THE OVAL SOLUTION

The advent of travel tandems allowed history to repeat itself. Builders using S&S couplers faced a century-old choice: one big bottom tube or two smaller ones? While various alternatives can do the job (illustrated on frame efficiency page), the competition-proven twin-tube design is both lighter and stiffer than the older “drainpipe” design. Why did tandem builders who would never dream of using an outdated design for their standard tandems revert to a large round tube for their S&S tandems? Profit. Because double-butted tubes, another pair of couplers and the required additional labor are all expensive, some builders ignore the added comfort and performance of the twin-tube design in order to save $300.

Santana’s new oval couplers alter the cost-benefit equation of travel tandems by allowing a light and efficient frame without the additional tube and couplers. Following years of development and testing, oval couplers are now an option for CroMoly, Niobium, Scandium, titanium and carbon Stowaway™ tandems.

Now that Santana has lighter S&S/oval couplers, how can other tandem builders compete? Any builder who satisfies the stringent standards enforced by S&S can obtain Santana’s oval couplers, or the aluminum couplers S&S produces exclusively for us. Most builders will find it cost effective to have Santana pre-weld these pieces onto our lighter, custom-drawn coupler tubes.

Santana sells its exclusive items to other builders? Certainly. For 30 years Santana has underwritten the development of an extensive range of tandem-specific materials and components, and then shared these advanced products with other builders.