Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=tandem.10310.0345.eml
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 07:43:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Tandems Ltd <tandems(AT)bham.mindspring.com>
Subject: [T(AT)H] Interbike Report

Well, there have been a few reports from Interbike, so here's a few more 
points that haven't been covered yet:

1) Santana didn't have a booth on the floor, choosing to introduce their 
new Isogrid "Beyond" tandem at a pair of invitation-only Dealer Breakfasts. 
Food was good, and the presentations were excellent. Not only was the 
Beyond introduced and explained, but Bill had several others there to 
explain Isogrid (president of Vyatek) and how it's developed; a Shimano 
engineer was there to explain the process behind the 16-spoke wheels; and 
an engineer from Galfer was there to explain the theory behind the wave 
disk rotor. All in all, very informative. And we got the chance to win some 
great door prizes -- no, not the Beyond, but Santana did give away a couple 
of Reynolds tandem forks, several sets of Isogrid MaxM handlebars, and two 
pairs of Shimano 16-spoke wheels. Other than the Beyond, only expect minor 
changes in the Santana line-up for '04

2) Co-Motion added the Rolf Tandem Wheels to their Supremo and Robusta, and 
displayed a new Time Trial tandem that looke extremely fast! A few new 
colors entered the paint list, replacing a few of the colors that weren't 
big sellers. They also showed a new single that looked like a winner, too!

3) Burley redesigned their entire trailer line, changed a the colors on 
most of their tandems, and added the Rolf Tandem Wheels to their Paso Doble 
and their Rivazza models. Also shown is a new addition to the recumbent 
line, something to compete with the Giant Revive.

4) Calfee had one of their beautiful tandems in their booth, but I didn't 
get a chance to look it over or talk with Craig.

5) Ritchey had two tandems in their booth, using a new (non-S&S) coupling 
system that Tom has developed. The couplers are available for licensing to 
qualified builders, so expect to see them soon elsewhere. I understand 
Glenn Erickson has already built at least one bicycle with these couplers, 
but I don't  whether it was a single or a tandem. This new coupler system 
is almost invisible, but limits where a bicycle or tandem can come apart. 
No word at the booth whether the tandems will be a production offering next 
year.

6) DaVinci has indeed built a triple, and you're quite right -- it is not 
fully ICS. Todd said he's already working out the details to make the next 
triple fully ICS in all positions. Brian's paint jobs are still gorgeous, 
and some of the best in the entire show.

7) Cannondale had their two models on display -- it was good to see 
Cannondale back on the main floor, after being in the small rooms off-site 
for the last two years. Excitement in the booth is "CANNONDALE IS BACK!" Of 
course, the fact that their factory rider won World's this past weekend 
helped the excitement level, too. Their two models of tandems will both be 
equipped w/Avid disk brakes, and that's the only real change in the 
line-up. Both will be at the RT1000/MT800 level, rather than the RT3000/MT2000.

8) Trek did not display any tandems in their booth, but all models are 
listed in their catalogs for next year, basically unchanged from what was 
offered in '03.

9) Other upright tandems where on display in KHS, Raleigh, DiamondBack, 
GGG, Phat, Elsworth, Ventana, and Schwinn booths. I probably missed a few 
others, and many manufacturers (such as TiCycles and 7) chose not to 
display a tandem in their limited booth space. Since TiCycles and 7 both 
essentially build to order, this was understandable.

10) Recumbent tandems were shown by RANS (no changes), Greenspeed (no 
changes -- but they were showing a folding Greenspeed), and J&B 
(EZ-Tandem). Vision was noticeably absent at the show, or if they were 
there, I couldn't find them.

Each year, Susan and I always look for the most outrageous creations on 
display, those that make you ask yourself, "What were they thinking when 
they designed this?" Past winners include the Ri-Si-Go single bike,  the 
"Row-Bike" recumbent, and the convertible bike/boat. This year's winner has 
to be the "Ab-Crunch Bike" Get a total work on your bicycle! You had to see 
it as it is beyond description!


Jack Goertz
Tandems, Ltd
2220 Vanessa Drive
Birmingham, AL  35242
205/991-5519 (voice)
205/991-7766 (fax)
e-mail: info(AT)tandemsltd.com
http://www.tandemsltd.com

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