Re: [CR]Classic tandems vs. current ones

(Example: Production Builders)

From: "Raoul Delmare" <R.Delmare@Charter.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <20021027200001.22636.46845.Mailman@phred.org> <a05010401b9e20ffe7187@[165.121.30.131]>
Subject: Re: [CR]Classic tandems vs. current ones
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 19:09:15 -0600

My experiences with not-new , definitely-older , tandems .

1.) Built c.1964 . Badged as a Columbia . Hilarious . The marketing department had specified the ultimate made-in-USA pair of single speed wheels . Which is why I'd bought it . It was headed for the junk heap . The wheels deserved better . The wheels had extra-heavy-heavy-duty spokes on a forged steel front hub & heavy duty Bendix red band rear hub . The rims were without doubt the best looking , toughest , most well made , steel , single-wall , 26 x 2.125 rims I've ever seen . The frame could only have been "designed" by someone with a very good ability to sketch out sweeping curves , but without one single clue of the stresses involved . Perhaps someone had drawn some inspiration from some photos of c.1900 tandems ? And then added handlebars which looked like they wanted to be Stingray bars when they grew up ? The bicycle ( I use the term loosely - pun intended ) was just a ton of fun to try to ride . Remember the "Swing-Bike" ? This tandem , was a carnival ride . With two physically fit , and agile , riders , in a large open space like a parking lot , it was laugh out loud fun for about 20 minutes . Then it was time to put it away in the back room until the next victim came along . Finally got tired of taking the frame down to the muffler shop for the $5 quick braze-it-back-together , where the sweeping frame tubes insisted on coming away from each other . Still have those wheels somewhere around . . .

2.) A Phillips tandem . Breaks my heart to think about it . It was every bit as poorly conceived as the one mentioned above , but it was so beautifully made throughout . Imagine a Raleigh DL-1 "Tourist" with rod brakes , and 28 inch wheels . Now make it a tandem . You just had to stop and admire the audacity of the person who originally put together the rear , rod brake , on that tandem . I suppose if everything were adjusted to perfection , it probably had a fair chance of working ( somewhat ) . But , in the real world . . . Both cranksets featured chainrings cutout with the word PHILLIPS . Entire machine was elegantly dressed in formal black , with gold lettering and pin-striping , and many chrome parts . 28 x 1 1/2 tires , of course . Was brought home by the father of a family on the block . He thought he and the wife would enjoy riding it . I waited for him to try it . I offered to buy it afterwords . He insisted that his wife could learn to ride it ( as if it might be somehow her fault ) . Then they moved . I tracked them , and the bicycle down , years later . It had been given to "the boys" as junk , to destroy as they pleased . They had fun coasting down small hills and running into trees . It had been left out in the weather , then painted with white housepaint , then left out in the weather . It was beyond saving . It was never really a functioning tandem of course . But , as a monument to stately elegance , and the firmly held belief that correct posture will bring a person through any adversity , this machine was unsurpassed .

3.) I started work in a bicycle shop just as the rebuilding of a VERY fine English tandem was being completed . I never heard the whole story . But , having ridden stoker for quite a few miles , I can attest to the VERY fine ride back there . Also , everyone who captained spoke highly of the qualities of "the helm" . The theory was that it was the product of some wonderful custom shop , in England , during the mid to late 1930's . There was no name easily visible when it was purchased and brought in for re-build . Then it was sandblasted and repainted . British Racing Green . I never knew how much was missing when it arrived . The fork ends , front and rear , were "re-set" for modern width hubs . Modern cranksets were fitted , at considerable expense . The original headset was retained , both because it was battle-ship strong , and because there was no real choice . The headset was very obviously , very largely , oversized . That steerer tube was big . The bottom brackets were large as well . The tubing was definitely oversized , but not Klein size . Needless to say , it was an all lugged steel frame . The frame was heavy , but not extremely heavy . The frame oozed high quality . As I mentioned , the ride was most excellent , whether with two athletes , or two sightseers . The owner of the bicycle was extremely pleased with the resulting machine . I was sad that it had lost all connection with its history . I was glad that it had not gone to the junk heap . Wish I could tell you who made it . Wish I could tell you whether it was 1935 or 1953 . At least enough original bottom bracket parts had survived for duplication purposes . They'd been sent off to the Phil Wood company . I started work in that little bicycle shop , just as the two custom Phil Wood bottom brackets arrived in a box . Along with the beautifully machined metal , there was a short personal letter , from someone ( Mr. Phil Wood? ) which mentioned that it had been quite some time since they had needed to add to their collection of bottom bracket dies , for putting threads onto their cups . Basically , the letter was a thank you note , for showing them a problem they had not encountered before . They had had dies custom made , to cut the threads for those four cups . No extra charge . And a thank you note for the oportunity to expand their collection of tools .

Now that is a fine attitude .

Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas