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Jeff and Karen's Gary Fisher Gemini Tandem ATB

Our first guest submission! Although Jeff and Karen feel as much a part of Goodspeed as anyone. You may see this thing cruising around the streets of Homewood because it is CERTAINLY hard to miss. Jeff put together a great post covering the build process and the final outcome. We are so excited that this bike attends so many GSC group rides and can't wait to see it on more.


Looking for a tandem, we picked up a 1990(?) Gary Fisher Gemini that had been modified to a 700c roadie. After riding it around the neighborhood, we decided to make a few changes to make it better for dirt and gravel trail riding. 


After more than a little brainstorming with the GoodSpeed Cycles team, we decided to return the bike to its MTB roots. With help from Bilenky Cycle Works, the frame was reconfigured for the original 26” wheels but now with disc brakes. Coating Specialties provided an Illusion Blue-Berg powder coat finish and we were able to match the original decal designs from VeloCals.
The new and improved build includes the updated Cro-Mo frame and fork, original headset, bottom bracket set, cranks, and derailleurs. The new wheels are 40 spoke 26” Velocity Cliffhangers with tubeless Rene Herse 26" x 2.3" Humptulips Ridge Endurance Plus tires. Mounted on Surly Terminal handlebars, Microshift R9 Thumb Shifters were added to Shimano MT-60 Tandem/Fisher Deore 46A/36A/26S crankset, Deore STX-RC derailleurs, and 9 speed 11 – 34 cassette. The new braking system includes Shimano Deore BL-MT501/BR-MT520 Hydraulic disc brakes & levers with 203mm (front) and 180 mm (rear) rotors giving us plenty of stopping power and control with two riders and gear.  

Hi-Viz Crank Brothers Stamp 1 pedals, Jagwire cable and brake hose, bottle cages, and Lizard Skins bar tape make the bike easier to pick out of a crowd.  Matching Brooks GP1 grips, B17 and Flyer Short saddles complete the build and set us up for anywhere we want to ride it. 


Thanks to everyone at GoodSpeed Cycles and their ideas, Josh’s “how to” instruction, and on the fly component selection, we have a MTB tandem ready for anything we want to try with it.

The grass is definitely greener under this bike.

If the kit matches, wear it!

Have a bike from Goodspeed with some personality that you would like to share with the world? Shoot us an email:goodspeedcycles@gmail.com !