Bike Trip Forums: Tandems...

OK, I know that there hasn't been anything in this section for a while, but I have a tandem, and what Dean said is quite true. You can generate a LOT of more speed with what seems like a lot less effort than on a single.

I bought an older used tandem a year or so ago and have taken it out only a few times, but you do go faster.

There is a lot of coordination that needs to take place between the front person and the back person. Things that you take for granted on a single.... like shifting, coasting, and observing obstacles (bumps, holes, debris).

You take for granted on a single that when you want to stoppedaling and coast for a while, you just do it. But on a tandem you need to let the person in the back know that you are going to coast, or you will be fighting each other (since the pedals work together and are on a single chain).

Shifting is another area where you need to communicate. If the person has no idea that you are going to shift and suddenly the pedaling is harder or easier than expected (abruptly so) then they could slip off the pedals and lose their balance.

And if you see an obstacle in the road, let the person in the back know it is coming. If they have no idea that a bump is coming you risk them losign their balance, or even causing an accident and getting hurt.

Well, that's my take on tandeming. I need to take mine out more often, but so far I like it. I bought an older model that has only 6 speeds and has upright handlebars. I am thinking of changing the handlebars to a lower profile, but I haven't gotten there yet.

But it is fun to ride.

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Later,

Danny

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