Specialized identified that the ideal saddle design provided support under the “sit bones” while allowing space for the soft tissues to breathe. Even the same height and weight people could have entirely different width between their sit bones. For the Body Geometry Saddles Specialized created a memory foam based “BG Saddle Fit” scale, or “Assometer” as the local bike shop calls it, that allows technicians at the shop to accurately measure the width of the sit bones. With this measurement in hand they could then match one of the Specialized Body Geometry saddles with the rider.

Real World Test

One of the editors at TandemBicycling.com has been struggling with seat fitment for a few years. Originally starting out with a wider saddle she would experience pain after rides longer than 2 hours. Upon a recommendation she switched over to a narrower saddle solving the 2 hour problem but creating sore hips after long climbs.

Two months ago she stopped by the local bike shop and was fitted for a Body Geometry Saddle. The bike shop tech measured her sit bones, discussed her riding position and style, and presented two saddle options. One of the saddles was a longer nose “mountain bike” saddle and the other a stub nose ” road saddle”. The shop even mounted the two saddles and allowed her to cruise around for a bit to test the two. Electing for the snub nose saddle she was warned that the first few rides would not be comfortable as her body weight would finally be placed over the sit bones.

The first few rides did present her with pain from the new saddle. After the break-in period the saddle has provided a welcome reprieve to her with comfortable seating on both long rides and long climbs. The Specialized Body Geometry Saddle Fit System succeeded in fitting the proper width saddle for her body. After a few months on the new seat the saddle is no longer the bane of her existence and has proven to us that the Specialized Body Geometry Saddle Fit System is a worthwhile option for tandem teams struggling with saddle issues.

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1. Product Review: C-Clear Anti-Fog Lens Treatment As a wearer of rigid gas permeable contact lens, also...

After years of putting up with fogged lenses the editor finally sought out commercially available solutions to the problem. After an exhaustive web based research he settled on a gel product from the US based company C-Clear. Promising to eliminate fogging of the lens and offering a 30 day money back guarantee there seemed to be nothing to lose. After ordering from the company website at www.c-clear.biz the product arrived in the mail within a few days.

The product is applied using a clean finger or cotton cloth to “smear” the lenses with the gel. A clean cotton cloth is then used to lightly buff the lens surface clear. The included instructions list a few reasons should the solution not work primarily based upon inappropriate application.

The first test of this product occurred on a cool day with ambient air temperature at 60 degrees F and relative humidity in the mid-50% range. The tandem ride followed a mountain bike trail with gradual climbs and brief descents, the perfect combination to build up moisture under the lenses. After 45 minutes of riding no fog blocked the eye-line of the captain. Alternatively at the very edges of the lenses where the gel was not applied condensation had built up and fogged that area of the lens thus confirming the effectiveness of the solution.

After 1 month of testing on both road and mountain bike tandem rides in weather varying from warm late spring days to comfortable but humid scattered shower days the C-Clear has worked flawlessly. Most recently while climbing a 15 mile grade under 80 degree weather the effectiveness of the solution became apparent as the water droplets inside the lens simply balled up and slid down rather than cause fogging.

For tandem riders who frequently experience fogging of the lenses C-Clear receives the TandemBicycling.com seal of approval.

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Manufacturer Designation
Sold as a dirt jumper/ urban use tire WTB markets this tire to be able to absorb big hits and varying urban type terrains; all perfect for 26″ tandem use.

Tread Pattern
The tread pattern is designed to allow large amounts of rubber to meet ground with multiple channels to clear water and soft stuff. The tread is directional with a knobular shape that provides a more aggressive look. The center channel offers great water clearance on wet roads.

Thread Count, Compound and Bead
The bead is comprised of foldable Aramid that was a bit tight out of the packaging. After working the bead a little on the rim it stretched enough to allow easy on-off by bare hands. The rubber compound is relatively soft with testers noting visible wear on the main contact patch. The high thread count, 60tpi, soft rubber, and wide 2.2″ tread combine to provide smooth cruising even under full 60 psi.

Overall
The tires work well for both front and back. There is no noise from the tires on smooth pavement. The large tire size, black sidewall, and aggressive tread afford the tandem a “don’t mess with me” appearance. Combined with the folding bead and easy on-off (after the initial break-in) these tires are a great choice for tandems that will see some heavy pavement use.

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Taking a page from the professional cycling teams we decided to test a pair of wheel bags. There are multiple options available on the market including single wheel, dual wheel, and fully padded bags. For this test we selected the branded single wheel nylon bags offered by Bike Nashbar.

The bags immediately impressed as they were able to easily contain both 26 inch mountain and 700c road wheels with the skewers still mounted. The bags also readily accepted the front or back wheel.

The benefit of a bagged wheel was immediately and surprisingly apparent on our first road trip. Loading the tandem was much quicker as we simply sat the bagged wheel on the frame sans the normal layers of towels and straps. The bags provided enough cushioning and scratch resistance to protect the frame while the contour (of the filled bag) held the wheel in place during transport.

Arriving at the destination the wheel bag openings offered ample clearance for the tires to quickly be removed. The bags then folded into a small size for storage.

In conclusion we found that a basic wheel bag is a must for any tandem team that transports their bike sans wheel. At a sale price of $10 the Nashbar wheel bag is a no brainer.

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The test bottle is a Team Slipstream branded bottle received directly from a team rider during the Amgen Tour of California. The plastic is pliable and easy to squeeze,  a requirement when drinking with this bottle, with a snug fitting cap. There is an integrated lever on the cap that allows you to “lock” the bottle closed during transport. This feature proved handy as it all but eliminated that pesky cap drip famous with standard bottles.

The signature feature on the Camelback Podium Bottle is the soft drink valve. Marketing literature advertises this as a time and teeth saver because users are no longer required to bite open and smack shut the drink valve.

Real World

Initial impressions of the bottle were very positive. It quickly became the go to favorite of our editors and found itself being used not only on the bike but also in the car and at the office. The lock valve being a very useful feature to avoid spills.

The bite valve drinking system was very useful on the road as it eliminated the need to open and shut the bottle. Drinking became a much simpler task with less motion required. On a funnier side note one of our testers noted that as a force of habit she would find herself smacking the bite valve “closed” after drinking; a testament to the habits cyclists develop after long miles in the saddle.

The Podium bottle was hand washed and dried every other day or immediately after being filled with energy drink.

After 2 months of regular use a serious design flaw presented itself. The design of the bite valve creates a difficult to reach void in the top of the bottle. This void, no matter how careful our testers attempted to be, was always moist. Eventually the moisture allowed for a small amount of mold growth. This was a shocking outcome given that Camelback has made great strides in their use of mold resistant materials.

The lid was removed and given a thorough disinfecting and drying. After the first encounter our testers were more careful with keeping that area as free of moisture as possible. The extra attention, to this point, has prevented a recurrence.

Overall

The Camelback Podium Waterbottle is a great addition to any active tandem team’s water bottle cages. With extra care on cleaning and drying this bottle is an effective alternative to standard bottles and will serve its purpose well.

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A favorite of our editors these shorts, when purchased with discounts and deals, can be had for $40 or less direct from Performance Bike (retail pricing is usually in the $r0 range). They offer features found in shorts retailing for double to triple the price.

Bicycle shorts are arguably the most important piece of equipment for keeping a rider comfortable on the bike. The combination of fabric, fit, and padding come together to protect your private parts from rashes and discomfort. The Ultra short includes Cytech brand chamois. This chamois is designed to integrate smoothly with the short fabric and results in a comfortable feel while in the saddle.

The Ultra Short utilizes a light feeling fabric called Eschler that breathes easily and didn’t require special care in washing. With a white flat seem stitch and silicone leg grips the short fits comfortably on both short and long rides in the mountains or on the road.

Our editors are very happy with the short and  recommend it as an alternative to some of the more expensive brands available.

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After 3500 miles on the Ventana it was time to replace the drive-train. The options available for tandems depend upon your current setup but generally it is best if your bike is equipped with 5 bolt non-micro drive parts.

The Race Face rings arrived packed securely in their cardboard box with each rings individually protected by plastic. The kit included new ring bolts for the middle/ large rings.

The rings are CNC machined aluminum and black anodized. The team setup also includes laser etched graphics everywhere.

Race Face utilizes machined and riveted ramps to create a great shifting setup. Installed on the tandem we found the shifting to be surprisingly crisp and solid.

Race Face Rings Mounted

Race Face Chain-line

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