Upgrade to tandem gears - advice needed

[RickB]

Hi all,

I have the following cheapo tandem:
http://www.bikesdirect365.com/products/Indigo-Turismo-City,-Tandem-Bike.html
For the money its hard to fault thought and I honeslty I was surprised how much bike there is for the money but the gears definitely would need an upgrade as they shift rather abruptly/slip a bit in certain gears under pressure.

I know the long cabling is a factor too but is it worthwhile upgrading to something further up the pecking order - I'm assuming its the likes of Deore XT gear I'd be looking at? Only 8 speed at the minute so I guess I'd have to change shifters, front and rear changers, cassette, chainrings and chain??

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Your gears don't need upgrading, they need fixing. From the sounds of things you have worn your chain and cassette or, there's an adjustment problem. Have it assessed. By upgrading you are spending a lot of money and postponing the same problem to sometime in the future when the new equipment too wears and give you the same symptoms.

You will experience no difference in performance with XT over what you have now. Both can be made to perform superbly or neglected until performance is poor.

 

[RickB]

I'll try adjusting them (got experience in that area at least) but they are better in some gears than others and the bike really hasnt done many miles to date so wear shouldnt be a factor yet. Thanks for the pointers though. Will keep the wallet closed if XT wont help matters.

 

[raleighnut]

Check the rear hanger alignment, or get a shop to do it. This often causes poor shifting and problems adjusting gears.

 

[RickB]

Will do. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[Pale Rider]

Check the rear hanger alignment, or get a shop to do it. This often causes poor shifting and problems adjusting gears.

Good shout.

I don't know how long you've had the bike/shifting problems, but hangers can get bent when the bike is shipped in a cardboard box from China.

I was going to say a cheap bike, but most bikes - cheap and dear - are probably shipped from China nowadays.

 

[RickB]

It's not too bad. Had the bike about 18 months now and it does seem slightly worse now. Previously it would have had a crunchy gear change in one or two particular gears and I guess its been getting gradually worse but last time out it seemed to misbehave more than normal.

 

[srw]

If you've been riding regularly for 18 months it could just be wear and tear. Tandem components take twice the pounding that solo bike components do, which is why most of the leading manufacturers spec up their bikes. To be honest I'd also look to upgrade those brakes - which seem to be the cheapest solo-bike V brakes. A pair of mid-range to upper-range mountain bike V brakes with good quality pads will improve stopping power a lot.

 

[RickB]

Hasn't been used much to be honest so wouldn't have much wear and tear. Only been out about 20 times and not long distance. Only now are we starting to get more use from it.

Upgraded the brake blocks and it made a great difference. Would be a sensible upgrade to change the V brake like you say. Ideally discs would be the job for that bike but that's not gonna happen.