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Newbie
Total Posts 10
Joined 2007-10-10
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While we are Americans, we have ridden some ‘non US’ tandems, including Dawes, Follis, Velo Schauff, Gitane and Gottfried. And, a couple of our tandems were built from Reynolds 531 tubing.
Our first custom tandem, back in 1977 was built by a young American, Matt Asssenmacher, who had just returned from an internship in England, building for the Bob Jackson folks. Custom builders in the US could be counted on one hand at that time.
Presented him with out plans/measurements/component list for what we wanted in a twicer. He asked: ‘Are you sure about this? I would like to measure you and double check these figures.’ That he did and our figures were spot on.
Long story made short, we ended up with a great racing tandem with a very short wheelbase (60 1/4") that included a bent rear seattube and toeclip overlap. Bear in mind, we are not average size folk. Pilot 5’7”, stoker 4’ 10-3/4"with a combined weight of under 250 lbs. By utilizing R531 single racing bike tubing, twin laterals (with cross member re-inforcement) and a then novel oval boom tube (bottom bracket connecting tube) and the best/lightest international components available at that time, including 36H wheels with Phil Wood hubs. The bike tipped the scales at a then super-light 34 1/2 lbs. when light tandems were still 45+ lbs. in weight.
It rode like a dream, super-fast handling response and we put 64,000 miles on that bike before designing a new one, rather than updating components.
Here came our next British connection. We met Colin Laing, an English ex-pat in Tucson, Arizona, who had apprenticed under the famous Jack Taylor folks. Submitted our specifications, including a lugged frame. Colin asked: “What type of lugs?” We said “Prugnat.” Colin replied: “What if I have time to so something special?” “Sure” we said.
We specced a mixture of R531 tubing; for the downtube we used larger tandem guage + oval boom tube; the rest was 531 single bike tubing. Being a bit older now, and not as ‘go-fast’ oriented, we stretched the wheelbase to 63 1/2”.
Colin handmade the lugs . . . it took him 40 hours to do headtube lugs! Then a long snake-like lug descended from the fork crown to mid-way down fork blades. The seatstays were in a mono-design with a fillet between that and rear seattube. All lugs and rear triangle were then chromed. Cableruns were internal for a clean look. A lustrous fade paintjob, going from light to deep lavender completed this combination of craftsmanship and art. Put 56,000 miles on that one before we designed/wanted another tandem.
Our take on tandems is that after 50,000+ miles on a frame, it becomes time for an update!
Currently we’ve logged 210,000+ miles in 32 years on tandem bicycles. And, must say, we consider a good tandem bicycle as an investment in our good health!
Pedal on TWOgethetr!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem/USA
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