Riding a tandem

[growingvegetables]

Go for it!

Take it easy. Take it out riding solo a couple of blocks to get used to the length, steering, and getting through narrow gaps WITHOUT taking her kneecaps out!

Spend a bit of time getting used to starting with her.

Talk all the time.

You'll know it's going well when she takes her knitting with her for a ride! All the potential in the world to be a brilliant experience for both - but easy to spoil if you take too much for granted.

And thank all the deities available that you haven't got a cyclist on the back - they are a pain! They keep trying to steer, lean, brake, and back-seat drive. I know - I am a disaster as a stoker!

 

[Ian193]

I tried a tandem trike the other week i was the pilot O/H was stoker it was strange to start off as the bike seemed to be pulling to the right we got the hang of it eventually

 

[Ian H]

I've only been on the back of motorbike once and I got scared going round a fast bend and started to lean the other way! The bike twitched alarmingly and almost threw us off. The rider screamed at me to just let the bike do its thing and lean with him round the bends. It was ok once I did what I was told, but it scared me so much that I have not been on a motorbike since! I wouldn't fancy being on the back of a tandem either ...

I am a pathetically bad stoker. Non-cyclists are often better simply because they do as they're told and have little concept of what might go wrong.

 

[Levo-Lon]

We hired one last weekend..hmmm yer...its intresting.and it felt like a hinged bike to me, very odd but after a few miles it's ok butbloody hard work, i think a month will beplent of time to decide where you want to be...

goog luck and enjoy the exp

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've only been on the back of motorbike once and I got scared going round a fast bend and started to lean the other way! The bike twitched alarmingly and almost threw us off. The rider screamed at me to just let the bike do its thing and lean with him round the bends. It was ok once I did what I was told, but it scared me so much that I have not been on a motorbike since! I wouldn't fancy being on the back of a tandem either ...

I've only been on a motorbike once and that was enough! i did the leaning the other way bit, but we managed to stay on the Kawasaki 900cc thingy doing 70 mph.

 

[ufkacbln]

Communication

The stoker cannot see bumps and things so a commentary on road surfaces etc is courteous

After that simply talk through.

For instance as you stop, have an agreed position for the pedals, and then count down three rotations.

So it is
"Stopping, 3,2,1 and stopped"

Same with starting, agreed pedal position and count down

On the road, rather than just change gears, again discuss.

"Nice fast road ahead, shall we go faster?"

"Yes"

"Ok... less pressure, changing, OK let's go"


Also remember that with no brakes the stoker may not be happy with speed.

 

[Clanghead]

Another issue to be aware of is cadence rate - when on solo bikes, I like to spin the pedals reasonably quickly (c.90 rpm on road bike, more like 60 rpm on hybrid) but my O/H prefers slow and steady (c.45 rpm on hybrid). On our tandem (tourer), we have to compromise at about 60 rpm but it takes some getting used to.

I agree with the importance of communication mentioned above. One time on a cycle track when having to steer between bollards to prevent cars parking, she thought I was about to take her kneecap off - I knew what I was doing but it was quite alarming for her. By the way, that's something to consider if using cycle tracks - often the "gates" at the end can be very difficult to negotiate even when pushing a tandem.

 

[Houthakker]

Well thanks for all the pointers, phase one went very well. We started off on the quiet drive of our local stately hall, just a couple of minutes walk away (and walk we did) Mounted up and a couple of stops and starts to get some confidence (for me as well cos it don't half feel different to a road bike) then we were off down the mile long drive. Turned around and back to the hall then into the tea shop (has to be a bribe involved) then I thought we'd call it a day but no, Mrs H wanted another lap then we rode it home. By the end giving a running commentary of coasting, stopping, changing gear, etc was becoming second nature. Next outing planned for tomorrow.

 

[Houthakker]

Further update. Only been out 4 times due to Mrs H hurting her back (Gardening) but she loved it. The advice on here paid off, especially all the good words about communcating whats happening to her. Got up to an hour on our last run. Hire bike goes back this week but she's got me trawling e-bay now for a tandem of our own.
Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Dave 123]

We are 2 rides into tandeming and having a great time.
Sometimes we're silky smooth at setting off.... But not always!
I have just ordered 2 pairs of Shimano M520 pedals as the bike has come with cages which we are finding a pain.we are both used to riding clipped in.
Communication is key, but we both sometimes forget as we are happy looking around and not necessarily concentrating on riding!

It's great to have a chat, and enjoy it all together.
And we get to pick blackberries together.

 

[growingvegetables]

Hey - glad it's worked out!

I now feel free to tell you what happened first time I took my ex-partner out on a tandem - she HATED it; she SCREAMED; she YELLED --- like a bleedin' banshee. Never, ever again.

That may be due to the fact that we are ex-