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Gear Talk / Touring tandem: experience with different makes

« on: January 02, 2017, 02:44:15 am »

My wife and I have been using a basic tandem for a few years and are planning to upgrade soon.  We want a reliable tandem that fits well, can be packed for air travel and will work for us on extended tours.  We want it to last us for several years.  Some level of robustness is needed because we sometimes ride off road on gravel (but usually relatively flat groomed trails).  Our preferred method of carrying loads is panniers.
We have looked at Comotion, and like the bikes, but to get one In standard size with SS couplers, good quality drive train and solid wheels, packing cases etc. we are looking at around $7,500USD. 
I am left wondering if this level of purchase is spending more than we need to for what we are looking to achieve, but as the saying goes "nobody ever regretted buying quality". 
What I have read from other fora is that custom made sizing is not required and that the size of the captain is most important, as some level of adjustment can be made for the stoker.  So standard size will probably work.
Any thoughts or similar experience from anybody out there?


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2

General Discussion / How do I convince my partner touring is safe?

« on: May 30, 2016, 05:36:30 am »

HI I am relatively new to cycle touring, although I have been riding road bikes for 7 years.  I have a touring bike, camping gear and have done a couple of tours of 3-5 days, learnt a lot. 
My other half is always worried about me, I was bowled over by a car back in 2009, but no incidents since.  Although I have taken her out on a tandem regularly, she is not one to want to go camping at all.  Her idea of tough going is a hotel that doesn't have wifi.  So the possibility of going together really doesn't come up.  We have both travelled widely, and both lived in the US about 20 years ago, so it is not a worry about strange environments.
I want to do a long tour, such as the transamerica trail, and am confident that I can manage this.  Years go past and it doesn't happen.  The ACA book on the TAT has simply rekindled my determination.   But it is going to be a real challenge to sell this to my wife.  If I am 30min late coming home from work she gets very worried.  How is 3 months going go over?

Any thoughts on how I can manage this, or has anybody had the same experience?


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