Da Vinci Tandems, anyone ride one?
#26
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
We wrestled with the Cannondale vs. DaVinci decision when tandem shopping. We rode both and preferred the Cannondale at the time. I will be honest and say that the 26" wheels and price point of the entry level DV steered us towards the Cannondale. Overall, we are quite happy with the T2 and flying around having a great time. I try to give my Wife butt breaks but I am a spinner and on a single would rarely stop pedaling. She is not and I have had to adjust my cadence and coast more than I like to so moving to a DaVinci is never far from my mind. Once, my Wife stood on the pedals to prevent me from going faster on a rolling road. I swear we could have hit 70mph but then she told me to stop pedaling for a second and the next thing I know, the pedals would not move despite my best efforts. That is a dirty rotten trick that she figured out and the DV drive train would take care of that nonsense
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 1,511
Bikes: '92 22" Cannondale M2000, '92 Cannondale R1000 Tandem, another modern Canndondale tandem, Two Holy Grail '86 Cannondale ST800s 27" (68.5cm) Touring bike w/Superbe Pro components and Phil Wood hubs. A bunch of other 27" ST frames & bikes.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 110 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
We have had one for about a month now and both my wife and myself love it. Although not for everyone it was the Independant drive that sold it for us. Great fun and a very nice finish.
Some pictures here:
2008 Da Vinci Joint Venture 700
Some pictures here:
2008 Da Vinci Joint Venture 700
How come the water bottle mounts on the frame aren't a lot higher? Those look really difficult to try and reach for while riding.
We have three tandems currently. One is a steel Santana Arriva that I don't approve of its very existence, but its for friends to try to suck them into tendering and much too small for us. We currently have two Cannondales. I bought one for my Dad and he gave it back. His third wife didn't ride with him and his now girls friend doesn't like not being in control. There is a reason she's not wife number four.
I'll trade all three tandems, in a heartbeat, for Davinci Aluminum, if it was custom geometry to really fit me and my stoker/kids. I'd like one with Periscope geometry where the top tube plunges so the stoker compartment can accommodate the wife or the kids. I don't even know if that's possible or feasible with a bike that would fit me. My touring Cannondale is 27" (69cm). The Cannondale tandems are Jumbo up front which is the 25" equivalent, but I really struggle to swing my legs over it, even though I'm 6'7". The stoker bar means I can't swing a leg over from the back like I do on my single. I mean its really really hard for me to mount and dismount the tandems. My wife asked me the other night if we were going to sell the other Cannondale tandem. My answer was "of course" I couldn't think of a reason to have two, essentially they are the same other than the one we're keeping have a larger steerer size (safer). Now I'm thinking it would be cool to keep the other one set up with the child stoker kit. However, the 1" steerer on the other one scares me, I'd have to have a custom fork made to quell those concerns.
I'd trade all three for a Davinci tandem. We were passing a couple on a white Davinci the other day, they were down in Gunbarrel just North of Boulder. I couldn't believe they were crazy enough to be riding their tandem on the diagonal. We pulled up next to them at the stoplight and I rolled down the window. I really wanted to ask them about the independent pedaling system. They said they hated it and had it turned off essentially immediately and haven't used it since. So I guess I've met "the one team that has asked Davinci to turn it off, as they claim." If they are on this board, PM me. You seemed like a nice couple and we should trade information and go for a tandem ride together sometime.
I think my stoker and I would LOVE the independent pedaling. I'm fat and out of shape but can still kick out some wattage. On my single I have a very strange pace in that I probably spend more time coasting than pedaling. It used to drive some roadie friends of mine crazy. We'd be riding together and he would get frustrated why he'd be getting so winded. I'd pedal for a burst and then coast. He'd be spinning and was struggling to keep up. We were on a ride to "get me one a ride." My wife hates my stop and start pedaling cadence and it actually hurts her knees. I hate the tandem because I have silly little clown 175mm cranks on it. I'm about to switch to my Zinn 200mm cranks (Davinci also makes different tandem cranksets, even up to 200mm) on the tandem and I'm really worried about torquing her knees. I'm pretty much resigned to the fact that we are going to have to get a Davinci with the independent pedaling.
I struggle to communicate when I'm starting and stopping pedaling. We are about to to experiment going 90 degrees out of phase. I think it will improve our "climbing" (what is a mountain to us probably doesn't even register as a hill to anyone else) significantly. My wife feels like I drop the pedals out from under her feet. Going out of phase should allow her to contribute during my dead spots in my spin. I have significant dead spots because my knee over spindle position isn't even in the neighborhood. I can build the tandem up from the 25"/63cm size to approximate my 69cm compartment, but the crank ends up being way out in front of me, and when I put the longer cranks on it, my pedal spindle will be significantly in front of my kneecap. I'm going to drop a weight and do the KOPS estimation and take a picture. I don't think it will even be close.
I'd like a custom tandem that actually "fit" whatever that actually means, and I think I'd love it to have the Davinci independent pedaling. Maybe a joint venture Zinn/Davinci/Paketa? Paketa builds for Zinn, and Zinn specializes in big/TALL bikes. Maybe Zinn would build me a magnesium tandem working with Davinci to figure out the geometry for me. I think we'd love the independent pedaling. I know my wife would.
#29
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
We love our da Vinci for many reasons. The independent coasting allows either of us to take a butt break at any time during a long ride without having to coast. Crossing tracks and approaching stops is simplified - the stoker's knees never get jarred to a halt. But what I really love is having that HUGE range of gears. We've got a 60-11 for flying downhills and a 24-28 for climbing walls.
In phase, out of phase, who cares? It doesn't matter unless you are 180 degrees off and pounding hard up a hill. Mostly you automatically get in phase. Nearly every picture of us riding shows us in phase.
We rode a standard tandem for a couple of years before switching. We'll never go back.
In phase, out of phase, who cares? It doesn't matter unless you are 180 degrees off and pounding hard up a hill. Mostly you automatically get in phase. Nearly every picture of us riding shows us in phase.
We rode a standard tandem for a couple of years before switching. We'll never go back.
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1517376133
Likes For DonP:
#30
alpine cross trainer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central New York
Posts: 289
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Quintara Roo Sendoza, DaVici In-2-Ition Tandem,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
8 Posts
Started out with a Co-Motion Java for a few years. Once we test rode a Da Vinci tandem we were hooked. We love our In-2-ition road tandem. Would NEVER go back to a traditional tandem. Makes for a happy stoker! No need to say more.
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
We have our dream DaVinci.... Carbon, Di2, Hydraulic brakes, ENVE cockpits, HED Jet 6+ wheels, HED Ardennes for trails.
This is our 3rd Joint Venture. We sold the other 2 to fund this one. (it only took a month!) This one is comfy and... VERY fast! I also have TT extensions with Di2 shifters on them so we can try our luck at TT racing this. If it gets to windy for the Jet 6+... We also have a HED Jet 4+.
IMG_3753 copy.jpg
This is our 3rd Joint Venture. We sold the other 2 to fund this one. (it only took a month!) This one is comfy and... VERY fast! I also have TT extensions with Di2 shifters on them so we can try our luck at TT racing this. If it gets to windy for the Jet 6+... We also have a HED Jet 4+.
IMG_3753 copy.jpg
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Anchorage, Ak
Posts: 620
Bikes: 2015 Calfee Tetra tandem,2016 Calfee Tetra Adventure Tandem, Ventana ECDM 26 mtn tandem, Ventana ECDM 29r full suspension Mtn tandem ,Ventana Fat tire tandem, Calfee Dragon Fly, Santa Cruz Carbon 5010, 907 Whiteout fat tire
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
Beautiful bike!!!
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 743
Bikes: Cannondale tandems: '92 Road, '97 Mtn. Mongoose 10.9 Ti, Kelly Deluxe, Tommaso Chorus, Cdale MT2000, Schwinn Deluxe Cruiser, Torker Unicycle, among others.
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 279 Post(s)
Liked 206 Times
in
129 Posts
We have our dream DaVinci.... Carbon, Di2, Hydraulic brakes, ENVE cockpits, HED Jet 6+ wheels, HED Ardennes for trails.
This is our 3rd Joint Venture. We sold the other 2 to fund this one. (it only took a month!) This one is comfy and... VERY fast! I also have TT extensions with Di2 shifters on them so we can try our luck at TT racing this. If it gets to windy for the Jet 6+... We also have a HED Jet 4+.
Attachment 597571
This is our 3rd Joint Venture. We sold the other 2 to fund this one. (it only took a month!) This one is comfy and... VERY fast! I also have TT extensions with Di2 shifters on them so we can try our luck at TT racing this. If it gets to windy for the Jet 6+... We also have a HED Jet 4+.
Attachment 597571
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jeneralist
Tandem Cycling
27
08-11-14 10:38 AM