the " 26" x 1.5" " tires are most likely 650b x 35mm or so - a size somewhat difficult to find outside of france. not quite 650a, not quite 26", but the traditional size for a lot of french touring bikes... they are still available, but would take a little bit of hunting, and perhaps a european contact. a hunt worth making, though, if you have a nice bike like this to put them on...
as for refitting a triple, since its a ta chainwheel set, this is pretty basic. the chainwheel set on there is probably in the "cyclotouriste" pattern (6 bolt, 80mm bcd), so you could just buy a small ta chainwheel, a set of ta chainwheel bolts for triple chainwheels, and a longer stronglight bb spindle (and since theyre stronglight cranks, it would *have* to be a stronglight spindle, to match the taper), and voila, youd have a triple, assuming the derailleurs have the range etc etc.
of course, all youll have to do now is a) meet reserve and b) outbid the japanese :)
-joel
>Here's something I've never seen before, a Rene Herse Tandem.
>Fenders, lights, what looks like a Stonglight 49d drivetrain, she's
>a beaut.
>
>http://ebay.com/<blah>
>
>This is something I'd actually be interested in, although it's a bit
>too small for me, but does anyone have experience with these? The
>tires are allegedly 26 inches, but don't quite look like modern
>mountain skins. What size would these be? Are replacements
>available? It looks like 36 spokes, which might be okay in the
>smaller wheel size.
>
>
>
>Would it be possible to refit a conventional tandem drivetrain to
>get a triple crank? Or could the original set be reconfigured?
>
>
>
>How do these frames ride? Suitable for the gravitationally challenged?
>
>
>
>Anyone know the seller?
>
>
>
>Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
>
>
>
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>_______________________________________________
--
joel metz : magpie@messengers.org : http://www.blackbirdsf.org/
bike messengers worldwide : ifbma : http://www.messengers.org/
po box 191443 san francisco ca 94119-1443 usa
==
i know what innocence looks like - and it wasn't there,
after she got that bicycle...