Thanks for the great info Chip. Just for everyone's information the three materials generally used to make up tandem bikes are steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber. The steel is the heaviest and least flexible but usually gives a more stable and smooth ride. Most tandems are made of various pieces consisting of different materials to make them better overall. A bike made purely of carbon fiber materials will certainly be the lightest, if such a bike is even made, and that is the type of bike you want for racing speeds. From what I understand carbon fiber is usually used for smaller pieces of a bike while steel or aluminum are used for the actual frames of the bikes. If I am passing on incorrect information will anyone with more experience and better knowledge please correct my ignorance.
Scott----- Original Message ----- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 11:39 AM Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride!
Just to add one hopeful note to Scott's good info: Schwin used to make an inexpensive tandem bicycle; it was considerably heavier than the others, which are generally racing bikes and hence the price, but the Schwin (sp?) isn't going to win any races; not even with Lance stoking! as a benefit to all that weight, it had a frame that flexed considerably less than the racing tandems, and would hold up to any amount of abuse, or weight of passengers! If none of the local bike shops will order you the Schwin, you can always mail order it; but there's likely got to be someone who will do it for you even though it's not much profit for them. Scott's right about looking for a used tandem though; you might try asking on the FreeCycle list if you don't find one here. hth, Chip ------------------------------ Chip Orange Database Administrator Florida Public Service Commission Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (850) 413-6314 (Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI-----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of sgreenblatt76@xxxxxxxxx Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 11:25 AM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! There are two handlebars and you're correct about the rear handlebars, they're fixed in place. On some bikes the rear handlebars are fixed to the front seat and are raised and lowered with the height of the front seat; on others the rear handlebars can be raised or lowered independently. The bikes come in various sizes based on body sizes but as on all other bikes the seats (saddles) are adjustable. The main issue with the size of the bike is the height of the captain versus the bike because the captain must be able to stabilize the bike by straddling it while the stoker gets seated in back. Most tandems have many gears but only a single chain connecting them. The bikes can be designed as either street, off-road, or street/off-road where the tires can be switched out. It's the frame of the bike that controls what tires they can handle. In terms of where you can buy one you'll have to check around town at the local bike shops as I bought mine from David Bigoney. I will warn you though that they are quite expensive and as a beginning rider it's probably a better idea to purchase a used bike to attempt to keep the costs down. If your captain is of a smaller than average body height it is possible to have a custom tandem built to fit him/her but that's a whole lot of money. I hope this information has been helpful; please keep in mind I'm a novice tandem rider and am just explaining what I've picked up through my own personal experience asking questions to my captains. Scott----- Original Message ----- From: "Blackjack" <misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx>To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 10:49 AM Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! > Well might pass on this year see what up next year. But very interested in > this bicycle for two. I have not never seen one while I was able to see > so, > here goes some more questions about them. (one) Does both people have > handle > bars? (Two) I would presume the second set if it has a second set would be > a > fixed handle bar? (three) are these Traditional bikes with one fixed gear > and chain or is it with multi gears and a chain? (Four) what kind of tires > does these have, for example: street or Altering tires? ( five) what size > do > they come in, like what height do they come in? (Six) Where would be a > good > place to start looking at one to buy if you were in the market for one? > Thanks for any help. > > > > > Thanks, > Blackjack > misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx > > > -----Original Message----- > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > Behalf > Of Armington, Mycell > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 10:25 AM > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! > > Hello Black Jack, > Riding a bike is done by virtue of a tandem bike. A bicycle build > for two. The captain is the front rider and guider of the bike, the > sighted > person. The second rider is the stoker the blind person. Of course both > peddle. If you've ever ridden a bike than it will be very easy for you to > adapt. Feel free to come and join us. Thanks for the questions. > > Warm regards, > > Mycell > > > -----Original Message----- > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > Behalf > Of Blackjack > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 9:40 AM > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! > > I have a question! How do blind people ride a bike? I have not found a way > with out killing my self. > > > > > Thanks, > Blackjack > misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx > > > -----Original Message----- > From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On > Behalf > Of sgreenblatt76@xxxxxxxxx > Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 9:36 AM > To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [tabi] Re: Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! > > Mycell, > Great to hear from you about this ride! I'm definitely going to ride > again this year but I may be able to find a captain to help me transport > my > own bike to the ride this year. I'll let you know if I'll meet you all at > the mall this year for transportation. > Scott >> ----- Original Message ----- > From: mycell armington <mailto:mycell84@xxxxxxxxxxx>> To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:21 PM > Subject: [tabi] Fifth Annual Tandem Ability Ride! > > > > Hi All, > Sorry for the short notice for this year's Tandem Ability Ride > event. > Lean times but willing minds and even bodies that don't want to > cooperate but we press on you know. Thanks to our faithful sponsor, > Higherground Bicycle Company and Capital City Cyclists, the event > has been > scheduled for October 31st. As has become our tradition, we will > meet at the > upper level of Sears at Governor's Square Mall, (near the automotive > > department) at 7:30 a.m. and plan to return by no later than 2:00 > p.m. We > will then car or van pool from Sears down to the New Port camp > grounds. You > will be responsible to get yourself to and from Sears. > > The registration fee for this year's event is $10.00. It will go > towards > transportation, light refreshment and water. Please make your check > payable > to Mycell Armington and send it to her at: 2006 Casa Linda Court > Tallahassee, FL 32303 no later than October 23rd. > > Other things to remember: > > When cycling a long distance please dress comfortably. For this > event > bike shorts are extremely important as some of our veteran cyclist > can > attest too! Bring a light jacket also in case the wind, like last > year > gets gusty. Sunscreen and bug repellent are also important. > Socks and > solid tennis shoes are important if you don't have biking shoes. > If you > have them, biking gloves are also important to prevent blisters. > If you > have a helmet please bring it or let me know you need one. No one > rides > with out a helmet it is a safety requirement. We want you to have a > wonderful time and be safe also. > > Below is a short registration form that can be cut and pasted back > to me so > I can quickly pass it on to our > other coordinators. Thank you so much for all your help and I very > much look > forward to seeing you on the cycling trail. > > Warm regards, > > Mycell Armington > Tandem Ability Ride Coordinator > > Registration form: > Please fill in your answers. > > Name: > > Address: > > Phone number: > (home) > (Cell) > (work) > (other) > > Will you need transportation from Sears to the New Port Camp grounds > or > the return trip? > > Do you have a tandem bike? > > Do you have a captain? > > Do you have any other special needs? > > Height: > > Weight: > > Mycell Armington > 850-562-9306 (home) > 850-591-3337 (cell) > > > -------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > ---- > ---- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - > www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.111/2386 - Release > Date: > 09/21/09 05:51:00 > > > > Check out the TABI resource web page at > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI > and please make suggestions for new material. > > > > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web > interface, or by sending an email to the address > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. > Check out the TABI resource web page at > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI > and please make suggestions for new material. > > > > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web > interface, or by sending an email to the address > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. > > Check out the TABI resource web page at > http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI > and please make suggestions for new material. > > > > if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web > interface, or by sending an email to the address > tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.and please make suggestions for new material.if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
