Super Light Racing Tandems from Rodriguez Custom Bicycles

Two Light! Did know that you can have all the advantages of a steel frame and still have the lightest tandem in your group? You don't have to sacrifice ride quality and performance by going without a stiffener tube either. You don't even have resort to an unsafe, non-tandem worthy fork to have the lightest tandem. That's right, there's no need to sacrifice ride quality, durability, safety (not to mention $$$$) if you want one of the lightest, sweetest tandems built.

You don't have to pay extra for custom sizing either, because at Rodriguez, custom tandem sizing is always FREE!

How'd we do that without carbon?
This tandem has been turning heads all over Seattle's tandem community over the last few years. It's a real steel tandem that actually weighs just 25.8 pounds (26.7 as pictured with pedals and bottle cages installed). Of course, the weight varies by size, and the one that is pictured here is a medium size. The bottom brackets, hubs, seat posts, etc. are all components that will hold up to tandem riding. The wheels are tandem rated, the frame and fork are steel, the frame has a double mitered stiffener tube, and the cranks and seat posts are aluminum. These are all the areas that other companies use carbon, but why not use stuff that will hold up the rigors of our customers we ask?

Our first rule of building tandems: No Compromise. Build an actual tandem frame. Use parts that will hold up to tandem riding. And, most importantly, don't use a front fork that could actually be dangerous for your customer.
Believe it or not, some manufacturers use carbon fiber seat posts to make their tandems lighter. Carbon fiber seat posts should never be used as a captain seat post in a tandem.

Another trick that manufacturers use to make their tandems light is to use wheels or front forks that are designed for road racing single bikes. Road bike wheels fall apart quickly under tandem stresses, and road bike forks are just dangerous on a tandem.

Ultra-Light Tandem Models - Start an order - Wait Time: 4 to 8 weeks

We think that it's also important the parts are not proprietary to the frame. That way, the customer will be able to ride the bike for decades to come.

Another issue is a matter of... well... honesty. My philosophy is that if a customer is paying for light weight, they should not accept a bike that weighs more than a manufacturer claims. I've actually weighed some other companies' light weight tandems and found that some actually weighed up to 30% more than their claimed weights.

Trust but Verify
From what I've experienced, I don't trust manufacturers printed weights, and neither should you. The problem has gotten so bad that I even wrote an article on the subject. If weight is important to you, get a money back, written guarantee of the finished weight before you order. We do this for customers who are paying extra for ultra-lightweight bicycles. If you just trust what someone puts in a catalog, you're in for a disappointment when I weigh your bike on my digital scale.

For 2014, lighter with less carbon! At a Verified 25lbs and 13oz, our Rodriguez ultra-light tandems are some of the lightest tandems you'll find at any price. Don't believe us? Come in today, and feel for yourself the tandem that beats them all!

If you do, you might just experience the same thing as John and Jennifer did.

Our bikes are unique as our customers... they love our bikes, and we love them!

We're offering this bike in two versions. Our lightest model at 25.8 pounds (or 26.7 pounds with pedals and cages) or our second-lightest model tipping the scales at just 29.8.