Tandems

[ste.pearson]

iv'e had a tandem for just over a year now,and love it.It does take a little getting used too and it is slower when starting but once you get going its great.Completed the C2C on ours earlier was great fun.I found looking behind much harder than a standard bike but bought a mirror and i woudent go out without it now vital bit of kit imo

 

[Katherine]

Definitely hire one from any bike hire place on a tourist trail.
We hired one on the Tarka trail in Devon and had a great time.

 

[derrick]

Am putting one together at the moment.

 

[HorTs]

I can only agree with Alex H.

Can be a bit shakey at first. Requires stoker to trust captain. You will begin to cycle as one.

Again the same as Alex, on our setup the stoker does all the siganlling.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

My wife and I have been keen tandem riders since 1997. The main difference is the way it loses speed as soon as you hit a hill, 60 to 0 in 4.5 seconds. Our lowest gear is a 24 chainring and a 34 sprocket.
The other key consideration is saddle choice, you don't get out of the saddle much if at all I've found that saddles that are perfectly comfortable on a solo are purgatory on the tandem. We've both settled on unfortunately expensive Selle Anatomic models from the US, expensive but necessary ! My wife also wouldn't be without a suspension seatpost, the trapezoid ones are much more effective than the single post ones.

 

[jongooligan]

We've just got our second tandem. Biggest advantage for us is that it cancels the difference in fitness levels. To stay together on singles my wife is pulling her kipper out while I'm just dawdling. On the tandem that doesn't happen; we're both pulling our kipper out.
Thinking of doing some TTs on the new one. It's fab.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Thanks for the replies so far. When i mention my tandem lust to other cyclists they think i't odd. When i mention it to non cyclists they usually say" oh yes i'd like to have a go on one myself". Odd that isn't it?!

 

[Broughtonblue]

Guy Martin seems to get on well with them!

 

[classic33]

Guy Martin seems to get on well with them!

Wouldn't have called that a tandem.

 

[Charlotte's Tandems]

We have lots of tandems. They are great fun.

Charlotte's Tandems is a national charity that lends tandems for free. Full info is on CharlottesTandems.co.uk

 

[growingvegetables]

Has anyone on here been on one,thought of having a go on one or owns one? If so can you tell me if it's a lot different to riding a conventional bike and how do both riders communicate? Say for example the captain hits the brakes if a car pulls out how would the stalker know if he has his eyes to the floor? I'd love to have a go on one,maybe i'd regret it?

Go for it!

Nothing to add to what anybody else has suggested - except one wee thing. Try one out ... fine. Try one out 3-4 times ... better best. By then you are likely to have the bug!

 

[Pale Rider]

Tandems are known as relationship magnifiers.

If you already get on well with the stoker, you will get on famously on a tandem.

But if there are existing cracks in your relationship, once on the tandem you will soon be tearing lumps out of each other.

 

[mickle]

I've got every kind of tandem imaginable at my place of work if anybody and their stalker wants to try one.