As a new tandem rider (around 250km so far), I noticed that our minimum speed for climbing hills is around 7 km/hr. Any slower and the bike feels like it will keel over.

Feels as though on a tandem, I have to climb a bit faster than if I were on a single.

What's your experience?

My stoker is great at not throwing her weight around so we can crawl at 2-4mph if needed and I can hold the tandem at a stop for several seconds at times quite like a track stop. I give her great credit for the great trust she has in my ability to keep it upright I wouldn't dare do it with anyone else.

When you get down really slow (& likely breathing really hard) you find out there is a big difference between 3.5mph & 3mph (5.6kph & 4.8kph). We have ridden as low as 3mph for a short distance near the top of a steep hill.

We've gone really slow and have never fallen over... but my wife is a petite flower and well-manner stoker which makes everything easier on a tandem.

I think the only way I can sum-up the difference is to note that it's simply different. So much of our riding is done on the tandem that almost everything has become rote and not all that much more unusual than similar experiences on single bikes.

Our limiting factor is cadence/gearing rather than speed, I think.

I used to think that about 3 1/2 mph was as slow as we could possibly go. Then we got older and slower and more experienced I guess and we do 3 1/2 kph in France during the summer. I can not go that slow here in California in the winter, maybe because we are doing club rides most of the time and that slow is not allowed?? Back in about 1977 when Bill McCready was teaching me how to Captain a Tandem and teach tandeming, he would drop into granny and do an extremely tight circle, to make a U Turn, at about 2 mph or less. The key seems to be maintaining headway thru pedaling and then you can go almost zero and still keep balance. The key to a track stand is making headway while being stopped if that makes any sense. Not swinging from side to side is the other key. Smoothly my friends.

Dick Powell, www.OutfitterTours.com
Retired Founder & Former Owner of The Bicycle Outfitter of Los altos, California

Slowest ever for us: 3 1/2 to 4 mph at 9,000+ ft. elevation with 6% steady grade.
Get into granny gear and just 'twiddle' . . . and yes, a good/trusting stoker is a huge + !
You know you're moving slow when a caterpillar can cross underneath your tandem and not get squashed!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Thanks for the tips, guys and gals!

I think it must be my gearing. We're new to this :)

"You know you're moving slow when a caterpillar can cross underneath your tandem and not get squashed!"

Rudy - I love this picture!

... he would drop into granny and do an extremely tight circle, to make a U Turn, at about 2 mph or less. The key seems to be maintaining headway thru pedaling and then you can go almost zero and still keep balance ...
Indeed, keep on pedaling is important for making tight turns and I'd like to add that squeezing the rear brake makes it even easier. We went down some very tight hairpins on a mountainbike tour of the French Alps last year by using this technique. On many occasions we do a short trackstand in the middle of a hairpin to determine where the front wheel is to go. This to the amazement of many a solo rider :D

The slower you go the more difficult it is to ride a straight line, ditto the higher the
crank torque, as in steep hills. Higher cadence helps a little, but if you need to keep
a line it will take extraordinary balance to do so under 3.5mph up a hill. Doing slow
donuts is a lot easier, bears and chimps can do it. If you can wobble several feet
side to side then going slow is also less challenging on two wheels.

In the US: 5 MPH
In Europe: 5 KPH

Someday I'll try setting the computer to metric at home, and see if I can match my European speed.

About 3 mph tandem or single. If we/I can't go any faster than that, it's probably safer to walk.

We have managed a long, steady climb at about 4.7 km and occasionally we have been slower. Our 'trick' is to have the Captain's pedals advanced by 90 degrees ahead of the Stoker's. That way there is always someone in 'power', and there are no power surges.

We have managed a long, steady climb at about 4.7 km and occasionally we have been slower. Our 'trick' is to have the Captain's pedals advanced by 90 degrees ahead of the Stoker's. That way there is always someone in 'power', and there are no power surges.

During the late 70's and early 80's we had all our floor model tandems set up with the front crank leading by 90 degrees. Bill McCready had convinced me this was a more efficient setup. However, most of my staff did not like it and eventually we ended up in sink on our own tandems as well.

I never thought about any effect on going slow, but what you said makes sense. I think I will try it again.
Dick Powell, www.outfittertours.com
Founder & Former Owner of The Bicycle Outfitter of Los Altos, CA

With no power surges, the whole transmission should last much longer than if there is strong pulsing from two riders pushing at the same time. However, you will no longer be able to rise out of the saddle.

You will notice your shadow, and be convinced you are at different cadence. Know that it is an optical illusion.

With no power surges, the whole transmission should last much longer than if there is strong pulsing from two riders pushing at the same time. However, you will no longer be able to rise out of the saddle.

We start, climb and lately sprint out of phase (90 captain leading) out of the saddle. Our slowest constant climbing speed is about 3 mph. Never encounter a hill that required us to go slower... or maybe the fear of falling gave us that little extra push to keep the speed up.

You will notice your shadow, and be convinced you are at different cadence. Know that it is an optical illusion.

No idea what you are referring to...

I'm afraid we're going to find out. Just decided to enter the Tandem division for Everest Challenge.

17% grade at 10,000 feet, after 28,000 feet of climbing (in the 2 days) should produce the answer.

I'm afraid we're going to find out. Just decided to enter the Tandem division for Everest Challenge.

I know you did this last year on your single bike, but how many times have you and your stoker done anything like this?

I know you did this last year on your single bike, but how many times have you and your stoker done anything like this?

Never. Starting a 7 month plan now to get ready.

She's done some fairly hard riding in past years. (70 mile ride finishing up L' Alpe de Huez would be her toughest ride to date.)

Most of our tandem rides have been a bit more leisurely.

We have our work cut out for us.

Never. Starting a 7 month plan now to get ready.

She's done some fairly hard riding in past years. (70 mile ride finishing up L' Alpe de Huez would be her toughest ride to date.)

Most of our tandem rides have been a bit more leisurely.

We have our work cut out for us.

7 months seems about right- When I can get the dates right- I do a 100 mile offroad ride that is hard. Nothing to suggest on training but we normally use 24/32 as our lowest gear and 3 mph is the slowest we can stay upright. However for training- we put on a 26 in place of the 24. 15% hills and you can't slow down to 3 mph with that gear. We would stall on the pedals.

Just find the steepest hills in your area and do repeats on them. Didn't help us but I like to suggest others to suffer the pain we did.

The slowest we go is about .3 mph. :eek:

No falling over as we have a tandem recumbent TRIKE! :D :rolleyes:

In 2006, with the loaded tandem pulling a loaded trailer (self-contained touring for 3 persons), I climbed most hills at 5 km/h, but a few at 2,5-3 km/h.