New tandem riders
 

My wife and I wanted to get a bicycle built for two a few years ago, but we knew nothing about it. The interest kinda waned as we got busier with work and other things. Recently, I decided to buy a bike for myself to get some exercise. I researched on and off for a couple months and decided on a hybrid.

This morning, I decided it was time to pull the trigger and get the Trek 7100. My wife and I went to the shop to pick it up. As we were walking in the door, there it was...a shiny red Electra tandem. It looked like a lot of fun, but we weren't serious about it. Then we decided to take a test ride just for grins.

Well, the Trek stayed on the rack at the shop and the Electra came home with us. We rode it 2-3 miles this afternoon. Even though our legs are sore, we had a blast. Our neighborhood is hilly and probably not the best terrain for someone in my sorry shape...I basically haven't exercised in a couple years. Hopefully we'll get in better shape as we ride it over time so we can enjoy it even more.

Got it for a really great price, which further influenced our decision. All we need is a headlight and taillight so we can cruise around after sundown! I look forward to learning from this forum.

Where abouts are you?

Hi there. I'm in the Dallas area.

You are lucky. The Dallas Tandem Club is very active http://www.doubledates.com with a very knowledgeable group and Richardson Bike Mart at Coit and Campbell is one of the best bike stores in the USA.

Have fun!

hellbetty, Congratulations and welcome...The only thing to learn is just have fun, ride and enjoy! ...it doesn't get any better.
Bill J.

Many thanks! We took a 3 mile ride this morning. Although our legs are like noodles right now, it was easier today. We're in the Irving/Las Colinas area of town, which has some fairly steep hills for beginning riders (at least WE think so!). The low gearing of our new bike is nice for the hills, but it's still quite a workout for us.

I've been to Richardson Bike Mart several times. They're great over there. Very helpful. I plan on heading out there to get some lights, bottle holders, and possibly a speedometer/odometer. Mostly interested in the odometer function so we can gauge how our rides progress over time. Can you recommend a good unit for the latter? I noted the forks on the bike are a fair distance from the wheel spokes, so I'm not sure how the pickup could be arranged.

Welcome!
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandm

The pickup can be adjusted through a pretty good range on most setups
(ATB bikes can have a pretty large gap also). Another alternative is to
look up some 1/4 or 3/8" neodymium disc magnets and stack them on the
spoke magnet to move the magnet closer to the detector on the fork.
If the initial magnet is not 'strong enough' a dab of goo or instant glue
should suffice. Neodymiums have enough strength to hold themselves
in place.

I recommend the Cateye Astrale 8 as an inexpensive computer that has all the functions you need (including cadence). We faced the same situation with the gap between fork leg and spoke. I think, however, that shimming the sensor out to meet the spoke magnet is a better solution than stacking an inch worth of magnets together to meet the sensor. BTW, I didn't know what an Electra was so I did some Googling. Is your bike only 3 speeds? I have to tell you, there have been some debates on here about entry level tandems and what they are and what they are not but IMO you will not be happy with that bike for very long. Don't put any more miles on it until you do some research. The reason you are ok with it now is because of your relative inexperience. I haven't been able to find an Electra for less than $1200.00. For much less money than that you could get a Fuji Absolute, A KHS Tademania or a Raleigh Coupe or Companion. These are FAR better bikes than the Electra and far less expensive. FWIW.

You may be right, but then again you may be way off the reservation.... Did you happen to look up a Trek 7100 while you were out there Googling?

Here's my only point: People buy and ride different types of bikes for different reasons, which is why there are so many different types and styles of bikes... just as there are with cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, planes, and you name it. Variety IS the spice of life. Viva le difference!! Therefore, it's quite possible that our new friend purchased the Electra knowing full well what it was (kinda hard to confuse a fat-tire cruiser tandem for anything else) and of it's performance envelope.

So, how about giving him the benefit of the doubt and celebrating their first foray into tandeming instead of making a whole lot of assumptions about he and his wife's needs and expectations and encouraging them to NOT ride the tandem that they are both apparently enjoying the heck out of. I don't find fault with your bike recommendations... as there are a lot of great entry level tandems on the market. However, if a hot-looking, bright red cruiser tandem trips a couple's trigger and gets them out riding together... woo hoo, that's great!

Just some food for thought.




To hellbetty... That's a rad-looking ride. Enjoy the heck out of it and, if you and your wife decide you might want something a bit more swift, ya'll let us know what you're looking for.

Exactly. When we move back to some flatter parts of So Cal next year we plan on getting just that for short distance cruising out to lunch or dinner. Something that we don't need to get dressed in cycling clothes and if it gets ripped off I'm not out $8000.:D

Leisesturm,

Thanks for the cycle computer recommendation...will check it out tonight.

I see your point on the 3-speed and the Electra being an entry-level cruiser. However, that's exactly our stage as beginners. I've already noticed a few things that, if I had my druthers, I'd change...such as a couple taller gears. But, it is what it is and I assure you we're having a great time and getting some much-needed exercise even if we're only moving at 12 mph! It's very well-made, has comfortable seats, and everything is as it should be. Less importantly, passersby love the bike and want to know about it. It's really cool!

We paid nowhere near the $1200 that your research yielded. If that had been the price, we'd have summarily passed on it...not because it's not worth that much to some people, but because we wouldn't have been willing to throw that much on ANY bike, no matter the value others might find in it, at this stage. We gave $549+tax for the brand-new, assembled bike, delivered to our front door 10 miles from the shop. It's a 2007 model year, and I suspect the shop wanted to clear it out quickly. Glad they did!


TandemGeek -

Yes, you're correct. I recognized that we wouldn't be winning any races with it, but that's not our motivation anyway. It's exercise, being outside, and enjoying each other's company. Thanks for the good wishes!

Look at the bright side: You've got a shiny red tandem to tool around on right now!
If, or when, you decide you may want another tandem, you've gained experience without a big $$ outlay.
Tandeming can become addictive . . . so beware!
In the meantime, enjoy!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Zonatandem - thanks! Yes, there's nothing but bright side on this one....it's a really cool ride and we're enjoying it. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a tandem cruiser!

Congratulations on finding a fun way to spend time with your honey and get some exercise in the bargain. Hope you have many hours of fun twogether. We are so glad we got our tandem and if wish you guys the best.:D

TandemGeek, I am very surprised that you would criticize me for asking the purchaser of a 3-speed, cruiser style tandem with an apparent list price of $1299.00 to hold off on adding further depreciation till they were sure they made the right purchase decision! All the more incredible as when I joined this forum real heat was poured on anyone considering the purchase of anything other than a front line specialty tandem even if it had to be purchased used to bring the price under $2K. I stand by my opinions and IMO entry level riders need more speeds, not less. Our first tandem was the Kent (Wal-Mart) Dual-Drive, a bike that is below the radar of even the 'entry-level' price point (~$1k) at $200.00. But the DD has a triple front crankset and an 8sp cluster. Luckilly the original posters understand that my concern came from a good place. I was hardly telling them to give up riding. Just making a reality check, wouldn't you appreciate someone asking you if you were really sure you wanted to do something rather than simply give blanket encouragement even when that person would never in a million years themselves do the very thing they have given you the thumbs up on?? Hmmmm....

H

Your sentiment and intentions are all fine, well, and good; however, timing and responsiveness to the questions asked is the issue.

If the OP had come to the forum with the question, "Hey, I'm about to go buy this $1,200 tandem for 1/2 price because I think we'll enjoy it... is this a good idea?" That's an open invitation to offer up alternatives just as you did.

However, the OP didn't ask that question because he'd already applied his own judgement to a purchasing decision, the horse was out of the barn, and they clearly were happy with their decision. While you were very responsive to the questions he asked regarding computers... which is goodness, the subsequent commentary about the prudence of his decision is where neither the timing nor the utility of the information you provided appeared to be responsive to the OP's needs or interests and was based on a lot of assumptions. Even if you believe in your heart that someone made a poor choice, there's a right way and a wrong way to address it and timing is everything.

In closing, I've said before and I'll say it again, I don't really care what type of tandem anyone rides. All I care is that it meets their needs and that they enjoy it. If those criteria can be achieved with a $60 garage sale Schwinn Twinn, a Kent Dual Drive, an Electra Hell Betty, or anything thing else with two saddles that's not a death trap then I'm all for it and I believe the archives will bear this out.

I ended up getting a Cateye micro-wireless model. As it turned out, the fork distance wasn't a concern. It took me about 15 minutes to get everything installed. Works great!

I also ordered a headlight and taillight - chose units from Planet Bike. Man, they are VERY bright for their size. They are more than adequate for after-sundown visibility and the headlight casts a respectable beam.

As for the Electra, I think one needs to check it out before making a judgement call. The intent of the bike isn't to go 100 miles at 30mph. It is for neighborhood/beach/leisure cruising, and it does that quite well. Luckily, the neighborhood cruising part is the exact application that we wanted. Anyone that says you don't get good exercise or have great fun with a bike like this is nuts. I'm sure if you're very serious about tandem riding as a sport, there are much better alternatives...but we're in it for enjoyment and exercise only.

We did a 5 mile ride last Saturday....we're slowly working our way up!