Can We Ride This Thing??

So Paul and I have become owners of a tandem bicycle!  We look forward to embarking on this adventure of riding with each other on a bicycle built for two.  Paul will be the Captain, steering this contraption and I'll ride along behind as his Stoker, providing pedal power to help propel us forward.

Let me introduce to you Daisy Bell, or as Paul has named it: The Geezer Cruiser.
We are celebrating our forty-seventh wedding anniversary at the end of December 2012, and this tandem was a little gift to each other.  It should keep us close as we ride two-gether off into the sunset years of life and marriage. 

We purchased this Burley Tosa tandem bicycle from an acquaintance, Michael, who we know from one of the bike clubs we belong to, Folks On Spokes.  He doesn't know exactly what year he purchased the bike from Eddy's Bike Shop in Stow, Ohio, but it was new when he bought it there. He thought his wife would enjoy riding a tandem bike, but turned out it wasn't her cup-of-tea.  Thus the tandem with few miles ridden, sat in storage for many years.  Recently his wife passed away, and wanting to find another couple who may enjoy tandeming, he approached us with an offer to sell the bike to us. 

Since he can not remember what year he bought this Burley Tosa tandem, I am posting some photos below and wonder if anyone can tell me what year this model came on the market?
CLICK ON PHOTOS to enlarge for detail ----


We picked up the Burley on Thursday, December 6.

Snapped this photo of Paul and bike just before sliding it into the back of our Town and Country Van. It fit perfectly right down the middle.

The bike came with an attached front handle-bar bag and an attached, heavy combination lock (shown on the seat-tube), and the Stoker pedals were cage type, and the Captain/front had SPD pedals.

 A few days later we added some things, and removed some things. I like Shimano SPD pedals, so I added those to the back, and we removed the heavy combination lock.  We may put it into the trunk bag. We attached a heavy duty trunk rack and added a slide on Topeak MTX Trunk bag EXP.  The sides open out for drop-down panniers that will carry extra 'stuff'.  Like pairs of flip-flops when we bicycle in Florida and end up at Siesta Key Beach! We changed the tires too. On the bike were 32cm tires. We ordered from Tandems East a set of 28cm Continental GatorSkins.

 A label on the seat-tube may help identify what year this Burley Tosa tandem was sold. It says, "Burley Silver Anniversary Edition. Handmade for 25 Years"
Another label in white script lettering says, "Handcrafted in Eugene, Oregon by Burley Design Cooperative" (part of the last word is missing on the photo)

This tandem is made with Veralite, 7000 Series. Aluminum.

SO!  What year do you think this bike is???
UPDATE:   HOLD IT! Search no further.  I did some Googling and found the Burley Story.  In 1978 the company was sold to an employee owned cooperative (see the white lettering on the above photo)  So if you add 25 years to that, it comes to be the year 2003.  So I believe this Burley Tosa Tandem was maufactured in 2003.  You would never know it -- as this tandem is in such great condition, hardly a scratch on it.  We are proud to be owners of it.  I hope we can keep it looking as good as the day we bought it.