attention stokers: question here

[DebW]

Question: Why is it that the larger person usually ends up in front on a tandem? If the smaller person were in front, then the stoker might have a chance of seeing something other than her partner's back. The few times I took a test ride on a tandem, I hated the stoker position. I could probably never be trusting enough to ride a tandem. In a canoe, on the other hand, I got the bow and my larger heavier partner had no choice but to follow where I led. No verbal communication required.

[SadieKate]

Strength and weight balance.

It simply takes more strength at times, especially starting and stopping. When you're standing, you REALLY want the heavier person in the front.

There are tandems with a 'bent front end.

Hmm, in a canoe, isn't the person in back the one who has the most control over turns? Your back seat partner may have just been accomodating whatever you did. I've only used 2 seat kayaks and the person in back was really the one in control.

[mimitabby]

there are also some tandems where the front person is in a recumbent position. They can sit and relax while the power rider in the back does all the work!

lol. or the guy in the back can just push them into traffic!

I agree about the front rider needs to be the stronger one. A tandem
with two people on it weighs well over 300 lbs, when it starts going
it's like a freight train.
I guess part of my problem is I understand the physics of momentum all too well and I know it wouldn't take much to send me flying off the top !

we've fallen twice so far, at fairly low speeds. I managed both times to land on my feet while the captain went down with the ship..

[bcipam]

Off and on for 15 years with different partners I have rode tandem as the stoker. Personally I do feel it's more stressful than individual riding. Some partners were easier to ride with than others - good partners communicate alot, every move, turn, etc. but here's the thing for me with a tandem - speed and that lack of control. Yes I am a control freak and as a stoker - you must give your trust over to the captain. And speed - nothing moves faster than a well-working tandem - going fast, not being to see, no control... to me that's stressful!!!!

[SadieKate]

Heh, so I take it, Mimi and Pam, that you don't want to hear about the time we went airborne at 62 mph over a steel decked bridge?

OK, I'd didn't enjoy it, but it shows that staying relaxed in an unplanned maneuver can save your hiney.

[SheFly]

Great comments!

Airborne at 62 mph??????? Now THERE'S a story that I'd love to hear! The fastest we've been is 58 mph - we can't seem to break the 60 mph barrier.

The scariest moment for me was last year on a fast, steep, windy descent. At about 35 mph, we blew the rear tire . All I could think about was how much it was going to hurt going down at that speed. Miraculously, hubby kept the bike upright, and navigated us to a soft spot where we stopped upright! .

We also took a pretty good digger in our MTB tandem days. I ended up landing on hubby's head pretty hard, and driving him into the ground. His response to me was to ask why I hadn't put out my leg to stop us (I would have broken my leg, btw.....).

Tandeming is so much fun! We are building up a new TT tandem this season to see if we can break our course record!!!

SheFly

[mimitabby]

Heh, so I take it, Mimi and Pam, that you don't want to hear about the time we went airborne at 62 mph over a steel decked bridge?

OK, I'd didn't enjoy it, but it shows that staying relaxed in an unplanned maneuver can save your hiney.

yes, I'd love to hear your story.

Sheesh, guys, i thought it was amazing when we got up to 49mph and I didn't have a coronary!

[Grog]

BF and I have been talking about a tandem since we first rode together. He's a much faster rider than me but we're nearly the same size: he's about 2 inches and 20 pounds heavier than I am, and we can use the same bikes (with adjustments).

So I was hoping that we could get a tandem where we could alternate positions. Did anyone ever try that? He's a great rider to draft from and I wouldn't have an issue riding in the back, but I'd also like to see the road sometimes, and to try captaining too.

Also another question: how did you guys who tandem with your life-partner get started? How did it impact your couple?

[mimitabby]

it hasn't impacted our "couple" at all except we can go on long bike rides together without him getting bored or cold from waiting for me to catch up ..
or.. him riding and me not riding because i get tired of seeing him disappear on the horizon.
we have the same squabbles as before, not serious though.
so there are trade offs as you see, but it is probably worth it if you don't crash.

how did we get started? some other tandem people took us.
me on the back of this fellow's bike, and D got the wife on the back of ours
and they instructed us.
the guy i was riding with is 6'3" like an old racehorse. he went really fast and
since i couldn't see anything it was just crazy fun. D had this really sensible
lady on the back telling him what to do. it was great. a great way to start.

[SheFly]

BF and I have been talking about a tandem since we first rode together. He's a much faster rider than me but we're nearly the same size: he's about 2 inches and 20 pounds heavier than I am, and we can use the same bikes (with adjustments).

So I was hoping that we could get a tandem where we could alternate positions. Did anyone ever try that? He's a great rider to draft from and I wouldn't have an issue riding in the back, but I'd also like to see the road sometimes, and to try captaining too.

Also another question: how did you guys who tandem with your life-partner get started? How did it impact your couple?

My hubby is 3" taller than me, and about 40 lbs heavier. I CANNOT manage this bike from the front position - it is too heavy for me. But, that is just my situation - you might be able to make it work for you.

Beware that tandems are affectionately known as "divorce machines". I know people who have said there is no way they could ride tandem with their mate. We have a great time together, BUT it has tested our relationship on more than one occasion! There have been threats of divorce, swearing, tears, etc.

We raced our MTB tandem one year before we were married. Hubby was an expert racer and I was a beginner. He went out way harder than I could manage to make up for me, and I went way harder than I should have to try and keep up. The BEST feeling, was finishing the race, turning to each other, and giving each other a hug. I married him anyway, and we've had so many great tandem adventures since then (oh, and we won the race ).

So, I guess my advice in a nutshell, is be prepared! A good day is a great day, and a bad day can turn ugly - even for the healthiest of relationships!

SheFly

[bcipam]

BF and I have been talking about a tandem since we first rode together. He's a much faster rider than me but we're nearly the same size: he's about 2 inches and 20 pounds heavier than I am, and we can use the same bikes (with adjustments).

So I was hoping that we could get a tandem where we could alternate positions. Did anyone ever try that? He's a great rider to draft from and I wouldn't have an issue riding in the back, but I'd also like to see the road sometimes, and to try captaining too.

Also another question: how did you guys who tandem with your life-partner get started? How did it impact your couple?

Grog:

It just doesn't work that way - the bigger, heavier, stronger peson must be the captain. The captain is responsible for controlling the bike and in particular while stopping being able to hold up the bike with the stoker intact. The stoker seldom if ever unclips from the pedals. If the bike starts to go over could you hang on to it with your husband attached? You can still see off to the side (if the speed is not too great). and a friend of mine uses a mirror to see behind her, what she has passed.

Most of my tandem experiences were with boyfriends. The first time the BF was a rider and had a tandem and talked me into riding it with him. He was a good and patient captain. Very communitive and made me feel secure. He was also a big strong guy (6'3", 240 solid pounds) so I knew he could control the bike if need be. We both really liked to ride individually but while tandeming still had a good time. It was just a different experience.

I have one friend however who she and her BF stopped talking for awhile after one bad experience (he did something stupid and dumped the bike). Probably best to have strong relationship in the first place!

[Veronica]

BF and I have been talking about a tandem since we first rode together. He's a much faster rider than me but we're nearly the same size: he's about 2 inches and 20 pounds heavier than I am, and we can use the same bikes (with adjustments).

So I was hoping that we could get a tandem where we could alternate positions. Did anyone ever try that? He's a great rider to draft from and I wouldn't have an issue riding in the back, but I'd also like to see the road sometimes, and to try captaining too.

Also another question: how did you guys who tandem with your life-partner get started? How did it impact your couple?

Thom and I are nearly the same size and we have traded positions on the tandem with no problem. I wanted to learn how to captain so I could ride with a friend in a women's only ride. I don't really like being the captain - that I find stressful. But it was a good experience and we had a blast on the ride.

We wrote about our decision to buy a tandem in 2002 here.

http://www.tandemhearts.com/bike/index.html

Tandeming did nothing for our relationship. Except give us more time together.

V.

[Trek420]

SadieKate "so I take it, Mimi and Pam, that you don't want to hear about the time we went airborne at 62 mph over a steel decked bridge?"

:::Surfs over, sits in front of the fire "oh auntie SK tell us about the time you and DH flew! And are we're still waiting for the tale of AV jersey sale to total stranger?? Or did I miss that? ahem"::::

OK, I don't have a tandem or comunicative considerate SO so it's all hypothetical but I'm thinking there goes that dream because for me "total loss of control, riding "dumb", can't see a d*** thing at 62 mph....I don't think so! I think I'd jump off

Did I mention I have control issues?

Our (Bikeless and my) cousin and his fiance ride. I think he's doing the CA Triple Crown...again this year. He's asked if I want to do a Century with him on their Calfee tandem. I'm a little shorter than his fiance so fit's doable. And I guess for him hey, we're family, I've known him allllll my life, I ride, a Century's very doable so he's thinking there could be a ride he wants to do, his stoker's not available but I am....but

Maury says that tandems are more stable at high speed? True?

Q for the tandem riders: I've seen tandems with gals as captains and I read that strength is a factor for brakes etc but whoever's the more experienced cyclists for gearing especially that's who's captain?

[mimitabby]

SadieKate "so I take it, Mimi and Pam, that you don't want to hear about the time we went airborne at 62 mph over a steel decked bridge?"


Maury says that tandems are more stable at high speed? True?
?

Yes.. that's the laws of physics again. those little cracks in the pavement
aren't going to affect our momentum as we blast down a hill. But we toppled over trying to turn around slowly.
once we were going about 10mph and front tire caught a channel..
instead of going down as a single would have, the rear end just bounced a little and we kept going. it was amazing!

[SadieKate]

SadieKate "so I take it, Mimi and Pam, that you don't want to hear about the time we went airborne at 62 mph over a steel decked bridge?"

:::Surfs over, sits in front of the fire "oh auntie SK tell us about the time you and DH flew! And are we're still waiting for the tale of AV jersey sale to total stranger?? Or did I miss that? ahem"::::

Sheesh, you nag a lot.

Years ago, in our really dumb and dumber days, we rode the Napa Century (or something in that area). The course came down a straight long hill so we went the same speed as traffic (and other reasons which have been lost to history). Anyway, at the bottom was a stop sign and that steel decked draw bridge (is it still there). Anyway, no way were we going to be able to stop at the sign and then there was a small lip onto the steel deck. At that speed, it was flight. We were very stable as no one panicked. We just pretended we were on our mountain bikes.

Yep, mimi is right. Speed can be your friend but that is true on a single bike also.

The jersey story. Eh, I'm taking the 5th or drinking one, whichever is necessary. It was Kim's fault. She was the Chief Exective Decider that day. Those at the top must take all the risk and responsibility (don't go there, Trek, I can see the gears at work already.)