This thread started with riding fire roads (gravel grinding), so I have quick story. This summer I converted my Cannondale Road tandem into a gravel bike by switching out the 700C wheels for 650B wheels and I couldn't be happier. I was able fit 2 inch tires with a slightly chain stay modification. I live next to a state forest with literally 100 miles of gravel roads and some amazing climbing, my wife and I ride the gravel when it is raining just to stay off the main roads and not deal with traffic. Awesome work outs, silence and super fun down hills. My wife and I are hooked and if I didn't already own 4 tandems maybe I would buy a full suspension so we could ride more single track. Hmmm 5 tandems, that is not so bad is it ?

Wow, what a great 'start'.

Nothing wrong with having 5 tandems! That is what my wife and I are telling ourselves.

Great to hear that you are enjoying the gravel roads. It is REALLY nice to get off of the pavement and out of traffic!!! Sadly our skinny-tire tandem gets the least use out of all of our bikes, but we also see a lot less traffic!

I gotta say, we ride our Cannondale a lot, it is such a versatile bike. We have used the bike for everything from racing, touring, rain riding, single track, gravel roads, etcc.. What a value, we bought it new in 2011 for 3K, it came new with good components so we didn't need to make any changes other than adding fenders and wider tires. The plan was to use it as a winter rain bike so we didn't get our custom tandem dirty ;-), oh well it became our go to bike and we started riding it for all seasons (that is until we got our Calfee this year). So yes, bottom line is gravel riding is a new found love.

Check this out:
EpicTV Video: Tandem Mountain Biking: The Ultimate Relationship Test | Play Harder, Ep. 7 | EpicTV

5 tandems was our max for a short bit. We are now down to two and enjoy what we have.

The most recent tandem change, and now that the weather is nice for where we live is the photos below...yes she rides off-road and enjoys it most times.

PK

Wow... she can even change gears.

Get that girl a Thudbuster!

Look close, it took a while to find one, but that Tag A Long is an Adams Shocker and has suspension that works really well. No Thudbuster needed.

PK

I stand corrected. Nice!

Was not trying to sound smarty pants. Simply it was a tag a long (actually after reading the frame it is called a trail a bike) that I knew existed years ago but is no longer made. The design made sense for off road use and honestly has proven very capable on rough trails.

As for using a Thudbuster on a tag a long, rest assured, if I had not found this Adams Shocker, the girl would be on some form of short height suspension seatpost, or even a modified frame that utilized the Thudbuster LT.

My greatest concern now is not snagging her feet so we are working on simple request such as stand or pedals "flat" to keep interest high and injury potential low.

I do fear when her younger sister moves up to this tag a long, being declared a wild by her mom and only 2 years old, she may be the one mashing the pedals for more speed while flailing about. My next expense could be micro sized motocross gear.

PK

She is looking great Paul! We are happy to report we picked up our new Grinch green Fandango from Alex at MTB Tandems just before Thanksgiving. We finally got to ride with another mtb tandem thanks to Michael and Carin Hopton. They took us on some nice trails at Blankets Creek. It could only have been better if Alex and Kim could have joined us but we got rained out on Sunday the scheduled ride day. Now we cannot wait for the next Aorta.

We both had so much fun riding we did not take one pic of the bike while out on the trails. Laura is off for 2 weeks at Christmas. We have jokingly said maybe have to make a trip back between Christmas and New Years just to get some pics of the bike in the mountains. The only pic we got was the one Alex shot outside the store and it does NOT do the color justice. Looks washed out but it is a very bright lime green.

I saw and replied on MTBR. As for Grinch Green, neat color and honestly not one soon to forget if you have seen it in person.

Mike and Carin are great people. Awesome riders and fun both on and off the bike. Don't forget, there are also other teams that are a blast to ride with. The crew in Tallahassee with Greg and Ang getting a new ride and I believe first time going off-road.

Roll that Fandango and have fun.

PK