Got a new project and need some advice. I have a 1993-ish Schwinn Double Time. Think hybrid tandem - flat bars thumb shifters 700 X 38 wheels/tires.
I am the original owner and my wife and I have taken it on a few metric centuries, long rides in the country and general fun slower jaunts. ONLY ONCE did we take it off road on trails...it really is not that much fun. I think 95% of the time moving forward we would still ride our own bikes when we head out, but I have been thinking of swapping some parts out and making it more of a pure rodie. In addition to narrower slick tires I am thinking drop bars, which in turn means different shifters. You see where this is going.
Before you all tell me to scrap it and buy a "real" tandem I can say I never see that happening. This bike while not ideal is surely fine for 10 outings a year. I bought it when I was working at the Schwinn shop in college. I got a great deal on it and was able to "upgrade" a lot of the parts before it ever left the showroom. I got rid of all the suntour parts in favor of Deore XT deralleurs with Deore shifters. I also swapped out the cranks for a nice set of Specialized and put Petersen SE brakes on it. So I think I have a decent base to build on.
I was sure it had a 8-speed free hub and figured all I had to do was pick up some 9-speed brakes/levers and a new cassette and I would be 1/2 way there. No dice it is actually a 7-speed freewheel so new wheels are in the future if I move forward with this. If I head down that road I'd probably lean toward a Campy wheel set since all of my other bikes, wifes included are Campy Record/Chorus/Centaur.
So my first question is when 7-speed was the norm on MTBs with 8-speed on higher end bikes do you think I can keep the current cranks on my tandem? Can I get to 9/10 speed with a new cassette/chain/shifters or is it a case that the chain is not just narrower on the outside but the chain wheels are "thinner" too? Will I need new chan wheels at a minimum?
I have a Campy Chours medium chage derailleur on my commuter bike that I could move to the tandem if the DXT is not the way to go and replace one on the commuter with something else. Trying to do it on some what of a budget since it is not a daily ride. Thinking perhaps some Campy 9-speed chorus levers would be good and relativly cheap.
The motivation to get it converted is that I have enlisted many of my co-workers to partake in "bike to work day" in May. I am offering up several of my bikes to those who don't have them and a co-worker that rides on a regular basis is going to ride in with me on the tandem if I can get it road worthy by then. I know it could be done as it, but have been wanting to throw drop bars on it for a while and this is the push I needed.
Sorry for the long winded post. But looking for any and all suggestions to get it back to the point where it will be used on a regular basis.
I am the original owner and my wife and I have taken it on a few metric centuries, long rides in the country and general fun slower jaunts. ONLY ONCE did we take it off road on trails...it really is not that much fun. I think 95% of the time moving forward we would still ride our own bikes when we head out, but I have been thinking of swapping some parts out and making it more of a pure rodie. In addition to narrower slick tires I am thinking drop bars, which in turn means different shifters. You see where this is going.
Before you all tell me to scrap it and buy a "real" tandem I can say I never see that happening. This bike while not ideal is surely fine for 10 outings a year. I bought it when I was working at the Schwinn shop in college. I got a great deal on it and was able to "upgrade" a lot of the parts before it ever left the showroom. I got rid of all the suntour parts in favor of Deore XT deralleurs with Deore shifters. I also swapped out the cranks for a nice set of Specialized and put Petersen SE brakes on it. So I think I have a decent base to build on.
I was sure it had a 8-speed free hub and figured all I had to do was pick up some 9-speed brakes/levers and a new cassette and I would be 1/2 way there. No dice it is actually a 7-speed freewheel so new wheels are in the future if I move forward with this. If I head down that road I'd probably lean toward a Campy wheel set since all of my other bikes, wifes included are Campy Record/Chorus/Centaur.
So my first question is when 7-speed was the norm on MTBs with 8-speed on higher end bikes do you think I can keep the current cranks on my tandem? Can I get to 9/10 speed with a new cassette/chain/shifters or is it a case that the chain is not just narrower on the outside but the chain wheels are "thinner" too? Will I need new chan wheels at a minimum?
I have a Campy Chours medium chage derailleur on my commuter bike that I could move to the tandem if the DXT is not the way to go and replace one on the commuter with something else. Trying to do it on some what of a budget since it is not a daily ride. Thinking perhaps some Campy 9-speed chorus levers would be good and relativly cheap.
The motivation to get it converted is that I have enlisted many of my co-workers to partake in "bike to work day" in May. I am offering up several of my bikes to those who don't have them and a co-worker that rides on a regular basis is going to ride in with me on the tandem if I can get it road worthy by then. I know it could be done as it, but have been wanting to throw drop bars on it for a while and this is the push I needed.
Sorry for the long winded post. But looking for any and all suggestions to get it back to the point where it will be used on a regular basis.