davek said:So, to paraphrase another thread, I says a kiddyback tandem would be too
expensive, to which Simon Brooke says no it wouldn't. Maybe you have a
point, says I.
I looked into it a bit further, and sure enough the Dawes Twocan looks
almost affordable. And I've found somewhere that's selling last year's
model at a knockdown price, so it's /possible/ I may be able to persuade
the bank manager that we need one.
Does anyone have any experience of these bikes? Any good? Or would it be
a false economy over a pricier model?
Have cycled a couple of thousand miles on mine with the boys.
Be aware they came in two sizes S/M and M/L. If you are anything over
6ft then even the M/L will feel small. I am 5 11" and the M/L fits fine
with a longer stem. Originally sold for ukp 500, not 575. Shops bought
them and couldn't sell them on. Fear of unknown and cheapness of
tagalongs me thinks.
What can I say, made for only two years, designed by Pete Bird, they
are a unique frame design. Pretty heavy cromoly (10kilos more than my
super galaxy tandem). Spec is fairly modest, ordinary MTB wheels (with
Scwalbe Marathon bombproof tyres). Shifting is Alivio but works
perfectly, brakes are V without a drag brake (useful for long descents
to save the rims). Paint finish on mine is poor (top coat).
Handling is very stable, even at speed, even with a Burley Piccollo
attached. We have regularly seen 40mph. A tagalong is to a kiddyback
what an artic is to a pick-up truck. Both have handling quirks, but one
is just vastly superior. I have regularly cycled home from school
without stokid and handling is completely unaffected.
Value-wise, I consider it better than the more expensive Thorn, as it
has a longer rear top tube. Mine has therefore been ridden by small
adults and very small children with just a flick of a pedal spanner and
allen key.
After purchase I added:
Crank shorteners - essential as rear cranks are adult 170's (about 50
pounds you could bargain with shop for reduction in price).
Longer rear adjustable stem for easier reach. (Should have had one in
picture, but you can kludge one with an existing stem)
Rhode gear baby seat and low riders. Only a rack-mounted baby seat
fits, and then you need the Blackburn lowriders. (this may be a
consideration if you have more than one child).
Smaller velo rear saddle (nice to have)
Large horn, 2x computers and T'Bird 2 sqeaky horn (obvious reasons).
The bike draws crowds, it's not called "The flying Banana" for nothing.
Everyone at the boys' school have ridden it. We give rides at the
School Fete. I could sell it tomorrow for what I paid for it, given the
level of parental interest now they have been shown the light.
We rode London-Oxford, when Thomas was only 6! About 60 kilos of
luggage, a very hard day, but very satisfying. Needs a lot lower gears
for serious hill work.
So in summary, if you live somewhere relatively flat, have a child of
at least three, think 5 miles is barely warming up, and love to ride
and chat, this is your bike. Buy it now, you will _never_ regret it.
Any questions, just ask or search for "daren" and "kiddyback" in google
passim.
kind regards,
daren
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