Tandem Cycling - Right Turn from a Stop

We are newbies. I dumped my stoker when we tried to make a right turn from a stop. We lost momentum because I was focussing more on the turn than on pedaling. Any hints? It seems like a lot has to happen to complete this maneuver. Get momentum, gain stability and complete the turn all in a very short period of time.

Were both of you unclipped at the stop?
Suggest stokers stays clipped in and she can give immediate power on takeoff.
With practice/experience you'll avoid dumpings like that!
pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

I dumped my stoker when we tried to make a right turn from a stop.

Well, I think you've already diagnosed the problem: you don't make turns on tandems from a dead stop. Regardless of what technique you use to initiate your forward momentum, you must have forward momentum (even if it's just barely forward progress) before you can initiate a turn just because of the physics involved.

When next confronted with a stop and turn, just be sure to set yourself up before stopping so that you can launch and move forward in no less than nearly a straight line before initiating a turn. As your technique improves you'll come to depend on your stoker to provide that added horsepower needed to make more technical maneuvers and as that happens you'll be able to tighten up those turns...

However, until then, get it going in a straight line for a few feet and then initiate your turn; adjust your stopping points and lane positioning accordingly.

Would you recommend approaching the stop at an angle (safety permitting) so that we are already sort of pointed into the turn when we stop? That way,we wouldn't be making a 90 degree turn. Our turn would be at more of an acute angle.

I'm having a little trouble mastering starting. I don't feel sure enough to go beyond practice yet; the process is too slow. I found "the Proper Method" to be confusing. Stabilize top tube with your hip? Nose of the saddle to the outboard of your left jersey pocket? I start with the left pedal straight down. After I click in, we back pedal a little to a point where I can develop some power and we take off. If the left pedal is too high at the start, I feel unsteady when I lift my foot to click in. Any words of advice?

You don't have to approach at an angle, that would help though. Gearing down before the stop is a good idea.

Start with your clipped-in pedal high. Give it a nice push down, along with stoker-power, After the push down, clip the other foot then start pedaling and turning.

Would you recommend approaching the stop at an angle (safety permitting) so that we are already sort of pointed into the turn when we stop? That way,we wouldn't be making a 90 degree turn. Our turn would be at more of an acute angle.

Stop 10-20 ft before the turn. Start straight, then turn. As your feel more confident, 1-2 ft would be all you need.

Stop 10-20 ft before the turn. Start straight, then turn. As your feel more confident, 1-2 ft would be all you need.

Great advice. Thanks

I've been reading the mechanics forum, so I thought I would answer your question by not really answering your question:

There is no need to stop when making a right turn; just slow down and hug the curb...this works well when there's enough room on the right side (of the new street) to keep a car from smashing into you. It's even better if there's a bike lane on the new street, except then you have to worry about being hit by a bicycle.

I have successfully employed this technique at hundreds of intersections.

I've been reading the mechanics forum, so I thought I would answer your question by not really answering your question:

There is no need to stop when making a right turn; just slow down and hug the curb...this works well when there's enough room on the right side (of the new street) to keep a car from smashing into you. It's even better if there's a bike lane on the new street, except then you have to worry about being hit by a bicycle.

I have successfully employed this technique at hundreds of intersections.

This maneuver might be a bit advanced for us at this time

Would you recommend approaching the stop at an angle (safety permitting) so that we are already sort of pointed into the turn when we stop? That way,we wouldn't be making a 90 degree turn. Our turn would be at more of an acute angle.

Let me illustrate a few suggested techniques since one size doesn't fit all situations.

These are a little crude, but they should give you an appreciation for how to think about lane position and allowing for forward progress before executing a nice, safe and controllable turn through a somewhat larger arc on the tandem vs. what you can get away with on your single bike.

Where are you located. Sounds like a private lesson from someone here would be a good idea.

When we teach a new track rider how to do a standing start, we get them to position the front pedal at 2 o'clock. This is the optimum position from which to start applying power. If you have the front pedal set at this angle with your foot clipped in, all you have to do is to stand on the pedal. This will give you enough speed (given a flat surface) to launch the tandem, even if you stop pedaling at 6 o'clock (which I sometimes do if I can't get my other foot clipped into the pedal).

Now, uphill starts, that's a different matter. Pedal at 2 o'clock again, but then I always turn to the stoker and tell her I need full turbo boost. She needs to be completely clipped in, but she only needs to supply full power until you can get your other foot in. I think the uphill launch from a standing start has got to be one of the most challenging techniques on a tandem. The launch while turning (level) is a piece of cake, once you get the basic launch dialed in. But don't forget, you will need to launch straight anyway because you will need extra room for the back of the bike to clear the curb (just like a semitrailer).
- Luis

Hate to tell you, but you're gonna be making LOTS of 90 degree turns!
We pedal 90 degrees OOP (out-of-phase) so there is always a power stroke coming up . . . helps on any type of takeoff from a dead stop.