Information For First Time Tandem Buyers

Tips For First Time Tandem Buyers: A few things to do before making any real decisions about buying your first tandem

Tandems: Why Some Teams Just Don't Click: It's unfortunate but true that not everyone will have an enjoyable or successful experience riding a tandem. This article shares my thoughts on why some teams just don't work as well together as others.

Custom Tandems: A Primer: Jumping into a first tandem with a custom frame can be a tricky proposition since many teams really won't have enough practical experience riding tandems to know what they like, don't like, or feel comfortable with. This article offers some things to consider if you're in the market for a custom-made tandem.

Tandems: First Time Buyer's Sticker Shock & The Relative Costs of Cycling: For many recreational cyclists, just walking into a bicycle specialty shop can be an eye-popping experience. Top-end racing bikes once selling for perhaps $2,000 back in the early 90's, have been replaced by models that cost upwards of $6,000. Similarly, even the more affordable premium tandems can often times cause first time tandem buyers to experience a serious case of sticker shock. This article attempts to offer some thoughts on the costs of cycling and tandems.

Triplet, Quad and Quint Buyer's Guide (FAQ): This list of Frequently Asked Questions was compiled back in 2003 and it attempts to address some of the more common things folks ask when they are considering the purchase of a multiseat tandem that carriers 3 or more riders.

The Unofficial Used Tandem Price Estimating Tool: Perhaps one of the most frequent questions asked on internet tandem discussion boards has historically been the same question but from two different groups: potential tandem buyers and sellers. In 2002 I decided to capture that curve with a spreadsheet tool and some guidelines to help buyers and sellers understand 'Fair Market Value'.

A Technology Restrospective on Bicycles And Tandems: I was reading through a number of very old publications dealing with bicycle history, technology, construction, and repair and in doing so, I was once again reminded that with bicycles almost everything old is new again. In fact, even most avid cyclists might be surprised to find that what they thought was a relative new innovation -- bamboo bicycles or bicycle saddles with anotomic cut-outs -- were first introduced before the 1900's. I've culled a a few snippits from some of these old manuscripts to read and ponder.

Other Reading Material Hosted on Various Other Web sites

 This image is linked to a larger map of North America that depicts the locations of businesses who pride themselves on catering to tandem consumers. All of the businesses listed with logos are hot linked to their web sites. Please note that a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

 

Neither this map nor my links list is intended to be a complete list of all tandem dealer locations throughout North America. Instead, these are dealers and businesses who have been brought to my attention by word of mouth, through their participation in the Tandem@Hobbes forum, or with whom I've personally done business. Moreover, a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

 

 

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Tandem Sellers & Dealers

Tandem Dealers Outside the US

North American Tandem Dealer Locator Map

Tandem Components & Hard to Find Parts

 

Buyer's Guides

In The Market For A Custom Tandem? A Primer by Mark Livingood

Triplet, Quad and Quint Buyer's Guide (FAQ) by Paul Meixner & Mark Livingood

 

US Dealers: Please note that a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

Tandem Dealers Located Outside of the US: Please note that a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

Currency Converter

 

  • BELGIUM (Leuven)
    • A-Bikes for tandems, tandem components, maintenance, repairs services, and tandemtalk
     
  • CANADA
    • MBS Tandems, (David & Brenda Vandevelde) Mississauga, Ontario
    • Pedal Sport, (Dan & Jennifer Douglas) Chilliwack, British Columbia
    • Moriarty Bicycle Works / Ph. 519.371-2820 (Bill Moriarty & Ann West), Owen Sound, Ontario
     
  • ENGLAND
     
  • FRANCE
    • Vélo TransAtlantique (Marc de Rochefort - Co-Motion's European Distributor)
      Parc d'Activités de Bellevue. 71400 Autun
  • GERMANY

 

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TANDEM SPECIFIC & HARD TO FIND PARTS: Please note that a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

Hard to Find Parts

Tandem Specific Or Tandem Proven Parts: THIS SECTION OUT OF DATE

  • Brake Systems
    • Mechanical
      • Avid BB7 w/203mm Rotor (Off-Road), Linear-Pull & Cantilever
      • Avid BB7 Road w/203mm Rotor (Road), Linear-Pull & Cantilever
    • Hydraulic
      • Formula by Santana
      • Hope - 4 & 6 piston models
      • Magura - HS rim brakes & tandem specific models + DH Model
  • Forks
  • Specialty Components
  • Miscellaneous, Tandem-Specific Parts
  • Wheels
    • Hubs: Hubs that feature steel or Ti freehubs, steel axles, robust bearings & flanges
      • Chris King
      • Phil Wood
      • Hadley Racing Components, Upland CA (Mike Hadley - 909-946-6780)
      • White Industries
      • DT Hugi 540
      • Shimano HF08 (and only the HF08, not the HF07)
      • Chosen sold under various brands, e.g., Ride 2
    • Rims: Rims available with the appropriate drillings and widths for tandem use
    • Spokes
    • Wheelsets
      • Aerospoke Wheels Composite Wheels for Tandems (Out of production / unsupported)
      • Rolf Prima Vigor Tandem "Racing Wheels"
      • Topolino AX 3.0T & ATR 3.0 "lightweight" wheels.

           

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TANDEM DEALERS WITH IMPRESSIVE PARTS INVENTORIES: Please note that a dealer listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any shop or business.

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Tandem Manufacturers & Builders: Please note that a manufacturer or builder listing on my web site does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement. Without exception, always seek out independent references from past or current customers who can offer an objective assessment of their satisfaction with any manufacturer or builder.

Chris Timm's Extensive list of tandem builders (Not updated since 2002, but a great historical reference)
(Many, many European builders listed that are not listed here)
Chris Timm's Full Suspension Mountain Tandem Builders List (Not updated since 2002, but a great historical reference)
Learn More About Travel Tandems & BTC Couplings from S&S Machine's Web Site
Triplet, Quad and Quint Buyer's Guide (FAQ) by Paul Meixner & Mark Livingood
Custom Tandems: A Primer by Mark Livingood
 
Open For Business
 
Angle Tech Recumbents & Harmony 1/2 Bent & 1/2 Upright
Argos Racing Cycles Custom builder in UK
Arvon (Canada)
Atkins Verona Bike Shop Custom builder in Wisconsin, USA
Barcroft Cycles Compact Recumbent (prototype)
Bike Friday (aka, Green Gear Cycling / Tandem Tuesday)
Bilenky Cycle Works Production Models in all price ranges.
Bob Brown Cycles Custom builder in Minnesota, USA
Bob Jackson Cycles Custom builder in UK
Bohemian Cycles Custom builder in Arizona, USA
Brew Custom builder in West Jefferson, NC. (Ignore the motorcycles)
Bushnell (Brand now owned by R&E Cycles)
Calfee Designs Composite Custom Tandems
Cannondale Production Models in all price ranges (Now fabricated off-shore)
Colton Bicycles Hi-Ten Steel Micargi & Other Tandem-Shaped Objects
Co-Motion Cycles Production Models in all price ranges.
Co-Motion European Distributor - Velo Transatlantique
Cyfac - French builder offering custom carbon tandems
Davidson Handbuilt Custom builder in Pacific, WA
da Vinci Designs Custom tandems from Denver, Colorado
Dawes (UK) Production Models in all price ranges.
Detto Pietro of Italy. Maker of custom bikes and tandems.
Ellsworth Witness MTB Frame & Ride Tandem
Erickson Cycles, Custom & Signature Tandems, doing only repairs at this point.
Fandango Tandems Affordable Off-Road Tandems by MTBTandems.com
Follis (France) Tel. : 04.78.60.75.34
Franklin Custom Builder near Columbus, Ohio
Gitane (France)
Green Gear Cycling (Bike Friday / Tandem Tuesday)
Hase-Spezialraeder, Tandems, Recumbents, recumbent trikes,
Holland Cycles Custom builder in California, USA
Huber Bikes Custom builder in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Inspired Cycle Engineering Trice Tricycle Tandem
Kelly Custom builder in California, USA
KHS Production Models in all price ranges.
Koga-Miyata TwinTraveller Trekking Bike from the Netherlands
Landshark Custom builder in Medford, Oregon
Litespeed - Tandem's Are Now Custom Orders / Not in Catalog
Longbikes Recumbent & Custom tandems from Colorado
Longstaff (UK) - Custom tandems & trikes at one point.
Love Bike - Aka, Buddy Bike
Lynsky - Founders of Litespeed / High-End Titanium.
Mercian (UK)
Mikkleson Frames
Mrazek (Tandem MTB & Singles - Czech Republic)
Nicolai - Insane Off-Road FreeRide Tandem from Germany
Orbit Cycles (UK)
Organic Engines Recumbent Bikes & Tandems
Paketa Cycles Magnesium bikes & tandems, Boulder, CO
Paulus Quiros, Beautiful Custom Singles & Tandems made in Wales
Pederson Bikes Hammock-saddle equipped tandems
Phat Cycles, So. Cal. Cruiser / Comfort Tandem
Porter Bicycles - Custom singles & tandems from New Mexico
Poulsen Cycles Custom builder in California, USA
Rans Recumbent Bikes & Tandems
Ravello Tandems - So Cal.
Rex Cycles Custom builder in California, USA
Rideable Replicas Retro, Comfort, Upright Trike & Antique Replicas
Rodriquez Custom builder in Seattle, WA
Santana Inc Production Models in all price ranges.
Santana of Europe (Santana, Inc. should have a site this nice)
Schauff of Germany, featuring the Soil Off-Road & Rolhoff equipped bikes.
Seven Cycles Custom Steel & Ti Tandems
Serotta Custom Ti Tandem (But you have to beg for it)
Sun Cycles - Retro-look Tandem Cruisers
SyCip Designs Custom builder in California
S&S Machine While not a builder, you find their couplings on more and more tandems all the time!
Talisman Metal Craft Custom builder in Washington, USA
Tango Tandems, Custom Builder in California
T.E.T. Cycles Custom builder in Iowa, USA
Ted Wojcik Custom Bicycles Custom builder in New Hampshire, USA
Thorn Tandems , St John's Street Cycles, Summerset, England
Ti Cycles Custom titanium road & off-raod tandems
Tinker's Barn Custom builder in Wisconsin, USA
Trek USA Used to make a pretty nice road tandem; now only offering cruisers
Varna - Hybrid handcycle tandem
VentanaMountainBikes USA Full-Suspension Off-Road Tandems
VooDoo Cycles - Off-road 26" and 29" tandems
Zohrer of Brazil, making the 2Fast Chopper LWB recumbent tandem.
Zona Cycles - Name changed to Arizona Tandems (See above; no longer in retail biz)
Status Unknown, Out of Business Or No Longer Building Tandems
 
3G Bicycles - Previously had cruiser tandem, seems to have been dropped
Arizona Tandems (No Longer Building For Retail Sales)
Bike-E Recumbent Bikes & Tandems (Closed doors in 9/02)
Bothwork Custom builder in Iowa (Not building at the moment)
Boulder Bicycles May or may not be still a going concern.
Bruni Tom Bruni was lost to us on July 9, 2005 (About Tom)
Burley Former Production Builder (Ceased bike production 9/06; trailers only)
Composite Arts and Science (CAS) (Status Unknown / Website inop)
Concept Technology Custom builder in CA. (Status Unknown / Web site gone)
Cycles LaMoure (Status Unknown / Web site gone)
Diamond Back - (No longer offering a tandem)
Griffen TT/Aero Tandems (No longer a going concern)
Hujsak Bicycles Custom Builder in Texas, USA (No longer a going concern)
Ibis Cycles (The "Old" Ibis Cycles made tandems)
Lippy (OR (503) 389-2503 - (No Longer Building)
Look (France - Mtn Tandems, but probably just for one season)
LUST Custom carbon racing bikes and tandems. (No longer a going concern)
Meridian Tandems (No longer a going concern)
Raleigh (No longer offering a tandem)
Ryan Recumbents (Now owned by Longbike)
Rosenthal Tandems Custom builder in Minnesota (No longer a going concern)
Rue Sports - Custom carbon racing tandems.(No longer a going concern)
Sano Cycle Works Custom builder in Alabama (No longer a going concern)
Tandem Technology (Germany - No Longer A Going Concern)
Univega A comfort tandem (same as Raleigh model) (No longer offering a tandem)
Vision Recumbent Bikes & Tandems (Closed doors in 2/04)
Willit's Brand 29" Road Tandem (Status Unknown / Web site gone)
ZEM 2 and 4 seat, 4 wheel pedal vehicles (Way Cool) (No longer a going concern)

 

Three & Four Wheel Human Powered Machines
 
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Bicycle Classified Ad Sites

Selling or Buying A Used Tandem And Need Help Figuring Out the Fair Market Value?

We here at TheTandemLink.com (OK, it's just me) decided that with all the questions we've received asking for help in setting selling or offering prices for used tandems, what was really needed was a fairly reliable tool and some guidelines that did just that.

Therefore, we have released our free, "Unofficial Used Tandem Price Estimating Tool, V2.3" and supplemental narrative for used tandem sellers and buyers. To learn more about it or to download the tool, visit this page at our Web site.

Buying or Selling a tandem in your local community is always preferrable to the long-distance transaction as it eliminates the somewhat cumbersome and costly logistics associated with shipping a tandem and the risks for both seller and buyer associated with scams, financial transactions, buying sight unseen, and the like. Therefore, you will first want to take advantage of your local bicycle club or bike shop's on-line classified ads. Same goes for newsletter classified and for sale by owner bulletin boards at your local bike shops which can be very effective. Obviously, the local newspaper classifieds represent an opportunity but they usually charge a fee which makes them less attractive than the free options afforded by most on-line classified ad services. Craig's List (www.craigslist.org) is a great service to also consider as it continues to grow in popularity and offers some of the best features available for free classified ads, e.g., photos, hypertext, masked Email addresses, etc...

Here are some other sites to consider at the national level that are either tandem or cycling specific:

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