Conference noted::bicycle

Good luck in your search. You did not state how much it is being
sold for.  However couple of things:

1. Height for the captain is more important than the stoker.
You need to be able to control the machine.  Most Cannondales
I know of have much larger captains seat length.  Don't forget
sizing the reach.  I recently looked as someone who had a custom
made tandem, and he said that it was not as comfortable as his
road bike.  Turns out, his reach was almost 2" shorter.  You
should have the exact same reach as your other bikes.  If this
is not do-able, then it may pay to continue searching.

2. Is it indexed shifting?  This technology has really benefited
tandems.  

3. It appears that it is fairly heavy duty wheels, are they
48 spoke with the 3rd brake. This will be great for touring,
however if you and your stoker are light, it maybe overkill if
you are looking for speed.

4. Cannondales have some unique riding qualities from my research.
People say they ride like a "rail".  Make sure you ride it a bit
to see if it is what you like.

5. Another option, from a sizing standpoint may be to go with
26" wheels.  This would give you a bit more room.  

I am fairly familiar with the tandem market, feel free to send
me mail.

regards
steve

Thanks for your reply Steve.

I am very familiar with both Cannodale and Santana tandems as I have done
probably on the order of 3,000 miles including a double century, riding loaded
from N.H. to that tandem rally in Ct. etc.   My cycling partner owned the
Santana and then purchased the Cannondale as a better fit for us.  We were
able to have a couple years of fabulous cycling before we each had relationships
develope that squeezed our cycling time. *sigh*

My husband and I had Cannondale for awhile and the at another point the 
Santana until my old partner wanted them both back and ended up selling
the Cannodale.  

As for fit this Cannondale will get a shorter stem up front and a long seat
post for the rear.  Other than going to the short turned up handlebars for 
the stocker I think we'll be right in there for fit.  The last change may be
having me go to clipless system (which is way over due anyway) just to gain
an extra 1/2 inch.

I'll give you a call later as I could use more input.

Thanks,

Dani

Steve has good points but let me stress:

MAKE SURE YOUR HUSBAND HAS ENOUGH ROOM IN THE STOKER POSITION.

This is quite a challenge on stock tandems.

Other points/advice:

Unless you will be doing fully loaded tours in the mountains, I'd get rid of 
the drum/disc brake.

Also be very critical when test riding the tandem.  Tandems take much more of a
beating than your regular bike.  And aluminum frames will fatigue quicker.  I've
raced against a few Cannondales and the riders complained about stress noises 
out of the head tube.

Components take a beating too - especially the wheels.  Check the axles - make
sure that are straight.

My 2�

Eric

Does anyone know if they make an adjustable stem for the
captain?  This could certainly be a decent thing, if you
are going to be swapping positions.  

re:.1  It appears that your husband may be right on your
back, with little breathing room.  This may be ok as 
now, but too much togetherness....

Our new tandem and more room in the back, with a longer
stem.  This has been tremendous for my wife.  (Cannondales
do come with substantially longer stoker top tubes, now
that I recall)

steve

    
    	My fiance and I are in the market for a tandem.  I read through
    	a few notes about Cannondales and Santanas.  How about Treks T200?
    	We're looking at some easy riding on it, touring, not loaded -
    	no racing, 700 cc wheels.  He would captain and currently rides 
    	a 50 cm.  I currently ride a 53 cm.  Our reaches are about the same.  
    	It appears that folks in here aren't partial to a disc brake.  
    	Any opinions of the following would be greatly appreciated.
    
    	- Cannondale (I think it's RT3000?)
    	- Santana Arriva
    	- Trek T200
    	- Alluminum vs. Cro-moly?
    	- disc brakes?
    	- Our sizes versus the three makers.
    	
    	I plan on subscribing to the Tandem Club also.  I've read through
    	buyers guides and brochures - looking for opinions and experience.
    
    	Thanks,
    	Melanie

    Melanie,
    
    
    My wife and I were shopping these and decided (when it's in the
    budget), on the Trek.  It comes in two set-ups.  One is a "road"
    version, and the other has hybrid wheels and components, but the frames
    are the same.  We prefer the hybrid only because I don't want to take
    the time to maintain the wheels.  This would also be a "social ride",
    not a workout bike.
    
    Re: drum brakes
    
    Most people these days seem to be saying that as long you're not riding
    in the mountains, cantilevers are more than enough stopping power.
    
	
    r�

 You might want to look at a Rodriguez. I bought mine through R & E in 
Seattle (where these are made). The price is compatible with Trek, the 
bike looks better (IMHO) and unless you live in Washington state you 
don't have to pay sales tax if you mail order like I did. It's a great 
shop to work with even over the phone. I don't have a disc brake since I 
don't live in the mountains.

Joe

    
        Hi,
    
        I'm the fiance mentioned in .5.  My main concern in looking
        at tandems is frame quality.  In the interest of price, I had
        considered getting a Cannondale frameset and putting a mid
        level group on it.  However, Cannondale no longer sells tandem
        framesets.  And their only road tandem comes ready equipped with
        Shimano XT.  Not exactly an inexpensive way to break into the
        sport.
    
        Melanie and I are both used to pretty nice road bikes with tight
        geometries and stiff frames.  While we won't be doing any racing
        on the tandem we want something that is well built and responsive.
    
        My first impression was that Cannondale is the bike of choice.
        The aluminum frame is stiff and the rear top tube is longer than
        most making it better suited to a taller stoker.  But $3000 is a
        more than we thought we'd spend.  And you don't even get pedals!
    
        Steal frames are heavier and more flexible - but...  We're not
        big people so that might not be a problem.  The Cannondale might
        be actually be too harsh.  Thoughts on this??
    
        Then there's the height issue.  Judging from Dani's comments, it
        sounds like having a taller stoker is not a real big deal.  How
        high can you safely put the rear saddle?  What other types of
        adjustments might we have to make?
    
        Joe mentions Rodriguez in .7.  I've seen the bikes listed buyer's
        guides, but without seeing and riding it's hard to make a call.
        Does anyone know how long they've been in business or what they're
        track record is?
    
        Bottom line - I don't want to spend money needlessly, but I also
        don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish.
    
        Thanks for your comments so far,
    
        John

(I'm not a tandem owner, but I do know a few)

One manufacturer not considered yet is Burley.  Burley even offers an Allsop
beam for the stoker to cushion out the road shock.  From one owner that I know
this is important here in New England.  O'Neils in Worcester carries Burley (as
well as Cannondale and Santana).

From what I've heard through the summer, Rodriguez had stopped working with R&E
for a while, and R&E declared bankruptcy this summer.  Rodriguez has taken them
over and is trying to re-establish customer reputation.  I believe that Fritz's
Bicycle shop in Worcester carried Rodriguez at one time.

Pedals and saddles are personal items.  If they came with the bike chances are
you would end up changing them after a short while.

As for free-wheeling cranksets; there is the Opus Counter-point.  Not a
traditional tandem.  The stoker sits out front in a recumbant position, and the
captain rides upright.  I've read that it has idividual shifting and
freewheeling, but it's probably not cheap!

R & E was sold more than two years ago by Angel Rodriguez, the new owner
purchased two more shops, and did go bankrupt this past summer.  Angel
being the principal creditor took the four shops he originally owned back
and welcomes business.  I do not know if they are back to making
frames yet; the name of the customs and semicustoms had been changed to
Rain City.  I don't know if Rain City is being discontinued and the
Rodriguez name coming back. Several former employees rejoined Angel soon
after he re-took over.

A good tandem will cost more than two single frames of similar quality.
Ride an example of what you want to buy.  It sounds like you want a light
sporting tandem, not a touring or racing one.  Don't forget a rack.  They
too seem to be pretty expensive--like the one Yakima and Thule sell.