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So... long story short
Just bought a used thorn voyager l/s tandem, to allow me and my 6year old to do more epic trips.
He already does quite a bit of off-road bike packing but still struggles on routes that have too much climbing, this will hopefully solve that problem.
The plan eventually is trans Iceland
However, I need to sort it out a bit and know nowt about tandems
It’s 26” and I’m hoping to squeeze in some 2.3” tyres (tan wall for the 90s vibe)
The bars are narrow and tall and remind me of a shopping bike
Question is, do I go high rise 710 ish risers, or something more jones loop style?
Has anyone had any joy with running 80mm or so forks up front (assuming I can find something with a 300+mm steerer)
I use bikepacking bags, so my first foray into racks and panniers, any suggestions for light, hard wearing, techs set ups (I like technical kit, it makes me happy)
Any other tandem wisdom I should know about?
Or excellent route options? We might pop up and do king alfreds way, as soon as I sort out panniers but we both prefer a more epic mountain terrain than that.
I am well out of date but:
suspension forks - I run 150 mm in my tandem even tho it was built for rigid - it really does not muck the handling up much at all but you have to have really strong forks preferably with a steel steerer - you put so much stress on the fork. PM me if you want a old fork adapted for tandem use.
Custom frame bags will allow you to put a lot in the frame and yo can have a seatpack on the captains post as well often
Key things with tandem riding its the pilots job to keep the stoker happy. Thats the only job. Call out for gear changes and bumps and drops
If you can get a thudbuster seatpost or similar for the stoker do it - its pretty much essential
If you have to duck under a low branch do it really early - or else the stoker gets it in their face
I have 720 risers on mine. YOu need leverage
IMO SPD are essential - otherwise you lose your feet and get smacked on the shins
Starting off - captain gets astride with feet wide apart ( think tory power stance) Stoker climbs aboard gets both feet settled, turns pedals to the correct position for pilot. Pilot puts one foot up calls ready, gets answer ready push off then pause after 1/2 a turn to get captains feet settled
thorn are very anti disc but IMO the best brakes you can get - you build a lot of momentum downhill. Another reason to put a strong sus fork on it so you can fit a big disc
Rear hubs get hammered
With a 6y kid on the back he’s probably got a few years before the tandem factors become a real issue. But a beefy fork and good disk brakes are always a good idea.
Communication is key. Make sure that you let the stoker know what's happening, and what's coming up.
Other stuff - as they said ^^
Brilliant stuff everyone, thanks a lot
I did think, if I am going to fit a suspension fork, I may as well upgrade the front brake to disc.
Not that I have looked but im guessing I can pick up a 26” disc brake wheel pretty cheap on eBay.
What everyone else said pretty much! Our voyager is the best money I've spent on a bike ever. We're running land cruisers for road/gentle off road. I binned the daft narrow bars and long stem for a 90mm (yeah, I know) stem and 720mm Salsa bend 2 bars.
Not that I have looked but im guessing I can pick up a 26” disc brake wheel pretty cheap on eBay.
Assume you mean front wheel, in which case make sure it's pretty sturdy, so go for 36spoke with wideish rim if you can but if it's rear it'll be 145oln rather than 135.
Edit: it's an absolute hoot of fun tandeming offroad, reminds me we really haven't done enough of it this Yr
It's about the most fun you can have on a bike but picking up cheap stuff on eBay isn't the way to go for a tandem. Whilst I put most of ours together from the parts bin I made sure the wheels were strong (Alex rims, straight gauge spokes, tandem specific Ambrosio hubs) and the fork likewise (Thorn rigid tandem specific). Enjoy.
We picked up an old Dawes Double Edge tandem for fun. Currently with my parents since everything went into storage for house move/renovation.
Got a proper disc mount welded on the back rather than the clamp on affair it came with. Marzocchi DJ forks as steel steerer and can pump them hard, could do with 20mm axle lowers though.
90's DH wheels with Hope Big'uns for large flange 36h. D521 on the rear, but only enough clearance for a skinny 2.1 tyre.
Currently on old M4 brakes, not cooked them yet but it has only really seen back lane riding so far.
It's cost about as much as the last set of secondhand suspension forks I bought.
TJ has most of the top notch advice already.
I'd echo - suspension forks are great. You can't lift (or even lighten) a tandem over obstacles, so you just smack into them. Having a suspension fork (and Thudbuster/USE Shokpost) is preferable to that. I've got a 26in Cannondale and use an older Domain dirt jump fork. Steel steerer and made for abuse. Basically if you shop as if you were going downhill racing, you'll be fine.
Tandem rear wheels are a world of their own. They might be 135mm/142/145/157 even 167... Check what you need and then get the most downhill version possible. I had a Dawes Double Edge, which was great, but it was a constant chain of upgrades for broken stuff... When I got my Cannondale, I swiftly added Hope four pot 203mm brakes, Domain fork and eventually new wheels.
Oh, and run lots of pressure. Even tubeless, you're going to be smacking into things. 45psi works for me...
But enjoy. It's so much fun and it amplifies your shared experience. If you're having fun already on rides and you go tandem riding, you're (literally) laughing. Get the stoker to do some fun jobs - like signalling, ringing the bell, heckling other riders, preparing snacks, even reading a map... You're automatically cycling rockstars and can park where you like and ride where you please. Cyclists and non-cyclists alike will marvel at your skills and bravery. You can't lose!
Cyclists and non-cyclists alike will marvel at your skills and bravery. You can’t lose!
that is so true. Arriving at the top of spooky woods at glentress to be greeted by a bunch of power rangers telling us we couldn't ride down it was so funny ( we could - badly, slowly and taking some of the chicken lines)
TJ and Chipps have pretty much nailed it.
20 years plus for me on tandems off road, recently sold our Thorn Kiddyback we had as grandkids can now fit on my real tandems. If you can get to disc brakes do it, our second cannondale ran a disk up front with a magura 33 out back which worked pretty well as a combo, sticking a suspension fork will make things way better for you as will a suspension seatpost for the stoker, either a thudbuster or USE for the most comfort, wide bars is an essential too up front though not at the rear as they get hung up easily and stokers dont like their knuckles wrapped against trees/gateposts etc.
Tandems do have weird standards, though all of my stuff these days is pretty much mtb standards within reason, 29+ up front on the HT with a 135mm Rohloff and boost all round on the Ventana.
If you do end up on the KAW drop me a line we are only 2 miles off the route at the Liphook end or happy to show you around some of our tandem routes around the Punchbowl area.
Tandems rock. Stand up whenever you can. We got a cheapish second hand Raleigh something-or-other a few years ago, chucked £100 or so at it to get better brakes and shifters and it's fine.