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Tandeming in the Czech Republic

Christian Bratina2017-08-12 23:14:59

Any information on how the roads are for tandems? We are thinking of cycling from Prague to Vienna via Tabor, Hluboka, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Znojmo, Milkulov, etc.

Mark Brett2017-08-22 15:22:03

: Any information on how the roads are for tandems? We are thinking of cycling
: from Prague to Vienna via Tabor, Hluboka, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Znojmo,
: Milkulov, etc.

We rode in the north of the Czech Republic on our road bikes as a family of four in 2013 whilst camping. We stayed on minor roads which were ok - not too broken up - our 23 and 25mm wide tyres were ok.

The traffic was intimidating with an 11 and 13 year old with us - passed close at times. So we were cautious but it did not stop us having a nice ride every day. The main roads can be quite crazy - cars going quickly and trying to avoid the potholes.

Ian Aldred2017-08-29 10:31:51

: Any information on how the roads are for tandems? We are thinking of cycling
: from Prague to Vienna via Tabor, Hluboka, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Znojmo,
: Milkulov, etc.
Not very much up to date info but as part of a longer trip about 20 years ago we went from Linz, Austria, north to Prague through some of the places you mention. From memory the roads then were fine. A bit busy getting into Prague but that was before digital map days and internet so I'm sure a better route can now be found out. I would assume the main roads are now busier but recall that we were frequently on quite minor roads through villages, forestry, farmland etc which were quiet and fine for a tandem, and I assume are still probably very similar. We occasionally used sections of unmade road which again were generally OK. The only close passes remembered was on the road from Linz to the border which was used by a lot of lorries, but once into the country and on smaller roads things quietened down.

Don't be put off by the Soviet era development surrounding the towns like Cesky Krumlov as once in the centre they were really pretty. I just hope there is not know too much tourism as even then it was quite busy.

I am sure you will have a great time.

Alan Tonkin2017-08-29 11:04:35

: Any information on how the roads are for tandems? We are thinking of cycling
: from Prague to Vienna via Tabor, Hluboka, Cesky Krumlov, Telc, Znojmo,
: Milkulov, etc.
We rode Vienna to Prague in 2014 as part of our route from Budapest back to Dunkirk/Dover. We used the Greenways Route. http://www.pragueviennagreenways.org/cycle.html. Bought a book of maps in Budapest for the Greenways. It was in Czech and Prague to Vienna so had to interpret it in reverse. Signage was iffy and some roads were tracks thru forests. It was a challenge. To get into center of Prague where we were staying (Wenceslas Square) a policeman point us to a tram track and said follow that tram And track into the Square - simple :). Luckily our tandem is MTB designed using 26×1.6 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme Foldable Touring Tyres. Broke 5 rear driveside spokes and blow a tyre (luckily Belgium on the flat) enroute

mark tipping2017-08-30 10:42:13

Hi Alan
What on earth went wrong to cause you to break five spokes in one wheel? Are you riding a superlightweight tandem with skinny spokes?
Mark

Alan Tonkin2017-08-30 13:44:00

: Hi Alan
: What on earth went wrong to cause you to break five spokes in one wheel? Are
: you riding a superlightweight tandem with skinny spokes?
: Mark
Our tandem was purpose built with SS couplings, step through for stoker and layback angles for me. The wheels were supplied ready built from Velocity with a Rohloff Hub and disc rotor. I guess we didn't specify the wheels were for a tandem a nor specified the spokes we want. Our combined body weight is around 160kg, the bike with racks,tools, water bottles around 30kg and our loaded 4 panniers, rack bag and handlebar bag around 30-40kg. Dunno if a rolling weight of around 230kg is common. The spokes broke at different times. On return to Oz re-spoked the wheels with DT Alpine 3s triple butted, but still have prob of the odd spoke loosening and clicking so considering using loctite on the nipples. Mind you road over some pretty tough and rocky forest tracks with steep climbs/descents on the Greenways

mark tipping2017-08-30 17:21:29

Ah.
Yet another Rohloff which the salesmen tell us are fine with 32 spokes and so do not have spoke problems when used on tandems for touring then.
Good luck and enjoy the rough stuff while you have the knees for it!
Regards
Mark

clive2017-08-31 13:49:43

: Ah.
: Yet another Rohloff which the salesmen tell us are fine with 32 spokes and so
: do not have spoke problems when used on tandems for touring then.

Friend's Thorn Rohloff tandem broke half a dozen in a few hundred miles while still very shiny and immediately after a full service. The complete rebuild during their rest day here (non-professional, but care taken to do it properly) seems to have sorted things.

Thorn said "must have been a bad batch of spokes" and sent a new box for the rebuild, but the tension after the rebuild was noticeably higher.