There's enough people out there that getting lost isn't much of a problem. Can't advise as to speed- I ride and my wife stays home, so it doesn't much matter how fast I go. There's been different solutions to the differing-speeds issue, and that's one of the motivations to ride a tandem bike. Splitting up for the ride is great if it's agreeable to both, but if one wants to ride off and the other wants to ride together, you have problems. I enjoy a ride more if I can ride at my own speed as opposed to trying to keep up with someone else.
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"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."