From: christie@porgy.dfci.harvard.edu (Linda A. Christie)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Tandems, again
Date: 21 Jul 1992 16:55:15 GMT
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: porgy.dfci.harvard.edu

This past weekend I was able to rent a tandem, as recommended
overwhelmingly by the response I got to my original question
about the subject.  For others in the Boston area wanting to
try this, it can be done through Lincoln Guide Service in Lincoln
(on Lincoln Road, of course).  The cost is $50/day or $130/week and they
will nicely supply helmets at no extra cost if needed.  They will
also provide you with whatever style pedals you want.  I found
them to be very accomodating, as they let us pick it (a Trek hybrid
style, I think it was a "T100") up on Saturday evening and return 
it Monday morning all for the one-day rate.  

They also have a Nishiki (with drop style handlebars) but it
was already spoken for so we took the Trek.
Oh, you have to sign something saying you will be responsible for the
replacement cost, in this case, $1600.00 ...

Well, we did a 50+ mile ride around the south shore (a ride arrowed
by CRW I believe) including Cohassett, Marshfield, Scituate, Duxbury
along with three friends on single bikes and here's what we found out:

  1.  IT WAS GREAT!  Luckily we had the night before the ride to
      practice in the Arboretum, but it didn't take too long to
      get to a point where we were flying.  The shifting was tricky
      at first, mtn bike type shift levers that neither of us was
      familiar with.  Starting from stationary position was also
      a challenge at first.  Sort of like learning to ride a bike
      all over again.

  2.  I have to be captain, partly because of skill but mostly
      due to inability on my part to relinquish control.
      This is good to find out ahead of purchasing. I have heard
      that most tandem partnerships tend to stick with their
      positions but we had thought that we would switch around.
      Lucky for me, my partner likes being stoker! 

  3.  Every small child you pass will point at you and say, "Look
      Mom/Dad, a bike for two!!".

  4.  We hated to give it back.

  5.  We would most likely have to get a custom bike, as the one
      we rented was 20.5"/19" which was still way too big for
      me even though I ride a 52 cm single bike.  I don't understand
      why this was, but after adjusting it as much as was possible,
      it was still too much of a stretch for me and the seats were
      quite uncomfortable after a days ride.  From the various catalogues
      I've seen, this is the smallest frame in a stock bike.

Which brings me to my question:

Can anyone recommend a tandem manufacturer suitable for 2 women who
are about the same size and as stated above use a 52 cm frame in a
single bike?  Maybe it was because it was a hybrid style tandem
that it was too big?  This is already quite an expensive purchase,
so the thought of spending even more for a custom frame makes me
apprehensive.  It seems like it would be difficult to make a decision
on what to buy if none that you could test ride would be the right size.

Thanks,

Linda  (christie@jimmy.harvard.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles