Cycling UK Forum

Thanks everyone for your very useful info and advice. We hired a tandem yesterday at Rutland Water and went for ride. My wife enjoyed it, and so did I once she realized she had push down on the pedals. She thought it was dead easy until that point!!!!
We have chatted since and think that although a tandem is a big investment it does offer benefits over 2x solos. With solos it is easy to get away fromt each other accidentally or on purpose (e.g. because of traffic), where as with a tandem you are stuck with each other for good and bad. My wife realized that this is pretty good as she can jab me in the ribs when we need a power boost!!!
Anyway I am now looking for a tandem shop in the Midlands to have a look at more tandems. Has anyone got any suggestions?
I take the point that 2nd hand frames are rare and think we will try to find a complete bike.
Is the Ridgeback Panarama any good? They seem to sell at reasonable prices!

Hi all,
We are thinking of getting our first tandem! Actually, more like, I have convinced my wife it would be a good idea. We have tried an old Claud Butler before, but just up and down the road.
I could buy new, but as I have access to parts at cost and I am able to do all the jobs necessary to build a tandem myself, I am thinking of investing in a good frame, or 2nd hand tandem that is sound but needs work.
Any suggestions for good frames that I should look out for, and where to look?
Thanks

Id it helps we've used Tektro RL and TL series levers with Hayes and TRP HY RD calipers without any problems.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my SM-G935F using hovercraft full of eels.

Winter bike with bullhorn bars and trigger shifters near the stem.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

Old style Tiagra levers with cables coming out of the side - ideal for bullhorn bars.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

Sjs do a 13-32 freewheel. The 13t would enable you to reduce your chainring size to maybe 36t nearly maintaining your high gear, but reducing your low gear quite a bit. A 36t ring will depend on your bcd though.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

It might be easier to reduce the chainring size?

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

Thanks for all the replies. One thing I have done which improves things is fit the inner ring the correct way. They are not symmetrical!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

I've now realised that the only way is s recessed chainring. It's so obvious I feel stupid.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

Sorry if I have mislead you, but that is not my chainset. It is merely an example of the sort bolts / nuts that would work for my application. I will post a picture.
I thought buying bolts / nuts would be cheaper than a new chainring!!!???

A chainring bolt / nut like this would be great. I can't find out what brand this is?

Thank for your replies.
I'll try a description but will add a picture when I am back home.
The chainset I have built is as follows, hopefully you can picture it? :
- SRAM Rival 22 crank arms (from compact 34/50 chainset - had 5 arm 110bcd spider)
- SRAM 2x10 64/104bcd spider (modified to accept crank arms and rings)
- shimano XT triple outer 42T chainring
- shimano XT inner 28T chainring
It works fine, in fact I'm really pleased with it, all but the chainring nuts on the inside of the outer ring. The outer ring, being triple, is not as thick as the outer ring from a double and does not have recesses for the nuts.

I am using an outer chainring from a triple chainset on a double chainset. I have gone from a double ring length chainring bolt to single ring bolt. It fits and works fine with the exception that the chain catches on the chainring bolt nut. This only happens when on the inner chainring and using the smaller sprockets on the rear cassette.
On inspection I can see that the nuts protrude beyond the chainring inner surface by a few millimetres.
Can I buy chainring bolts (and nuts) that are flush with the chainring? Any suggestions?

Test ride today - still not happy with all the shifts whilst on the big ring. In short the cables were twisted in the down tube. Rear shifting fine on big ring and small ring with front mech cable slack. Re-routed front mech cable now all is good

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.

Just a quick update.... I've fit a SRAM rival right shifter. Rear indexing is now spot on. Tick in the box for SRAM me thinks!

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my D5803 using hovercraft full of eels.