Another new bike

[JCL]

Something different this time. Alpac and Josh may be interested in the details, the rest might not get what we get so excited about, after all it is just a bicycle, right?

The story is that I got a Trek OCLV 5200 last year, then built up to the point where I did five centuries (160 km) plus 100 km most other weekends through the summer. Training rides of 30 km two or three times a week as well. A lot of training time for me since I hadn't ridden like that for about 20 years. Only downside was that my lovely wife and I were spending less time together as I was off riding so often. Following is a description of our solution.

We had Co-Motion build a Supremo race tandem for us. This is a top end bike, designed to allow us to spend time together and simultaneously provide a riding experience similar to my single road bike. Co-Motion advertise 30 lbs, plus pedals, although we have couplers as well so that will add a little. I haven't weighed it.

Spec's follow:

- Reynolds 631 air-hardened tandem tube set, "zonally butted"
- Alpha Q X2 full carbon tandem fork with carbon steerer
- Chris King threadless headset
- FSA SL-K Carbon cranksets, with MegaExo bottom brackets
- Shimano Dura Ace front derailleur (triple), 54-42-30
- Shimano XTR rear derailleur, substituted for the Dura-Ace standard item. This is the new 2007 XTR model. Very cool.
- Special cassette with 11-34 teeth, 2 tooth increments. We wanted hill-climbing gears, and this is what mandated the XTR derailleur.
- Dura Ace brakes
- Dura Ace STI shifters/brake levers
- Alpha Q carbon seat post (captain)
- Thudbuster seat post (stoker)
- Rolf Prima Vigor tandem wheels
- Continental 4000 race tires, running at 125 psi
- FSA RD-250 44 mm handlebars (captain), FSA 115 stem
- Selle Italia saddles, split, titanium rails
- Shimano Flight Deck computer, wireless, digital gear indication and calculated cadence, controlled from the STI shifters
- Shimano XTR pedals (still waiting for these, temporary pedals mounted)

This is the first time I have had Dura Ace on my own bike. Very nice gear. The Flight Deck was a luxury item, but on a tandem you can't look down and see where the chain is, so it is really for the gear indicator as much as anything. Helps with cadence as well. The carbon components look great, especially the fork and seat posts.

To carry it, we bought an ATOC tandem carrier for our Thule load bars. This carrier works for a tandem or single bike, and features a swivel for the fork mount. You only have to lift one end of the bike at a time to load or unload it. It worked great on the two trips so far, including at 120 km/hr on the highway.

Now the neat part. The bike has stainless S&S couplers. These can be seen in the pictures, in six locations. They are a special coupler made by S&S Machine. Assembled, the frame is as stiff as without the couplers. Several minutes work, and the frame breaks into three pieces that fit in two 26x26 cases, along with the wheels, helmets, and all the rest of the bike. Quick disconnects on all cables help out as well. Airline checkable cases will allow us to take the tandem to Italy for a supported tour (we plan that for next summer). Other tours available are Hawaii, Sonoma, Prince Edward Island, etc. First we have to practice as a team though.

Add in new Giro helmets, Nike Granfondo carbon road shoes for both of us, matching jerseys, and we are set.

Our first ride was yesterday, we did a 15 km test ride at the bike shop, then came back close to home and did a quick 30 km ride. We found ourselves moving at up to 45 km/hr on the flats, and holding 38 km/hr on slight hills. Quite a boost over my normal 32 km/hr cruise, especially considering how early it is in the season. That is due to having the equivalent of two engines, one wind resistance, and one rolling resistance, carried by the equivalent of a couple of 16 lb road bikes. We had fun overtaking several road cyclists riding solo.

Couple of shots of us, and the bike, including one on the X5.

Jeff

[PersonaNonGrata]

Congrats Jeff! That is one cool tandem and the couplers are the cat's ass. I've been way out of the bicycle scene but can still appreciate the beauty of the details. You're right about the XTR rear derailleur. It's beautiful.

I wish you and your wife many happy and fun kilometers. I bet that being on a tandem helps reinforce trust too. Being the stoker is blind faith as far as I'm concerned. Very cute matching Vancouver jerseys too.

[JCL]

Thanks Kevin.

There is a golden rule for tandems: The stoker is always right. If you fall, it is the captains fault. Whatever you do, it is the captains fault. The stoker can do no wrong. The captain controls the tandem. The stoker controls the captain, and hence, indirectly, the tandem.

At least I get to steer.

[SANguru]

very nice Jeff!! Congrats! The XTR rear derailer looks very cool. I haven't seen one yet. BTW, not sure about you but I just picked up a Cinelli RAM integrated handlebar and integrated stem. It also has a flat top so you can spread your weight and reduce fatigue... somewhat of a luxury item also but keeps you fresh and something to think about.

[JCL]

Josh:

Thanks. Would that be the RAM El Toro (seeing as how they don't have a Ferrari model)? Looks very nice on the web, but I can't likely use an integrated bar and stem due to the fixed geometry. I have the FSA stem flipped to give me some rise, particularly considering tandem frame geometry. I did look at the FSA K-Wing bar, it had the flat top, and was full carbon, it seemed very nice on a carbon tandem I looked at. FSA make the Plasma as well, a similar bar but with an integrated stem, but with my FSA115 stem the separate parts are lighter than the integrated model. In the end I went for a bar that had a similar drop to the Bontrager bars I have been using, they fit well.

That and I like components made by any company called Full Speed Ahead.

[trueX5er]

nice! I'm a part time bicyclist too. I switch off between a LeMond Buenos Aires and a Jamis mtn bike.

[LeMansX5]

Very cool bike!

[AzNMpower32]

Cool! I've never seen a tandem bike recently, and certainly not one mounted on top of a vehicle.

I ride my bike a lot too, and I did it for many years before I could start driving since well, that was the most convenient way to get to my friends' house without asking my mom to shuttle me around. My Marin bike has been pretty reliable for the past 5 years, though I've had to replace certain parts that wear and tear.

[SANguru]

LOL @ no ferrari model.. I'm an equal opportunity employer. haha. As for the FSA K wing, it's a very nice bar. The only issue I have with it is it's a little porky at 240g. FSA stuff are very nice though. I have the FSA carbon crank on my kestrel and also the FSA aero bar also.

Originally Posted by JCL

Josh:

Thanks. Would that be the RAM El Toro (seeing as how they don't have a Ferrari model)? Looks very nice on the web, but I can't likely use an integrated bar and stem due to the fixed geometry. I have the FSA stem flipped to give me some rise, particularly considering tandem frame geometry. I did look at the FSA K-Wing bar, it had the flat top, and was full carbon, it seemed very nice on a carbon tandem I looked at. FSA make the Plasma as well, a similar bar but with an integrated stem, but with my FSA115 stem the separate parts are lighter than the integrated model. In the end I went for a bar that had a similar drop to the Bontrager bars I have been using, they fit well.

That and I like components made by any company called Full Speed Ahead.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by SANguru

LOL @ no ferrari model.. I'm an equal opportunity employer. haha. As for the FSA K wing, it's a very nice bar. The only issue I have with it is it's a little porky at 240g. FSA stuff are very nice though. I have the FSA carbon crank on my kestrel and also the FSA aero bar also.

Porky? Don't you have the integrated RAM bar? Cinelli lists it at 420 g. The should have an El Cerdo model. The FSA Plasma integrated bar is 384 g. The K Wing is 240, but my FSA 115 stem is only 138 g, so the combination is lighter than the one-piece setup. It is also more adjustable. Not as aerodynamic, but if I wanted aero, I would be wearing a full aero helmet and riding in a full tuck, LOL.