Day 39 - The tandem that never was (meant to be)

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Newtown / Sydney 

We are all familiar with the (apparently Swedish) proverb "Shared joy is a double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow". So far this communication outlet has allowed us to mainly share the joyous aspects of our travels. And the many kind messages we receive from you tell us that there is truth to the saying. Today, we are sharing the other end, the sorrow one.

When we first went public with our plan for 2022, we promoted the Coddiwomple project including a tandem. This wasn't just some crazy, unfounded element but the result of a decent amount of trial and error riding on a patched up tandem around our local home turf and some time consuming research on how to have a tandem built that would be fit for purpose. Back in June 2021 we started the conversation with a Melbourne based bicycle frame builder who is well regarded for his custom made steel frame bicycles - including tandems. Technical details and specifications were established, and while he would be taking care of the frame building, Louise would source the vast assortment of suitable bicycle parts (some of them are tandem specific), including a set of wheels that came all the way from the US. 

In September we paid our not insignificant deposit and were given an estimated time of completion by the end of 2021. At the end of January we returned from Switzerland in eager anticipation of starting a new chapter in our bicycle travel history and in high hopes that Louise would be finishing putting the tandem together. As we all know now, this didn't happen. Nor did the promise that he would have the frame finished by the time we arrive in Sydney.

What happend?  We hear you ask. We have been asking ourselves the same question, again and again. No phone calls have been answered, no messages have been replied to and no response to our emails have been received. It's sad and disappointing to say the least. But we need to close this chapter and move on. Our two bicycles have been such great companions to get us to where we are. And with farewelling the tandem idea during our break here in Sydney, they have received a well-deserved overhaul and some little upgrades (new front tyres). We will refrain from mentioning the name of the frame builder involved. Who knows what happened to him? We hope he is okay. 

It's been the only dark cloud hanging over our adventure so far. But now it's time to pedal on, the Blue Mountains are calling. And when we lean into our handlebars, grind our teeth and push those pedals hard, we will remind ourselves of your many encouraging comments and messages. 

But for now we simply say thank you for sharing. 

P.S. Dear Alan, there are two big parcels on the way back to Auburn - one with the bicycle wheels, who have now completed at least 1.5 trips around the globe, and the second one with a heap of bicycle parts. Please hold on to them, you never know...


A tandem memory from home.




Location: Newtown NSW 2042, Australia

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