Tandems for dummies

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We bit the bullet and brought our first tandem home this afternoon :smile:

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Fun times ahead!

The cranks are usually matched in rotational position, your’s are out by 90 degrees. I’ve never seen a tandem with the cranks out of sync like this. Any idea why?

it may be nothing and would be fixed easily, but one has to ask.

your stoker might appreciate a suspension seatpost, a pretty common addition, lot of tandems come with them as the person in the back can’t see the bumps coming.

our old lump says hello, welcome to the craziness!

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BoldonLad

Not part of the Elite
Location
South Tyneside
The cranks are usually matched in rotational position, your’s are out by 90 degrees. I’ve never seen a tandem with the cranks out of sync like this. Any idea why?

it may be nothing and would be fixed easily, but one has to ask.

your stoker might appreciate a suspension seatpost, a pretty common addition, lot of tandems come with them as the person in the back can’t see the bumps coming.

our old lump says hello, welcome to the craziness!

View attachment 782072

During Covid restrictions, we bought an Ecosmo folding tandem. It had a separate freewheel system for stoker and captain, which allowed one or both riders to stop pedaling.

We now have a Hase Pino Steps Semi Recumbent Tandem, it too has a separate freewheel system, which allows the Stoker to stop pedaling, whilst the captain continues to pedal.

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During Covid restrictions, we bought an Ecosmo folding tandem. It had a separate freewheel system for stoker and captain, which allowed one or both riders to stop pedaling.

We now have a Hase Pino Steps Semi Recumbent Tandem, it too has a separate freewheel system, which allows the Stoker to stop pedaling, whilst the captain continues to pedal.

View attachment 782074

Oooooo…. That thing looks dangerous. Who rides closest to the accident?
 
The cranks are usually matched in rotational position, your’s are out by 90 degrees. I’ve never seen a tandem with the cranks out of sync like this. Any idea why?

it may be nothing and would be fixed easily, but one has to ask.

your stoker might appreciate a suspension seatpost, a pretty common addition, lot of tandems come with them as the person in the back can’t see the bumps coming.

our old lump says hello, welcome to the craziness!

View attachment 782072

Some tandemists prefer riding with out of phase cranks. There will be an explanation of it somewhere if you look.
 
OP
OP
JhnBssll

JhnBssll

Guru
Location
Suffolk
The previous owner explained that their stoker was quite short and preferred to start with both feet on the pedals, so they had the cranks rotsted 90 degrees out of phase. I'll change that back when I get a minute.

I've got some bits on the way for a drop bar conversion too, going with R7020 shifters and a GRX R810 rear mech so I can a decent range cassette on their, potentially a 40 or 42t. Looking at a replacement 2x chainset now that will fit the current square taper bb :smile:

Fun times ahead!
 

roubaixtuesday

self serving virtue signaller
Literally no idea, I was thinking to myself "I'll move them back, thats going to be annoying" while he was explaining :smile: He had paid his lbs to make the change and was quite pleased with the result so it had obviously helped in some way :smile:

He *paid* to dismount and remount a chain??? You should have tried selling him a bridge while you were buying the tandem!
 
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My stoker ALWAYS starts with both feet in her SPD clips. We are nearly in sync.

Our bike supplier advised stoker should be two teeth ahead of my pedals. It’s easy to remember coz it’s the only time the stoker is in front.

90 degrees out sounds like a recipe for disaster on a sharp bend as difficult to have all pedals clear of the ground
 

Gwylan

Guru
Location
All at sea⛵
In principle my long term relationship has survived almost 50 years. And we have been married that long too.

I am confident that the relationship would not survive the second 15 minute spell of a tandem experience.

How do people cope?
What special property has not been included in our relationship ?
 
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