[mfbattani]

This will be my first tandem, (I hope, if my girlfriend will go thru with it). I ride a steel touring bike and ti road bike, and she has steel touring bike she rides once in awhile. I've convinced her to possible give it a try, and wondering if we should go with a 700cc or 650b tire (no offroads, but possible trail rides). My rivendell atlantis is steel and very comfortable, the legend ti bike isn't as comfortable. I'm thinking maybe I will stick with steel, but concerned with weight, or should I be... Reading another thread here about the stoker no quite keeping up with the captain will be our main adjustment, but that will come over time. Any suggestion???

Thanks
mike

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[twilkins9076]

Your best bet is to ride both a steel and aluminum frame and then decide which one you like the best. In my view, your basically trading off a little weight for a more comfortable ride.

We ride a steel Burley, and haven't regretted the choice once, even though it has about a 10% weight differential over it's aluminum cousin. In our case, that amounted to about 4 lbs., which isn't really that much in the long run.

If I were you, I would look for a used bike. That way, if tandeming isn't for you or your girlfriend, you've limited your initial investment and can probably get most of your money back if you need to sell it. If you stay with it, you can still sell it to upgrade later, when you've got some experience under your belt and in a better position to know what you really want/need in a tandem.

[Old Hammer Boy]

Go with 700c. You'll have more tire and wheel choices, etc. We ride fat tube aluminum, and it's more comfortable than our 1/2 bikes that have carbon stays and forks. There seems to be a lot of emphasis (concern?) on stoker comfort on tandems, but my stoker finds it very comfortable with just the factory standard equipment shock absorbing seat post. I actually think she'd be okay with a standard post. The longer wheel base and fatter tires do a lot for comfort and stability. Speaking of tires, they can influence the ride as much, or more than the frame. If set up properly, almost any modern material will be comfortable--it's more a matter of geometry (and tires).

Steel is certainly a good choice, too. Some report that they feel the flex of a steel fram a bit more, and there are more product choices when it comes to steel.

As to relative strength issues, don't worry about it. After a few hundred miles, you'll adjust and things will be happy (or not!!). That will be determined more by both of your personalities as compared to relative physical strength. Be patient with her and communicate, communicate, communicate!! If you read much on this forum, you'll hear that word often. Just remember, tandeming is not serious business, it's fun... Take it slow and easy at first, and let nature take its course.

Welcome to a great recreational experience. Hope we'll see you a lot on this forum.

[masiman]

The beefier 700c tires and rims can handle trails easily. I sometimes take my Ti 20mm, 700c, single on trails. I can't do the cyclocross stuff with it but I don't pop tires or bend rims.

In case you were not aware, some say that tandeming can either strengthen or weaken the relationship. It can highlight how well you all can work together or emphasize what is missing in the relationship.

Because it is your first tandem and you all are bf/gf, I'd recommend an inexpensive first tandem. I.e., what will you do if you guys break-up? Who gets the tandem? These are rhetorical questions, I'm not trying to pry in your relationship but am offering this as an item to consider when deciding what to get.

Good Luck. I hope it works for you all and you love it.

[mfbattani]

Thanks for the information. The wedding is still a go, so I think we'll both be stuck with the tandem. Now I just got to do some more convincing...

[Lakes and River]

In case you were not aware, some say that tandeming can either strengthen or weaken the relationship. It can highlight how well you all can work together or emphasize what is missing in the relationship.


Oh yeah. Many cyclists around here call them "divorce bikes" and with good reason! Any issues of control, communication or power will jump right to the front once you're on a tandem. Not saying that you can't work through them on a tandem - one of the local lbs employees was telling us of a husband/wife team who bought a tandem after 7 years of marriage. It was rough at first but now things are fine. As the wife said recently, "We bought our tandem 2 years too soon!"

[masiman]

It took me about 8 years and 3.5 kids to convince my wife ;). In the end I do not think that I actually convinced her but more we have come to value what each has to offer. Now that she does love it, she does not have the time to get on it. Although, the pregnancy and the kids wanting to ride stoker are getting in her way somewhat.

Much luck with it. That is a dang hot area to be riding in.

[zonatandem]

Naaaaah!
Tandems are love machines!
Been married 51 years and 31 years of tandeming . . . and still the same happy couple!!!