The Spit-Roast
For starters We'll be having my latest toy.. "Spit roast" as she's known... (Eight inches at each end)



What you see here is my Full-Sus Downhill Tandem.

It's marvellous, or as friends phrase it "completely barking hat-stand". As no Insurance company will touch it, I'll be carrying that out.

Oh.. and for those who don't know what I look like... That's me that is.. hope it hasn't destroyed any mental images...
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 12:54, 33 replies)

Pretty please..
Can you upload it to b3tards or photobucket or anything like that?

The stupid bloody filter at work won't let me look at anything with the word 'f*cebook' in it (see, I even have to censor that!)
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Thu 8 May 2008, 12:56, closed)

sure...
*dunnit*
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 12:58, closed)

That's fabulous
Not sure I'd want to be the stoker though - bombing downhill not being able to quite see (or steer) would scare the crap out of me.

Maybe that's the point?
( chthonic, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:00, closed)

Bloody brilliant!
I WANT one!
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 8 May 2008, 13:00, closed)

"thank you mistah"
that bike looks quite a lot of fun

I WANT ONE!
( weaver., Thu 8 May 2008, 13:06, closed)

That is very impressive.
But what is at the bottom of a hill that you have to get to so desperately you feel a direct path is necessary? We have roads to make that sort of thing more comfortable.


Or am I just not getting it?

Ho-hum. Looks expensive. I'd rather have the cash.
( gareth_alien will be human again at, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:09, closed)

@Chthonic...
Someone who knows the term "Stoker"!!!

*over-enthusiasticly hugs Chthonic like a long-lost brother*

Captain Humpty.
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 13:11, closed)

That's ace!
*click*
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:13, closed)

*Slobber*
Mmmmm....

Horst link...
Manitou Swinger...
Halo rims...
'Zocchi Triple Eights...

Do you like to ride her well, sir? Do you? Oooh...
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 8 May 2008, 13:20, closed)

A thing of beauty ....
is a joy forever. I've had a shot of a hardtail GT tandem with what was at that time, long travel Bombers and it was some of the best fun I've had on a bike. Yours looks fantastic though. You've obviously got your priorities well sorted.
( Ramsay Tupper, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:27, closed)

Ha!
You look like you should be in one of the triple X films.

BANZIA!
( girlinthehole, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:29, closed)

Actually..
I reckon I look like a tosser in that photo... but it was a good one of the tandem... I know what's important ;o)
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 13:42, closed)

Brilliant
Makes my bike look rubbish now.

(Throws own bike in a canal in disgust)
(mejt, Thu 8 May 2008, 13:54, closed)

Can there be much scarier...
Than being on the back of a DH bike as it plows down a hill.

I will admit I am too much of a wuss for DH, but even someone experienced would be screaming as they barrel down a hill completely reliant on your steering, and praying they shift their weight at the point you were anticipating.

Sir, I salute you, one of the greatest and barmiest inventions I have seen in a long long time...
(442, Thu 8 May 2008, 14:00, closed)

Ha!
That's not you really is it ;0 you're tricking us
( ogwen69 has returned from Reddit, Thu 8 May 2008, 14:10, closed)

'tis - as well you know Og.
Makes a change for me to post my face instead of my other body-parts... ;o)
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 14:15, closed)

That is amazing.
But how it would actually work with two people on anything slightly technical scares me.
( BindiBaji, Thu 8 May 2008, 14:34, closed)

Hit things fast enough....
...and they're no longer technical. They're just a bit bumpy.

Tandem riding is all about trust and communication... And the stoker can feed you too. Awesome.

I have it on good authority that an evil fart can linger behind the captain's back even at 40kmh...
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 14:42, closed)

That's a thing of beauty, and no mistake
Looks like a Kona rocker bar at the back...custom build? I wouldn't be surprised if it's an off the Shelf build if it is Kona though (crazy mothers that they are).

I've looked for tandem downhill videos before but not found anyone doing much. Looks at the size of them rotors too! You need serious stopping power with 2 peeps on the thing.

Awesome.
( LemonEntryMyDearWatson This time, Moriarty, the hand is on the other foot, Thu 8 May 2008, 15:30, closed)

Post a picture
of you wheelying it and I'll send you my first born daughter.
( Ramsay Tupper, Thu 8 May 2008, 15:31, closed)

While we're on the subject....

(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 8 May 2008, 16:09, closed)

mmmm
XC-machinery... Shpanky.
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Thu 8 May 2008, 16:19, closed)

So that's what you look like!
...who's that holding you?
(Che Grimsdale Best before:, Thu 8 May 2008, 16:59, closed)

I was disappointed
when PJM turned up at the QOTW b3ta bash without his helmet.
( crackhouseceilidhband Fuck off back to Mumsnet, Thu 8 May 2008, 17:02, closed)

hahahaha
might have to sell my Big Hit and make one myself :)
(Foulkesy123 The one and only..., Thu 8 May 2008, 18:01, closed)

*Shakes head*
You're quite, quite mad...and she must be madder still to get on the back of it!

;)
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 8 May 2008, 20:40, closed)

Oh my!
*adds to list of must haves*

You are my new hero! Puts my Specialized Rockhopper to shame (no pics, sadly!)

*clicks*
( Devil_In_Tights the *real* DiT!, Thu 8 May 2008, 20:52, closed)

@ DiT
Oooh! I have a Specialized Hardrock. I love it. :D
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Thu 8 May 2008, 21:43, closed)

?
No bell? Must have been cheap.
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Thu 8 May 2008, 21:52, closed)

Whaddya mean "No Bell"?
Look REALLY closely at the Stoker's handlebars... See the gold lump that obscures a bit of my hand? That's a bell that is.

I have 3 stokers at the moment... Ranging from hardcore Mountain-biker to Absolute Newbie.

"The perfect stoker is a blind stoker" as they say.. and riding something like this at pace relies on perfect communication.

The Tandem was built so that Absolute Newbie and I could go places and cross Sweden together without either of us getting fed up with the massive "lack/abundance of skill" ratio that we represent. So far it has been a blistering success.

Newbie is too starting to get more confident now that she's got used to the saddle, and so long as we don't get out knees down in corners she enjoys herself: there's room for more confidence, but there's no rush.

My slightly unhinged mate considers it his job to pump as much power into the drivetrain as possible. This is completely regardless of where and what we're doing: Slogging uphill and he's pumping away, Powering down a hill and he's hammering away at it still. To his credit, even when I feel the back end stepping out, I can feel him powering away back there.

Now that summer-time is here the local ski-slopes have opened up to mountain-bikers...
( Humpty Dumpty was Pushed Is unaware of having any limits., Fri 9 May 2008, 6:46, closed)

Hmmm
Well, if its got a bell then its unquestionably the coolest bike I have ever seen. I bet I could fall off that in spectacular fashion!
( enoughblueskyforsailorstrousers, Fri 9 May 2008, 9:09, closed)

Phwooooar!
Humpty's got a whopper ;o)
( Tourette's ( . )( . ) has a monkey hair in her fried egg, Mon 12 May 2008, 14:13, closed)

Where can I get one of those?
And the bike is pretty cool as well. B'dum tshhhh.
(BrainSurgerysFun, Tue 13 May 2008, 21:40, closed)