My stoker-wife and I have recently bought a tandem and have piled up a good many rides, some pretty serious ones at that.

My biggest takeaway to date: There's no doubt that piloting a tandem is more involved than going solo. But how much more?

My SWAG is that piloting a tandem is about 30% "harder" than solo when you factor in the increased leg effort, heightened concentration needs, fewer opportunities to reposition and go hands free, and more. So, at the end of a nice 50-miler it feels more like you rode a 65-miler.

Thoughts?

Sorry in advance if this has been covered as a topic previously.

After 33+ years of riding tandem, we feel the difference in handling/riding a 2- vs. 1- seater is minimal.
However, the large majority of riding is done on the tandem . . . single bike gets a workout once a week,
tandem 4 to 5 times a week.
Have done over a 100 centuries on tandems and they're as hard/easy as on a single.
Steep climbs are a bit more effort on the twicer lately, but then we ain't getting any younger!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Thoughts?

Way too many variables to come up with a one-size-fits-all answer.

For example, if you are a fit team that rides exclusively on the flats the tandem may in fact be easier... so much so that if you don't stay on your single bike you could find your overall cycling performance falls off once you return to going-it alone.

Conversely, someone who is a fit captain who rides with a novice stoker may find that they are basically piloting a rickshaw and, in some cases, even pushing their stoker's feet around at times, making the additional effort that much more significant.

One factor that captains who've never had multiple stokers on their tandems may not appreciate is the influence that the size and size differential of the captain and stoker plays in handling and effort. In general, smaller teams on smaller tandems have it much easier than larger teams on larger tandems. Moreover, the more disproportional in size a captain and stoker are the easier or more difficult it will be to pilot the tandem. For example, a 6' tall captain who weighs 180lbs and rides with a 5'2", 110lb stoker will have a completely different tandeming experience that a team where the captain and stoker are more evenly matched in both height and weight, noting with the latter that handling the tandem will be more of a challenge. Go even further in the opposite direction to where the stoker is larger than the captain and you really end up with a handful of additional effort.

And so it goes, terrain, fitness levels, riding style, cadence compatibility, the tandem's stiffness and steering geometry, riding habits, etc... all play into how each rider on a tandem will perceive the amount of effort that it takes.

Have ridden with small (sub-60 lb) to large (275-lb) stokers.
As a pilot I weigh in at 135 lbs. As long as stokers' weight is predictable (no hula dancing or attempts to steer back there!) and stokers are experienced, things work out. Agree, the 60 pounder takes a bit less work than the heavyweight. However, power to weight ratio, I'd opt for smaller experienced stoker.
Terrain does make a difference, some folks are natural climbers/descenders, others are not. Some think flatland riding is great and climbing sucks, or vice/versa.
Have taught over a hundred couples/folks 'how to ride in tandem' and the best ones to teach are the ones who have never ridden.
The worst? Tried to teach 'a real racer' and he had his own pre-conceived idea on how to handle the tandem no matter what I said. Rode as stoker with him, and he nearly dumped us a couple times and was slaloming the tandem all over the place . . . told me: "I never want to ride tandem again!"
Had one hefty new stoker lady ask "Can't we go any faster?" I let up on pedal pressure and told her "Pedal harder" Her reply "Oh . . . ?!"
You'll probably get as many different replies as there are tandem teams!
With a bit of experience, everything becomes easier.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Sounds about right, the tandem is more work on all accounts. I very much enjoy riding with my wife, but for just a bike ride, I'll take the single every time.

I bet it's going to be a factor which is half the difference in strength between the two riders plus an attentiveness portion.


Sheldon

I bet it's going to be a factor which is half the difference in strength between the two riders plus an attentiveness portion.


Sheldon

I think I've come up with the definitive formula for expressing this phenomenon.

http://www.sosmath.com/tables/integral/integ36/img4.gif

And the final answer is ... 30%. See, my SWAG was right after all.

Andy