3 replies to this topic

[Falasi4]

I know with 2 adults the tandem road wheels on the Cannondale I have are the way to go - lots of spokes, big flange hubs, beeefier tandem specific (says on the stickers) rims, etc...

Since I only use it with my 12yr old daughter (about 70lbs) does it matter if I occassionally swap the front wheel out for something like a Ksyrium SL ?  I'm 175ish so our total weight would be ~245  - seems reasonble to me that a regular non-weight limited front wheel would be ok or is there some other dynamic going on that warrants the different wheels?

Rear wheel has 140 spacing so I assume I'm pretty much stuck with that unless I have something else custom built or is it ok to "squeeze" the dropouts a little to get it to fit?  That seems like a bad idea but just checking...

[ssalmons]

Unless your daughter is riding up front, I would keep the heavy duty wheel on.  Almost all of the captain's weight is on the front wheel; with a standard, single rider bike 1/2 or less of the rider's weight is on the front wheel.  I also would not try to squeeze a 130 wide hub in a 140 frame, maybe a 135 mountain bike hub.

PS, it is very cool your daughter is riding with you.

[Eggman]

ssalmons, on 13 June 2012 - 02:31 PM, said:

Unless your daughter is riding up front, I would keep the heavy duty wheel on.  Almost all of the captain's weight is on the front wheel; with a standard, single rider bike 1/2 or less of the rider's weight is on the front wheel.  I also would not try to squeeze a 130 wide hub in a 140 frame, maybe a 135 mountain bike hub.

PS, it is very cool your daughter is riding with you.

Plus, 70% of the force under braking is through the front wheel.

[Falasi4]

Good points - tandem wheel stays!