Tandems?

[Veronica]

We ended up going with a custom tandem because we could not get a bike sized correctly for us. We're too close in height and basically needed the same size in both compartments.

Veronica

[emily_in_nc]

We ended up going with a custom tandem because we could not get a bike sized correctly for us. We're too close in height and basically needed the same size in both compartments.

Veronica

What she said...the vast majority of stock tandems assume the taller person up front, but a captain also needs to have good upper-body strength to hold the bike up while the other mounts and just to manage a bike with the weight of two riders. My DH, who is strong, found captaining tiring for this very reason, and I'm a petite stoker!

Assuming you don't want to captain, unless there are tandems that have been introduced since we rode one (very possible, as this was some years ago), I doubt you're going to have much luck with stock sizing, even in the good brands like Santana, Co-motion, etc. It's very possible that custom may be your only real option, if you want a bike that actually fits both of you.

Definitely go talk to a bike shop that specializes in tandems and get their opinion, though.

[malkin]

I was pretty sure that our first tandem ride would be our last act on earth.

Find some local tandem people who can help you work out the details.

[Owlie]

I was pretty sure that our first tandem ride would be our last act on earth.

Find some local tandem people who can help you work out the details.

LOL. Us too. We'd kill ourselves...or each other!

[Blueberry]

I'm not the one to ask - we just sold our tandem

Our problems stemmed from:

1) we have the same inseam, though he has a longer torso

2) I can't captain (not enough strength), but I outweigh him

3) I couldn't give up trying to steer.

Seriously, though - check with some good tandem shops. There are more options out there (and some have used bikes).

[Kiwi Stoker]

Interesting. DH is 5"9 and I am 5"7 but we ride the same sized bike as our inseams are the same. DH just has a longer torso and arms than me so he has a longer stem etc.

We ride a M/S tandem, DH has a longer stem and I have a thudbuster seatpost. My saddle is the same height as his but of course the seatpost is longer due to the smaller size at the back. We also have a adjustable stem on the rear bars so we have dialled in pretty well, even though we probably should be riding a M/M tandem (which doesn't exist as standard).

[Veronica]

Our first tandem was a stock Santana - S/S I think. For a year or so it was the only bike I rode. It wasn't until we branched out into road bikes that I realized how cramped I had been on the tandem.

Veronica