[CR]Re: 3Rensho tandems?

(Example: Framebuilders:Masi)

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 19:14:03 -0500
From: "Paul Lee" <plee1@optonline.net>
To: CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, Jon Muellner <jon@mountainbike.org>
Subject: [CR]Re: 3Rensho tandems?

I have a silver 3Rensho tandem that I picked up for cheap ($200 or maybe $400, I can't remember) in the early 90s. I have an idea of its owner history and I think it was built in 1985 at a cost of somewhere near $4000 (complete bike). It has older Phil Wood hubs with the Phil Disk brake. The rear spacing may even be 126 mm. It has twin lateral tubes meeting the seat stays a few inches above the vertical dropouts. It is way too small for me, but as usual, I ride it with a long seat post and really tall Nitto Technomic stem. The ride is lively and fun. The stoker cockpit is tighter than today's bikes but my wife can still stand while climbing without splaying her legs like she has to on some more vintage tandems.

My 3Rensho has a simple lugless frame with a standard 1" headset. It is made of double butted Ishiwata 3Rensho "Super Strong" tubing. The tubing decal has an elephant on it. It has numerous 3Rensho Cyclone decals and the same largish 3Rensho blue lettering on the fork blades, down tube and oval tube between the bottom brackets.

Paul Lee Farmingdale, New York

Jon wrote:
> While out and about tonight I saw a friend and his daughter riding a
> nice older looking tandem and when we passed them I saw they were
> riding a 3Rensho tandem. I've never seen one before and wondered how
> rare these are and any other info about them. I've already gleened
> everything from the CR and yellowjersey.org site but no tandems
> there. I hope to get together with him soon and get a better look and
> maybe some pics.

>

> Thanks for any info,

>

> Jon