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The Two'sDay: now with telescoping (instead of hinged) seat masts
Someone wrote in and noticed that the Two'sDay tandem now has telescoping seatposts, rather than the hinged ones of way back.
Well! It's gratifying to know that some folks are spending their evenings combing the BF website and noticing the little changes we slip in now and then...
The new seatposts enable this quintessential folding tandem to now
* fit kids
* be 2-3 lbs lighter
* be optionally upgraded with titanium sections for ultra lightness - a feature the Two'sDay was not known for (what, you want a tandem to fold AND go in a suitcase AND be under 30 lbs?)
* pack into a SINGLE suitcase, depending on the configuration, just like certain incarnations of the Traveler Q tandem (the one that becomes a single bike), the Twin Air and the as-yet prototype Twin Air Q. Oh joy... however, with the new USA domestic weight limit of 50lb, we'd caution against it, folding bicycle or no folding bicycle. Additionally, the new BF suitcases are more roomy, encouraging one to overpack... always check with your bathroom scale.
Here's one couple who have no intention of trading up their vintage hinged TwosDay: Gene and Betty Newton. Like a classic Porsche, some things never go out of style ... they just get better.
The Two'sDay folded and in the trunk of a medium sized car.
Designer Hanz Scholz has more techie things to say about it:
"We've been setting up these bikes with BOLTS rather than quick releases - which means the bike can fold really compact. However, if you pay a little more for 5 extra 55 mm heavy-duty quick-releases (not the light ones, they don't clamp tight enough), the bike folds really easily - except this adds about a pound in weight to the bike - it's your choice."
Hanz is able to fold the bike all the way down, and reset it back up in less than 3 minutes, as you can see from the video clip below.
"Two'sDays must have a cross-over drive, or the rear tire hits the timing chain. Also, double kick stands don't work well with this bike because they hit the boom tube and keep the rear wheel from folding around," says Hanz.
Some other nice upgrades that have not yet been executed, but can be requested, are suspension and a TiLite upgrade (titanium sections). "I would expect we could get a Two'sDay into the 29 lb range," says Hanz.
Talk about a TwosDay with one of our Sales Team, on 1-800-777-0258.
* MOVIE CLIP: Folding a TwosDay (5.5 Mb)
What do Mike and Anne Edwards do on a TwosDay in Mallorca?
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Feb 5, 2006: WORTH THE MONEY - A New Two'sDay owner writes:
I just purchased a used Two'sDay Tandem. My wife and I have been looking forward to having a folding tandem that we can put in the airplane, fly to a new destination, then ride discovering new areas. We had been looking for a long time and debating the cost of a new bicycle when I found this particular bicycle in Bike Friday's used inventory.
Our dilemma was whether it would fit into the airplane or not (I have a short bodied Mooney). I measured and re-measured before purchasing and figured that without the seatposts, we might just have a chance to fit it into the back seat.
It arrived this afternoon. After I finished work I went to the garage to open the two boxes (I also purchased a used pair of travel suitcases). I was immediately overwhelmed with the number of parts, so down to reading the manual before starting to put it together. Well, I jumped right at it following the step by step process. The cables were confusing at first; but on I went. In one hour it was all together, wow. So I grabbed my wife and I adjusted the stoker seat, stirrups and handlebars for her. I made sure the brakes were adjusted properly, put helmets on, and off we went (along with the multi tool to make adjustments as we went along).
Were we impressed! The ride was smooth, brakes were sure and powerful, and the shifting of the chain ring and derreileur were perfect (no adjustments were required). We stopped from time to time to readjust the seat for my wife until it was perfect. She particularly loves the soft gel seat and the h-bars. She absolutely loves it and is ready to ride early tomorrow morning. The tandem is so clean and the paint so good that I would not be able to tell it from a new one. It was worth the money.
The next step is to actually fold it (have not done that yet) and unfold it to learn the best way to do it (tomorrow). Then this weekend will be the airplane trial (can we really get it in there?).
We are sweating that particular test; but that is why we bought it. Anyway, being an engineer, I am particularly fascinated by the engineering of this machine. It is so well done and a very solid machine considering the number of joints, adjustments, and brackets.
Well, wish me luck this weekend, the airplane fitting is the next.
Lloyd Stearns +++
Emailable link to this article: http://www.bikefriday.com/bf/newtwosday
For more information, follow this link http://www.bikefriday.com/bf/tandemprimer.