rhetoric

How is it that YOU LIVE IN MONTANA and you're riding bikes while I'm wearing thermal underwear and shoveling my driveway?! Oh, wait a minute -- I figured it out! I live in Rochester NY! Everytime it rains hard enough to wash the salt off of the roads it gets cold and snows again and they put more salt on the roads. So we wait, but will enjoy our tandem vicariously through you. We actually did get out the Kent the other day so the kids could take our Japanese exchange student for a buzz around the block. Have a ball and don't forget to send me your $250 annual T.W.I.T.S membership fees! :-)

chuckhill2

What color was yours and what leg length did yours say mine said 31 1/2. Hope to get ours out soon again if weater would be more permittting. Are you as happy with yours as I am I know it is a lot cheaper than most but for the most part it seems to be made real good and solid.

Chuck

rhetoric

Kindof a flame, neon blue (all over). Ours was already put together, so we didn't get info about size, but from the photo earlier in the thread ours looks just like that. Again, as a kick around town bike (keep it on roads and bike paths) I think it should be a relatively dependable bike. We would never push the bike the way we push our TrekT200, but again, I don't think that's what it's made for (like the "mountain bikes" at Wal-Mart that say, "Not intended for off-road use!"). The frame, I'm guessing will last forever -- the components will need to be babied.

Zin

They don't call this state, "The LAST BEST PLACE" for nothing!

Chuck, our tandem is EXACTLY the same as yours.

TandemGeek

Hmmm. That looks very familiar.... less the front shock fork, a less expensive timing chain arrangement, and a few other upgrades.
https://www.diamondback.com/items.asp...temid=123&va=0

From what I can see in looking at the photo of the Wally-World model, you got a really great deal. DIAMONDBACK sells it's jazzed-up version of this frame for about $650. Given the grade of components, it's not a bad deal either; all depends on your budget and intended use. https://bbbicycles.com/site/itemdetai...t=Price%20desc

The components are all a step up on the DIAMONDBACK bike, but they won't make the bike ride or handle all that differently from your model. Good on ya' for snagging a fun bike. I've ridden a Diamondback and they make great "cruisers" for leisurely rides on bike trails, at the beach, around town, etc... I'd swear I've even seen one of the DB versions on a charity road ride. Heck, even Recumbent & Tandem Rider mag. did a review of one. Thus, any of the frame comments would most likely apply.

NOTE: My Bad. I had a brainfart when I original posted this and got my wires crossed with Pacific/Schwinn/GT. Diamondback is part of Raleigh America, located in Kent, Washington, which up and to a few years ago was called "Derby Cycle Corporation" and included the Univega brand.

Zin

Wow. I did not realize Diamondback was one of the Pacific brands.

We are planning on upgrading components as they need it. The frame has a lifetime warranty. (for what its worth). They do look a lot alike. I don't know if Kent is a Pacific brand or not. Searching the internet for Kent Bikes does not yeild much.

I'm not crazy about the "cruizer" style or fit, but I will live with it since my stoker LOVES it!

chuckhill2

I'm not crazy about the "cruizer" style or fit what do you mean cruizer style or fit, by the way did yours come with the front wheel clips the little things that fir in the frame and wheel fits in mine did not.

Chuck

TandemGeek

My Bad; it's not. I got my wires crossed as I was posting. What with all the brand consolidations, it's not hard to do.

Diamondback was consumed by Derby Cycles as was Raleigh and became part of the Raleigh/Diamondback/Univega line of bikes sold by Derby. A few years back Derby dropped the Univega line of bikes and officially changed its name to Raleigh USA. Oh yeah, Derby's and now Raleigh USA's headquarters is in Kent, Washington. Branding and marketing of bicycles is hard to keep up with.

Pacific, on the other hand, is reknown for acquiring Schwinn/GT and Mongoose bicycles. Here's a link to their Web site that lists the other brands they have acquired: https://www.pacific-cycle.com/brands/other.php

What's not widely talked about is Pacific's acquisition BY Dorel Industries in January of this year. https://www.industrypages.com/artman/..._News_3788.stm

Sorry for any confusion.

Zin

Hey Mark,
No problem about the confussion! I had not heard that Diamondback was aquired by Pacific. Now, mind you, I am no up on all the bike industry either. Thats why I had to ask. Now, the fact that this "Kent" tandem is not a Pacific does make me warm and fuzzy..

Our youngest and I took the tandem out for a 4 mile cruize when I got home from work. I can tell when he moves etc. He is learning with me. I am going to have him read up on this forum. We plan to do a 25 mile ride tomorrow, weather permitting.



Hey Chuck,

I was referring to the frame styling, and moreso the VERY UPRIGHT riding position. I am used to my either my commuter bikes, roadies, or XC MTB. All of which have a more aggressive riding position. Now having said that, I will get used to this position. Afterall, its not supposed to be an aggressive ride. The position will remind me of that. I also have to figure out the right tire measurement for the bike computer. Today's ride yeilded a 30 mph average.

So, I think this is gonna be fun. At least for me the the kids..

Zin

Hey, I've been looking into fenders for the Kent. I'm not having a lot of luck with finders that are wide enough for the 2.125" tires. Has anyone else found any full fenders that will cover those meats?

TandemGeek

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/fenders.html

Zin

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Coleen and I took our tandem out for the first time together tonight. We just stayed close to home working on mounting, starting, stopping, slow speed cornering, communications, and basic handling skills. We had such a blast!

We are planning to go for a longer ride this weekend.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and well wishes!

Bob & Coleen

chuckhill2

Did yours come with front wheel retainers. They are little silver things taht fit in the fork and the axel of front wheel go through. Mine did not directions siad they did but fork is made where the axel nut and washer fit in rounded out area so directions may bea a misprint. I am Just wondering if I am missing them.

Chuck

P. S. what is your name by the way.

chuckhill2

Any on you ever hear of a Huffy 26" Boys 2K3 Tempas Bike

toysrus has these for $45

here is link https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=glance&s=toys

you suppose these are any good remember we are not avid bike riders just starting for the exercise.

Chuck

madpogue 

Late to the party, I know, but: https://www.planetbike.com/faq/fender.html . Planet Bike makes (well, sells) some nice fenders. And they donate a percentage of profits to bike groups.

Zin

Hi Chuck,
No, our tandem did not have the front wheel retainer things either. Ours is just as you discribed yours. We purchased ours preassembled.
My name is Bob. My bride is Coleen (AG7KinMT)


Thanks for the link. We both have Planet Bike fenders on our commuter bikes. I didn't think they made full fenders for tire width greater then 2". I'll check it out!

Zin

I think they would do just fine for you, Chuck. I would, however, caution you that they may not fit well. A poor fitting bike really sucks. You may also be cautious of the riding position. If your more used to the UPRIGHT position of your tandem, this bike may not feel comfy to you. It should get you started.

chuckhill2

Ibought the huffy's for y wife and granddaughter.

I bought the mongoose manuver full supension for myself. But after getting ti home I decided the frame was to small knee was to bent in the full downward position and did not like how low the handel bars were. My 22 year ood son decided he wanted it even though he is my height.

I just bought the mongoose optimal aluminum frame for my self I hope the frame is bigger could not try it out was on self at sams club. It measures bigger than the manuver.

The aluminum bike will not be a problem for me weighing 240# will it

chuckhill2

by the way here is picture of bike from sams club website

Zin

It should be ok, Chuck. AL is strong.

Zin

Front bottom bracket is loose and we have to drop the bike off to the shop for repair..

Both Coleen and ***** have become quite good stokers. Not sure how I am doing as a captian..

Bluestreak2

Try for a KHS Tandemania, at the end of the season you can get one for under 700.00 we've had ours for 4 seasons and love it. My husband and I started out at about 200&220 and had looked for a tandem for a long time finally we were at Summitt City Bicycles in Ft. Wayne, IN. and they suggested we try the tandemania for stability, we bought it , by way of lay-a-way that afternoon after going back and test riding several other tandems. We felt stable on this bike and at 230 and 260 or less we still feel stable and pull our granddaughter in a trailer(we bought it from Sears for our dog but since we found out we were going to be grandparents before they rode in it use it for her, it would still be excellent for the springer) behind us. We are working on getting the weight down and will reward ourselves with a road tandem. good luck.

Bluestreak2

Part of the fun is the captain not thinking the stoker is pedaling, and part of the fun of being a stoker is taking your feet off the pedals just for fun. Over 99 percent of the time I am pedaling and sometimes my husband thinks I'm not.