Feeling for you guys! Poor Ken.

Keep the wind on your back and have a great time!

Looking forward to following. Looks like fun already! Have a wonderful time!! love, Glenn and Julie

I see our name on your helmet. Is seeing us the goal of your trip or am I reading too much into it??

Nothing says "team" like "tandem"! Enjoy the ride.

Really a winning set of photos seeing you assemble together. Looking forward to following along.

Hey Ken and Francie, I see that your biking adventure starts in a couple of days. Have a wonderful trip!! Will look forward to your blog entries. Safe travels! Devra

Hi Francie and Ken,
What an amazing adventure! Why am I not surprised?! Fingers crossed the Texas freeze isn’t bimodal!😄 Jan is relieved to know you’re not doing this alone.
One good karma: You’re celebrating your finish on my birthday.
Looking forward to following you across the country. Have fun and stay safe!
Steve

Hi Francie and Ken,
Thanks for sending this my way Francie. I'm thrilled for you both and will do my best to follow along.

Sounds like a great trip! We just recently left Tucson after a 2 month stay and are in Borrego Springs now and heading to Utah soon. We are just doing day rides but look forward to doing touring again.

So excited to follow along with your trip. We can't wait to meet up in Florida for the final days of your journey - and the first days of ours. Have vaccine, will travel!

Mike, you have politely ignored my error in describing basic tandem engineering, the longer belt/chain connecting the pilot to the stoker is the timing b/c and the shorter b/c from the stoker to the rear wheel is the drive. In the case of the internally geared Rohloff Speedhub the drive belt is straight as well. And yes, I have cleaned and re-lubed the Rohloff for our xcountry ride.

Hi Ken and Francie -

Sounds like a great adventure! I'm looking forward to reading about the journey.

It's good to see some other tandem folks on Cycleblaze!

Rich

Hi Ken

Bet you won't need to replace your drive belts on your ride.
Do your Rohloff oil change before you start and you will be good to go.
Unless you are into fast riding with frequent close ratio gear changes the Rohloff is the only way to go for touring.
You just reminded me that February is when my Rohloffs are due their oil change!

Mike

Our 2014 Co-Motion tandem uses Gates carbon belts instead of chains, short timing belt and long drive belt. We will carry an extra of each (along with extra spokes, brake pads, etc.), yet our belts show no wear after 7,000 miles. We clean them religiously, then spray on a silicone lube/protectant. We have a Rohloff speedhub in the rear axle with 14 speeds, which we could flush out and refresh with lubricant annually, but every 3,000 mi. is acceptable.