Tandems of the forum

What is the hive-mind opinion on threading the steel axle and using some M6 bolts instead

M6 screws don't have any more holding power than a decent QR, and the compression applied by a skewer actually improves the fatigue strength of the axle by reducing the peak tensile load as it flexes.

Have you tried a 173mm Shimano skewer? Stock skewers for 135mm OLN are 168mm, but they do a long one for fat dropouts which would probably work with 140mm OLN and thinner steel dropouts.

unsure if a Berlingo would have the space

My tandem goes in the L1 van version with the wheels in and no seat folding. Two tandems plus crews obviously needs something bigger.

I had found a bolt-on skewer for fat dropout (have bought a set to try), will look into the longer Shimano ones.
I'm also fed up of having to eyeball a straight wheel every time, but I don't have adjuster screws. The dropouts seem to have a thicker area where the threaded hole would normally be. Am I being stupid by considering drilling and tapping my own holes for adjusters to make the wheel position repeatable?

True, we didn't go across the diagonal.

drilling and tapping my own holes for adjusters

Getting a tandem under a pillar drill, is likely to be entertaining.

Can't you just slam the wheel back into the dropout?

Am I being stupid by considering drilling and tapping my own holes for adjusters to make the wheel position repeatable?

The metal is there (not uncommon for the same forging to be used for cheap ones without the secondary op, and posh ones with the drilling and tapping), so there's no problem there. The issue for me would be jigging, I'm not sure that I could be bothered to build a jig to get a small hole down the middle of a thin plate that's attached to a 2m long structure :-) I envisage something like Keith Fenner's Hanging Out on the K&T

Fair enough. I'll see if the lab workshop can knock together something, maybe a block of aluminium with a slot and perpendicular hole could do it. A bit like your jig for drilling brake bridges.

I'd probably go for a little widget to clamp into the axle slot of the dropout, with a drill bushing pressed into it. You'd then be drilling into a concave surface, which is less likely to push the drill off centre, and you're using the most regular features of the existing component as your alignment guide.

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Thanks, I'll see what they say. I presume a decent frame builder will have a jig for drilling?

I'll try that too, might need to make an(other) adapter for the drum reaction arm.

I presume a decent frame builder will have a jig for drilling?

Why would they? The dropouts are drilled and tapped at the dropout factory.

:(
Must remember to engage brain (and coffee) before keyboard...

Going to borrow a tandem to see if wee man likes it. We tried he may be ok.

Somewhat excited :)

Now to find bike kiddy footrests...

So this happened...

Under the OMFG paintjob lies a Magura HS22 hydrolics, a Sachs Super 7 hub (need to put the shifter on, guy who sold me it didn't do that yet) and a brand (Baronia) post WW2 Germany but now gone and lost in time.

Nobody knows how it ended up in Norn Ire. Wee man loves it, he can also steer and I have to countersteer so I'll have arms like mad soon ;)

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That is mega!

My brother and I organise social paced rides for our less lycra-clad mates to do long distances, mostly to the seaside over summer. I'd like to get my girlfriend involved but dispite owning a Brompton she never cycles. Does anyone have a tandem and a kind heart? We'd love to borrow one for Sunday the 31st of July, maybe pick it up Saturday to give us a chance for a test ride and to see if she can handle giving up control on the back.

We live in Stamford Hill but I'm willing to travel pretty far to make it happen. Alternatively, has anyone hired a tandem with success?

Oh yeah, we're both pretty small, captain 5'8", stoker 5'5". Also, I've ridden a tandem with my brother so have a little experience.

I've hired from the guys behind this before http://hiremytandem.co.uk/ - they were very helpful.

These guys are ok also: http://www.londonbicycle.com/hire/tandem

Update,
The original rear hub on our Jack Taylor 650b tandem had seen better days, also the gearing and strength limitation of a 7 speed hub were looming... After some eBay trawling for a while we are running Shimano 10Sp on NOS HF08 hubset with a NOS Arai drum... The original drum was near useless and overheated to the point that it fried the bearings a dark brown! We've tested this already on some smallish descents and the Arai can take a lot of heat...
http://smutpedaller.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/jackyl-tandem-part-10-rear-wheel.html

Hi there tandem owners!

I was wondering if anyone who owns a tandem may want to hire it out for a few days mid August (the weekend of the 13th/14th, but ideally also some of the week before). Something road ideally, touring style second (no MTB)

It would be ridden by 2 proper riders (not choppers, cat 2 racers). One rides a 54/56cm ish and the other is on a 52cm.

@ghettro your Jack Taylor is my dream bike. If you ever want to sell it I'll swap you the internal organ of your choice

Rode a club 10 on ours tonight (25:56 on not the fastest course). <3 tandems

Does anyone know of anywhere to look/keep an eye out for tandem races?
I know local clubs generally don't mind pairs riding their TTs but I'm keen for some proper races, plus I have two tandems that're just itching to be ridden!

Does anyone know of anywhere to look/keep an eye out for tandem races?

Most CTT open events have a tandem category these days, just filter by tandem in this list

Hi all, recently finished refurbing my Roberts Tandem, size 23” x 22” .
Tandem Frame Number is 891 11 so it was built in 1989
When I bought this tandem, it was, to say the least almost ready for the scrap pile (see photo)
I got it back home and stripped every last nut and bolt off it and set to work on the frame with a wire brush on a drill to strip the frame down to bare metal. After quite a few hours i was left with a very clean frame with no rust, pitting or any other defect. What was very noticeable was the quality of the bronze welding, on par with the Taylor's, Longstaff and Swallow cycles. I had decided (or my wife did) on a "Flam Rouge" colour with a tinted clear coat and i must say, when the sun shines, the colour does explode. Following the long process of etch primers, two pack primer, water based base coat, I put a full coat of tinted clear over it, left it for a few days, flatted it, applied the decals and then put a clear clear coat over the top. After a week or so, I started the build process, the Sugino crank set was sent to the polishers and look like new, I had some carbon handlebars and bottle cages so decided to use them. The Campag headset polished up like new and Campag Chorus shifters were fitted. Wheels are Hope hubs 40 spokes onto Mavic T 520 rims and they cleaned up well and are shod with a pair of Gator skins. Bull handle bars fitted on the rear, and the new TRP Revox canti brakes fitted. The bike is ready to accept a rear drum brake with all the brazings in place. Cabled it up,fitted some neat flat fenders, done a few adjustments and she's ready to go, may have to sell due to the rear being 1” or 2” to big for my wife, its rideable for her but not ideal.
Photos on next page