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Introduction: Bicycle Design
Why Upright Bikes?
Why Recumbents Cost More
Types of Recumbents
Seat Height
Handlebars
How Much To Spend?
The Importance of Wheels
Types of Wheels
The Importance of Weight
Frame Materials
Frame Alignment
Parts, Derailleurs etc
Brakes
Suspension
Are Recumbents Invisible?
Acclimatizing to a Recumbent
Hills on a Recumbent
Clip-On Pedals
Racks & Mudguards
Bicycle Trailers
Trikes
How to Ride a Tandem
Credit Card Touring
Information Sources
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Parts: Derailleurs, Shifters, Cranks etc...

Some bicycle parts are specifically designed for tandems. Hubs, cranksets, bottom bracket eccentrics, stoker bars and stems and some other parts are tandem-specific parts that are not found on single bikes. Some single bike parts of specific dimensions are used on tandems. Most notable would be the shifters and derailleurs, especially as far as recumbent tandems are concerned.

Upright tandems use single bike shifters which are sometimes modified with extra parts for larger tandem distances. One standard upright road tandem configuration has been an XT or XTR derailleur and the Shimano bar-end shifter, which has worked well and reliably. Present “best part” standards are a moving target on upright bicycles and proclamations as to the best parts for recumbent shifting are as developmental as recumbents themselves.

It is the opinion of this writer that Grip Shifters such as those trademarked by SRAM work very well on recumbents. This writer has found the Grip Shifts to be reliable and easier to use than thumb shifters. Thumb shifters can cause sore fingers on long trips. SRAM Grip Shifters can be used with various derailleurs including derailleurs made by SRAM.

Recumbent trikes have unique handlebar positions and can benefit from bar-end shifters such as the Shimano Dura-Ace bar-ends.

Sometimes it is worth installing specialty parts from small manufacturers such as Chris King. Chris King headsets are expensive but they may also last longer and be a better-buy in the long run.

Experts should be consulted when choosing parts. Parts are continually changing and the opinion of a knowledgeable tandem mechanic is indispensable. If no mechanic is close at hand then the archives of the tandem internet discussion group (see Information Sources ) should be searched.