Tandem Cycling - Canadian tandemers - show yourselves

I'm starting to realize that tandem riders are few and far in between in our neck'o the woods. Just curious who on this forum are from maple-country. Also, does anyone know of tandem rallies in Ontario? We're no racing material but it could be fun to try out.

I'll start....
FROM: Beamsville, Ontario (Niagara Falls region area for those unfamiliar with geo)
BIKEY: 08 C'dale Road Tandem

we are from Brooklin, Ontario and we can often be seen in the Durham area riding our upgraded TREK T900. there is MBS tandem out in Mississauga that organized a tandem rally last Victoria Day Weekend. they also specialize in tandem bikes.

when we rode the Ride for Heart last June 1st, we saw not more than 10 tandemist.

We're in Buckhorn, north of Peterborough and ride a Rans "Screamer" recumbent tandem. Ditto on MBS Tandems who have managed the Canadian Tandem Rally for many years now. Last rally, there were 71 teams, most from Ontario, but many from the US and Quebec. We'll be participating in Le Tour de Norfolk on the 19th, 20th riding out of Paris, Ontario. Expect to see lots of tandems there as the route suits them.

Mike

From Quebec, near Montreal, I have a silver Trek T2000 and we are VERY noticable since I am the stoker and either my girlfriend is the captain or a strong male pilot.

Its hard to find pilots around here, but thats the reality of being blind and doing sports.

I'm in Montréal and things work the other way around: I pilot the bike and it's either the 12 year old or the 8 year old daughter who pedals from the rear seat. And sometimes they are both there, with the youngest one on the Piccolo.

Bike is a tropical green Co-Motion Primera.

Great to hear from some Quebecois folks. I'm planning a weeklong, unsupported tandem tour (500km-ish) in Sept in your area. I'll make sure to pick your brains for some route ideas, if u don't mind.

Merci.

While not Canadians, have tandemed "up north", in Ontario and Saskatchewan.
Even did the 1st Canadian Tandem Rally there in early 1980s (Mississaugua?); did the Canadian MileEater and the Pedal to the Pines in Ontario several times and a rally in Woodstock, Ont.
Have met/ridden with the VandeVelde's way-back-when before they got into selling tandem.
Always enjoyed that great Canuck hospitality!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Anne and I are in Orléans (Ottawa). We are currently riding a tandem that we borrowed from friends who are in Europe for a few weeks.

We have bought a black Cannondale Tandem 2, which will hopefully arrive in two days from now.

We are looking forward to many medium range rides over the rest of the summer

Jacques

Hi from Victoria, BC we ride a Co-Motion Mocha. There are a few other tandem riders in and around Victoria.

We are in the process of moving to Medicine Hat, Alberta, probably not many tandems there so we should get lots af comments.


Gary and Jean

I live in Burnaby, BC, which is just to the east of Vancouver. I live on the opposite side of Burnaby Mountain from the indoor velodrome, so used to do lots of track racing. My stoker lives about 2 km away by road, 600 meters by trail. We ride a blue almost-vintage Kuwahara (substantially modified).

There are other tandem teams around here, but not too many. There are far more tandems in Victoria, and in fact Victoria will be hosting their second or third Northwest Tandem Rally next year. Vancouver has yet to host one. Indeed, although there are many bike shops in Vancouver, the nearest one where they even pretend to specialize in tandems is way out in Chilliwack, about 80 km to the east.

Back in the 70's and 80's, a common sight around Marine Drive in Vancouver (out around the University of BC) was ex-race Colin King and his girlfriend Betty on their 26"-wheel Jack Taylor tandem. Haven't seen them in years, though. They used to be out every evening.

L.

My wife is from Toronto and she is the Stoker. Thinking of taking the Tandem to Toronto the next time we drive up there and do an organized ride.

We're living in Nepean (Ottawa) and don't have a tandem yet. We rented one in Bracebridge a few years ago (loved it) and have been keeping the idea alive and now we are looking to buy our first. Not sure where to buy locally or what to buy. Would appreciate help. We are regular riders (not racers) that enjoy maybe going out for an hour or two a few times a week. Probably will spend 1 to 3 grand. New or used. I am 5'11 she is 5'2 . Any suggestions?

There is a rental place in Ottawa that has a couple of used tandems for sale (actually one now, one in October). The one available right now is at the top of your price range (plus a little). Of course, this is assuming it fits. I'm not making a recommendation one way or the other: do your homework as to whether the price is right.

There is also one on Craigslist Ottawa, but they claim the captain needs to be > 6'. This makes some assumptions about ratios of leg length to rest of body, so if you have long legs for your height, perhaps.

We're living in Nepean (Ottawa) and don't have a tandem yet. We rented one in Bracebridge a few years ago (loved it) and have been keeping the idea alive and now we are looking to buy our first. Not sure where to buy locally or what to buy. Would appreciate help. We are regular riders (not racers) that enjoy maybe going out for an hour or two a few times a week. Probably will spend 1 to 3 grand. New or used. I am 5'11 she is 5'2 . Any suggestions?

Check out http://www3.sympatico.ca/vandevelde/index2.htm I know a number of tandem riders in the Ottawa area who have driven the extra miles to Mississauga to get the "bike that fits". You wont be disappointed. They are so helpful and knowledgeable and have great bikes in any price range. We live more than 3 hours away but still go back for the occasional after market service. These folks are specialists when it comes to tandems. Mike

We (my wife and I) are from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and have been riding our CoMotion road tandem for about 3 years. I think that we are the only ones around locally that ride a road tandem regularly, although there is a rumour of another couple that have one as well. We usually ride on our own or with the local club on Saturday mornings. The bike evens things out for us and allows us to ride together at a really good pace. This year we attended the NWTR in Orgeon and saw that there are an incredible number of tandem enthusiasts including many Canadians. Next year it will be in Victoria, B.C. and we are making plans to be there. Hopefully we can convert some of our local club riders to try the tandem so that there is at least a few of us that could ride together on some of our wonderful secondary prairie roads.

Not sure if this belongs here, in Recreation and Family, in Mountain Biking or in Framebuilders.

My daughter and I just west of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, eh last weekend.

Don