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Folding Tandems
Hello. I am considering buying a folding tandem to use with a campervan for short trips up to 20miles ish. No luggage, just occasional shopping.I am about 92kg and my wife is about 45kg.
I have been considering a used KHS T20 'Sausage Dog' or one of the cheap Ecosmo folders.
KHS T20 have not been available since I started looking, but they sell them in Spain new for around £900. (If you are selling one please let me know.)
Just wondering if anyone has experience of either for advice please?
Bob.
Hi Bob,
My wife & I have a KHS ’sausage Dog’ electric tandem that we no longer use or require.
If you are interested in this (for a small sum, say £200) then please get in touch. I can sent some photos later if it helps.
We live in Torbay.
All the best,
Mike & Kim.
We recently bought a used electric Ecosmo; I was finding it increasingly difficult to mount our crossbar electrified Viking. The Viking is a pretty basic tandem, the Ecosmo even more so. We are doing shorter trips as we get older (and my wife doing more gardening); the Ecosmo is fine for up to 10 miles, I think it would be good for 20, but not much more.
My wife prefers the Ecosmo to the Viking in many ways, she can see over my shoulder and has a much better view. When we tried a Circe Helios she found the opposite and felt very cramped at the back. It might depend on detailed handlebar setup etc. More rolling resistance than the Viking from the small fatter tyres. I rather like the feel, and the electric makes the resistance less important.
The Ecosmo is very low geared; about 50" top gear (14-28 7 speed freewheel). I'm about to mount an 11-32; we'll see how that works with the fairly basic derailleur.
I think you'd find Mike & Kim's offer a real bargain. It wouldn't have suited us (crossbar too high), but I'm sure it's in a league above the Ecosmo.
Hi Bob,
Sorry, only just seen your messages.
Why not email me direct on mike56inness@gmail.com? I think this is okay with the club, but I have never had need to do this before.
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best,
Mike.
Hi Bob,
We've had an Ecosmo for 8 years now and use it for a 3-4,000km tour each summer to autumn. We replaced the wheels, tyres, the entire transmission, the carrier and added a 3rd brake – a rear disc brake (ours came with V brakes) so that it was upto the job - possibly more than your spec needs.
Even so we would not recommend an Ecosmo ‘as is new’ for rides of 20 miles. It’s really designed for 4-5 mile trips at jogging pace. It is a very sturdy steel frame, though.
Our modifications all cost about £600, but it does mean that given the cost of the Ecosmo new was £350, we were properly set up for < £1,000. It is very manoeuvrable, does fold small quickly and is no problem on airplanes and trains or hatch-back rental cars – even fairly small ones (eg Toyota Corolla).
If your purchase of Mike and Kim’s sausage dog doesn’t work out, come back on and I can give more details if you need.
Rob