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FrostBike 2013: Salsa’s Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

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FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

Somewhere along the line, tandem bicycles picked up the nickname divorce machines – however, more often than not the couple that rides together stays together. In the case of Salsa’s Product manager Tim Krueger, he says the tandem is the only time he can get his wife to go mountain biking with him. This year at FrostBike, the Salsas on display were Salsa employees’ personal bikes, and this tandem happens to be mostly the bike Tim and his wife have been riding.

The day glo Proto tandem frame shown here is the 3rd prototype that just arrived before the show and was built up with the build kit from the second prototype. Tim said that with the 3rd prototype they have dialed in the geometry and have mostly figured out the custom chromoly tubeset that is used for the bike. Parts like the one piece diagonal support from the headtube to the rear BB, and the chainstays were custom designed for the tandem to keep things stiff enough to actually mountain bike on. Thanks to modern mountain bike wheel technology, custom tandem wheels aren’t needed and a standard 29″ wheelset built on stock Stan’s Flow rims with 142×12/15mm thru axle hubs are used instead. Tim was happy to point out that this wheelset had over 1000 miles on it so far and is is perfect shape.

More after the break.

FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

Salsa’s Alternator dropouts were chosen thanks to there ability to run single speed or adjust wheel base, as well as being 142x12mm thru axle compatible.

FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

No hiding the fact that it’s a prototype. We’re told that a production version of the tandem could be ready as early as this year’s SaddleDrive, which is QBP’s dealer show out west, which will be July 20th this year. While the tandem is possible for SaddleDrive, we were able to find out that the BearGrease Carbon will be announced then as well as something completely new for Salsa’s mountain bikes.

FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

FrostBike 2013: Salsa's Prototype 29er Divorce Machine Tandem MTB

Apparently, White Brothers released a dual crown tandem version of the Loop at the same time they introduced the single crown versions of the fork for normal mountain bikes. Tim said it’s a stock fork that is working great on the bike.

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ccolagio
ccolagio
11 years ago

missing bumpers. all show and no go

greg
greg
11 years ago

well, it IS at a show…

Johan
11 years ago

I like eeet!!

john
john
11 years ago

Love it!

Magellan
Magellan
11 years ago

Great. another cool Salsa product that we’ll likely never see in NZ, unless the customer buys it on the interweb–thanks to a clown who has convinced Salsa that he’s actually an importer rather than some stoned-out dude with a garage full of bike parts but no clue to be found. Anywhere.
As we’ve come to expect–great stuff Salsa.

DominicMD
DominicMD
11 years ago

@ccolagio, in the very short article, it says that this bike was built up right before the show.

caspar
caspar
11 years ago

I need one of those in order NOT to get divorced !

tirider1
tirider1
11 years ago

The shop term for tandems is Divorce Missile or Rocket. Sweet ride.

Jim
Jim
11 years ago

Nice to see a through axle 12×142 set-up plus the day glow color is rock solid.

Campy Seatpost
Campy Seatpost
11 years ago

What could fuel a divorce faster than riding an tandem… off road… singlespeed?

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