Travel Tandem MTB with S and S frame couplers

This frame replaced Thierry's existing tandem and has now returned from a 2 month tour of France. The S and S frame couplers mean it can fit into a suitcase-sized bag for air-travel. The six couplers enable this frame to break down into frame parts smaller than the wheels. Here are photos of a similar tandem bike packed entirely into one bag, that's wheels, everything, into a 26" x 26" x 10" or 66cm x 25.4cm x 66cm soft case. A canvas bag was made by a sailmaker, stiffened with corflute panels.

This frame uses a mix of Zona tubes, aircraft chromolly, heavy-duty Dedacchiai seatstays and chainstays ordered from Bringhelli in the US and a Phil Wood eccentric tandem BB. These frames don't come cheap. One reason is the extra work. A standard bike frame has 5 welds in the 'front triangle'. A tandem has 14 welds, and this one with the couplers has 26 welds! Days of weld, check alignment, weld a little more......

Shown here with the assembly collars used during welding, the stainless collars will look like this. The stainless-steel couplers are welded in place, not the typical silver soldering. This eliminates the huge cost of masking the couplers for a paint finish. Paul from Bezerk Cycles here in Melbourne has years of experience with this method, on Greenspeed trikes with no problems, and the fancy welding rod I use adds to my confidence in them.

The 26"x26"x10" size case or bag will not* attract an extra airline charge, especially if you don't tell them it's a bike. (check to see, some airlines apparently are charging for bikes.... so if they ask, tell them it's a kinetic scuplture... ). *no guarantee!

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