I lost my tandem-ginity...

[SR500]

Great! We love rockin' the tandem... but DH has dropped me twice - don't ask, all is still good...

[tattiefritter]

We have an offroad tandem, I find it fun for a few hours but get bored after a while as all I do is pedal. Hurtling down rocky downhills with no control at all over the bike took a bit of getting used to....

[KayTee]

I'm a control freak, too, and consequently our tandem miles average only about 1/5-1/4 of my total annual mileage. But after 5 years BikeBoy & I are finally working together better, and my enjoyment really has increased. We've learned a lot and had a great time attending several tandem rallies but in home territory tend to ride more with single bikes...here we're pulling a paceline on last year's Capitol to Capitol century in VA.

[SheFly]

Woohoo! Another convert. Welcome to the dark side.

We have been riding tandems for about 8 years. We started out as off-road tandemers. That was a challenge, and we kept breaking equipment (we are both fairly strong, and with the technical trails here, regularly broke freehubs, cassettes and chains). We also used to lead a ride called the O-**** - Off-Road Specific Hiatus Involving Tandems. Think 60 miles of off-raod singletrack with 6-7 tandem teams - it was a sight to behold!

About 3 years ago, after a ride where divorce was threatened and the tandem was thrown into the woods, we sold the trusty MTB tandem and invested in a road bike. We LOVE it. I probably put 1000 miles a year on the tandem, and love every minute of it.

Now we even have a TT-specific tandem . Last year, we held out course record, for a week. This year we are out for blood...

The best, of course, is having a group of tandems to ride together. We have a core group of about 6 or 7 couples who regularly go out on tandem adventures, and we all formed a team to do the local MS 150 ride!

Pics:

1. Look ma, no wheels touching the ground!
2. Up and over
3. Tande-Maine-ia weekend
4. Our regular ride crew

[Pedal Wench]

Kaytee, is that some sort of communication system you're using in your photo? When my BF and I ride on tour, we think having a way to communicate on the bike might be fun. What are you using, and what do you think about it?

[mimitabby]

Here we are on the RSVP, waiting to board a ferryboat.

welcome!

I LOVE that flying tandem photo!

[SheFly]

[IMG]
I LOVE that flying tandem photo!

Mimi - here's another. Hard to see clearly, but I like it 'cause it really does look like we're flying!

SheFly

[KayTee]

Kaytee, is that some sort of communication system you're using in your photo? When my BF and I ride on tour, we think having a way to communicate on the bike might be fun. What are you using, and what do you think about it?

Yes, it's a "Tandem Talk" intercom we picked up b/c it was being discounted at the first tandem rally we attended, http://www.tandem-talk.com/Tandem-Talk/. The radio unit fits in BikeBoy's jersey pocket and connects via wire to our earpieces. And I'm the only one who can turn the radio on and off! It works well -- as you know, it's so hard to hear each other on a windy day, and we use it to whisper strategy when riding with competitive singles and tandem groups. Just watch out if one of you has bronchitis...or yells road hazards!

Shefly, great poem! And you're right, there's nothing like riding in a paceline of fast tandems, which is why we've enjoyed tandem rallies and the variety of paces they provide. Each year we, too, take the Mothership on vacation with our local tandem buddies. Get a couple of tandems together, and you have a party!

[bikerchick68]

SadieKate... "nobody died" is EXACTLY what I was thinking! I had some mini marshmallows to celebrate my victory!

RoadRaven... have you ridden one? Maybe you can rent one a few times? Then you'd both be sure you enjoy it... I had fun, but I would not have bought one as he did without knowing for sure. He got it so he could ride with his grandkids safely... they don't have road handling skills, but this way he can take 'em out for rides...

SR500... "dropped you twice"??? OK... don't answer. The mental images I came up with were painful enough Cool pic!

tattie... hurtling down rocky hillsides with no control... yeah, I don't THINK so! It was nerve racking enough trying this on the road where I'm comfortable. I started off as a mountain biker... but got tired of bleeding. And dirt in my mouth. Switched to road and that was that.

Kaytee... very cool! We actually found ourselves pulling yesterday too... I was sorta surprised... at the fact that we were fast enough to do so. Apparently we create a heckuva draft!

Shefly... I'm cracking up at the near divorce and bike being thrown into the woods! Oh I feel your pain... when I was married I was a complete newbie married to a RACER. The man had NO patience. (that's not why the divorce tho... ) The pics you posted are awesome! I never considered having one off the ground Holy moly... I was mostly interested in staying upright...
that poem is GREAT! I actually understand it! I think it's one of those things you have to DO to really get it huh? I'll have to email that to my friend if it's OK with you??? Lemme know. I'll credit you on it...

mimitabby... what a neat pic! What's the RSVP?