Author Topic: Optima Duett  (Read 3741 times)

RichForrest

  • T'is I, Silverback.
    • Ramblings of a silverback cyclist
Optima Duett
« on: 23 June, 2014, 11:33:27 am »
Wasn't sure whether to put this on here or over on the darkside as this one is both being a darkside tandem ;D

At the end of May I went over to the Netherlands to collect a recumbent tandem. Flying over on the Sunday morning and returning via the overnight ferry.

The only problem we envisaged with it was that the owner had the rear gears operated from the stokers seat, this would make things a bit hard for me to ride solo down to the port.
When I got to the station at Zoetermeer I was met by Michiel with the tandem and we rode it back to his.
He had managed to make a remote shifting mechanism with an old tent pole and bar end that allowed the gears to be changed from the front.



I could see why he was selling it as in his shed he had a Challenge Jester, a full sus' Optima 26" (Orca?), an Optima trike, a Quest and a couple of others in there also!

I managed to ride it the 40km to the port without too many issues apart from having to stretch too far with the 26" front wheel.



Dawn met me at Harwich the following morning and we brought it home strapped to the top of the car!



I have now sorted the front wheel out with a fork from Wobbly John  :thumbsup: and all the gears are now operated via the front bars.
We have managed to get out on it 3 times so far (40km yesterday) and Dawn seems to enjoy it, so it's looking like it will be our touring and long ride bike.
The kids also like it apart from Dawns daughter as it made her feel sick (she doesn't ride uprights for this reason although will ride the trike).


It's definitely a traffic stopper and gets more comments than the solo  ;D
No doubt there will be more pic's taken and a few test rides at the Test valley weekend on Friday https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=80534.0

Rich

Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #1 on: 23 June, 2014, 11:37:25 am »
 :thumbsup:
If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is...

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #2 on: 23 June, 2014, 01:44:11 pm »
Looks loads better with the small wheel.

Epic bodge for the gears.
Getting there...

Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #3 on: 23 June, 2014, 03:24:25 pm »
Does the stoker occupy the same time zone as the pilot?
Get a bicycle. You will never regret it, if you live- Mark Twain

RichForrest

  • T'is I, Silverback.
    • Ramblings of a silverback cyclist
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #4 on: 23 June, 2014, 05:49:00 pm »
Not sure you'll have to ask her, she'll be along in a minute  ;D

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #5 on: 23 June, 2014, 06:20:30 pm »
They communicate by mobile phone.
Getting there...

jogler

  • mojo operandi
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #6 on: 23 June, 2014, 06:25:56 pm »
:thumbsup:

+1

A cracking machine. :thumbsup:
Am I a wee bit envious?
Is the Pope catholic?
 ;D

Regulator

  • That's Councillor Regulator to you...
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #7 on: 23 June, 2014, 07:43:33 pm »
Nutters...  ;D
Quote from: clarion
I completely agree with Reg.

Green Party Councillor

arallsopp

  • Beansontoast
    • Barring Mechanicals Blog
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #8 on: 30 June, 2014, 12:22:06 pm »
Bloody hell, Rich. That makes mine look small! :)

Got to get a daft bikes ride in some time soon.

(on which, I may have to bug you about transport options. See you laid it on the roof. Tricky to find a rack for it when tubes are oversize and in odd places...)
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Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #9 on: 30 June, 2014, 01:24:48 pm »
'tis a splendid beast.

It's always a bit entertaining when I try to ride one of RichForrest's machines, but this one was particularly amusing: With the 20" wheel, the stand-over height wasn't a problem.  I could pedal successfully on tiptoes.  So off I went across the field and then discovered I couldn't corner - my arms weren't long enough to turn the bars (and hips don't help with such narrow bars, either).

But yeah, it's just a bike with no turning circle.  Very stable.  (Though I didn't try with a stoker, on account of the marginal pedal reach.)   :thumbsup:

Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #10 on: 30 June, 2014, 09:46:13 pm »
 :o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable! Excellent!

The photo from the weekend that I'm most looking forward to seeing here is the one of you putting it back onto the car  ;D

Kim

  • Timelord
    • Fediverse
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #11 on: 30 June, 2014, 10:00:48 pm »
:o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable!

Heh.  Next time you meet it, I expect they'll have got the hang of setting off without all that faffing about.

RichForrest

  • T'is I, Silverback.
    • Ramblings of a silverback cyclist
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #12 on: 30 June, 2014, 10:16:11 pm »
:o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable!

Heh.  Next time you meet it, I expect they'll have got the hang of setting off without all that faffing about.

 ;D ;D
New shoes may be of help, look cleats are a tad slippy slippy on wet tarmac and a rigid fork may lower it slightly lol

RichForrest

  • T'is I, Silverback.
    • Ramblings of a silverback cyclist
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #13 on: 30 June, 2014, 10:20:21 pm »
:o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable! Excellent!

The photo from the weekend that I'm most looking forward to seeing here is the one of you putting it back onto the car  ;D

Yes, the comment of "Hang on I've got the wrong camera!" as I held it above my head after lifting it up to put it onto the car  ;D

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #14 on: 30 June, 2014, 10:31:32 pm »
:o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable!

Heh.  Next time you meet it, I expect they'll have got the hang of setting off without all that faffing about.

 ;D ;D
New shoes may be of help, look cleats are a tad slippy slippy on wet tarmac

Especially if you forget to remove the cleat covers ;)
Getting there...

RichForrest

  • T'is I, Silverback.
    • Ramblings of a silverback cyclist
Re: Optima Duett
« Reply #15 on: 03 July, 2014, 02:01:55 am »
:o  <--- surprised face!
I hadn't realised this was such a new addition to the stable!

Heh.  Next time you meet it, I expect they'll have got the hang of setting off without all that faffing about.

 ;D ;D
New shoes may be of help, look cleats are a tad slippy slippy on wet tarmac

Especially if you forget to remove the cleat covers ;)

No it doesn't help!! Have done that many a time on the Bacchetta also  ;D ;D

Still waiting for yours and Butterfly's photo's of the weekend to appear  ;)  ;D