Tandems of the forum

Does anyone have the Stronglight Impact crankset? I was wondering what chainline it gives with the recommended 117 mm BB (or with any other for that matter).

I have an impact triple on my tourer, would that help? Just looked up the BB length in my email archive and I bought a 110mm on Spa Cycles' recommendation.

I have those on my tandem, cos they're excellent. I've got 145mm spacing, I think the bottom brackets are 122.5.

That would be useful, yes please.

We currently have the original Stronglight 80 crankset, along with original Stronglight BBs (cup and cone). One BB has given up and I'm replacing with a Shimano UN55, but I'd like to buy a pair that will be forward compatible with a newer crankset (most likely the Stronglight Impact) so I can get both fixed cups removed at once. If I bought a direct replacement for the existing BB then I'd need a 128 mm spindle, which is huge and way too large for a modern crankset. I don't want to do that.
What I would like to know is a decent chainline for a tandem with a 140mm OLD, and what spindle length is needed to achieve that with the Impact chainset. @6pt, I seem to remember you got the Stronglight Impact for your early 90s Dawes - what BB length did you use?

Looking at emails I ordered one in 115 and one in 122.5. If memory serves, I swapped the longer one with +Hovis as he was having clearance issues with 115 on his monster, but I can't be sure. He will probably be able to shed some light on it all.

155?! Is that a typo? Otherwise, that's a real monster! I'd like to get something a little shorter than 128 anyway, I think the FD is struggling with operating that far out. I was hoping to get the (Stronglight recommended) 115mm length, unless that's too short for a tandem and Stronglight have forgotten tandems have a wider OLD.

He meant 115mm. 115mm gives a good chainline, but I had to upgrade to 122mm for mine as the chainstays are so enormous on our tandem the chainrings were scraping them with 115mm.

I might have a 115 in a box at home, I can dig around for it tonight if you want to try it?

Perfect! I have a bundle of old 110s but want to check the 115. I'll drop you a PM.
Also, unless anyone has a bright idea for removing the fixed cup of an old BB (without a bench vice) then it'll be a week or so before I can actually try it. I have seen Sheldon's nut/bolt method, it stripped the bolt. I'll get hold of a larger bolt to try first though.

Just checked and it's definitely a UN55 110mm, which gives 45mm chainline on the centre ring.

Have you sprayed with penetrating oil, over some time? Definitely helped me with stuck bb in the orbit tandem...

I wouldn't yet call it stuck, I haven't had a go with anything like the right tool yet (an appropriately sized bolt or vice), but it can't hurt. I don't have any plusgas, do you reckon GT85/WD40/3in1 would be any good instead?

I couldn't remove the BB, the teeth of the lockring tool kept slipping. I stopped trying, sprayed lot of WD40 (may not be the best but that's what I had) and tried again couple of days later, with success...

Lockring and adjustable cup came out easily enough, I just don't have a too large/thin enough to go at the fixed cup. It's probably due a strip down anyway as I want to sort the headset too, I might just take the frame to the lab workshop.

So I managed to find a larger headset spanner (36 mm) that I could get safely onto the fixed cups. They came out easily enough and I've proceeded to take the lot out. Two 127mm Shimano UN55s are winging their way from CRC.
I looked at the headset too, crown race is brinelled like a good'un, so I've got an M:Part Elite (with stupid JIS crown race) to go in there. Anyone have a crown race remover and thingy for bashing out the old headset cups? I'll ask in the tool thread too.

Carefully with a screw driver and a hammer? If the crown race is to be replaced anyway...

Not ideal to put the new one on though, but I've got the tool for that if you want to come round with the fork...

The bulky fork crown blocks and screwdriver access unfortunately. I'll try and find the right tool to use.
Thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it. Where are you?

Nice Roberts on eBay

Back on the tandem this weekend after more than six months on hold... I moved house in April and the tandem's had to live in my parents' garden under a rain cover. This is how I found it when the cover came off -

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After removing the foliage and a good clean off, I fitted a new set of canti brakes front & rear (Shimano CX70), and finished with a natural cork bark tape. The result -

Took it out for the 50 miles Malvern Hills Sportive (note the two race numbers!) at the weekend and it went like a dream.

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Love that colour! I've got a Super Galaxy solo the same shade. What did you do with the hydraulic brakes that were on there before? Hopefully languishing in a cupboard, not a bin...

Wow, what a memory. Yeah it had Magura rim brakes on from the last owner.

Nice idea except there are no levers to fit road handlebars, and he'd actually snapped the brackets completely trying to force them on. Levers were honestly held on by cableties and tape - not the most secure feeling on a descent!

I heard (maybe on this thread) about drop-levers that Magura made a small number of, now super rare, but in the end gave up and went for a good set of cantis.

So yes, I've got a pair of Magura hydraulic rim brakes I'm looking to sell. Braking fully functional but both brackets on the levers snapped! Anyone who's interested give me a shout.

Magura Hs66 levers, I heard they are very rare too. Good thing our tandem came with them on, I had no idea.

And @6pt , I hear Sram etap hyrdro disc is a suitable alternative. Get it done.

I said eTap hrd the other day and you said I wouldn't have use for it!