triplet experience

[djembob02]

We got our triplet yesterday and it is a blast!!! I am 6'1" and my stokers are my youngest daughter (4 years old, Jamie) and my wife (5'5") We just received this triplet from Precision Tandems. It is amazing.

After delivery, Mark (from Precision) fine-tuned our saddle heights and H-bars. I took off on my own first. It definetly feels different than my single. It is so loooonnng. I even had the great priveledge of falling when I went off the pavement lip try to turn around in the road. (Oh great, drop the bike in front of its previous owner) Anyway, then my wife got on (I hadn't told her about the fall) and we went straight on the road for a little bit, turned around in a col-de-sac (spelling). After that, we tried to get the little one on. She had been looking forward to this bike for a while but once she got on she was scared. So we walked the bike for a bit with her on it. Got her to pedal it and feel a little comfortable while Mom was holding on to her back. Then I got on and rode real slow with Mom still there for support. Then Mom let go and Jamie starting laughing and loving it. Mom and get on and off we went down the road and back.

....After dinner, Jamie and I went back out and rode for about 3 miles. I got much more comfortable riding the long bike. Starting and stopping was not a problem. I couldn't believe how well she did. She was laughing everytime we went over a speed bump, she talked about the buildings we saw and the dogs and the cats. Wow! this is great. About everybody we passed made a comment on the bike. People kept going inside their houses and saying "Hey ____, You've got to see this bike outside" I had a couple people offer to ride on the back. I actually home-made a seat so that a stuffed animal will ride with us when Mom isn't along (I will post pics as soon as I can, No Digital Camera.)

My older daughter (15 years old) is even showing a little interest in the bike. She had previously considered it rediculous and showed no interest. I even caught her sitting on Mom's seat pedalling backwards in the living room. Who knows, maybe I can get her to ride with us sometimes.

Ride on my fellow tandem cyclists, riding together is definetly rewarding

[gregm]

Cool! Great looking bike and nice turtle bell/horn. :)

What make is the triplet?

-Greg

[djembob02]

The frame is actually originally a chuck's bike frame that Mark had to reshape. I am honestly not sure about each of the components other than what he had listed
"White Industries hubs, 9sp, DA bar end shifters, Dia Compe levers, Tektro Mini-V brakes." I'd have to go out and look at each part closer, which I have not done yet.

Mark used it for a while when his kids were younger (now they have a quad and others). The ride is incredibly smooth. Other than it length, it feels as smooth as any single I've ridden. Because of where I have to climb lots of smalls hills which I am able to do fairly easily even when I am by myself or only have the little one. (I thought it would be harder to pedal a big bike by myself, its really not hard at all).

-Bobby

[djembob02]

Day 2
Jamie and I went 8 miles up and down some pretty major hills. I couldn’t believe how fast she was pedaling. Maneuvering the bike was no problem. Top speed 35 mph, average 13 mph

Day 3
All 3 of us went to the coffee shop (5 miles each way) and back. The ride went pretty good, but Mom was very sore when we got back, she usually only rides about 5 miles 1 or 2 times a week. Jamie complained of her arms hurting. I’m pretty sure that this is because she is locking her arms. I tried to get her to loosen up but she doesn’t want to. The ride is definitely harder with Mom on board and the balancing is also more challenging, especially when traveling slowly. We then dropped off Mom and rode for another 2 miles. Jamie keeps standing up (something she has seen me do on my single), but we really don’t want her standing just whenever she wants. So I instructed her to only stand when I stand. I was real hesitant to do this after reading about how difficult it can be to stand on a tandem…Well it was no problem, I have learned to stand without leaning while I’ve had Jamie in the child seat. We took on a couple big hills in higher gears (standing up). She loved it and I could feel her pushing us up. I think this will help get our average speed up and hopefully it will satisfy her.

We’ll see how tomorrow goes, Jamie wants to do our weekly group ride of 35 miles. I have a feeling her butt won’t last that long but you never know. I also don’t know if we will be able to keep up with their 15 mph average.