Ehkzu

Our Tamer suspension seatpost snapped in half during normal usage. I think it's a manufacturing defect but have had the bike 6 years so probably can't get satisfaction.

Anyway now I'm looking for a replacement. Have found that the bigger parallelogram-type models are too tall. We have an extra-large framed Santana Visa & my wife's only 5/7" so we probably have to stick with the traditional plunger type.

However, few seatposts are 29.8mm (yet another area where tandem parts tend to be different from solo bike parts). Any suggestions?

I'd hate to get another Tamer. Not happy with the pieces of their product that I'm now holding. Plus a dealer told me the new Tamer parallelogram-style post has a little pin that often breaks. I could get a normal-diameter post plus a shim, but that seems so klugy...

TandemGeek

...but it's far less expensive than replacing your tandem with one that has more conventional sized seat tubes.

Seriously, shims and sleeves exist because they work well and, frankly, aren't all that noticeable. I have "normal" size seat tubes that take 27.2 seat posts which are too narrow for many of the stoker booms: only Cannondale's Coda-branded models are offered in 27.2. Therefore, I've had shims on our '98 Erickson from day one and haven't given it another thought until just now.

Bottom Line: If your stoker needs a shockpost find a good one and if it needs a sleeve/shim, so be it.

zonatandem

Shims are not a 'bling issue' as 99% of it is inside the seattube.

djedgar

Originally Posted by Ehkzu
Our Tamer suspension seatpost snapped in half during normal usage. I think it's a manufacturing defect but have had the bike 6 years so probably can't get satisfaction.

Just a suggestion, but give Tamer a chance. We have broken two of the original design posts. I think the first one was within the first year of purchasing our Santana and it was replaced free. The second was about 6 years old too. They didn't replace it, but they did give us a very good price on the newer style. That has been on at least a year with no problems. We also bought a shim, so just in case it did break, we could get a replacement in a hurry if necessary.

dj
Santana Picante

becnal

Get a normal seatpost and put a Brooks sprung saddle on it. Sheldon Brown, world famous Tandem guru, says:

"Elaborate and complicated suspension systems are becoming increasingly common, as riders complain of the discomfort of riding an un-sprung saddle on a rigid frame bike. Some bikes build the suspension into the frame, at great expense. Other bikes come with suspension seatposts, which have sliding parts subject to wear and slop.

A sprung saddle has no moving, sliding parts to wear out or develop "sticktion", it is lighter than most other suspension systems, and requires no special maintenance.

Generally, any cyclist who rides with the handlebar grips higher than the saddle would be better off with a saddle with springs. Sprung saddles are also particularly desirable for tandem stokers, who can't see the bumps coming."

https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles/springs.html

Ehkzu

Seems like a sprung saddle is liable to pogoing, isn't it? Nothing to dampen the bouncing movement.

Our saddles are those Specialized saddles with a deep groove down the middle and nice flat spots right under the sit bones--it'd be hard to give them up.

I understand that Cane Creed Thudbuster posts use an elastomer suspension that's immune to stiction problems. I have a $150 Cannondale suspension post on my solo bike that's never had any problems at all. I'm guessing stiction is mainly a problem with the cheaper suspension posts.

The point about Tamer is well taken. I should email them and see if they'll give me a deal. I'd sure love not to spend $150 on a seatpost right now.