Dick
Powell Reviews the Finest Tandem He Has Ever Ridden - the Calfee
Tetra Tetra, with S&S Couplers
"I recently received my new S&S Calfee Tetra single
and S&S Calfee Tetra Tetra tandem. We now have both
assembled and have several rides on each. These are by far the
finest bicycles I have ever been on! I will only discuss the
tandem here.
The Tetra Tetra S&S is an all carbon fiber tandem with a
carbon fiber fork with a carbon fiber steerer. The couplers are
titanium. Craig Calfee welded the couplers to 1 inch long(approx)
titanium tubes and then bonded them into the carbon tubes and
added stainless steel pins for good measure. The workmanship is
superb. For our tandem we chose to not have a disc or drum rear
brake so we have 130 spacing and Mavic Krysium wheels. Very
light, very stiff, very strong and a large rim surface for
dumping heat. We chose Ultegra brakes and cranks and Ultegra BBs.
Seat posts are Campy Ti, Kestrel bars in front, bullhorns in the
rear, Terry Fly & Butter Fly Ti saddles, front derailleur is
Ultegra and the rear is XTR with a 12-34 XTR Ti cassette. Tires
are Continental 3000 700x28. It weighs in at 31 pounds (my
single is 18 pounds) plus pedals. We are using Shimano 747 SPDs.
I have never been able to climb out of the saddle with such
stiffness in the rear. Very solid, the best I think. Yet it is
amazingly comfortable. Smooth as butter. WE DO NOT NEED A SHOCK
SEAT POST according to my wifes sensitive behind! This too is
quite amazing. Since each Calfee is custom made, you select your
own geometry. You can choose the quickness of a CoMotion or the
less quick Santana, depending on your style. The only limitation
is dual pivot brake clearance, no v-brakes. As I mentioned in
another post , Craig is making a frame compatible with the STI
activated Formula disc brake for rear braking. If you want more
front brake clearance you will need a steel fork for v-brakes,
although I hear carbon forks will be available soon with v-brake
bosses.
It is wonderful what Craig has done with both his single and
tandem designs. These are not inexpensive, but I believe the
finest frames on the market. Like Santana, the Ti S&S adds
$2500 to the frame price. My tandem, as described above, is
$10,999.99, a bit under 11K. The frame is $7750. We have a non
S&S in stock as well as my S&S. If you are in the area,
you are welcome to take a test ride. Be prepared to fall in
love!
Did I mention you can buy 3 CoMotions, or 3 Santanas or 1 of
each for this price? Oh yea, and 5 Burleys!"
Dick Powell
The Bicycle Outfitter of Los Altos, CA, Guru@BicycleOutfitter.com
or 650 948-8092
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