Any Tandem Riders Here?

[Wingher]

Hello All! Been lurking here for a bit and I thought I'd finally join. Starting riding again, about 5 years ago, when DH started to get the bug. Our major goal for the year is the Delaware's MS Bike to the Bay charity ride. Last May, we purchased a tandem, because my DH's vision loss had progressed to the point that he could not safely ride his own bike. Found a great tandem dealer in NJ, and now are proud owners of a DaVinci Joint Venture. We're putting the miles on and having a blast. I'm really surprised at the welcoming nature of the bike community with me riding captain and DH as stoker.

Any other tandem riders here?

[Cynedra]

My husband squirms at the mention of tandems. However, I do see quite a few on the trail that I frequent, even bent tandems.

[Kiwi Stoker]

I love my road T2000 Trek tandem. Means DH and I can participate in events and experience the same ride rather than him go off ahead and I trail behind.

Also because of a serious accident on my single, the tandem gave me the ability to start riding earlier as I didn't have to have upper body strength to brake, shift and steer.

So how are you liking the ICS system? I am used to the insync of a normal tandem but have always wondered about being able to coast when I wanted to.

[Biciclista]

We have done a lot of tandem riding. My favorite time to ride it is when we are out on the open road. I don't enjoy the tandem in heavy traffic.

[Wingher]

So how are you liking the ICS system? I am used to the insync of a normal tandem but have always wondered about being able to coast when I wanted to.

I love the ICS! I can't imagine having to ride in sync. We have very different cadences so this works out really well for us. The main thing to get used to is keeping your body still when pedaling, which keeps the bike stable.

[WindingRoad]

Your timing with this post is ironic, I have been captaining with my mom for most of this season. She and I are very different in ability so this was a good way for us to ride together. I just got my BF to try riding tandem with me yesterday I was worried he would never give it a try due to the testosterone factor. I think he actually enjoyed it despite me being captain. I may have even talked him into doing a ride on it with me and training for it. I had such a blast riding with him yesterday I hope he sticks with me on it. I would gladly let him captain but I don't think he's comfortable doing it for whatever reason?

My tandem is not fancy like a DaVinci but she gets the job done, grin. Congratulations on getting such an awesome tandem though Wingher! I can dream of a DaVinci anyhow. Wishing you and Hubby many fun miles together!

[Wingher]

Found a picture of us on our return trip on last year's Bike to the Bay. Unfortunately, we were only able to make it 45 out of the 75 miles. But hey, after a 75 mile day before, we were tickled to make it that far! We weren't able to do the ride this year, but plan on it in 2012.



Since this photo, we've both lost a significant amount of weight, mostly better diet (hubby) and riding the bike!

[malkin]

We have done a lot of tandem riding. My favorite time to ride it is when we are out on the open road. I don't enjoy the tandem in heavy traffic.

Same here.
Scariest ride was in Mazatlan. Crazy roads, crazy traffic, erratic surfaces and on top of that, we got lost and started seeing signs to Mexico City. Oh no!

[Jaclyn]

My DH and I own three tandems - a carbon Calfee for fast club rides, a steel Co-Motion for brevets and loaded touring, and a vintage Schwinn Twin for cruising into town for an ice cream cone. We each ride about 7,000-8,000 miles each year ... and the percentage of those miles on the tandem has increased every year. I may only have about 1,000 miles on a single bike this year.

The tandem community is 99.999% the nicest group of people in the world. And you can expect a mostly positive reaction from motorists, pedestrians etc.

Do consider attending a tandem rally. It's really thrilling to ride with a large group of tandems moving fast in a pace line. We've been attending the Midwest Tandem Rally which draws about 400 teams every year (including many triples and some quads).

For a lot of tandem content, check out the tandem forum at bikeforums.net. Its an active forum with a lot of extremely knowledgeable tandem owners.