Our Current Bike

Our current ride is a blue and silver 2004 Raleigh "Coupe". In any given model year, Raleigh offers three different models, and the middle one is known as the "Coupe". Our Coupe is an aluminum-frame bike with 27 speeds, 26 inch (mountain bike) wheels and straight handlebars. We originally started with a maroon and silver 2002 Coupe that we purchased at the beginning of 2003 (saving some cash because it was "last year's" model). In 2004 the welds holding a small plate to the frame cracked, and Raleigh replaced the frame,with a 2004 frame. There were minor differences in the frame, the main one being there was room for a fourth water bottle cage.

The bike is pretty much stock. We added a rear rack, four water bottle holders, bent bar ends for both handlebars, and dual cyclometers (Planet Bike model Protege 8.0). Originally the bike came with a suspension seatpost on the rear seat (a standard feature for most tandems). I had to replace it with a solid seatpost when we added the hitch for my younger son's trailer bike. But KJ has grown so much that I can probably put the suspension seat post back on, and still have enough solid seatpost available to mount the trailer bike hitch.

The bike came with 26x1.95 Kenda tires, which are smooth in the center and have a tread on the outside edge. I replaced those with 26x1.5 inverted tread tires which ran faster, but gave a rougher ride. When those tires wore out I put the old Kendas back on. Along the way I replaced the original wheels with Bontrager Mountain bike wheels.

KJ absolutely LOVES this bike. When we first got it, I was concerned that our annual mileage (which was around 500 miles per year when KJ was riding on the trailer bike) would go down, because the tandem REQUIRES KJ to pedal (which isn't necessary with a trailer bike). What actually happened was the complete opposite. Our mileage doubled to 1000 miles per year, and has stayed at that approximate level ever since.