Shhhh... I just bought another tandem bike. Pics to follow soon...

"Dad, when are you going to throw that thing out?"...

Next steps...

Wow! What a scorcher we've been having! It has been so hot that I haven't ventured out to work on the tandem in the past week! Sorry :(

Also, based on your votes, 85% said to fix her up so I have decided to continue on with the renovations of the bike!!! That is not to say that I haven't gotten some anticipated grief here on the home front though... And I quote... "I'm not trying to be mean, shallow or selfish but that seriously is completely and utterly embarrassing! I seriously would not talk to you!" Also... "It's nice that you want to exercises and get closer to us, but do you have to do it in such an outlandish way? You can join a gym and spend quality time with us, not ride a TANDEM bike and embarrass us!" Not to mention... "Dad, we all know you don't have time to waste on fixing up a tandem bike."

Even though I'm getting a lot of pushing back, I'm going to go through with it because that is what YOU VOTED FOR!!! I am going to suck it up and see this through one way or another...

So, that being said, I did a little more research and put together a list of parts that I am anticipating having to need to get the bike into "usable" condition. I say "usable" because even though by replacing the parts it will allow me to pedal the bike down the street, since it is in such disarray I will need to have some custom renovations done to it too.

Here is the list of parts and anticipated costs:

• (2) Bike Seats: $20/ea
• (2) Tires: $15/ea
• (2) Tubes: 7.00/ea
• (1) Kick-Stand: $25
• (2) Chain: $10/ea.

Total cost for new equipment: $129.00
Riding a Tandem bike through the neighborhood: PRICELESS!!

I guess the other things I need to have done are:

• Getting all the parts sand blasted
• Re-painting the body
• Re-chroming the wheels, spokes, handlebars and rear rack

Not sure on the cost of that yet but if anyone knows of any resources that might be able to handle any of these please let me know :)

Do you think this is going to cost too much or will it be worth it in the end? Well now you can vote on that too. Take a look to the right and see the next poll, cast a vote and help me along the way.

Well, that's it for now. Keep sending your tips and words of encouragement as I battle the home front of my suburban empire to reach my final destination for a better future and a brighter Tandem!

- Joe

Research...

I did a little research on the bike. It is a tandem bike by a manufacturer called Columbia model "Columbia Twosome". The manufacturer has been around since 1877 and was the first manufacturer of bikes in the US. Now over 130 years later they manufacture school furniture??? Apparently they stopped making bikes in 1991...

Trying to date the bike, I found a site that uses the label on the front to narrow the range of years (see below for what mine looks like).

This is what it's supposed to look like...

That being said it places my bike between the years of 1961 & 1975. Now I need to see if I can find a serial number stampped on the frame somewhere and that will pin down the year (not to mention that I will need to make some deffinet improvments to the label to make it presentable...).

Wish me luck!!!

This morning I felt stressed and my wife asked me "Is it because of the tandem bike?". I smiled...

Preface:

Ok, so I have to preface this entire blog scenario so that everyone can understand where I'm coming from and why...

I'm a father of 5 children ranging from 22-yrs to 3-yrs old. I got it into my head that owning a tandem bike would be a nice way to spend quality time with my wife and kids in a silly and fun way while getting some exercise. Apparently my family has a different perspective on the matter... It appears that the thought of riding a tandem bike in the neighborhood in which we live, sends shock waves of fear at the anticipated embarrassment that will ensue if seen! As a result, I am forced to contemplate whether the "journey of a thousand miles" should even begin...

So I ask anyone who has time to read and comment on the matter, what do you think? Should I attempt to recondition a lifeless piece of junk in my all but nonexistent spare time or should I heed the cautions of my family and turn this beast into scrap?

Take a look at these pictures and let me know what you think...