Hi everyone, greetings. Last time I posted in bikeforums was in 2012 to show off my tandem at that time.
my polygon Impression AX tandem bike

I never really has a chance to really tweak and ride with my tandem until recently due to Covid and finding the right partner as stoker.
After a series of mishap such as bent timing chainring, a lost Campy Record tandem crank ordered from eBay, lathe disaster that caused my pedal to fell off during a ride (I lathed the normal SS crank to change the thread direction to fit cross drive), I decided to give a single side drive a try. Also, of course, after watching this new GCN video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7YJPHXlO-8&feature=youtu.be

What do you guys think about it? Further, I really want to try the front single side drive configuration but it seems like no one has ever posted their experience about it. Has anyone tried it and is there any benefit to it?
Thanks,

Michael Michael

With all due respect Michael², given your obvious difficulties with innovating existing tandem technologies ... are you really in the best position to speak so authoritatively on what or what not "everyone" will be doing eventually?

....Now, now, now, let's not be mean. It's only an opinion....

The single side drive does have a lot going for it. It's less complicated, lighter, less expensive, and with the advent in recent years of really wide range cassettes and the rear derailleurs to handle them, they are getting closer to offering enough range of gearing for more tandem teams, especially those teams that aren't interested in touring with gear or for those who don't live in regions with big climbs.

I have several tandems and so far, have not tried to convert any of them to SSD. I probably need all the range I can get at my age...but maybe I'll give it a try it some time.

We’ve tried single side. We mounted the stoker’s timing ring outboard of her largest ring so as not lose the triple chainrings. Only some cranks have enough clearance under the arm to clear the timing ring and chain. The real downside is that if the rear chain overshifts off the large ring it instantly jams into the tensioned timing chain that is running necessarily close to the large ring. You don’t crash because the rear end still freewheels but you are immobilized until you slacken the eccentric and pry the jammed chain out of the timing chain with the large screwdriver which fortunately you remembered to bring with you on your road test. The “texture” of the two chains ensures that they will jam together tightly. Rear-admiral in charge of Her Majesty’s Royal Dockyard ordered immediate reversion to conventional cross-over drive. Her patience was tested by numerous mosquito bites sustained while both hands occupied helping captain clear jammed chain to restore motive power.

It seems like you chose the most difficult possible combination.

It’s a natural for a 1x system where you can put the drive ring on the boost chain line and the timing ring on the inner.

What is the widest range cassette sold? I imagine the new Eagle 11 - 50's must be in contention. So, if you had a reasonable underdrive at the low end, your monster mash gear could never be higher than 90"+. That wouldn't be enough for me on a 1/2 bike and I think tandems should have tractor trailer gearing and go from high teen's granny's to high 100 teen's spin down the 6% cool off the brakes top end. That simply isn't possible with 1x, and that is why I said that I think the o.p. does not speak for 'everyone'. 2x and even 3x have lots of life left in the 1/2 bike world. Decades more in the tandem and recumbent worlds.

10-52 on SRAM, so 5.2:1 range and the X Dome cassettes are extra durable. So better than you posit. There are others like e13 going to a 9t top gear.

My post wasn’t really about that, though. Just pointing out what I pointed out. 1x makes single side possible without special tandem cranks or weird 4-ring stack ups .