Recumbent Tandems

I'm just starting to browse around for a (hopefully) used 'bent tandem,
available "on the East coast". Naturally, I'd prefer a really cheap Rans
Screamer gr . .. but, frankly, I'm not sure we're going to get on OR just
how serious the missus is about stoking. The only 'bent tandems I've RIDDEN
are the Screamer, Longwood (I think that's now called a Longbike, right?)
and a Vision - - - but I'm flexible.

So, anyone out there with one storing dust in his/her garage?

Jim Kellett
(GRR driver)

Jim Kellett wrote:

I'm just starting to browse around for a (hopefully) used 'bent tandem,
available "on the East coast". Naturally, I'd prefer a really cheap Rans
Screamer gr . .. but, frankly, I'm not sure we're going to get on OR just
how serious the missus is about stoking. The only 'bent tandems I've RIDDEN
are the Screamer, Longwood (I think that's now called a Longbike, right?)
and a Vision - - - but I'm flexible....

Longwood? Was it a Ryan Fleetwood [1], perhaps? This bike is now back in
production as the Longbikes Gulfstream. [2]

A tandem will in most cases make a cycling relationship better, or
destroy it completely, depending on the personalities involved.

You might see some BikeE E2's [3] out there at fairly low prices, since
they were only about $2K new and the manufacturer is now out of
business. This might be a solution, but I would proceed with caution
based on experience - the handling with a stoker is VERY different from
most recumbents, I found it very difficult to control. (The E2 is very
easy to ride solo.)

J&B/Sun sells the EZ Tandem [4]. This bike is $2K new, so a year or two
old model (the oldest one could be) might be in your price range.

[1] Later, Ryan changed the name to Duplex under pressure from General
Motors' trademark lawyers.
[2] http://www.tandembike.com/Gulfstream.html.
[3] http://tandem-fahren.de/Modelle/Lieger/e2.jpg.
[4] http://www.easyracers.com/ez_tandem.htm.

--
Tom Sherman – Greater QCA

Hey, I went to high school with Jim Kellett. PS DuPont '60.

"Jim Kellett" wrote in message
...
I'm just starting to browse around for a (hopefully) used 'bent tandem,
available "on the East coast". Naturally, I'd prefer a really cheap Rans
Screamer gr . .. but, frankly, I'm not sure we're going to get on OR
just
how serious the missus is about stoking. The only 'bent tandems I've
RIDDEN
are the Screamer, Longwood (I think that's now called a Longbike, right?)
and a Vision - - - but I'm flexible.

So, anyone out there with one storing dust in his/her garage?

Jim Kellett
(GRR driver)

Jim Kellett wrote:

So, anyone out there with one storing dust in his/her garage?

Yep, it's a 1999 Cambie Recumboni X2. I don't have any photos of it at
hand, but it's the old tiller-steering version, not the new
linked-steering version seen at the Cambie web-page:

http://www.cambiecycles.com/custom.html

--
"Bicycling is a healthy and manly pursuit with much
to recommend it, and, unlike other foolish crazes,
it has not died out." -- The Daily Telegraph (1877)

My tandem is a Bikee E2. I rode GOBA 03 with my daughter. We had no
real difficulty in the week-long, 350 mile supported ride, although
Tom is right: the steering is odd but safe. The forks actually have
a negative bend. If you go this route, be careful to buy the last
version of the E2 with a 32 spoke front wheel, Avid disc brakes and
other improvements that make this bent bulletproof. One great
advantage is that you can actually hang the thing on a bumper-mounted
bike rack...the frame is small enough that it only hangs out a little
on each side of my mini-van. I remain happy with this bent!

BentJay
GS GTO
Bikee E2

See my tour journal at: http://aroundthelake.crazyguyonabike.com

BentJay wrote:

My tandem is a Bikee E2. I rode GOBA 03 with my daughter. We had no
real difficulty in the week-long, 350 mile supported ride, although
Tom is right: the steering is odd but safe. The forks actually have
a negative bend. If you go this route, be careful to buy the last
version of the E2 with a 32 spoke front wheel, Avid disc brakes and
other improvements that make this bent bulletproof. One great
advantage is that you can actually hang the thing on a bumper-mounted
bike rack...the frame is small enough that it only hangs out a little
on each side of my mini-van. I remain happy with this bent!

Jay,

How much do you and your daughter weigh, and how long are her legs? The
reason I ask is that the handling of the E2 changes as the weight
distribution moves rearwards - the difference between riding solo and
with a stoker is dramatic. Riding with a child stoker may be quite
different than riding with an adult stoker. Have you ridden the E2 with
an adult stoker?

--
Tom Sherman - Greater QCA

hire a frame builder to do a GS Clone and if feeling guilty add some
original Greenspeed parts/


"Jim Kellett" wrote in message
...
I'm just starting to browse around for a (hopefully) used 'bent tandem,
available "on the East coast". Naturally, I'd prefer a really cheap Rans
Screamer gr . .. but, frankly, I'm not sure we're going to get on OR
just
how serious the missus is about stoking. The only 'bent tandems I've
RIDDEN
are the Screamer, Longwood (I think that's now called a Longbike, right?)
and a Vision - - - but I'm flexible.

So, anyone out there with one storing dust in his/her garage?

Jim Kellett
(GRR driver)

We have two recumbent tandems (neither for sale). We rode an upright tandem
for years but eventually we just had too much pain with back/neck/hand
problems. We got a Double Vision from the Hostel Shoppe in WI and have been
extremely pleased with the bike. The bike is no longer made, but only
because the company owners made some bad business decisions - no reflection
on the bike. There is no doubt in my mind that a tandem recumbent is the
best choice for many folks - this is a "must have" item for our marriage.
We also have a Bike Friday Double Day which is also discontinued - its only
value for us is the fact that it can be taken on an airplane - otherwise we
ride the Vision.

"Jim Kellett" wrote in message
...
I'm just starting to browse around for a (hopefully) used 'bent tandem,
available "on the East coast". Naturally, I'd prefer a really cheap Rans
Screamer gr . .. but, frankly, I'm not sure we're going to get on OR
just
how serious the missus is about stoking. The only 'bent tandems I've
RIDDEN
are the Screamer, Longwood (I think that's now called a Longbike, right?)
and a Vision - - - but I'm flexible.

So, anyone out there with one storing dust in his/her garage?

Jim Kellett
(GRR driver)

Tom,

I believe that the handling of all bikes change with changs in cg. I
ride our BikeE2 with my 3 year old grandson and my 6'4" daughter in law
and all sizes in between.

Try riding an upright tandem all day then ride around without the
stoker. Again a drastic change in handling.

Actually a heavy stoker should make the bike handle better. The main
problem with the BikeE2 is that a strong stoker will cause the frame to
squirm a bit.

OBTH We have 5 tandems, 3 of which are recumbents.

Jay,

How much do you and your daughter weigh, and how long are her legs? The
reason I ask is that the handling of the E2 changes as the weight
distribution moves rearwards - the difference between riding solo and
with a stoker is dramatic. Riding with a child stoker may be quite
different than riding with an adult stoker. Have you ridden the E2 with
an adult stoker?



--
The Pony Express, 20th SOS Udorn will never die:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/6850/pony.html
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Ba.../PonySong.html

A Gomer Gitter from 1967 to 1968, missions from Dien Bien Phu, to Phou
pha thi (LS-85), to the bolovens plateau.

See some Bikes At:

http://home.earthlink.net/~wm.patterson/index.html


Class and Helicopter

http://www.calpoly.edu/~wpatters/

Reply to

Bill Patterson wrote:

Tom,

I believe that the handling of all bikes change with changs in cg. I
ride our BikeE2 with my 3 year old grandson and my 6'4" daughter in law
and all sizes in between.

Try riding an upright tandem all day then ride around without the
stoker. Again a drastic change in handling.

Actually a heavy stoker should make the bike handle better. The main
problem with the BikeE2 is that a strong stoker will cause the frame to
squirm a bit.

OBTH We have 5 tandems, 3 of which are recumbents.

I believe I have had this discussion about the BikeE E2 before with
Prof. Patterson, so there is no point in flogging a deceased equine - we
must agree to disagree.

Yes, all bikes change handling with a change of CG, but the change in
the BikeE E2 is more radical than most. I have known experienced
recumbent tandem stokers who were caught out by the handling and almost
crashed the E2 trying to ride it. With a stoker, it is one of the two
recumbents whose handling made me want stop riding.

Others have found the handling acceptable, so I will stick to my advice
- test ride with a stoker of similar height and weight to your expected
largest stoker before purchase.

--
Tom Sherman - Greater QCA