All Things Bikes and Tacos! (...and every vehicle imaginable)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH9zTVJJ_Yw

 

Had a tandem come through my stand yesterday. The guy had it set up with the pilot running the front brake and the stoker running the rear. Me and another employee took it for a rip downtown. It was a real trip riding on the front with the guy behind me using the brake. Laughing the whole damn time.

 

Would be a serious workout with the laughing

 

As someone who has been happily married for 32 years, briefly rode a tandem with my wife 31.5 years ago, and whose wife has an Ibis Ripley spec'ed just a little nicer (Eagle, carbon rims) than my SC Tallboy, I'd say those facts are not unrelated to each other. Though I do know one couple who are both excellent solo riders and also tandem together off pavement, even gravel races.

 

I have a friend who used to work in a gear shop and when people would come in wanting to buy a tandem kayak, he'd ask "How's your relationship?", followed by "Do you want to keep it that way? Then you're buying two regular kayaks."

 

I have absolutely no idea what you're saying here, but give me your impressions of the TB vs the Ripley please!

 

everyone saying get cool branded belts.
ya boi over here rocking shoe laces to keep his shorts up lol

 

I sold kayaks and guided for a while. We called tandem kayaks “divorce boats.”

 

Not a bad idea…

 

Love the bike mounts on the box! Do you have a part list or any info on the install? Would love to copy that setup
-thanks!

 

Good to know! I rode the Goldwater Loop and entire Thumb Butte area while I was there -- pretty decent XC, flow, and a bunch of rocks to keep you honest. I really enjoyed it!

I may head up there again for the 4th of July weekend, so I'll hit you up.

 

Thanks for the recommendations. I ended up only doing the Hog trails, the twin buttes/little horse/broken arrow/chapel loop, and then Chuck Wagon. Too many good trails and too few days with competing interests (kids, climbing, beer, hiking, etc.) I saw three people on bikes on the trails on one day and zero the next. Hipster buddy of mine brought his primary bike, a Trek gravel bike, rode with me for three miles, went back, and decided he’s going to drop $5k on a full squish mountain bike. Yes.

 

Oh man I can’t imagine that trail on a gravel bike. I was yearning for more traction with my mountain bike tires and there is definitely a little sketch too

 

I switched with him for a few miles because I could gingerly make it work. He adored my thrashed 2005 Santa Cruz hard tail (oh yeah, 3x9, 26” wheels, Vanilla RLC fork). Me: “dude, if you think this is good, buy a new bike and you’ll need different pants.” Him: “like, is $5k enough for a good bike?” Me: “barely, but it’ll do.”

 

My favorite grips I've ever tried so far.

 

You gotta ride smith ravine to 305. It’s a tough climb getting to the top unless you shuttle but the downhill is great.

 

@mtskibum16 I thought I was being clever but maybe too obtuse. My point was that owning a tandem would not have been good for marital longevity (I had already learned that she did not enjoy riding on the back of my motorcycle either). Encouraging her to buy a bike slightly nicer than mine worked well. As for Ripley vs Tallboy, I can’t say I’ve ridden the Ripley more than a few hundred yards down the street, no single track or even dirt. Both bikes are 5 years old and have been ridden about the same miles in similar conditions, year around. The internal cables on the Ripley seem more sensitive to routing and adjustment than my external cables. On the other hand the Ibis linkage and pivot bearings seem better sealed, and the frame finish is holding up better. Both bikes have old school geo that most of you guys would laugh at, but it works for us. She climbs better than me but I’m often faster downhill, but that’s probably nothing to do with the bikes.

 

I got your drift, just giving you a hard time. ha

 

Ha! I was just there!!

 

I love my Wheel Deal!!