Tandem Cycling - Tandem for duffers?

My husband & I are a pair of 40-somethings with a little time on the weekends. We're considering getting a tandem for <5 mile rides around our mostly flat town (pub, ball-game, summer concert, etc.). We do the same rides on single bikes enjoyably, but think a tandem could be great fun.

There are no centuries in our future!

How much tandem do we need for this minimal amount of riding? I'd appreciate any recommendations or caveats.

Thanks in advance.

anything will do the job. A used 5 speed beach cruiser....

Thanks galen!

So, even a $200 W**-Mart tandem would be ok?

I have never seen a W*** Mart tendem. But I would think anything would make it 5 miles...

The retro style beach cruiser ones would suit your needs. Besides the comfort and price, I think they look really cool. I've also seen a few inexpensive ones on ebay.

Would avoid WallyWorld or Toys 'R Us -type tandems. Those are a problem waiting to happen.
Instead: Buy a good used one, with gears (from 5 to whatever . . . ) and enjoy!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Yes buy a decent used one see my post under tandems " Bought used tandem on on ebay Firore" beware buy a decent one that way if you don't use it and need to sell it unless you find someone like me to buy it .

For trips that are less than 5 miles, I think an inexpensive new tandem is a better bet than a used one. It doesn't sound like it's going to get too much use, and they sound like a couple capable of overcoming any shortcomings in a low end model.

If you go with a Walmart be prepared to reassemble it correctly yourself.

Used or Walmart, it's probably going to need a bit of attention. But they're not touring on it, just going for short rides to a specific location.

Woody, what did they do to your tandem for $109?

Thanks everybody for the advice, and special thanks to expat for thinking that we're "capable!"

Now, let the shopping begin.
And please, let it be red!

Cheers!

Buy a 30s stear from the rear with a coaster brake!Be really cool,Get vintage baseball jerseys too.---sam

Being too impatient to carefully stalk the used market, we got a Diamondback Wildwood last Friday. It's comfy and seems like it will meet our needs.


We had great fun over the weekend between rain showers and plan more fun for the rest of the summer. I'll keep an eye out for the vintage baseball jerseys! ;)

Thanks again everybody.

There's also a Mickey and Minnie tandem jersey set.

No coordinating jerseys for us tonight. We dressed up and headed downtown for a celebratory dinner.

By their reaction, it was clear that the valet parking kids don't see too many tandems.