Viking Ascot Tandem- anyone got one?

[Archie_tect]

Thinking about a second hand one, possibly even a new one at £520... can't find any independent reviews or reference to the chainring or cassette gearing, even on the Viking website, which is surprising, other than they are triples with a 7 sprocket Acera on the back. Anyone got one or used one- any good/bad experiences.
Would love to be able to buy marcusjb's Landescape tandem in CC For Sale, but can't afford what he needs to get for it more's the pity!
Thanks in advance for any feedbacl,
A_T

{Edit: as a first tandem it seems a basic but reliable bike. I know it isn't the highest spec but short of buying a second hand Dawes Galaxy with bar end shifters or down-tube shifters it will do until we can progress to afford a better spec one... others [like marcus's Landescape] are all a fair bit more unless we win on an ebay lottery!]

 

[Archie_tect]

@Shaun @Moderators, is this the best place to put this to get advice about tandems?
Thanks,
A_T

 

[Shaun]

@Shaun @Moderators, is this the best place to put this to get advice about tandems?
Thanks,
A_T

There's a special interest forum if you'd prefer to move it there, but I'd leave it here for a little while to give people a chance to see it and respond; if you don't get any feedback, give me a shout and I'll move it for you.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Archie_tect]

@Shaun yes, please move it to the special interest forum.

 

[Archie_tect]

Bought one for £369 + Roma roof rack on ebay... already plans for a ride up to the cafe at the end of Waskerley Way and off to the coast for a picnic on Sunday mornings and the C2C next year. Can't do the Cyclone this year but up for the 63 in 2015!

Mrs A_T and I hired a Dawes MTB tandem from Bicycle Repairman in Prudhoe last year and she took to it really quickly, we did 32 miles on her first tandem ride along the Tyne through Wylam, Newburn and the Quayside to The Hub at Ouseburn and back, so this one should be even slicker on 700c 28 road tyres!

 

[Archie_tect]

Thanks Shaun... looking forward to the summer with Mrs A_T!

 

[Archie_tect]

Starting to wonder if the lack of the usual enthusiastic responses is because I'm soon to discover that I've bought a TSO [a tandem-shaped object? ]

 

[srw]

My advice would always be to buy specialist if you can afford it - but if not, enjoy what you've got. IIRC there was a Viking tandem on a FNRttC sometime last summer, which made it to the end perfectly happily.

http://www.viking-bikes.com/products/Tandem/5045-Ascot.html
The spec looks as if it hasn't fallen into any of the obvious pitfalls - eccentric BB means chain tension can be adjusted, adjustable stoker stem means the ride position can be altered, 48 spoke wheels should be reasonably robust. The stock tyres seem to be 700c x 38, which is probably sensible for a cushioned ride over something narrower.

All the components are reasonably conventional, so can be swapped out or upgraded as required.

 

[Archie_tect]

That's my impression too srw, it's a bit heavy [!!] but had someone bought one and then launched into them, I'd've been a bit sick!

 

[Archie_tect]

Picked it up on Saturday, tandem rack worked well on homeward trip so bodes well for holidays....

First ride yesterday, 25 miles round trip... bottom chainring is 28/28 so bought SRAM 12-32 to replace the 13-28... needs bar ends and better grips for change of position. Will swap saddles and seat posts then it should be fine [for a while!]. Gears are smooth and well indexed and brakes are better than I imagined.... pad upgrade when they get low and that'll do! All in all very pleased, neither of us had any aches, knees not giving any hassle at all and it does make us smile... a lot!

 

[Archie_tect]

Seems this is my own little blog page!
30 miles today, along NCR10 and then to Whitley Bay, to the Italian Cafe on the Prom for a sandwich, coffee and cake [often seen on 'Vera'] and then home. MrsA_T doing really well.
Putting my old Giant hybrid's 120mm stem on the front to have a bit more reach.

 

[Archie_tect]

Took off rear wheel to see it's not a cassette but a freewheel... cue, Sunrace 13-34.... and it fits [though a few more chainlinks links might help!].

 

[HLaB]

{Edit: as a first tandem it seems a basic but reliable bike. I know it isn't the highest spec but short of buying a second hand Dawes Galaxy with bar end shifters or down-tube shifters it will do until we can progress to afford a better spec one... others [like marcus's Landescape] are all a fair bit more unless we win on an ebay lottery!]

That what I was going to say of the brand, no experience of the specific model but afte much abuse my Viking Fixie is still going 8,000 miles later, no idea if it'll see 10,000 but if it doesn't that'll be down to the owners maintenance regime

 

[Stephen Piper]

Another newbie tandem owner here. I have been looking at the Viking Monarch on ebay for a while but have recently taken delivery of an Indigo tandem as an anniversary present, which at £410 inc delivery seemed like a good buy, the company also had good reviews. Was not expecting a highest quality machine at this price, the intention being to give it a try and if we do not take to it there will be no great losses involved. I had never ridden a tandem before four days ago but have now tried the pilot and stoker seat, as has my wife. Early days but no complaints yet, all good fun if a little slower than what I've become used to.

 

[cisamcgu]

I bought a second (third, fourth, fifth...) hand Pashley D-type last year. Mrs Cisamcgu and I have had some fun on it, once I managed to tension the rear wheel, but we spend a lot more time on our normal bikes. I think it might have been a better idea to spend more and get a better one, one with index gears for instance (bloomin' hard to glance at the sprockets on a tandem, so it would be nice if the gear changes when positive rather than vague and occasionally grinding), but we didn't know if we were going to like it, so £135 seemed a better spend than £300+.. in hindsight, now we know we like it, it probably wasn't the best plan ..

I would love to get a good one, since the Pashley worries me really, I have horrible thoughts of it "falling to bits" when we are 20 miles away from home .. But, it is hard to justify the expense ...

oh well...

Anyway, A_T, sorry to kidnap your thread for a few minutes .. I'm glad you are having fun - it is good isn't it