Tandem Cycling - Brevets on a Tandem

So...we're feeling so frisky at the end of our rides that we're toying with the idea of longer, bat-sh*t-crazy longer rides. Who among you have experience with a double metric century and above on your tandem? What's that like?

OTOH, we finished the Solvang Century in the same time in which we completed the Tour de Palm Springs. That includes the 10 min. spent problem-solving the chain/derailleur issue & 20 min. of mechanic work to resolve the issue. Yeah, immensely gratifying & hence our interest in longer rides.

Friends (and fellow Davis Bike Club members) John and Mary Seabury did our 200k brevet last weekend, and they've also done the Davis DC on their tandem. I'd be glad to connect you to them directly if you send me a message off line to: macaulay.steve at gmail dot com. We also have other DBC tandem crazies with such experience. If you really want crazy, think about PBP in four years. We have some DBC members who plan to do it this year on their fixies (half bike fixies of course).

If you are doing century rides...and still feeling "frisky" when done.. why would you call a double metric century bats sh*t crazy? Just go and ride it. The furthest I have ridden is a double century [non-metric] I have freinds that do some of the long stuff... like what DBC Steve talks of. I do not recall what they have done.. but Boston- Motreal -Boston comes to mind. hmm I just looked it up.. that is 1200k wow!
As long as both capt. and stoker are of roughly the same fitness. I do really see anything about doing the type of rides you are talking about on a tandem, as anything different than on a single.
glenn

We started riding double centuries several years ago on the tandem. Last year we completed 11, including some of the more difficult ones, like Devil Mountain and Terrible Two.

What's it like? They are all hard, but lot's of fun. we have made many friends and have ridden areas that we would otherwise have never seen. At the end of a double I feel like I'm completely spent. The funny thing is, that I feel the same way at the end of a century (mostly).

Given your location, the Davis Double on May 19th would be a natural. The support is outstanding with a huge field of riders. Be carefull though, you may just get hooked.

By the way, the word frisky has never occured to me after a double :)..

Check this out...http://www.planetultra.com/solvang/solvangdoubleroute.html

I believe that K&M and Cornucopia72 both did this ride as well as others.

According to the 2006 Solvang Double results, K&M did the Solvang Double last year for time in 9:55. That is pretty frisky and very well done;) .

We have done centuries on the single, tandem and triple. Double centuries only on the tandem. How you fell at the end dependes on the weather, the terrain, your energy managment, and the shape that the riders are at.

The hardest ride we have ever done was a hilly (13,000' +) 150 miler on a very hot day. The second hardest was a hilly century with a rear admiral (on the triple) in less than ideal shape. The double century, even though it was hilly (15,000' +) it wasn't bad because we did it on the tandem, we were in great shape, it was a gougeous day, and we took it easy.

In general, unless very hilly or you find an ideal pace line, long rides are easier on the tandem for us.

Thanks for all the great information. You all are so helpful!

I think we'll start with a double metric. It's prudent to ease my captain into these longer rides very gradually. I'm happy he's riding at all -- usually he's hang gliding.

I'll be sure to post as we progress.

In our younger and 'friskier' days we did the first ever Answer to the Arizona Challenge on our tandem. Three days of riding; 100 on day one, 100 on day two and 125 miles on day three with a total elevation gain of 22,000 feet. We finished in Phoenix with the temp at 103 degrees. Stoker never volunteered to do that ride again!
Also ridden Grand Canyon to Mexico (four times on the tandem); 6 days of riding, with distance 500 or 550 miles total, depending on the route, again with 20,000+ feet of climbing. Temps ranging from 28 degrees to near-100 all on the same ride . . . but only got rained on once!
Done a few double metrics and well over a hundred full centuries, all on tandems.
That's when we were 'friskier'!
If you like it, do it!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Don't forget the Sierra Century in early June. They have a new route this year -- something like 12,000 feet of climbing in 100 miles. My stoker is NOT interested.