Tandem

vrsmatt

I was on hols in Cornwall last year and saw a couple touring on a very smart folding road tandem. Looked like 20" wheels and drops etc.

I've searched around a bit and can't find anything.

Your mission should you choose to accept it is to help me locate a dealer/supplier

Thanks in advance for any help

MiddleRinger

Yep! It was most likely a Circe Tandem!

http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/model-container/#auster-3

http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/separables/

It's their standard tandem with a kit fitted. You can spec them with drop bars, different gearing systems, cargo racks, etc. I've ridden the Helios non-folding version and it's a fantastic bike. So much more compact than a regular tandem while still being big enough to be comfortable. I would buy one in an instant (non-folding) if I had a bit more storage!

Garry H

Like this?

http://www.tandems.co.uk/news/folding-t ... stock-122/

ugo.santalucia

I do like the Helios, however if you include the torque couplings to have it separable and therefore have something that you can truly travel with, it's 3 grand of bike with failry average specs

vrsmatt

MiddleRinger wrote:

Yep! It was most likely a Circe Tandem!

http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/model-container/#auster-3

http://www.circecycles.com/products/helios/separables/

It's their standard tandem with a kit fitted. You can spec them with drop bars, different gearing systems, cargo racks, etc. I've ridden the Helios non-folding version and it's a fantastic bike. So much more compact than a regular tandem while still being big enough to be comfortable. I would buy one in an instant (non-folding) if I had a bit more storage!

I think that was the one! Awesome work thank you!

The wife was the stoker and she didn't seem happy but my wife and i loved the look of it. Nice bit of kit

ben@31

Ive always wondered if a tandem with 2 pro cyclists would be quicker than a pro cyclist on his own?

Or does the weight overcome any power advantage?

What would happen if Nairo Quintana and Valverde were both on the same tandem, would they beat Contador ?

ugo.santalucia

ben@31 wrote:

Ive always wondered if a tandem with 2 pro cyclists would be quicker than a pro cyclist on his own?

Or does the weight overcome any power advantage?

What would happen if Nairo Quintana and Valverde were both on the same tandem, would they beat Contador ?

They would be quicker, because they would be enormously quicker on the flat.... even amateurs can go 30 mph on the flat... PRO can probably do 40 mph... (you need around 800 Watt for that, which is about right if you add up two PRO) If the bike was light and the team very well sorted, they shouldn't lose too much on the climbs. Basically it depends on the topography

rubertoe

www.bikeradar.com/news/article/is-this- ... ndem-24472

bobmcstuff

ugo.santalucia wrote:

ben@31 wrote:

Ive always wondered if a tandem with 2 pro cyclists would be quicker than a pro cyclist on his own?

Or does the weight overcome any power advantage?

What would happen if Nairo Quintana and Valverde were both on the same tandem, would they beat Contador ?

They would be quicker, because they would be enormously quicker on the flat.... even amateurs can go 30 mph on the flat... PRO can probably do 40 mph... (you need around 800 Watt for that, which is about right if you add up two PRO) If the bike was light and the team very well sorted, they shouldn't lose too much on the climbs. Basically it depends on the topography

Big aero benefits from having the 2 riders so close together as well - and that's the single biggest force to overcome at speed.

marcusjb

As per above, tandems are massively fast on flatter terrain. If you ever want the tow of your life, get on board a tandem train.

Even on our touring tandem, Mrs. JB and I can whip along at 30 on the flat without too much drama.

Things start to go wrong when it comes to hills though, on anything other than gently rolling terrain, most tandem teams will climb slower than they would on solos. Weight, not easily being able to climb out of the saddle (some teams can do it, we certainly can't) all contribute.

ugo.santalucia

marcusjb wrote:

As per above, tandems are massively fast on flatter terrain. If you ever want the tow of your life, get on board a tandem train.

Even on our touring tandem, Mrs. JB and I can whip along at 30 on the flat without too much drama.

Things start to go wrong when it comes to hills though, on anything other than gently rolling terrain, most tandem teams will climb slower than they would on solos. Weight, not easily being able to climb out of the saddle (some teams can do it, we certainly can't) all contribute.

True. However, tandems on the market are not built for racing and weigh well in excess of 20 kg. It would be perfectly possible to build one that weighs less than 15 kg, with gearing suitable to ride fast uphill whilst standing on the saddle. A well balanced team shouldn't be much slower than a single rider... that said, downhill it will be slower, as long bikes don't bend well

marcusjb

ugo.santalucia wrote:

marcusjb wrote:

As per above, tandems are massively fast on flatter terrain. If you ever want the tow of your life, get on board a tandem train.

Even on our touring tandem, Mrs. JB and I can whip along at 30 on the flat without too much drama.

Things start to go wrong when it comes to hills though, on anything other than gently rolling terrain, most tandem teams will climb slower than they would on solos. Weight, not easily being able to climb out of the saddle (some teams can do it, we certainly can't) all contribute.

True. However, tandems on the market are not built for racing and weigh well in excess of 20 kg. It would be perfectly possible to build one that weighs less than 15 kg, with gearing suitable to ride fast uphill whilst standing on the saddle. A well balanced team shouldn't be much slower than a single rider... that said, downhill it will be slower, as long bikes don't bend well

15kg? There are 10-11kg racing tandems out there for those with deep pockets and long arms.

A racing tandem is on the (long) list of bikes I want, but don't need. Plenty of good options out there.

As for the downhill thing, clearly you have not ridden with tandems much.

ugo.santalucia

marcusjb wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

marcusjb wrote:

As per above, tandems are massively fast on flatter terrain. If you ever want the tow of your life, get on board a tandem train.

Even on our touring tandem, Mrs. JB and I can whip along at 30 on the flat without too much drama.

Things start to go wrong when it comes to hills though, on anything other than gently rolling terrain, most tandem teams will climb slower than they would on solos. Weight, not easily being able to climb out of the saddle (some teams can do it, we certainly can't) all contribute.

True. However, tandems on the market are not built for racing and weigh well in excess of 20 kg. It would be perfectly possible to build one that weighs less than 15 kg, with gearing suitable to ride fast uphill whilst standing on the saddle. A well balanced team shouldn't be much slower than a single rider... that said, downhill it will be slower, as long bikes don't bend well

15kg? There are 10-11kg racing tandems out there for those with deep pockets and long arms.

A racing tandem is on the (long) list of bikes I want, but don't need. Plenty of good options out there.

As for the downhill thing, clearly you have not ridden with tandems much.

I am sure there are... I have only seen one in photos though. My comment is mainly about what is out there to buy and what tandems people ride.

I am sure on a straight line descent a tandem can go marginally faster, but the initial challenge was about PRO riders, so assuming PRO courses... ultimately going down the Aspin or any other long descent is about when you brake and what speed you can carry around the tight bends. I am sure when you are laden with panniers you are heavier and in principle faster, but in practice a lot slower. No matter how big discs are, the braking system is bound to be inferior and force you to brake earlier and long bikes are bound to be slower around a bend, given the wheelbase is roughly twice as long in a tandem. There are descents where a tandem could be faster... west side of the Peyresourde is mostly straight... north side of Fleet Moss is very straight... :shock:

Garry H

I think that all point to point distance records are quicker solo.

ugo.santalucia

Garry H wrote:

I think that all point to point distance records are quicker solo.

Assuming this is the case, could be down to the better athletes riding solo? Better TT bikes being solo bikes? Hypothetically a solo rider against a team of equal strength on similar setups has no chance, unless the course is exceedingly mountainous

Garry H

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Garry H wrote:

I think that all point to point distance records are quicker solo.

Assuming this is the case, could be down to the better athletes riding solo? Better TT bikes being solo bikes? Hypothetically a solo rider against a team of equal strength on similar setups has no chance, unless the course is exceedingly mountainous

Very true. I was out on sunday and came across a group of five tandems and thought to myself, "what a great way of spending a morning", before dropping them like flies on the climb

mercia_man

As a former tandem owner (I sold mine last year) I can confirm what Marcus says. Tandems are much quicker than a solo bike on flat and gently rolling roads but much harder work on longer big climbs. Even with a small female stoker, our normal cruising speed was 20-30mph. Two fit male riders would be able to cruise considerably faster than that with appropriate gearing.

The trick with tandem riding is not to lose momentum - that enables you to iron out undulations. Riding a tandem with a group of solo riders is awful. You are constantly braking to bring your speed down to theirs but as soon as the road goes up they leave you behind. A bottom gear of around 20in is needed for hilly terrain such as my home county of Shropshire.

Tandems descend more quickly than a solo bike and overheating your rims or disc brakes is a real danger in mountainous terrain. It's vital to use your brakes intelligently.

richys

FWIW, GCN have done one of their ‘highly scientific’ tests of a solo rider vs a tandem.
https://youtu.be/L7YJPHXlO-8
Spoiler alert: not much in the way of gradients…

Munsford0

You do realise the thread was revived after more than 5 years by a spambot??

richys

Ha, hadn’t noticed that! Still, it was an interesting read and seems the specialist tandem company are still going. So all good!

As I keep telling my children, just because it’s old, doesn’t mean it isn’t good (applies amongst other things to music, films, bikes, cars and their parents…)

shirley_basso

Around here I often see 3-up tandems (triplets I beleive is the official word).

Dad at front, eldest in the middle, middle child at back, baby on booster seat.