Tandem Trikes & Other Favourites

John and Jane Moss have taken the difficult decision to sell their Tandem trike, owned by them since 7^th July 1979. Well, back in 1979, it was a Peugeot touring tandem, and rebuilt as a trike, back in 2007. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/love-resurrection-john-moss-s-tandem  

Much money has been spent upgrading the drivetrain and braking. End of an era. However, John’s trike focus, has turned almost exclusively to his Sinner Mango Velomobile. Sadly, there’s no longer enough room, in his workshop, for both. Contact me, by email, if you are interested in buying their tandem trike. 

Elsewhere, I’ve relocated “Franenpute” sensor and magnet, to chainstay and rear wheel. This appears to have solved the interference hassles, when SP PD8 and SL9 dynohubs https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-evura-shutter-precision-sl9-dy  are switched on.

500 miles in, and I’ve also warmed to the Passport Element Chain. At 802 kg, tensile strength is noticeably lower than track type fare, such as KMC Z1 inox https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kmc-inox-chain (1050kg). These are almost twice the Passport’s asking price, so direct comparisons are unfair.

I’m 70 kilos, so don’t tax components in the same way a powerfully built, 90kilo rider will. Though I noticed the difference in tensile strength, when powering along a climb. I’d be happy popping one on a traditional winter/fixed conversion, single speed freewheels; or hub geared road build.  

More powerful riders, or those living in hillier regions and who only run a single, front brake, would be better served by something like the KMC. Nonetheless, true to claims, lubricant clings to the rougher, galvanised texture.

This not only means it stays put but there’s less clean up, and transference to hands/clothing.  I’ve had to tweak tension, on a couple of occasion, most recently this week, by the roadside.

For one, moral sapping moment, my beloved and long serving Pedros Trixie multitool seemed elusive. Thankfully, the 15mm head popped out from behind a tightly bound spare tube.

Back in September, the fixed hub belonging to the Mavic Open Pro build expired. I’d switched to the Halo Aerorage but pondered what to replace the Mavic’s no-name hub with. I’ve had no problems with cheap hubs in the past. An On-One Inbred unit served a good twelve years before expiry.

A simple cup n’ cone Maillard double fixed unit, graced my first fixed gear build, which was based around a 501 Raleigh frameset. The Inbred is a better bet, for daily drivers cum hack bikes, courtesy of sealed bearings and perfect for a utilitarian build. The sort which needs to be reliable but not attract unwanted attention, when locked to street furniture for longer periods.

Then this Halo rear fix G track hub, was offered me by Ison Distribution https://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=HUHATG2K . Sealed bearings and hollow Cro-moly axles bode well for year-round/winter service. Look closely and you’ll notice a HG cassette type assembly for loading fixed sprockets.

Aside from the obvious convenience-no need for medieval looking chain whips, this allows for an adjustable chain-line, between 41and 52mm. Theoretically, a boon for older road conversions. However, those looking to leave their frame spacing untouched may find Surly New Road Rear https://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=HUSURRDK a better option.

Don’t be tempted to use HG cassette sprockets with the rear fix G. Stick with 7mm Halo Fat foot, or Gusset Double Six sprockets.

Then there’s an independent lock-ring, that doesn’t have to deal with those rotational forces, traditionally synonymous with fixed transmissions. Talking of which, it will also entertain fixed sprockets between 12 and 20teeth. This should cater for pretty much every occasion, including fixed gear cross/gravel antics.    

Tioga City Slickers are another definite favourite of mine and 25 years later, they’re much as I recall, save for a new, “Energetic” 60tpi casing. Our samples are 700x32 but there’s a 38mm option, and plenty to please those of us, still running 26inch wheels.

I spent several years bombing round the capital on 26x1.95s, which were quick and compliant. Literally gliding over holes and lumpy ironworks. Punctures were rare events too. Or is that nostalgia weaving its hypnotic spell. Several weeks and a few hundred miles will tell.

One way, or the other.  Right, better glue this nasty looking (though thankfully, superficial) cut in the Soma Supple Vitesse EX casing. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-fabrications-vitesse  Before it expands, or a thorn, glass, or similar sharp sneaks inside.

Glancing back but moving forward.

After a week of searing heat and serious fun on the Holdsworth, thundery skies and gusty winds saw a return to the Ilpompino. In my haste to repair a flat, I remounted its Vittoria Voyager hyper in reverse direction, inducing some mild, though tangible skittishness through waterlogged corners. High time I reinstated that front mudguard too…

While out running some errands, my eye was immediately drawn to a long row of club bikes shackled to café’ railings while their owners tucked in to hearty lunches. A flat bar build with discs stood out on account of its full length SKS guards with neatly angled stays.

These stays look an excellent option should my stay bending prowess prove lacking, so I’ve dropped their UK importer a quick email. Elsewhere in this line up, some cut down drops had me fishing for my Samsung CSC (Compact Systems Camera) However, I was conscious that loitering with intent ran the risk of inducing suspicion, so took a single shot and turned on my heels.  

The popularity of complete bike builds has mushroomed in recent years thanks t the economies of scale-purchase power and falling prices (a full carbon build with Dura Ace groupset at £1300 is very hard to resist!!). However, that tradition of “recycling”; upgrading tired framesets and swapping the components over, or  building a machine that stops and goes in excellent proportion using “what you’ve got” remains in rude health.

Juniors are better catered for in this new wave of complete packages too, although choice still remains comparatively limited. Many long serving enthusiasts are raiding their overstocked spares bins, giving once forgotten wheels and part worn groupsets new leases of life on 14 inch 6061 framesets.

Joshua’s rekindled interest in two wheels has seen me pondering such a project, which would also bolster the father/son bond. Not that this has become particularly strained, although that quest for increased autonomy and evolving sense of values can induce friction.

At the other extreme, I’m fast assuming MAMIL status (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) and while confident it would, was pleased to discover this Motorola team replica Jersey (Bought for my eighteenth birthday in um, 1991) fitted perfectly-phew!

Despite leaving team jerseys and mass start racing pretentions behind in my twenties, I retain a soft spot for this one. Sentiment aside, the shallow zipper and waffle weave polyester mean climate and odour control lags behind contemporary designs with 3/4length zippers and faster wicking polyester blends.

Nonetheless, despite countless thrills and numerous spills it remains in remarkably rude health. Pockets are deep enough for trade bottles, tubes and longer mini pumps too.

After a few failed missions, I’ve managed to catch up with John and his fantastic Peugeot tandem trike. He’d been having some trouble with the rear hub, which offers an infinite range of gears-possibly the Holy Grail for slogging up a really long climb with proverbial kitchen sink en tow.

With three (sometimes, five when their trailer’s added to the equation) wheels on his wagon, John reckons he can drop the speed to two mph without any adverse effect. However, while handling is generally pretty civilised, there are some limitations to the build. Potholes being the most obvious and some would argue, daunting examples. As he puts it:

“Even at a very modest speed, say 15mph you become very aware of it tipping, which is extremely disconcerting-especially for the stoker and with trailer following behind!” Talking of which, there’s rather a lot going on up front too. Alongside the usual suspects, I spot a sizeable set of Winkku mirrors with integral indicators and dipped “daylight” beams.  

Aside from the obvious observations, these also allow him to keep a watchful eye on their trailer, which can slide out when tackling tighter turns given the wheelbase.

Then I spotted an old thumb shifter resides on Jane’s stoker bars.

This commands a Deore XT linear pull, allowing her to gently scrub off some speed without any risk of it locking the rear wheel. It also doubles as a very convenient parking brake. We weren’t the only admirers, one of John’s cats decided he fancied some worship, swiftly followed by their neighbour’s Akita! Thankfully, Mr Singh was close by and his dog is uncharacteristically indifferent to the feline community.

We’ve a full interview with John and the fascinating story behind his special build shortly in Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk). He’s also talking in terms of buying a fully faired Mango recumbent with electric assist for long solo efforts-watch this space…