Hubbuhubbuh Tandem, large WIP

[Kainalu V.]

Not quite ready for prime time here with this tandem, and my smarter, better, more sane half has "no way, no how'd" it after submitting to a block long test run. I'm hoping to dial it in a bit and try for a redo soon, maybe get the stoker bars a little forward would do it. I put the shifters on the back bars to stoke the stoker with the power to shift, and it's easy enough to shift "suicide" style if I'm solo, likely I'll be moving the shifters to the front soon enough. Maybe I'll ride in back (she's 5'8" and I'm a foot taller. Bad idea?), regardless, the kids are growing quick and'll be reaching those pedals soon enough. I've also got some clamp on cranks I picked up off the list that I might set up to get them stoking sooner, but it only looks to be a year or so away that my oldest will be able to touch down on those pedals, so probably not. Anyhows, here's some pictures. Those are 2.35" 650b G-ones with plenty of room to spare, and the head badges came off of some decommissioned beamers. It's been said there'll be hubbuh badges coming along eventually, but I really like the beams riding along with me/us, but if the kids end up sharing their mother's concerns it'd probably be best to have those badge options available in the event of a sad sale. 

The build is--

40 hole Velocity Cliffhangers front and rear on a velocity rear hub and SON front dyno hub. 

Schwalbe 2.35 G-ones, set up tubeless

Silver cranks, 178mm front, 170 rear

Deore derailers shifted with some old stem mount Suntour friction shifters. Front's just a chain guide right now...

Brooklyn Bikes bar in the rear, flipped albas up front (to get slightly lower, giving the stoker a better view?)

VP pedals, comfy out back, spikey up front

and Brooks saddle (b68 front, b17s back)

Saddle height's somewhere in the low to mid 80's in the picture, a little low for me but good for getting both feet down if and when needed.

Can't wait to put some miles on it....

-Kai

BKNY

[Julian Westerhout]

Kai, 

If you've not yet done so, you might want to familiarize yourself with Bill McReady's (of Satana tandems) "Proper Method" for starting and stopping a tandem -- a good video can be found at  http://tinyurl.com/yadsk422   -- it is a great way to stop and start smoothly -- and that's key in making stokers comfortable and getting them to trust you as the captain. 

That might help increase the comfort of your stoker so you can ride further than a block!  :) 

I'd also recommend against a 5'8" captain on the large HHH -- she'll likely not have the ability to stabilize the bike when stopped -- it will be too tall --and you're a lot bigger, which will make it more challenging for her to control the bike while riding with you as a stoker. 

I like the low bar look -- but that stoker compartment does look awfully tight -- is the stoker stem adjustable? If so, shorted it, and possibly trim those bars. 

Lastly, I'd suggest setting your saddle height at the proper level, and ride some solo, getting comfortable in making slow controlled stops and starts transitioning on and off of the saddle before going out again with your stoker. 

The bike looks good -- I hope you get lots of happy miles on it!

Julian Westerhout

Bloomington, Il 

[Patch T]

stoked to see y'all out there on this in real life!

Patch

BKNY

[Kainalu V.]

Patch, I'll be doing solo trips from Northern Brooklyn to the UWS, if you see me, hop on!
And thank you Julian! I had the extendo stem maxed for the kid (just for a test sit, no rolling), and I never set it back to typical adult size for that ill fated test ride, my mistake. I'll be watching for the perfect moment to ask for a retest.
Fingers crossed
-Kai
BKNY