Sizing can be an issue if the woman is the captain. Most tandems have a larger compartment for the captain than for the stoker, even if the compartments are labeled as being the same size. Our tandem is a small/small for example. We're in the process of getting a custom tandem because the stoker compartment is too small for me. It's three inches shorter than my road bike! It will probably be easier to find a bike that fits both of you, with you in the captain's compartment, if you are comparable sizes. Thom is two inches taller than me, but we have the same inseam, so switching positions for us was pretty easy. There is no rule that says the man has to be in front.

V.