I nearly bought a tandem !

[Illaveago]

As the post suggests my wife and I nearly bought a tandem in an auction yesterday and are wondering what they are like to ride
My wife rode a bike as a teenager but is now terrified of falling off. Would a tandem be good to rebuild her confidence or would she make it dangerous for me?

 

[steveindenmark]

There is a UK Tandem Club on the internet and there are tandem bike shops that will let you try them.

I would like one but Jannie will not hear of it.

 

[Dave 123]

We bought one from eBay in September. We are both loving it.
My wife isn't scared on the road, but it evens out our abilities. It is a full on touring bike and for that reason it tends to chill me out a bit, it's a fun, relaxing experience that WILL involve cake!
Take a look at some of my recent posts in the "your ride today"thread.

Do it!

 

[Illaveago]

We bought one from eBay in September. We are both loving it.
My wife isn't scared on the road, but it evens out our abilities. It is a full on touring bike and for that reason it tends to chill me out a bit, it's a fun, relaxing experience that WILL involve cake!
Take a look at some of my recent posts in the "your ride today"thread.

Do it!

We were just wondering if we had just saved ourselves from a costly mistake. The auction estimate was £20 to £40 and my limit was set at £120 , the opening bid was £130 *******! I had waited all day for that number to come up.

 

[Poacher]

Tandem Club has a list of hire sites - could be a way of avoiding a costly mistake at auction! If anything on a tandem needs attention, it tends not to be cheap.
The Sally Army bike hire outfit in Swindon is in your general area and might be worth a look.

 

[growingvegetables]

+1 on they are great fun to ride.
+1 on try one out first

I've had lots of different people as stokers - kids, adults, a blind friend. Only one hated it - and she's now using a trike.

 

[Dave 123]

We were just wondering if we had just saved ourselves from a costly mistake. The auction estimate was £20 to £40 and my limit was set at £120 , the opening bid was £130 *******! I had waited all day for that number to come up.

We were the only bidders at £350 on a Thorn Explorer. At that price I doubt we'll ever lose money on it. It was a bargain.
In a couple of months we've had our money's worth.

Like the others say, hire one. Not just for a day, go somewhere quiet, with a tea shop about 5-8 miles away, make it nice before you start suggesting a tour of the Alps!

 

[Illaveago]

We were tbudget ly bidders at £350 on a Thorn Explorer. At that price I doubt we'll ever lose money on it. It was a bargain.
In a couple of months we've had our money's worth.

Like the others say, hire one. Not just for a day, go somewhere quiet, with a tea shop about 5-8 miles away, make it nice before you start suggesting a tour of the Alps!

Thank you for your comments. We are on a bit of a tight budget at the moment, the extension has cost a lot more than expected. My wife and I just saw the bike at the local auction the other night so we didn't have a lot of time to do the research. It was a bit of a whim and in the end it went for more than we were going to spend.
What we were wondering was what is it like to ride? I have ridden motor bikes in the past and you can certainly feel the pillion rider moving around. My wife also commented that there must be an order in which you mount and dismount. You must have to work more as a team especially at road junctions I would have thought.

 

[stoatsngroats]

We used a tandem for 4 years, and had great fun and some touring too. People say they're difficult to ride, but my OH had no issues getting used to cycling again after 20 years without. We bought a used Viking, and had no issues with it overall, apart from a damaged rear wheel ( my fault! ).
I'd say go for it, it can be exhilarating and fun!
Stoker sits first, and pedals whilst the captain gets settled..... works like a charm after a short while, and looks great if done silently, with complete synthesis between the 2 !

 

[growingvegetables]

What we were wondering was what is it like to ride? I have ridden motor bikes in the past and you can certainly feel the pillion rider moving around.

Different!

Long wheel base - very smooth ride (but take care around bollards!). Easy riding on hills - double the power, for a lot less than double the weight.

TALK to each other - communication is key. Pilot can see bumps and potholes - tell her! Talk through gear changes and braking.

Starting off
- stoker gives the power; both legs on pedals, turn them to good position for pushing off.
- pilot is balance an steering - so both feet on ground, until you give the word.

Sounds complicated, and will look/feel ungainly first few times, but you very soon develop a shared understanding and rhythm.

Junctions - not much different. Pilot gets his feet to the ground to hold the bike up. Stoker back pedals to bring pedals correct for pushing off.

Again - very quickly becomes second nature.

 

[Dave 123]

At present Mrs Dave is experimenting with saddles. She didn't like the original, swapped it for a Specialized ladies medium comfort MTB saddle, doesn't like it and has gone back to the original. Next weekend she is off to be fitted for a saddle.

When she shufties (technical term) her arse about to find more comfort/less pain it feels like she's pushing through my back quite forcefully.

A couple of times she's been engrossed in the scenery and not leant into a corner, then it feels like a big lever is pulling you upright and not round the bend.

I also know when she's doing her hair/blowing her nose etc....

 

[Smokin Joe]

A mate bought a tandem years back. His jersey pockets were stuffed with sweets which his wife used to help herself to as they rode.

 

[Illaveago]

At present Mrs Dave is experimenting with saddles. She didn't like the original, swapped it for a Specialized ladies medium comfort MTB saddle, doesn't like it and has gone back to the original. Next weekend she is off to be fitted for a saddle.

When she shufties (technical term) her arse about to find more comfort/less pain it feels like she's pushing through my back quite forcefully.

A couple of times she's been engrossed in the scenery and not leant into a corner, then it feels like a big lever is pulling you upright and not round the bend.

I also know when she's doing her hair/blowing her nose etc....

My wife has found saddles to be uncomfortable in the past. I wonder if Slumberland do one?

 

[Illaveago]

Thanks again for your comments. It sounds a bit strange and needs quite a bit of cooperation between the two riders and a lot of practice. I'll have to get my wife to read your comments.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Thanks again for your comments. It sounds a bit strange and needs quite a bit of cooperation between the two riders and a lot of practice. I'll have to get my wife to read your comments.

Don't forget to tell her about the sweets.