tandem recumbent bike or trike

[tlmills]

My husband and I have been shopping for a tandem, and have decided to go recumbent.  There are so few options locally to look at and ride different models that we were hoping to get some help from people who already own them.  We started off thinking of the Rans Screamer, or maybe the Seavo.  We also were curious about a trike tandem such as the Greenspeed gtt2s or the Terratrike tandem, or maybe even the Hase Pino "mixed" tandem.  If anyone has info. on these bikes, or maybe knows someone that will be at PIR with any of these, we would love to hear from you!

[Tha Capt]

Hey there 

I would urge you to ride the Easy Racers "EZ tandem" while your on the hunt. http://www.easyracers.com/15B-ez_tandem_ax.htm  Coventry Cycle Works in Portland currently has one in stock  I had a chance to ride one of these through a autocross three years ago at PIR. I was impressed by the way it handled.  I also passed a EZ Tandem on the "one day STP" couple years back. It had a front fairing and was cruising right along in the 20 mph range. There "is" one of these EZ Tandems in our organization - unfortunately - they just left on a world tour on two Tour Easy's

You are right about the many selections and hard to find availability of test riding.    Suggestion - you should ask yourselves "if" you are ever going to do any self supported touring with it  If so - you may want to read the enclosed crazyguy link - it might help with your decision process. As one can see from the tour journal - the tandem trike weight becomes significant.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=21659&v=6v

Another local here in Portland has or had a Screamer - - really don't know if it has been sold or not ?

Maybe he will hop on this thread to inform us of the Screamers status. Never the less - he "Chris Actherman" would be a good person for resourcing.

later 

[Jeff Wills]

Also get in touch with Jeff & Michelle Corcoran: http://www.tandemride.com/index.htm . They joined us for our ride last weekend: http://www.tandemride.com/javalava.htm . After they split off at the end (they had ridden from Gresham to Vancouver to join us), we saw another Screamer heading the other way! Didn't catch the name of that couple, though.

[elperegrino]

Hi Lonnie and timills,

I'm guessing you were referring to Conchi & I as the owners of the EZ Tandem.  I'm still in town, and unforturnately, the May 15th departure date of our Hometown-to-Hometown tour is on hold. Conchi had to leave unexpectedly this morning for Sevilla to help her mother who suffered a series of strokes this past week.  Its hard to say at this point what her mother's prognosis is and how our bike ride to Sevilla will work out.

In any case, I'll be around Portland for a bit longer, and I invite timills to contact me for info on the EZ Tandem and a possible test ride.

Nick

[tlmills]

we did ride the sun tandem at coventry cycle last month...is that the EZ Rider that you're talking about?  It was OK, but not the "one".  we were hoping to try the rans screamer and new seavo and look at the tandem trike...may just show up at PIR and see what there is to see!  thanks

[SloJoeRecumbo]

Have to put in a word umm..against going with tandem Kett's, but the Kohan's may disagree.  Then again, they could pedal wheelbarrows full of cement and kick butt.

I captained a tandem Kett for a bit and it was really a lot of work...those tandemed together are a heavy load.   I've also test road a Screamer and for my .02 that's a no brainer: Screamer easily wins out.

If all you want is to toodle along, then (IMHO)  the Kett's would be fine and have the advantage of uncoupling and being individual trikes   But if you do care about "mov'n along", I'd say no go.   As always...YMMV.

[allisons]

Michael and I test rode a Rans Screamer at PIR last year - in fact, there were a couple bent tandems there.

We ended up buying one and it's name is Super Grover.  We're in SE Portland if you'd like to ride it, but since Michael's competing at the race this weekend, it won't make an appearance.  If you don't get a chance to ride one this weekend, let me know and you can give ours a try if it's convenient for you.

We've got a standard size Rans Screamer - it comes in Large, too, which may be helpful if you've got a big height differential between your captain and stoker, but I'm a short legged 5'6" and Michael's 6'5" and we make the standard work.

Good luck with the tandeming!  We have a great time.

Oh, and trike tandems are fun but slo-o-o-w (IMHO....not to say I'm generally anti trike, I'm pro-trike but we're so much faster on the Screamer it'd be devastating to ride a trike). 

Allison

[jerrylemon]

I am new to this forum and am also interested in a bent tandem.  We currently ride a tandem but I like my bent much better.  Any chance I could talk to anyone who has a tandem bent and maybe get a test ride for a free lunch.  Help!!!

[Jeff Wills]

I am new to this forum and am also interested in a bent tandem.  We currently ride a tandem but I like my bent much better.  Any chance I could talk to anyone who has a tandem bent and maybe get a test ride for a free lunch.  Help!!!

Welcome, Jerry!

IMHO, it's best to show up at one of our rides and hope a tandem shows up, too, and ask for a test ride. Either that or Micheal & Allison or Jeff & Michelle or Chris & Mandy would be willing to meet you halfway.

Even better (what's better than "best"?) would be to show up at the Recumbent Retreat in August and see what shows up. There's always a collection of extra bikes- some people just come out to share riding experiences.

[Tha Capt]

Chris Achterman has a RANS Screamer for sale. I'm sure you can get a ride on that puppy as soon as your spirits move you 
If you want to contact him- let me know and I will send you his email as he doesn't visit this forum often.

Contact me tha_capt@comcast .net 

[kimla]

  My husband and I both own Terra Trikes, and are planning a trip down the Oregon coast.  We want to do the trip on a tandem but right now we are leaning toward the Hase Pino.  Has anyone tried a Hase Pino?  Or have any strong feeling or thoughts on this recumbent/bike?

[Tha Capt]

My Son has a Counter Point Tandem - which is now manufactured as a Bilenky. The concept is the same as the Hase Pino ie upright captain position is behind the stoker recumbent position. The whole family has been very happy with the tandem - for instance mom enjoyed having an eye on her little boy when riding Dad uses it to take him to school then continued on to work. My son says the CounterPoint is a better tandem to ride as captain only power than the traditional tandem he used to own

Back to your question - - I can only give you feed back of my experience of riding the Counterpoint. I have ridden it in both positions and found it to be as stable as any good quality bike. There is a learning curve of allowing enough room for the extra length of over hang of the stoker while maneuvering Nothing that a little saddle time wouldn't accomplish   It sure puts the stoker in a better sightseeing position let alone the comfort factor. We have concluded that the reclined position stoker seems become a fairing for the captain position As most recumbent riders know - the upright wedgie rider is anything but aerodynamic. Have fun on your trip. Just be sure to go south down the Oregon Coast and not north - Why? Wider bike friendly shoulders going south - don't have to cross two lanes of traffic for scenic pull offs - and the traditional tail winds winds make the trip more enjoyable