UK and Europe · Public discussion

£299 tandem

Jeremy Parker · 2004-05-24T23:25:03+00:00

I've long thought about getting a riding-along-the-prom grade tandem for such things as chauffeuring politicians and bureaucrats around the bike facilities being done to^H^H for us. So I sent off for the Tandem offer in the Times. The bike arrived Wed 19th. It was supposed to go back, to be exchanged for another one, Fri 21st, but owing to some failure in communication will now not be picked up until this Wed., 24th. The problem is that the bracket for the front disc brake is mislocated. Someone has obviously tried to bodge things to fit by adding a bunch of washers under the lower mounting bolt to cant the calipers forward to be roughly at the disc. Unfortunately the bracket is too far inboard, so the disc can only go inside the calipers thanks to one of the brake pads mysteriously having gone missing. There isn't any braking action at all. I will see how a second bike is. Who knows, it may be just a one-off problem. Assuming the second bike doesn't have a problem, it might actually be worth it. Goodness knows what the frame is made of - the bike weighs about 46 lb. I would guess it's welded, including that bracket, but who knows. The frame looks reasonably true, although I haven't given it a detailed check. The bike is made in Viet Nam. Things must have changed since those old Peugots hauling ammo down the Ho Chi Minh Trail The only parts I recegnise are the rims - Weinmann, and the rear derailleur Shimano SIS Megarange. It isn't a megarange block. The largest cog is 28 teeth and the smallest, of 7, is about 14 or 13. Seat posts, stems and handlebars are steel, pedal cranks Al, 170 mm. Two questions: 1. I seem to recall that mail-order bikes must come pre-adjusted. Is that right? Anway, somebody certainly operned up the box, and somebody certainly did things to the front brake, and then, unless there was some terrible mistake, somebody presumably decided that this bike was fit for sale. The back brake and gears are well adjusted. 2. How much standardisation is there among disc brakes? Is there just one kind of mounting bracket, good for any kind of brakes, or man? I seem to be beyond the Sheldon Brown horizon here. Watch for further bulletins Jeremy Parker

Started by Jeremy Parker · 24 May 2004 · Last activity 25 May 2004 · 6 posts · 671 views

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01 / Original post£299 tandemJeremy Parker · 24 May 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6Ambrose Nankivell · 25 May 2004

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 24 May 2004
Last activity: 25 May 2004
Original author: Jeremy Parker
Posts: 6
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 671
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Disc brakes Brake pads Rear derailleurs

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Original post
Jeremy Parker
Archived post

24 May 2004, 23:25 UTC #1

I've long thought about getting a riding-along-the-prom grade tandem
for such things as chauffeuring politicians and bureaucrats around
the bike facilities being done to^H^H for us.
So I sent off for the Tandem offer in the Times.
The bike arrived Wed 19th. It was supposed to go back, to be
exchanged for another one, Fri 21st, but owing to some failure in
communication will now not be picked up until this Wed., 24th.
The problem is that the bracket for the front disc brake is
mislocated. Someone has obviously tried to bodge things to fit by
adding a bunch of washers under the lower mounting bolt to cant the
calipers forward to be roughly at the disc. Unfortunately the
bracket is too far inboard, so the disc can only go inside the
calipers thanks to one of the brake pads mysteriously having gone
missing. There isn't any braking action at all.
I will see how a second bike is. Who knows, it may be just a one-off
problem.
Assuming the second bike doesn't have a problem, it might actually be
worth it. Goodness knows what the frame is made of - the bike weighs
about 46 lb. I would guess it's welded, including that bracket, but
who knows. The frame looks reasonably true, although I haven't given
it a detailed check. The bike is made in Viet Nam. Things must have
changed since those old Peugots hauling ammo down the Ho Chi Minh
Trail
The only parts I recegnise are the rims - Weinmann, and the rear
derailleur Shimano SIS Megarange. It isn't a megarange block. The
largest cog is 28 teeth and the smallest, of 7, is about 14 or 13.
Seat posts, stems and handlebars are steel, pedal cranks Al, 170 mm.
Two questions:
1. I seem to recall that mail-order bikes must come pre-adjusted.
Is that right? Anway, somebody certainly operned up the box, and
somebody certainly did things to the front brake, and then, unless
there was some terrible mistake, somebody presumably decided that
this bike was fit for sale. The back brake and gears are well
adjusted.
2. How much standardisation is there among disc brakes? Is there
just one kind of mounting bracket, good for any kind of brakes, or
man? I seem to be beyond the Sheldon Brown horizon here.
Watch for further bulletins
Jeremy Parker

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Tony Raven
Archived post

25 May 2004, 04:34 UTC #2

Jeremy Parker said:

The problem is that the bracket for the front disc brake is
mislocated. Someone has obviously tried to bodge things to fit by
adding a bunch of washers under the lower mounting bolt to cant the
calipers forward to be roughly at the disc. Unfortunately the
bracket is too far inboard, so the disc can only go inside the
calipers thanks to one of the brake pads mysteriously having gone
missing. There isn't any braking action at all.
Getting the caliper centred on the disc with spacer washers is fairly
standard. I have quite a few to mount my Hope brake on my Marzocchi fork with
a Hope Hub so it happens even at the top end. Unilateral braking sound like a
mistake though ;-)
Tony

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Simon Brooke
Archived post

25 May 2004, 10:35 UTC #3

in message <[email hidden]>, Jeremy Parker
(') said:
2. How much standardisation is there among disc brakes? Is there
just one kind of mounting bracket, good for any kind of brakes, or
man? I seem to be beyond the Sheldon Brown horizon here.
There is what is called 'International Standard Mount' for disk brakes,
and one or two proprietary mounts. There is certainly a Manitou
proprietary mount and a Shimano one. But I would expect el-cheapo no
name brakes to be 'international standard', in which case any of the
good brake makers can supply you brakes to fit. The best disk brakes
around these days (except for serious loonie downhilling) seem to be
Hope Mono Minis.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
"The result is a language that... not even its mother could
love. Like the camel, Common Lisp is a horse designed by
committee. Camels do have their uses."
;; Scott Fahlman, 7 March 1995

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James Annan
Archived post

25 May 2004, 11:02 UTC #4

"Jeremy Parker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
I've long thought about getting a riding-along-the-prom grade tandem
for such things as chauffeuring politicians and bureaucrats around
the bike facilities being done to^H^H for us.
So I sent off for the Tandem offer in the Times.
As it happens I was in the UK recently and saw that advert. If you are
predominantly a road rider you might have missed this:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/disk_and_quick_release/index.html
Whatever your opinion of the risk, at least be aware that there is
(potentially) a huge force trying to rip the front wheel out of the
fork ends when you brake. Of course, if your brakes don't work, that
cures the problem...
James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

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Jeremy Parker
Archived post

25 May 2004, 14:00 UTC #5

"James Annan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
"Jeremy Parker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I've long thought about getting a riding-along-the-prom grade

tandem
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
for such things as chauffeuring politicians and bureaucrats

around
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the bike facilities being done to^H^H for us.
So I sent off for the Tandem offer in the Times.
As it happens I was in the UK recently and saw that advert. If you

are
Quoted message said:
predominantly a road rider you might have missed this:

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/disk_and_quick_release/index.html
Quoted message said:

Whatever your opinion of the risk, at least be aware that there is
(potentially) a huge force trying to rip the front wheel out of the
fork ends when you brake. Of course, if your brakes don't work,

that
Quoted message said:
cures the problem...
James
Oh [censored]. Thank you. I had read Chris Juden's article (CTC mag' aug
2003, p53) but had forgotten about it. The problem is so bloody
obvious when pointed out, too.
At this point I'm in denial, of course. The fork does have lawyers
lips, and the QR skewer looks reasonably well designed with regard to
teeth, cam design etc. I've never heard of the manufacturer, Joy.
Well, I did day "riding-along-the-prom grade".
Time to make myself a cup of tea, I think.
Jeremy Parker

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Ambrose Nankivell
Archived post

25 May 2004, 22:55 UTC #6

In news:[email hidden],
Simon Brooke <[email hidden]> typed:
Quoted message said:
in message <[email hidden]>, Jeremy Parker
(') said:
2. How much standardisation is there among disc brakes? Is there
just one kind of mounting bracket, good for any kind of brakes, or
man? I seem to be beyond the Sheldon Brown horizon here.
There is what is called 'International Standard Mount' for disk
brakes, and one or two proprietary mounts. There is certainly a
Manitou proprietary mount and a Shimano one. But I would expect
el-cheapo no name brakes to be 'international standard', in which
case any of the good brake makers can supply you brakes to fit. The
best disk brakes around these days (except for serious loonie
downhilling) seem to be Hope Mono Minis.
For a £299 bike, Avid cable discs may be a better choice in aftermarket
stakes. Someone had them for £69 recently, but can't remember who.
A

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