Tandem Cycling - Tandem cycling for the blind?

There's a client at my gym who was interested in perhaps getting into tandem cycling. He is legally blind, about 6' 3", and his partner is a female (much shorter) who is the weaker cyclist. However, he wanted to know if it was possible to do tandem cycling anyway if she was leading, since obviously, she can see, and he cannot! I said I'd ask here. Is there a way this can be done?

Koffee

Sure it can be done. I suggest you have one of them register at the Tandem list (here) (http://thetandemlink.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/LearningCenter.html#anchor395134). There are and have been a few blind riders as well as one or two persons who are either working with groups that loan bikes to blind folks or something like that.

Specifically, it can be done, but there are two issues to work at:

1. Tandem fit
All standard tandem sizes are for the taller rider in front. They probably could make do with a small-small or medium-medium tandem that is sized for the captain, because it's the captain sizing which is the most important. For the stoker, an extra long seatpost with some setback as well as either reversed drop bars or high rise bars could do the job. Such a bike could allow a "cheap" introduction to tandeming.
Once they know they like tandeming, I think the obvious solution will be custom sizing. The good/bad part about tandem pricing is that tandem companies like Co-Motion and Santana (probably Burley too) don't charge too much extra for custom sizing.

2. Rider training
Her height is not as important as her arm strength vs his weight. Her experience cycling, especially doing loaded touring in the wind, would help. I would suggest she experiments with wide handlebars to get more leverage. I would also train in steps:
- She should ride the tandem by itself and learn how to handle it, then maybe with a lightweight stoker, then only with her boyfriend. The time she spends alone is a great opportunity to finetune all settings.
- If he never rode, he should ride with an experienced captain at first.
- There may need to be a few changes from "The proper method" of starting and stopping: he might need to put the foot on the floor too.

For training, I would suggest they look for bike clubs with blind stokers. Some are looking for sighted riders and/or tandems, and pairing these two people with two other experienced riders might be a good way to start. After all, there are quite a few "small tips" that are never told on websites. Such as:
- start or stop pedalling fairly smoothly;
- plan the way you stop so that the proper pedal is up (harder done with 2 riders), etc.

Finally, I would recommend she takes it slowly. My first tandem rides were 1-2 km long "tuning rides", then I rode only 2-3 km with one, then with 2 stokers, and believe me, it was plenty! Even though the stokers were only 50 and 40 lb, and even though the 50-lb one had lots of trailercycle experience, I had sore arms and felt that the tandem wanted to control me. But after those rides – and some rest in between – I was ok for an 80-km ride.

Very do-able!
Haver ridden with blind stokers, and less-abled folks . . . very rewarding for both of us!
With blind stoker at 6'3" and pilot being smaller it does present a fit issue.
Check out Co-Motion's Periscope tandem: ultra adjustable in height front and rear and will fit most short pilots and tall stokers.
Burley does not do custom sizing. but all other suggestions by Michel are valid.

Aren't many recumbent tandems more or less adjustable to about any size combination of captain and stoker?

They are almost as rare as hen's teeth. There is or was the Bilenki Counterpoint, with one person cycling recumbent style and the other cycling diamond-frame style. And there is the Greenspeed tricycle which exists either as a single or tandem. Great machine, but you need to be dedicated to riding it (read: $$$).

I also remember reading about 1-2 other names. Again, very rare items.

Not really rare, but you have to seach them out. But the draw back to most of the recumbent tandems would be the captains height. Most of the tandem bents are built much like a tandem upright, set up for a taller captain and shorter stoker. With a tandem trike hight would not be an issue. Other then Greenspeed trikes are offered by S&B, Organic Engines, Logo, Stine, GEM, ICE as well as a few others. The Counter point tandem is now offered by Bilinky Cycles works, At least three builders in euope offer bikes much like the Counterpoint.

They may also want to look at a tandem from Bike friday, by far the most adjustable tandem built.

Thanks to everyone for suggestions. He'll be in today to work out, so I'll talk to him.

He's not sure if he will want to buy the tandem- after all, if he can't get the hang of it, it'll be money wasted. :( But I sure hope he does get into it. I'd love to join them on a ride sometime!

Thanks to everyone here!

Koffee

KHS tandems are relatively cheap, as far as tandem prices go. Apart from "club rides for the blind", another option could be to go in a tourist area and rent one for 1-2 hours. It will be a hybrid (for better or for worst) and won't be perfectly adjusted to them, but it will give them some idea of the ride.

If they go that route, and especially if neither of them is an experienced cyclist, I would suggest they team up with another couple and rent two tandems (for the first time, anyway). It's not exactly cheap and not as romantic, but it would facilitate the learning process.

True enough about the $$$. Bilenky is asking about $4,600.00 these days. Angletech on the Nwest coast also makes them. I am the captain of a Counterpoint Mark II at 190 lbs and my wife is the stoker at 250 lbs. The stoker position of my old Mark II type has taken people from 5'0" and 80 lbs to 6'2" and 250 lbs. Your advice about adjusting to the tandem was spot on. We did it just like you said, just back in 1988.

For that kind of cash a recumbent builder might be able to whip up a recumbent trike with the stoker between the two rear wheels.

There was a guy around here that was given a new co motion (i think) with cool telescopic seatpost tubes. The manufacturer gave him the bike because he was helping out some blind folks, and for the advertisment. Tandems take a bit more upper body strength so the woman should be ready for that.

I think you are talking about the Co-Motion Periscope. Its major vertue is that the stoker compartment is easily adaptable for a child or an adult. I have heard however that the rear end with its long telescopic seatpost is a bit wobbly if you have a heavy stoker.

For the two people mentioned by the original poster, since they plan to ride the tandem themselves (i.e. they won't switch riders out of the blue), I would prefer a conventional tandem. And if by any chance they decide to go for a Co-Motion Periscope (or if one is given to them), I would suggest they replace the rear seatpost by a fixed one.

slagjumper:
Yup, that's the Co-Motion Periscope; available in 26" or 700c wheels and also with short/long option for pilot. Also optional: an adjustable *pilot* stem.
Have ridden a couple of them: great ride/handling, adjustability + ! About 3 grand.

Not really rare, but you have to seach them out. But the draw back to most of the recumbent tandems would be the captains height. Most of the tandem bents are built much like a tandem upright, set up for a taller captain and shorter stoker. With a tandem trike hight would not be an issue. Other then Greenspeed trikes are offered by S&B, Organic Engines, Logo, Stine, GEM, ICE as well as a few others. The Counter point tandem is now offered by Bilinky Cycles works, At least three builders in euope offer bikes much like the Counterpoint.

They may also want to look at a tandem from Bike friday, by far the most adjustable tandem built.

This sounds possible. My buddy is 6' 4", and his friend is probably about 5' 10". Do you have any pics of what one would look like that I could pass on to him?

Thanks!

Koffee