Custom Tandem Bicycles - Micro Travel Tandems
Read about our long history of tandem building and tandem innovations.
The Rodriguez Model 20/14
A tandem that fits all of your needs!
Disclaimer: While I'm a good salesperson, I can't do nearly as good of a job describing this amazing bike as Jeff and Louise did themselves.
The story of this bike's creation:
At Rodriguez, we take tandem riding very seriously, and have since 1973. So do our customers! So, when Jeff and Louise came to us for a new tandem, they were serious. They wanted the smallest packing tandem they could get that would ride as much like their full size tandem as possible. We had been building the 6-pack micro-bike for several years, and had several people convert from other small wheeled 'microbike-brands' to our micro-offering. The feedback has been fantastic! Most of our 6-pack customers said they no longer had a need for a full size ride after their 6-pack.
You see, in the world of micro-bikes, a certain level of compromise is assumed, as far as ride quality goes. Therefore, most micro-bike owners also own full size bikes as their everyday ride. They reserve the micro-bike for travel only. This is not what the 6-pack (or the Model 2014 tandem) are about. We design and build the 6-pack as a no-compromise micro-bike. A bike that you will want to ride as your everyday rider as well as your micro-travel bike. It's hard for most people to believe until they ride one though.
Most people assume that micro-travel bikes have a 'whizzy' ride (to quote Steve, the owner of many 'other brand' micros) due to the small wheels. Until we actually built a test ride 6-pack for the shop floor, it was hard to convince people otherwise. Actually, wheel size is not what makes the others feel this way, it's the 'whizzy' frame designs. Continued below...
Model 20/14 Specifications - - Wait Time: 10 to 16 weeks
| Frame | Custom Model 2014 - Direct Internal Style |
| Tubing | Custom Rodriguez butted Cro-moly |
| Fork | Custom Rodriguez |
| Headset | FSA 1 1/8" Sealed Standard |
| Shift Levers | 9sp Bar-end |
| Brake Levers | Tektro Ergo |
| Bottom Brackets | Sealed Bearing (British 68) |
| Eccentric | Bushnell ® |
| Cranks | Alloy Tandem Standard |
| Brakes | Big Squeeze™ |
| Stoker Stem | Custom Rodriguez Adjustable |
| Rims & Tires | Sun Ringle CR18 / Serfas Drifter |
| Bar Tape | Black Cork or Ergo ATB Grips |
| Wheels | Hand-built w/ 3 year warranty |
| Cogs | Shimano 11-27 |
| Handle Bars | Alloy Uno compact (or European folding) |
| Seat Posts | Alloy 27.2 |
| Hubs | Sealed Bearing Tandem 36h |
| Seats | WTB Speed V |
| Specifications may vary subject to availablity | |
Model 2014 Basic $14,999
Common Options for the Model 2014 Basic
For the Frame
- Other Custom Work...Just Ask
- Bottle Opener +$45
| Frame | Custom Model 2014- Direct Internal Style |
| Tubing | Custom Rodriguez butted Cro-moly |
| Fork | Custom Rodriguez |
| Headset | FSA 1 1/8" Sealed Standard |
| Shift Levers | Rohloff 14sp Twist Grip |
| Brake Levers | Tektro Ergo |
| Bottom Brackets | Sealed Bearing (British 68) |
| Eccentric | Bushnell® |
| Cranks | Origin 8 Alloy Standard |
| Brakes | Big Squeeze™ |
| Stoker Stem | Custom Rodriguez Adjustable |
| Rims & Tires | Sun Ringle CR18 / Serfas Drifter |
| Bar Tape | Black Cork or Ergo ATB Grips |
| Wheels | Hand-built w/ 3 year warranty |
| Cogs | Rohloff 13t |
| Handle Bars | Alloy Uno compact (or European folding) |
| Seat Posts | Alloy 27.2 |
| Hubs | Sealed Bearing Front/Rohloff 14sp Rear 36h |
| Seats | WTB Speed V |
| Specifications may vary subject to availablity | |
Model 2014 Rohloff $16,999
Common Options for the Model 2014 Rohloff
For the Frame
- Other Custom Work...Just Ask
- Bottle Opener +$45
Optional customized front & rear racks fold completely flat in seconds.
In minutes, the entire bike, bottles, cages, front & rear racks, fenders, and the 5 small tools required for everything can be ready to pack into 2 small suitcases.
We went to work designing a tandem that could be packed into cases small enough for train travel carry on (even smaller than airline cases). It was crucial that it be quicker and easier in every way to pack and re-assemble than any other travel tandem on the market....micro or not. All of these requirements, plus the goal of 'big bike' quality ride. At Rodriguez, we were up for the challenge, and honored to be chosen. Even though we moved forward on the build, they were not convinced that they should sell the full size bike right away.
When the new bike was ready for its pre-paint test ride, it performed exactly as I had suspected. Logan and I took it out around the U-district, and there was no way to tell that it was a micro-tandem! It rode just like all of our travel tandems do! The real test though, was Jeff and Louise. Would they think they have the same experience as I did? The answer came after their first week or so on the new Model 2014. They put their full size tandem up for sale. They will stay a one-tandem couple and not have to sacrifice anything. Jeff and Louise suggested the name '2014' for this bike because of the 20" wheels, 14 S&S couplings in combination with the 14 speed Rohloff rear hub. Add that to the fact that we created the first one in 2014. We loved the idea and ran with it.
I will say it again:
I can't say it nearly as well as Jeff and Louise. You can read what they have to say about their new bike in their own words here. I think you'll agree, if this bike is good enough for them, it's good enough for every adventurous tandem couple!
If you're ready to own a serious tandem that just happens to be a micro-travel tandem, then you're ready for a Rodriguez Model 2014.
