Tandem Cycling - Introduction to Tandeming in the SF South Bay?

As I've metioned in a few other threads on this forum, I'm an avid cyclist and my wife is not, but she is willing to try out tandeming with me.

I have recently discovered that her aunt and uncle (who are conveniently about the same size as us), have a Santana tandem mostly gathering dust in their garage that they are willing to loan to us for day trips and a longer tour this summer.

Anyway, all the advice I have read recommends that our first rides on a tandem should be with an experienced tandemist, so I as a captain can know what it's like to be a stoker, and so that she as a stoker can have a pleasant first experience with an experienced captain.

Is there any an experienced tandem team (or at least an experienced caption) in the San Jose/South Bay area who would be willing to spendi a little be of time with my wife and I next Sunday afternoon (May 13th) getting us started as a tandem team? Feel free to respond in the thread or PM me for more details.

If you can't find anyone to help, I wouldn't let that stop you. Find a big empty parking lot or park or someplace safe and just try riding the bike yourself (no stoker). It rides just like a bike except longer. The only caution I'd forward is that on a stokerless tandem, the rear brake is nearly worthless. Once your comfortable riding solo, have her get on. The only thing she needs to be careful of is to not lean inappropriately. It will feel strange at first but you'll get used to it. The other tricky part can be starting & stopping. If you're in a safe area and you communicate a lot (plan the starts & stops) you should be fine.

And, if you haven't heard it before - the 1st rule of tandeming is "The stoker makes no mistakes". Both of you should keep this in mind.

And, if you haven't heard it before - the 1st rule of tandeming is "The stoker makes no mistakes". Both of you should keep this in mind.

We're both experienced social dancers, so I'm familiar with that rule in the context of dancing: "The follower makes no mistakes." :)

I second oldacura's advice. That's exactly how I learned to drive the mack truck we know as our tandem. Went to a big parking lot. Got plenty of odd looks getting it there (by myself) but spent about an hour conrnering, braking, steering turns (of various radii), starting, etc. By the time my wife got on board a couple of days later, all I had to convince her of was: 1: Don't lean, let me do the leaning and steering, and 2: Don't try to look over my shoulder to see where we're going.

She took to it fairly well, but trusts me (God knows why) and has no desire to "drive" the bike. She had also ridden on a motorcycle with me years ago when we were young. Some of the "don't lean" advice translated over from riding the motorcycle.

One admonishment. She is well aware of the "stoker makes no mistakes - proper method" philosophy. My bad - I should never have cued her in on this. (Damn that McReady guy! - If you don't know - Google it) She's now attempting to apply it to other areas of our relationship. Usually in jest, but still.........

I suggest reading Sheldon Brown's primer on tandems. There is a lot of good information for a person just starting out. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tandem.html

And, if you haven't heard it before - the 1st rule of tandeming is "The stoker makes no mistakes". Both of you should keep this in mind.

Yes, the stoker is always right. You, the captain, must control the bike, but your stoker will control the quality of the ride.

I suggest you be patient & open to feedback. As someone else suggested, find a big empty lot or an uncrowded road & play.

I hope she loves it as much as you.

Yes, the stoker is always right.

Check this out...http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/propmethod.html and http://www.thetandemlink.com/.

Yes, the stoker is always right.


Exactly correct. If the Captain is the Captain, the Stoker is the Rear Admiral ;)