Bikes

Tandem Components

It is getting to be just about that time. Time to start laying out the parts and the tools. Time to prep the work area and get out a few of cloths and polish. Just about the time to start building the tandem. No, the frame is not here yet, but it’s close.

Well, it’s been a few weeks with little word. Found out today that Brent has been sick with the flu. He has a few other project just in front of ours that he says he has to work on then we get our turn. I expect something more concrete by next week, just after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Things are moving a little faster than I expected, seems like the tandem will start production the end of this week, yeah! One week to assemble the collection of tubes then off to the sander before painting. Looks like it might even be here by the first of December if not before then.

After spending about 2-3 weeks trying to decide on what kind of wheels to get, whether to buy a wheelset, or build, I finally made a decision… or perhaps, the decision was made for me.

The decision I had come to was to look either a set of carbon clinchers, or build a powertap wheel. I’d been shopping around, looking for a reasonably light set of aero rims. I was looking for something similar to a set of Reynolds DV46C wheels, or a Gigantex based 50 mm rim.

After a several weeks of staring at my shiny new(ish) PedalForce RS2 frame, I finally have it in riding condition. There’s still a few changes I want to make to the bike, but for the near future, I’ll be riding it as is.

Another week has gone by and there is not much to report. The very last piece to select is the headset. Rue Sports builds their bike with the IS standard headsets. I am in the process of deciding which one I want to use. Right now I am thinking of using the Cane Creek IS-8 I have in the past used the Cane Creek Solos-IS and I really like that headset, but I am not sure I need the light weight. Because of the limited mileage I also am not considering the 110-IS, that is the headset Cane Creek has built to compete with Chris King, supposed to be guarantied for 110 years.