Small-sized tandems are hard to come by used. I'm keeping my eyes open for a good one with couplers as I have some back issues currently that make the medium sizes just a bit too hard to throw a leg over and the small might work better for me in the near term.
#15
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We watched classifieds for 2 years before we found our bike. This may take a while, be patient.
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You might want to join the "Tandem Bicycle" Facebook page and see if anyone on that group are near by. They have nearly 1,500 members and maybe someone is near by that has a bike you could try.
Another option would be a weekend trip to one of the Tandem Shops in the south. I couldn't tell how far you would be from Tandem Limited in Birmingham AL or House of Tandems in Spring, TX north of Houston would be from you. It looks like it would be a long drive but we did some driving when we first started out. I'm the total opposite of you being very long-legged. :-) The other thing you could do is call Co-Motion or Santana and see what shop they have in the dealer network that has bike in stock that you could try.
Having gone through a couple of bikes in our process, I'd hate to see you get a cheap bike and then put a lot of upgrades into it. If you buy a cheap tandem try it out and then just look at that cost as the test ride if you were to drive to one of the tandem shops with hotels it would probably cost similar to what one of the cheaper bikes on ebay would cost. It would just be a shame to throw a lot of upgrade dollar to the cheap bike. If all goes well you can then make a very informed purchase. We purchased a too small for me Canondale as our second tandem and then proceeded to spend several hundred dollars to try and make it fit. We then bought the correct size and sold the Canondale for what we paid for it. So if I'd just gone with what I knew in my heart we could have put those wasted dollars to the new bike instead. Best of luck I'm sure you will enjoy tandeming!
Another option would be a weekend trip to one of the Tandem Shops in the south. I couldn't tell how far you would be from Tandem Limited in Birmingham AL or House of Tandems in Spring, TX north of Houston would be from you. It looks like it would be a long drive but we did some driving when we first started out. I'm the total opposite of you being very long-legged. :-) The other thing you could do is call Co-Motion or Santana and see what shop they have in the dealer network that has bike in stock that you could try.
Having gone through a couple of bikes in our process, I'd hate to see you get a cheap bike and then put a lot of upgrades into it. If you buy a cheap tandem try it out and then just look at that cost as the test ride if you were to drive to one of the tandem shops with hotels it would probably cost similar to what one of the cheaper bikes on ebay would cost. It would just be a shame to throw a lot of upgrade dollar to the cheap bike. If all goes well you can then make a very informed purchase. We purchased a too small for me Canondale as our second tandem and then proceeded to spend several hundred dollars to try and make it fit. We then bought the correct size and sold the Canondale for what we paid for it. So if I'd just gone with what I knew in my heart we could have put those wasted dollars to the new bike instead. Best of luck I'm sure you will enjoy tandeming!
#17
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do you ever come to northern Indiana to ride? We have the Pumpkinvine Trail and other nice roads and trials to ride. If you want to come up here and ride some weekend I could let you use our Cannondale mountain tandem. M/S captain standover 30 inches. If that would work it would give you a chance to try a little before you buy. We also have at least one local shop who has tandems to rent.
#18
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do you ever come to northern Indiana to ride? We have the Pumpkinvine Trail and other nice roads and trials to ride. If you want to come up here and ride some weekend I could let you use our Cannondale mountain tandem. M/S captain standover 30 inches. If that would work it would give you a chance to try a little before you buy. We also have at least one local shop who has tandems to rent.
As soon as my plan firm up, I'll PM you with my contact info. A sincere thank you for the kind offer.
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#19
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Thanks for the tip. I just clicked the join button for the group, looks like a great resource. Maybe there is a member close by (or reasonably close by) and we could meet. I might just be surprised.
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#20
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Interestingly, my folks live in Roanoke, and I'm planning a trip up there in the next week or so. My wife won't be able to come with me on this trip, but maybe we could meet and I could at least see if your M/S would work for me as captain. From what I read the stoker fit is not as critical as the captain's fit.
As soon as my plan firm up, I'll PM you with my contact info. A sincere thank you for the kind offer.
As soon as my plan firm up, I'll PM you with my contact info. A sincere thank you for the kind offer.
I am also in the facebook Tandem Bicycle group and Tandem off road bicycle group
Last edited by digital_photog; 10-02-17 at 04:27 PM.
#21
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I've got searches set up on fleabay and craigslist, so hopefully I've at last got a chance to see what's out there and available. From my other bike and component purchases, this is a waiting and timing game if you're looking for a good deal. Not-so-great to mediocre deals are more plentiful, but we're heading towards the end of the riding season so there's no real hurry. It would be nice to find a tandem that would work for us, then I would have plenty of time to get it dialed in before the riding season starts.
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#22
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Yup, that's the same approach we took. Took about half a year until we found our tandem used in great condition for about 50% of the new price. Make sure to have your search radius large enough, we used about 300km, I believe.
#23
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If you aren't in a hurry, one will pop up sooner or later.
We had the same problem, looked for a season, purchased a used Santana, but it was still too large in the captains cockpit, sold it, bought a Cannondale, only a tad better, finally ordered a new davinci in small-small, but it was only after we were convinced we could justify the investment. Good luck waiting
R&J
We had the same problem, looked for a season, purchased a used Santana, but it was still too large in the captains cockpit, sold it, bought a Cannondale, only a tad better, finally ordered a new davinci in small-small, but it was only after we were convinced we could justify the investment. Good luck waiting
R&J
#24
Senior Member
My wife and I are interested in trying out a tandem, but I have not been able to find a used one with a small/small cockpits. There are a number of chinese bikes on ebay but I would likely be very disappointed with them. I ride a Cannondale CAAD8 50cm with Campy Veloce, and she rides a Trek hybrid.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
Are used small tandems available, or is it just uncommon enough that I haven't been looking in the right places?
I'm a decent mechanic (I built the C'dale including the wheels), so I could probably work through most issues but I have zero experience with tandems.
Suggestions welcomed. We are in western Kentucky, if that info is helpful.
KHS Tandem offerings from Tandems East
Bike Friday Family Travelers have a decent repuation, too. I'm not sure about the top tube lengths, but they look highly adjustable. I recently built a wheel for some tandem riders who prefer their 20" wheeled Bike Friday Family Traveler to their 26" wheeled Burley Rock n Road of similar vintage. I see one listed at Tandems East: Tandems East Closeouts
Others have mentioned getting an MTB tandem and installing drop bars. That is the exact opposite of what you should do. MTB frames have longer top tubes than road bikes. Installing drop bars increases the reach relative to flat bars. You might be able to make a too-large road frame work as a hybrid by installing flat bars.
#25
Junior Member
Here's a small Santana Fusion (26" wheels) that should fit, and at a good price.
https://neworleans.craigslist.org/bik/d/santana-fusion-tandem/6283831293.html
It's in Biloxi MS. You would need to switch to drop bars and shifters but you would have a quality bike/frame worth a few upgrades.
Tailwinds,
Charlie
https://neworleans.craigslist.org/bik/d/santana-fusion-tandem/6283831293.html
It's in Biloxi MS. You would need to switch to drop bars and shifters but you would have a quality bike/frame worth a few upgrades.
Tailwinds,
Charlie