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Tandem Stelbel
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Made By Stelio Belletti in the early ’80. Recently he modified the original frame, changing it from an ‘open frame’ to a ‘double marathon’. The original tube set is Columbus Cyclex Tandem. The additional ones are Dedacciai Sat 14.5 . Of course all are TIG welded.
The result is outstanding : sturdy and stable under load, but with that comfort that only steel (and titanium) can provide.
Components are mainly Shimano, with tandem-specific wheels (40 spokes on reinforced hubs with one extra pawl in the cassette body). Mavic rims.
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Horns mounted bar-end shifter are a very rationale choice. They can be used indifferently with any oif the two hands, which sometimes comes in useful, specially in the city traffic.
Bar-end shifters can be used also in friction mode, which is very useful, given the cable length and the relevant requirement of constant adjusting.
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What this tandem is still missing is a third brake not acting on the rims (either a disk or a drum). Actually the rear hub is threaded on the left side to accommodate a drum brake operated by the stoker.
It is not trivial : on long descents under load the rims may heat up to the point that the tube explodes, with unpleasant consequences.
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Tandem riding is an exhilarating experience and is much easier that it may seem.
There is a certain degree of coordination involved, but then the daily stage are longer and more pleasant than thought. Worth giving it a try to believe !
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