The Cycle Loft, together with Tiemeyer Cycles has paired up to build the latest, state of the art Track Sprint Tandem. The retailer, from Burlington, MA, paired up with several industry manufacturers to assemble the new ride for defending National Champion, Kurt “Chopper” Begemann.
Saturday August 1, 2009 sees the return of the U.S. National Tandem Sprint Championships to the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, PA. In 2008, Begemann partnered with Mike “Speedy” Beers, who has since retired from the track, so the pressure was on to find a new partner, and a new Tandem. Along came the Cycle Loft, Tiemeyer and seasoned trackie, Thom Norton.
Saturday August 1, 2009 sees the return of the U.S. National Tandem Sprint Championships to the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, PA. In 2008, Begemann partnered with Mike “Speedy” Beers, who has since retired from the track, so the pressure was on to find a new partner, and a new Tandem. Along came the Cycle Loft, Tiemeyer and seasoned trackie, Thom Norton.
“We wanted to build something stout and strong, that practically begged to be tested to its limits,” said Jeff Palter, owner of the Cycle Loft. “Tiemeyer is well known for his incredibly strong and very aerodynamic track frames; we asked Dave if he could build us a track tandem, and he said, ‘Certainly.’”
The frame uses aerodynamically shaped, custom Reynolds 6061 Aluminum tubing and a Reynolds Carbon Pro Tandem fork. The spacing of the rear drop outs on the frame was extended to 130mm to accommodate the wider flanged Phil Wood track hub for maximum strength. These 36 hole hubs were built with tied and soldered straight gauge spokes, in a 4 cross pattern, onto Velocity Pro Elite 30 mm tubular rims. “Master wheel builder Anthony Laskaris built the wheels to be as strong as possible for 36-hole wheels,” said Palter, “These things are unbelievably stiff.” Continental Tempo 22mm tubular tires complete the wheels.The drive train uses Sugino 75 track cranks and bottom brackets (144BCD / 165mm), and three Izumi Super V NJS Track Chains. The timing chain rings are both 44 tooth to facilitate clearance of the chain on the wider spaced chain stays. With both Begemann and Norton weighing about 160 pounds each, the riders have opted for a 51 x 14 gear (98.4 inch) choosing to spin a higher cadence, rather than pushing the 100 inch gear that most Tandem Sprinters use. Bars are the Deda Velocity steel track bars with an inverted Deda Pista stem for the stoker. The captain’s stem is the Nitto steel NJS stem in 120mm length. Seat posts are the tried and tested Thomson Elites, while Fizik Arione saddles, with coordinating Microtex handlebar tape, complete the cock-pit. Speedplay supplied their Track Specific Z Pedals and were incredibly helpful in swapping out body and pedal axles to accommodate the three “odd” crank arms. Namely, the two left side pedals being right axles with left bodies, and the captain’s right pedal being a left axles with a right body. Confusing, but correct!
“The bike is first class,” said Begemann, “We wanted something so over-built…so stout that there would be no compromises and no surprises. Because the last thing you want going through your mind when you’re doing 45 mph in turn 3 is….what if?”
Begemann and Norton take to the banking this Saturday night with a dozen or so other Tandems, all vying for the US National Sprint Title. Also up for grabs is the popular, internationally contested Tandemonium 5km scratch race, last year won by the Argentineans, Leandro Bottaso and Demis Aleman.
Photo Credits: Thoma Photography, LLC
Begemann and Norton take to the banking this Saturday night with a dozen or so other Tandems, all vying for the US National Sprint Title. Also up for grabs is the popular, internationally contested Tandemonium 5km scratch race, last year won by the Argentineans, Leandro Bottaso and Demis Aleman.
Photo Credits: Thoma Photography, LLC
