I was never a great bicyclist (more successful as a runner and kayaker), but my 8-year-old daughter got me started again a couple of years ago. Then, I lost my free parking at work, and became a commuter bicyclist earlier this year (to the point that I scarcely use my car now). 12 years ago, my wife and I bicycled around Quebec for our honeymoon, but we scarcely touched our bikes after that.
So, imagine my surprise when my wife went out and bought us a bright orange Co-motion aluminum-framed tandem last week! (A floor model Co-motion Big Al from 2000.)
We had our maiden ride during a brief lull in the New England rain on Saturday, and it was fantastic. I've never ridden the Ultegra "flight deck" levers before, and loved them (I have 105 with bar-end shifters on my commuter bike, a geeky Surly Cross-Check with fenders and lots of flashing lights). The long frame makes up for the rigidity of the aluminum by softening the bumps. After two years with my daughter on the trailer-bike, it took no time at all to get used to the handling of the tandem.
Now I'm hopeful that my wife will return to her old beautiful shape, which has been, umm, missing for a few years, what with a mortgage, two jobs, and a child. There's such a trust issue involved for her, in letting me "captain" (I offered the job to her, but she refused.) I keep running down to the basement to stare at this strange tandem creature, and look forwards to learning all about tandeming. I like the way the tandem websites are focused on people, relationships, and kids, rather than performance, grams, and ego. A nice twist to bicycling that I hope we enjoy for years to come.
Anyway, no question, just a hello--and thanks for all the useful info I just read in this forum.
NuCommuter
The BikeForums Team
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...Now I'm hopeful that my wife will return to her old beautiful shape, which has been, umm, missing for a few years, what with a mortgage, two jobs, and a child...
NuCommuter, you'd better be hopeful that wifey doesn't read this forum also! :roflmao:
Congrats on the new deuce
Lakes and River
Yay! How fun! I hope that you and your wife enjoy many years as a tandem team.
Trust is a pretty big issue for those of us sitting behind. Last year our LBS owner (himself a tandem captain) took my husband out in the stoker's seat before we bought our first tandem (Co-Motion Primera). He did everything he could to scare the living daylights out of my husband so my husband would know just how scary it can be for a stoker behind an inexperienced or uncommunicative captain. I think that it's hard for new captains because not only do you have to figure out how to manage this odd beast, but you have to communicate every little shift, bump and turn for a while. After a bit you and your wife will settle in to your tandem rhythm and you'll both relax, but it can be a teeny bit stressful at first!
As you've no doubt read here in this forum: communicate, praise, and listen. Stokers LOVE positive strokes and are more inclined to embrace the tandem experience if they are appreciated. And if didn't come with one, be sure to install a shock absorbing seat post for your stoker. I bless my Rock Shox every single tandem ride.
NuCommuter
Don't get me wrong, she's totally beautiful! But she'd be the first to admit that she's gained a few pounds and lost some muscle over the years--and honestly, I wouldn't care if she didn't care. Athletically, I'm actually quite envious of her, because she can do things I'd have to train for (hiking a mountain, entering a kayak race, swimming across a lake, or riding 30 miles) and not be sore afterwards. Problem is, she only does such things about once a year. She's one of these salt-of-the-earth people who puts everyone else first, and her own health and happiness last. That's why I was so shocked when she bought that bike!
Lakes and River, I have three friends who are serious bicyclists, and all own tandems, so I am looking forward to trying the back seat with each of them. Not only will this bike mean some really nice times with my wife, but it will also connect me with these friends' main passion. I do empathize with the difficulty of giving up control, but I'll probably empathize even more after riding in the back myself--especially given how fast these big guys go. I'll just be hanging on for dear life back there!
NuCommuter
Lakes and River
I have three friends who are serious bicyclists, and all own tandems, so I am looking forward to trying the back seat with each of them. Not only will this bike mean some really nice times with my wife, but it will also connect me with these friends' main passion. I do empathize with the difficulty of giving up control, but I'll probably empathize even more after riding in the back myself--especially given how fast these big guys go. I'll just be hanging on for dear life back there!
How wonderful to have some good friends who can give you expert captaining tips!
Personally, I don't care about control at all so I had fun from minute one on the tandem. I've been scared a couple of times, but that's just new team jitters. My husband, on the other hand, had a much steeper learning curve than I did and he felt greater responsibility for my well-being so, it took him a few rides before he could actually relax and enjoy the full experience.
I think it's wonderful that your wife took the initiative to buy the bike. That tells me she's interested in spending more time with you AND getting some exercise. Bodes well for your team!
NuCommuter
It's funny that I never paid attention to my friends' tandems. I think for years I thought my bicycling days were just over (along with my road running days) due to a knee injury. But I've been surprised that I can still do it, at a gentle pace. My real "thing" nowadays is kayak marathon racing. There are tandem racing kayaks too, and I had the pleasure of teaming with a women's national champion for a race last year. I loved that race, and I think it planted a seed of paired rather than solo movement--it was just more fun to be part of a team than to be out by myself. I really can't say where my wife's sudden resurgence of interest came from--I think perhaps from the same source as mine: our extremely enthusiastic and active little girl, who grins from ear to ear the entire time she's on her trailer bike, and hammers up hills like a pro.
I told all my friends about our new tandem, and got some seriously enthusiastic responses. Hopefully this weekend I'll get a chance to try the stoker position for the first time--and I'll definitely take your advice and get their advice about the role of captain. Thanks : )
NuCommuter
zonatandem
Welcome to the world of tandems!
Sounds like that rare disease "tandemitis" has struck again! Enjoy!!!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
hoogie
we bought a pre-loved and well used tandem a few months ago ... Trek T100 ... my daughter and i really love it ... nothing like hearing the chuckle from behind ... or the 'go faster daddy!' ... magic
the wife has ridden stoker a couple of times but there has always been some complaint [too fast, too slow, too cold, too hot, too whatever ...], but then she really isn't that much of a bike rider to begin with ... maybe it will come with time and pereserverance ...
bidaci
NuCommuter,
You mentioned that you are in New England. I didn't know if you have seen this thread about the Eastern Tandem Rally that is being held in MA this year http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=200953
happykat
After visiting Philadelphia and seeing a few tandems around, my fiance and I got to thinking maybe we should get one. He is a category 3 road race and I am...not. I do have a bike that I enjoy riding but riding with him was very frustrating as I couldn't keep up and he had to slow down to stay with me.
The tandem seemed to offer a very nice solution, yet the first time we tried it out, I was petrified. I never thought of myself as a control freak, but being in the stoker seat is very scary - you can't shift, brake, steer, etc. We were told that the tandem could make or break our relationship.
I'm very happy to report that we took the tandem out a few weeks ago and rode around our neighboorhood to get the feel and it was so much fun! We have been hurrying home from work just to take our tandem out. It's been a very good experience for both of us.
I think the nicest part is that we can have a conversation without saying "what" all the time.
NewbieIATandem
We were told that the tandem could make or break our relationship.
We have heard a number of stories going both ways. An extension of this (or maybe a fullfilment) saying we have is, "Whatever direction your relationship is going, a tandem will accelerate your relationship in the direction it is already going."
Glad to hear your relationship was heading in the tandem direction.:D
zonatandem
A positive note for 'relationships' . . .
Been riding tandem for 31+ years and *happily* married over 51 years!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem