Tandems of the forum

Looks amazing. Where is that?

All southern Spain, the last one and the second one are the branch of the Camino de Santiago route that begins in Malaga. It is so, so good. Empty, fully way marked, good mix of city and dramatic terrain

Is that the part called "Via de la Plata"?

Yes and no. The marketing is simplistic; it joins it somewhere like Merida, I think when people mean the via de la plata they mean the route beginning in Seville. Our section is called Camino Mozárabe.

Now you mention... Isn't Plata from Sevilla to Salamanca?

i don't know that it stops in salamanca, there is a route to santiago but that route might consist of parts of other named-routes after a certain point. most of the routes are much older trails than the pilgrimage that was 'invented' in the 14C. Anyway, the malaga, and the granada routes, and also the 'norte' have really techy bits if you are on a bike.

I want a tandem, so me and my gf can go ride together in a chill happy way.
I want one that will handle NCN routes, canal towpaths, etc. So not skinny tires.
I want one that I can put on most trains, including small stopping routes (GWR, Southern, etc.) as I live in London and have most adventures a train ride out of town.

What should I be looking at? Can I get something that matches this for less than 500 bones? Is the Circe Helios good for two 6ft adults?

Thanks!

Tough for £500, especially at that height. I'd look at 26".

yeah, absoutely. just worrying about train horror stories.

I want one that I can put on most trains

!

Short of getting couplings, there's not really much you can do. Classic tandems are generally shorter than modern ones though so that will help.

We had our Galaxy (700c) on a train before and after Ride London (and in a lift) was fine. Guard was cool with it, but you might get a jobsworth.

Yeah couplings are expensive. see how you get on with a tandem first before you consider stretching to one with couplings. It isn't easy! I got a 26er one though (then another) because I thought it would be more compact and easy to manage. It goes on trains, sometimes, ish, kind of.

thanks guys. will keep my eyes peeled for something suitable.

Has anyone done Breakaway style? S&S are so expensive... I wonder how much it would cost to have a frame builder do a Breakaway retrofit. You'd need a frame that has just the right set of tubes but I can imagine it working.

Edit: a frame like this one @MetalMelly posted might work:

I wonder how much it would cost to have a frame builder do a Breakaway retrofit.

They get C&D'd

I asked Rob English a while back if he'd considered trying to make a tandem with couplings which can be converted to a solo by taking out the middle section/stoker "front triangle". He said he had but didn't have the time or money to work on one unless a customer ordered it.
Someone should do it just because

/csb

A frame builder could build a middle section for DBAD

DBAD is the perfect "just because" bike. Needs to happen.

Circle Helios fine for 2x6ft, I've done it.
Worth taking a trip to them, easy ride along the Cambridge busway.

Thorn Explorers are nice,
I've ridden a few and own one at the moment. Great for the kind of thing you're trying to do.

Before the strip down this morning.

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After the strip down - still got the headset and cassette to change though. Frame to polish and wax.

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I'm picking this one up for @Simba today. Any guesses to what it could be?

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Went on a little excursion today and this came home with me. Needs a bit of work, but the ladyfriend says not to clean it up too much because she will leave it in the carpark below her flat. That fills me with dread, but not much choice on the matter.

She’s only 5’, I’m 6’, and this was up for pennies. Seems ideal for silly trips along the Thames Path, and nothing serious. Super compact, more or less the length of a normal bike.

The swan neck bars are way too small for me, so I need a new 1” cockpit setup - ideally a long stem that i can chuck bmx bars onto. Ebay scouring all looks like HK specials or expensive.

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That is one of the most amazing bikes I have ever seen!