Mercian tandem colourful fun times on a bike made for two

Picked the bike up from Bikefix. Rode it home. Added new rear bars, bar tape and new bells.

Pictures of the work done, looks tidy. Unlike the house, it has seen a two day halloween party.

bar tape: really like the feel of it.

First real test ride today. Will be taking it for a ride along the coast of kent. More pictures to follow.

This looks ace, always liked the idea of a tandem in this setup. I am surprised you didn't opt for crazy color cables to fit the bill, maybe too busy though.

love this!

I liked the bit where you said 'Reamed'.

Always makes me smile, that word.

Bike is looking ace btw.

Looking real awesome, are those tyres tubs?

@loctez, grand idea! will deffo look into this.
@ titan uranus, amazing name!
@ed, 23c clinchers. but quite a few people have asked the same question. thinking of swopping them over for 25 or 28c.

I'm surprised it got 23c for two person! reckon 28c would be idea but have no idea how narrow the rims is.

i know, they are not ideal for light touring. will be going larger before our next ride. any suggestions?

find out how many spokes each wheels have, if it's a decent amount for a tandem, replace rims.

If it turn out to be build with normal wheel (32h), i'd change them.

Mavic G40, 40h on the rear. Mavic MA40 36h on front. Laced to Sansin track hubs......quite sure they can take a 28c tyre.

Update:
We picked up some colourful nos cycling kit.

Put a smile on quite a few peoples faces.

Just back from a little touring holiday down the Kentish coast. train from london to Canterbury, then rode to Whitstable along the coastal road, to Margate, then onto Ramsgate.

The bike performed amazingly, though i would like new brake pads, maybe kool stop salmons. Larger tyres 25c or 28c(trying to figure what tyres to get). Vello Orange mudguards. Tortec velocity pannier rack or some sort of saddle bag, maybe both.
a bombardment of pictures.

strong work :)

may i ask how much bikefix charged for the cutting/drilling?

Are you from Liverpool?

That look awesome! if the brakes still doesn't stop well, I'd go for V-brake for decent stopping power.

get some 32c panaracer pasela TGs'

Are you from Liverpool?

I see what you did there.

Ben: Sorry for not being in touch about the 650c wheel! been really busy(and out of london). Bikefix charged £60 for both seat-tubes. I could have done it myself, but massively bottled it.
EEL: We are dalson hipster ravers!
Ed: Will try new pads first, running out of money fast.
Spotter: Not sure my rims will take a tyre that large.........?

Won these on ebay, will have matching bar end shifters.

I doubt you'll have any problem getting 32s' on to those rims

I put 33.3c on a Mavic Open Pro, not the best but it work.

panaracer pasela, food for thought. ...........

but i do quite like the green side walls.....

I have 32c paselas' on open sports with no problems at all.

The next set of purchases, hopefully i can find some secondhand bits, funds are low:
any views, recommendations, offers, warnings on said selection would be greatly appreciated:

Kool stop salmons.
Vello Orange mudguards
Tortec velocity pannier rack
Carradice saddlebag
panaracer pasela tourguard 32c

also thinking about putting my Mafac cantis on......

Though i was saving them for my king of mercia tourer....

I've been thinking of building / buying a tandem for me and my girlfriend, stumbled onto this thread late night researching. I have now decided this is the work of clever men as you too have a Bike Notes shirt! If you ever see my girlfriend cycling up the Kingsland Road in hers, wave and say hello!