Does Tha Ride Tandem?

Canuk · 2025-08-11T13:17:26+0100

Have spoken a few times to the owner of this lovely latte 1940s Barra aluminium brazed tandem and we've come to an agreement on a reasonable price. A few questions for tandem owners though:

1. Do you use it often, or is it only a 'special occasion' bike?

2. Would it go in the back of a Volvo 7 series type estate with the wheels off?

3. What's your experience going downhill and braking at speed?

4. What's the main drawbacks of owning a tandem?

5. Do you have buyers regret!?

bagpuss · 2025-08-11T18:59:57+0100

1 Stopped riding ours about 4 years ago. Missus and I did have a number of memorberal rides and tours.

2 Ours fitted in our Volvo d70. Front wheel out.

3 a drag brake is a must on the rear wheel .applied by the stoker .
Beware of over heating rims on long descents.
I fitted magura rim hydraulic after a vert hairy
Ride in the peak district.
Is the gearing suitable..
Is the sizing correct.
Wheel size . .screw on free wheel . Would the frame take modern wheels .700 c
4 take up a fair bit storage space.
Can you fit panniers.

5 No interest in none disc braked tandems generally in used market.

We owned ours for 25 years .

Memories.....priceless .

How fast are we going....... I will tell at the bottom dear. Oh we clocked 50 mph .

Canuk · 2025-08-11T19:37:06+0100

Yes I've seen a tandem pair rev it up on the flat, even on a level surface they were soon ticking along at 40mph.. I can imagine on a long descent braking would produce a LOT of heat, the rear wheel if this tandem is fitted with a very effective (so it's said) Maxicar drum brake hub. I'll probably fit a disc brake to the front for safety.

Thanks for for wise words

Canuk · 2025-08-11T21:08:52+0100

bagpuss said:
1 Stopped riding ours about 4 years ago. Missus and I did have a number of memorberal rides and tours.

2 Ours fitted in our Volvo d70. Front wheel out.

3 a drag brake is a must on the rear wheel .applied by the stoker .
Beware of over heating rims on long descents.
I fitted magura rim hydraulic after a vert hairy
Ride in the peak district.
Is the gearing suitable..
Is the sizing correct.
Wheel size . .screw on free wheel . Would the frame take modern wheels .700 c
4 take up a fair bit storage space.
Can you fit panniers.

5 No interest in none disc braked tandems generally in used market.

We owned ours for 25 years .

Memories.....priceless .

How fast are we going....... I will tell at the bottom dear. Oh we clocked 50 mph .

Just out of interest. What's the stopping distance of your tandem with two people onboard from 50mph?

bikeworkshop · 2025-08-11T21:55:01+0100

@bagpuss covers it well
Some detail differences:
1) its for touring trips, better than solo bikes there for us
But we didn't use our tandem for 12 years as the kids were between 2 and 12y.o.
Been out since then, loved it again.

2)A tandem is only 2 feet longer than a solo.
We often put it across the back of the car or on a roof rack, but you can put it in an estate easy enough.

3) you want good brakes if you have hills. You've got 2x the mass with the same aero profile. You'll keep on accelerating.
The brakes want to be better than any other bike you own.
Our tandem originally had xt 730 cantis and an Arai drum brake operated by the stoker on a thumb shifter.
Now it has a front disk (new fork) 2x mini vs and the drum. It can stop.
Fatter tyres help put stopping power onto the tarmac.
Beautiful handing. Tina doesn't like exceeding 20mph on her bike, but we've been over 50 on the tandem on a few occasions - handles like a cruising juggernaut.

4)storage.

5) no, but upgrading is expensive.
Proper tandem kit isn't cheap.
You always get a positive response from people - much more than a soloist, infinitely more than a Mamil.

The warning: old tandems can be a lot of trouble, which is why they are generally cheap.

MattiThundrrr · 2025-08-11T21:55:58+0100

I have an old tandem, has not been out in a couple of years. Mine is not a performance machine, more the cruiser variety, 1972 CCM with F&S 3 speed coaster hub on steel rims. It was only used for special occasion rides. The biggest issue regarding tandem ownership is storage. It takes up a lot of space, nearly 2 bikes, and is more work to move around the garage

Nob · 2025-08-11T22:35:51+0100

we had two frames welded together to form a tandem built it up with steel parts it weighed a ton but we still managed to do a 22,58 10 on the old U7 course on the A38 back in 1980……

jim haseltine · 2025-08-11T22:37:02+0100

The stoker has to have supreme confidence in the steerer.
Both riders have to be comfortable leaning into corners to the same degree.
Adopt a fixed method for mounting and dismounting - it was a regular occurance for a steerer friend to heel his stoker wife in the head when he dismounted without thinking. Not unsurprisingly, they're now divorced.
Be prepared to enter into long (and boring) discussions as to the merits of various crank phasing.

Canuk · 2025-08-11T22:38:19+0100

I don't have any storage problems. I've been lucky enough to rent an underground storage of about 120sq m with good enough security. I have made a decent size workshop down there, and I've e still got space for 50+ complete bikes, so storing it safely not a problem. . Bonus ball - it's 18m underground so it never really gets very cold, even in the depths of winter.

The main reason I want a tandem is to take out my nephew who has sight and balance problems, he's desperate to get into cycling and he's a runner so would probably be up for competitions. I would probably volunteer for the local cycling for the blind organisation, once I learn to ride the bloody thing properly!

I'm a total newbie tandem rider and have never even as much as thought about owning one...

Does Tha Ride Tandem?

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