RR: I'm with Stupid (or Taming Miss Kitty)

[hoovermd]

This RR will contain a running history of the Tandem named Miss Kitty. She is basically a Cyclocross Style Single speed Tandem

Hopefully you will all find some humor in our quest as well as perhaps some inspiration to do something totally off the wall as well

Also, we will be reporting on stuff like modifying a Thule Roof Rack for portage and our quest for the perfect gear ratio.

Here is what Miss Kitty looks like in her original configuration:

Tsunami Black Leopard frame (with Ti boom for the stoker)
AVID BB7 MTB203 Brakes
Cane Creek Deep V levers
Phil Wood Tandem Hubs
Fire Cross 622-45 Front tire
Sinz ISIS Cranks (captain: 170 , stoker: 165)
Crank Bros Pedals (captain: Egg Beaters, stoker: Candies)
48 hole Velocity Deep V hoops (4 cross)
KMC 8 speed chain
Kick Ass Cogs 24T
Winwood Medley Cross Tandem fork
Surly Singelator

[hoovermd]

Our first shakedown cruise was at "Fully Loop".
We had no idea what gearing to use so we started with a 53x24.
At first Captain Greg was regretting his decision to build this bike, but after a few miles he was glad he did!
I had some second thoughts too as he was a pretty squirrely captain in the beginning but I trust him now

We found out 2 things:

1) I can mount/dismount Cyclocross style which the bike is in motion
2) 53x24 skipped the back cog as the Singelator wasn't up to the task.
3) It is not advisable to run a Schlumpf Mountain drive on such a beast.

[hoovermd]

Our second ride was a quick jaunt around El Moro.
From the main lot, up "I Think I Can".
Since we were changing the gears, I voted for something more like a 41T chainring, but Captain Greg insisted upon a 50T chainring.
We reversed the Singelator and ditched the Mountain Drive (always my wish to create a TRUE singlespeed)


I ride SS only, and Greg rides primarily gears so logic would have had me wining the argument...
But, Greg works at the Shop so he put on what he wanted.
Captain Greg ended up pushing Miss Kitty up the second half of the grade.


Downhill was a blast though.
Captain Greg is now known as Captain Giggles.
Greg has built his confidence to the point where we go so fast I simply look down and pedal.
Too scary to look ahead.

Note the front wheelies in the parking lot

[hoovermd]

The third ride was the Newbie Ride at Aliso Woods. We ride this route a lot so it was the best test so far.
After pushing Miss Kitty the day before, Captain Greg was much more amenable to a smaller gear so we ran a 41x24.

This gear seems pretty doable, but half way up Cholla, the chain rolls off the drive Ring.
Damn, no skipping on the rear, a gear we can push and viola the chain rolls smoothly off the inside as if there was a derilluer guiding it.
So, put it back on, gave her the business and again... chain in the dirt
Went on like this for every tough uphill.
Stoker pushes, or runs behind to top of the world!
I hate running!!!

I tried to get a vote to go down "Rock It" but captain Chicken voted for a ride down Mathis instead. Beware the brake rotors. Hot enough to brand a dismounting Stoker!

So, back to the shop for either:

a) add a bash ring to try and hold the chain.
b) switch to a Track Chainring and a 1/8" chain.
c) lower gear so we aren't putting so much flex into the frame.
d) A chain keeper like the 1x9 guys use

[Tedroy]

Some folks have more fun than they're 'sposed to!
Well done!

[KonaDupee]

Maybe I could get my wife into riding if we had something like that! Impressive, that's all I can say.

How much does the frame flex during a front wheelie in the parking lot?

Can that beast be taken out on narrow singletracks?? I can't imagine maneuvering that thing through a switchback!

[hoovermd]

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

Maybe I could get my wife into riding if we had something like that! Impressive, that's all I can say.

How much does the frame flex during a front wheelie in the parking lot?

Can that beast be taken out on narrow singletracks?? I can't imagine maneuvering that thing through a switchback!

The frame is pretty stiff on the wheelie action.

Believe it or not, the Single Track stuff is OK.

You know that first tight left hand turn up Cholla? We made that one and I thought we wouldn't!

We have ridden some of the ST at El Moro with no problems. Captain Greg is pretty strong up front and I sit pretty neutral in the back so it is just a matter of using up all the trail when you make a ST turn.

Originally Posted by KonaDupee

Maybe I could get my wife into riding if we had something like that! Impressive, that's all I can say.

Your wife would kill you!
Better to look at a Tandem Mtn bike with lotsa gear

[Dino Brown]

Thanks for the ride report!

For those who haven't ridden with Mark (or Greg):
1) They are monsters
2) They are faster than 99% of us
3) They will change/tinker with that bike everyday- just for kicks!
4) They have a few more bike builds in the works! OMG!

Bonus: The expression on Mark's wife's face when she hears about thee "NEW" build...

[TrojanInsomniac]

I'm proud to have been on Miss Kitty's inaugural ride at the Loop. You and Greg were hauling @$$ yesterday when I saw you climbing up to Top-Of-The-World!

I'm still waiting to see Greg do a solo wheelie on Miss Kitty.

[hoovermd]

Well we took Miss Kitty up to Aliso again this AM.
The following changes were made from the last ride:

1) Since we were rolling the drive chain off the outside last time, we moved the timing chain to the outside and hoped that the outer ring would keep the drive chain in place.


2) We added a chain keeper to the inside





We decided to leave the 41 x 25 gearing alone....

We headed out from the parking lot and up Cholla.
Made the first nasty left with no issues.
Last time we lost the drive chain off the outside.
Today no issues. Didn't appear to really need the inside chain keeper either.

We didn't clean it. Made 3 stops:
1. Captain error. Into the weeds!
2. Because the heart was trying to get out of the body.
3. We just couldn't manage this spot:




We headed to TOTW


But didn't quite make it


It seems that they had some tractors out there last week and left us with ball bearings on the dirt


It was a long and lonely road to the top, but we rode most of it (as long as the rear tire held)

Here she is at the top


We went over to Meadows and down!
Great fun with the back tire sliding around with a 153 pound stoker on the back!!

Flatted on the way down (tube split at the seam) so we learned how to change the rear with the Surly chain tensioner in the way.

Next change: 36 x 25 gearing... 41 x 25 is just a bit too much work.

[hoovermd]

Finally!
We got Miss Kitty dialed in.

We settled on a 36 x 24 gear combination
Top speed on the flats is 21.6 MPH but man is that spinning!
Turns out that the 36 x 24 is also a "magic" gear and the chain fits purrrfectly without a tensioner, but we left the tensioner installed just in case we get any stretch. it may come off later.


We took her out on the Fully Loop for the final shakedown. Were able to ride up and down everything we decided to try (except for one hill we shouldn't have even thought about).

If you are interested in some of the photos, go to the Ride Report here:

Bloopers galore! (aka Pugz Sunday Ride)

[hoovermd]

Hmmm... now that the Kitty is purring, the competition for the Stoker position is gettin' fierce.

Here is Captain Greg with MaryMary on the back.
Climbing was tough but they both had a good time.
I was relegated to riding with my neighbor Lee on our "own" bikes.

I guess it is fair... afterall, it was Mary's money that paid for my half of Miss Kitty...

Looks like we have trashed the back cog though. It is all galled up

Time for a visit to Mechanic Greg at Richard's Cyclery...

[OMR]

Who says you can't teach young dogs old tricks... nicely done grasshoppers... way to hang in there!

[back of the pack]

Originally Posted by hoovermd

Hmmm... now that the Kitty is purring, the competition for the Stoker position is gettin' fierce.

Here is Captain Greg with MaryMary on the back.
Climbing was tough but they both had a good time.
I was relegated to riding with my neighbor Lee on our "own" bikes.

I guess it is fair... afterall, it was Mary's money that paid for my half of Miss Kitty...

Looks like we have trashed the back cog though. It is all galled up

Time for a visit to Mechanic Greg at Richard's Cyclery...

I am happy to hear you were able to talk Mary into getting on the bike with Captain Fearless, she didn't seem to keen on the idea at breakfast last Sunday. Glad to see you have it all dialed in now.

[hoovermd]

Well, seems that after MaryMary fell in love with the Kitty, she talked someone else into riding... Captain Greg's girlfriend.

Now, MaryMary & I tandemmed together for several years on the road before moving onto the dirt so we realize just what a stress this can put on a relationship

But, nonetheless the ride was successful.

Here they are before the ride:

Here they are after:

Well, not really here is the REAL after pic:


And it wasn't Captain Greg that ate half the stack of Pancakes at Hero's...

So, it looks like I've lost my preferred Stoker's position for a while while everyone checks it out...
But, here are a few shots of me as a "Guest Stoker" this Sunday at Fully Loop. We took a shot at the downhill....

Captain Greg is awesome!

[Abui]

What's Miss Kitty been doing?