Tandem Cycling - 7-year Old Stoker

All - I know a lot of you have found all sorts of solutions for short riders, but I thought I'd share ours too. I added crank shorteners to the stoker crank (a lot easier than an extended crank and easier to switch back for a taller stoker), and I machined a special seat post that allowed me to mount the sunderside of the seat basically on the top of the seat tube. The special seat mount lost some shock absorption so I also added a medium gel pad. We ride a Raleigh aluminum frame Coupe tandem and just finished an MS-150 ride. All is working great and we are going to try the on-trail ride from Pittsburgh to Washington DC in August. There is just nothing more fun for kids than riding with Dad on a "big" ride, and it is a weekend without TV, video games and nothing to do but talk to each other...

Good work on that. Not to lessen the success, but the timing chain looks a tad loose in the first photo.

dwmckee,
I noticed your team for the MS ride on your jersey. Same as mine.

If the trail you mention, Pittsburg<->DC, is a rail to trail that would be ideal for
a longer ride on a tandem, as they are really flat compared with roads and
you will not use up your legs nearly so much. They also tend to be pretty nicely
shaded, which is another advantage in August and the lack of car hassle is
another dividend.

I also ride with MSTeamFedEx (Pedal to the Point, Ohio), and was told that you had to be 12 in order to ride. Is that just an Ohio rule, or is there an exception for Tandems?

(If there's an exception, I may just have to build myself a tandem!)

Kotts

^ I did several MS rides with my daughter starting at age 7. I would bet that the organizers would not have an issue with a kid on the back of a tandem.

The age 12 rule would certainly appear to be safety related, and its pretty much a certainty that the average parent/child tandem team are going to be better bike handlers/safer riders, than the typical 12 year old.

However I would check with the organizers of the particular event.

Stokids rule!

I have helped coordinate Our local FedEx team MS 150 for the past few years here in the PNW and don't recall an age limit. Although we have never had a child under 15 on our teams.

On one ride here in New Zealand I checked with the organisers about having a stoker below their age limit; they said it was fine, because an adult was going to be in charge of controlling the bicycle. What they are worried about is youngsters riding events on their own where there are lots of people around.

MS rides DO allow riders of any age, (parental good judgement expected), but if the child is under 12 a special permission form is required and you have to have your signature notarized. As far as I know, they do not require the child to be on a tandem, but for younger riders I cannot imagine them riding that far safely on their own. It is a good thing for MS because if I could not bring my son, I would not be there either. Besides, he is a great fund raiser too! In 2 years we will be riding with his brother too (on a tag-along behind the tandem). We have been doing all we can to encourage other parents to bring kids on tandems, and may have recruited two new teams for the MS ride next year. For those considering it, there is just no better experience for your kids. Years from now they will still remember that big ride with Mom and/or Dad on the tandem. As you probably would expect, the FedEx team has been a great team to ride with (I work for FedEx too). I am new to tandem riding and my only regret is that I did not try it years ago!!

Thanks. Bike is still pretty new and chain is still stretching in. Will adjust it this week.

Best regards!

Cool! We had about 80 in Pittsburgh/Erie

See my other reply. Kids of any age can ride with parent permission, but if under 12, a special notarized permission form must be signed.. If you are thinking about it, go for it. On a tandem they are pretty safe and the experience is fantastic. One of the funnest things I have done ever!

Great! I bet she loved it!

Yes!!