Brown pants tandemming

[ed_o_brain]

- Tandem blatting along at over 20 mph in lane 1 courtesy of a tailwind
- Pilot observes stationary traffic ahead in lane 1, lane 2 traffic still moving
- Pilot checks rearwards to see approaching gap in lane 2 traffic
- Pilot chooses to maintain speed instead of slowing down - plenty of road left to stop in if necessary
- Stoker signals right on pilots in instruction
- Pilot sees gap in lane 2 traffic behind a Vauxhall Astra imminently catching up with the Tandem and starts moving into primary and then to right of lane 1
- A split second prior to full commital, and a glance forward shows Vauxhall Astra flanking right hand side of tandem, slowing rapidly and cutting into lane 1 DEAD ahead.

Panic braking ensues, steering left out of the Astra's path and initially locking both wheels (never done that before) had the load on the tandem lurching to the right. Counter-lean hard to the left yet still steering left and releasing/reapplying brakes slightly somehow gets us back upright and most importantly not colliding with the arse end of the Astra.

I've never felt the weight of the Tandem quite like that before! I'm quite impressed with the brakes too considering they are Vees and not discs.

I may have shouted "woh woh woh" very loudly and desperately and later advised the driver not to cut up 200 kilos of bike again.

 

[benborp]

How are your nerves? How are the stokers? Have you both had a stiff drink yet?

 

[ed_o_brain]

How are your nerves? How are the stokers? Have you both had a stiff drink yet?

My stoker stayed cool. She always does unless it's me trying to throw her off

I think the incident was forgotten quite quickly as we were straight back in lane 2 to filter past lane 1 traffic in no time.

Fortunately it happend so fast there wasn't time to get scared and immediately afterwards the adrenaline had kicked in. I'm amazed we were able to bring it all back together!

 

[Ben M]

200kg?!

 

[Cubist]

200kg?!

I hope that includes riders and a few bags of shopping.....

 

[ed_o_brain]

Two riders = 150kg
Tandem = 25kg
Luggage = 10kg
Total = 185kg

Close enough for me.

 

[biking_fox]

Sounds like fun!

Could you not have darted hard right into Lane 2 past the Astra on the outside?

Well done for managing to arrange life so that you can tandem commute! Wish I could.

 

[ed_o_brain]

No, that Astra was in lane 2 decelerating and indicating left when the rear of it was level with our front fork. The driver literally flanked us so I had no choice but to slow us down and draw us left.

In a sick sort of way, it was fun.

Tandem commuting is good fun however it requires full on commitment, especially when we work in two different directions from home and secondly, in-terms of handling the tandem in city traffic.

It suits us for now as my partner is unable to ride solo.

 

[Dayvo]

I take it you recommend strongly your bib shorts!

 

[Crankarm]

Wow! It sounds like you and your stoker certainly had a few heart stopping and short staining moments in this incident . Glad you are ok.

Perhaps you should see the thread in the touring and expedition section from a SKY rep requesting ideas for a cycling story with a "human interest" . Commuting by tandem is a new one on me. Primary position all the way I would have thought? Respect .

 

[neslon]

Tandem commuting is good fun however it requires full on commitment, especially when we work in two different directions from home

Is that some form of quantum entanglement going on then?

 

[Tharg2007]

Comuting by tandem sounds great. I would definitely want to give that a go. Maybe a tandem share ride, anyone have a tandem and live near Urmston and travel into MCR town centre, you could pick me up and ride in together take turns on the back maybe

I have also thought about a quadcycle whith 4 riders, I could just pick people up on the way in, could see it being a nuicance to car drivers though