At long last, I'm selling our much-loved Jack Taylor tandem. The bike has always been a tad too big for us, otherwise it would stay here permanently. We put many care-free miles on this bike, including the Solvang half-century, the Tour de Organics rides in Sebastopol california, and many, many vintage rides around Southern California in the last 5 years.
Captain: 59cm center-to-top of seat-tube 57c-c top-tube 71.5cm minimum saddle-height with the equipment shown--measured from crank center to top of saddle straight up the seat-tube. YMMV depending on what saddle and post you use. a narrower stoker seat-post clamp, for instance, will give a lower minimum, as will a seat-post with separate seat-clamp assembly, as will a shorter saddle, rails-to-top.
Stoker: 54cm center-to-top of seat-tube 63cm c-c top-tube 62.5cm minimum saddle height measured as above.
I bought this tandem in 2004 from Jan Heine, who had lovingly recreated a classic french randonneur using the taylor frame as a starting point. Jan and his tandem partner at that time set a record climbing a local mountain in Seattle...and, later, this was the same tandem Carmen and I rode up to Baldy Village...and, more entertaining, back down Baldy Road (the same route documented in Peter Brueggemann's recent video), that wild ride documented a few years ago in posts to the CR list, which can be found in the CR list archives.
This is an absolutely fantastic tandem, the acme of the CR list ethos. The bike is ready to ride, but for a couple of details: you may want to replace the Brooks Pro saddles, one of which is a bit stiff, but otherwise perfectly useable. Oh, the bike needs pedals (since everyone has their own taste in those these days), or I can throw in a set of four japanese campagnolo knock-offs, sans clips. Also, I left off the bar-tape, since everyone has their own taste in lever position, bar-tape-type, and color. I will throw in black cloth bar-tape of my choice if you want it.
http://s669.photobucket.com/
This bike is a great ride, and beautiful to look at. The frame made 1980-81, with a custom stoker section somewhat longer--and more spacious--than the usual from the Brothers. Taylors in general are about the only vintage tandems in the strict CR timeline that actually ride well. The only others are the french constructeur tandems like those from Rene Herse. Taylors tend to be a lot cheaper, and work better usually.
Comes with custom racks, original to the frame when it was built (made by the Taylors!), painted to match.
Honjo smooth aluminum fenders.
Rear wheel features a Maxicar tandem hub laced to a 48-hole Super-Champion rim, recently completely rebuilt, and totally bulletproof. Front wheel features a Campagnolo Tipo hf hub laced to a modern Mavic rim, a nice cosmetic match for the rear rim.
Brakes are stout Shimano de-ore cantilevers.
Derailleur is a Sachs/Huret titanium Duopar, works perfectly. Matching front derailleur from Huret. Simplex retrofriction shift-levers. The duopar shifts like a dream, exactly as advertised.
Cranks are the final-pattern TA Cyclotouriste tandem cranks, in great shape.
Stoker stem original to the bike, made by the Taylors for this frame. Stoker bars 44cm c-c Specialized. Captain bars early 1980s Cinelli Campionato 42cm c-c. Note how Jan counter-sunk the 3ttt record stem for the brake cable...a nice custom touch, typical of british and french tandems from the day.
Rear tire Rivendell Ruffy-Tuffy; front Rivendell Roly-poly, both with plenty of miles left.
Price: $1500 plus shipping.
I will ship anywhere in the lower 48 (or even overseas of you're willing to pay the freight, which won't be cheap, alas). If you pick the bike up from me, your price is $1400!
I am willing to deliver anywhere within 200 miles of Los Angeles. Price is $1500 delivered. If I have to drive further--and I might--there will be a fee based on time and fuel cost. We can work that out.
I'd LOVE to deliver this, or have you pick it up, naturally. It's a bike worth a road trip, I'll say that. I'll likely ship in two boxes...a rough guess is that shipping to the East Coast, for instance, will be about $225. But that's just an educated guess, based on shipping a couple of tandems in the last 2 years.
If you have any other questions, let me know. This is a special bike, and if it fits you, it's a keeper.
Charles Andrews
Los Angeles