Polygon Impression AX – Tandem Bike

There are few better ways to share the enjoyment of cycling than with a Tandem. Tandem bikes are designed to be ridden with a captain in the front, and a stoker or passenger in the rear. The rider in the front controls the bike, leaving the rider in the rear, with nothing more to do than to assist with pedaling and enjoy the ride, in fact, the rear rider needs hardly any balancing skills at all.

This aluminum framed tandem is light; it’s one of the lightest on the market. This makes it not only easy to ride, but also simple to put on any rear car rack. In fact, after taking the front wheel off the bike, it is not much longer than a regular adult mountain bike and can be fitted to any regular car.

This iteration of the tandem has been significantly improved. The wheels are larger 27.5′ rims and are the wheel of choice for tandem bikes. When you are carrying two passengers, the forces that go through the wheel are much higher and as such you need strong wheels to survive any impact with gutters or harsh, unforgiving roads. Larger 700c, ‘Road bike’ wheels are inherently weaker and can result in warping or bending of the rim.

By having 27.5′ wheels also allows for a lower standover height, this tandem can accommodate an incredible range of rider heights. Both riders benefit from adjustable stems and seat posts to ensure that both young and the young-at-heart will be comfortable on the bike.

The tires have been upgraded to balloon tires, these are much wider and more comfortable than traditional MTB or road tires.

A great feature on this bike is the drivetrain. Featuring a 24 speed Shimano Altus groupset complete with huge 11-32 speed rear cassette, you have all the gears you need to tackle the steepest of ascents. The drive train also features an eccentric bottom bracket ‘ this is the way the chain is tightened between the front and rear riders. Eccentric bottom brackets are by far the best system in the market. Trying to use a tensioner system is messy and unreliable; an eccentric bottom bracket like this is the only way to keep that chain on.

As the name indicates, the tandem now features disc brakes too. This has been the most desired upgrade over previous rim brakes. Disc brakes provide confidence inspired braking with much more consistent, and powerful braking in all conditions.

For more information, check out the below video. Please note this new version now comes with disc brakes.