Disco back on the road

[sg37409]

Long story, but i have 2 thorn tandems. Got an old discovery for my wife and i many years ago, pre-kids.   Then the kids came along: After a spell on a triplet and various configurations of child-carrier on the discovery, I also bought a raven twin, which i now need to sell.  My wife fits on the back of it, but its not as good a fit as the disco.  And for years the disco has been at the back of the garage, awaiting attention.   Finally got round to giving it some TLC and this weekend we did a family five ferries trip around the islands of west of scotland.   I was really happy to be back on this bike, and it capped a fantastic family weekend of cycling.  (I was a lot happier than I look in the photo...  :-) )

[jags]

wow that looks fantastic 

[alfie1952]

SG,

That is a beautiful machine and deserves to be back on the road, and it sounds as though you had a great time. Superb !

Regards Alfie.

[Andybg]

A really fine looking bike and glad to see it pulled back out of retirement and giving you such good service. Which islands did you do? I grew up on the west coast of scotland (Largs) and used to cycle a lot of the islands in my youth.

It looks to be an unusual transmission set up for a tandem with all the chains running down the rhs of the bike. I am sure this benefits you in having a "clean" side to the bike but does it mean you have limited the gearing on the back to two chainrings?

Andy

[Relayer]

Islands and ferries, sounds like a fantastic trip.

And rediscovering an old friend into the bargain, sweet!   

Jim

[sg37409]

Andybg: I grew up in Fairlie, and went to school in Largs. My trip was
Dump car at my mums in fairlie, ride up to Weymss Bay
Ferry 1 to Rothesay
We did a wee tour of Bute and up to Rubodach
Ferry 2 to Colintraive
Rode round to Tighnabruaich then on to Portavadie, overnight at the new marina there.
Ferry 3 to Tarbert
Rode over to Claonaig
Ferry 4 to Lochranza
Rode round to Brodick, overnight in Brodick
Ferry 5 to Ardrossan and rode back up round the coastal path at Portencross back to Fairlie.
Put some pics here.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24775321@N02/

I've done this trip a few times, though most often as a day ride of around 100miles. This time, it was definetely a 5-Ferries for softies trip, and none the worse for that. The luxury overnight stops were the best way of persuading my wife and family to come along.

Re the bike, that transmission (all on RHS) used to be more common on tandems.  In fact the rear chainset has 4 rings on it. The timing chain is on the outside and runs on 34T rings. The drive chain is on the inside and has a 22/34/46.  It all fits in quite well.

[Andybg]

I was at Largs Acadamy from 84-89 so we may have been there at the same time or you may have known my mother Patricia Evers who was a Home Economics teacher at the school from 1978 to 1998.

I have done all those ferries and cycling areas and it truly is a beautiful part of the world.

Is the mudhook resteraunt still there in Farlie?

Andy

[sg37409]

I left school in 81. I dont recall any home eck teachers.

My second name is Grant, my folks ran the village shop in fairlie, others in my family ran various businesses in largs, include the wee shop across from the old viking cinema, haylie stores, clyde sports, tobys pub, probably others too.
I think its now the Village Inn (was mudhook) having changed hands within last 5 yrs or so.
Small world. :-)

[Donerol]

The tandem looks great and it sounds a wonderful trip!

[JimK]

What fantastic stories running back and forth and up and down! I just had to find Largs on the map. Must be fabulous country around there!