Change is inevitable, and for the most part, a good thing. No matter the sport, as time passes technology influences the design of our equipment. Advancements are made in performance and durability. And, even the sport evolves over time. I know many people that remember when mountain bikes were introduced, then front shocks, followed by full-suspension. Each evolutionary step allowing riders to take on more terrain. Form follows function. That’s our philosophy. We strive to push those evolutionary steps forward with tandem design so that you can conquer your own frontier.
Our own frontier wasn’t necessarily gravel, hillclimb, travel and touring, family rides or racing, but all of those things. We wanted to create a tandem that didn’t compromise our diverse interests. We wanted to bring our favorite bike traveling, able to take on mixed-terrain, but not slow us down climbing. We realize not everyone has the exact wishlist as us and that’s why building each bike based on the individual riders’ interests is so important. You get exactly what you need to for your intended riding without the compromises.
The first thing we look at is who will be riding the bike. We ask for any existing fit information. The riders are the most important variable. Even if the captain or stoker are likely to change, the bike can be built to meet a range of rider sizes allowing for the greatest variability in rider size without compromising comfort or handling.
After initial fit is determined, we like to really understand what it is you’d like to do. Are you climbing mountains, racing across the country, planning a great off-road traverse, or hoping to ride more as a family? No matter how big (or small) the goal, we begin to look at the design requirements that will allow you to achieve your goal. If it doesn’t exist yet, then we talk about creating it. That’s where we bust out the MIT engineering skills and make magic happen.
As part of our business (and personal) philosophy, we also believe in engineered solutions that don’t require a venture capitalist to support your new bike build. We strive to find the most value-per-dollar solutions for each build. Clients are welcome to choose the latest technology or light-weight components for your bike, but we’ll always communicate the pros and cons of component and build choices to educate and empower our clients. It’s part of the custom package — an opportunity to work hands-on with the person building your bike.
So, what’s your next frontier?