Tandem Cycling - Drive the car, drive the tandem?

Given that a large number of tandem teams are "couples" who likely share a car ride from time to time, I wonder how often a team's stoker drives a car with the captain as a passanger? I'm not trying to stir a debate, I'm just wondering if car driving habits somehow reflect on successful tandem teams?

For us I usualy do the driving, because I like too, and she'd rather sleep or read.

The pattern of sharing driving responsibilities would appear to have some relationship to captains, in that the same sort of control issues that might make one want to always be the driver, qould likely tend to make you want to be the Captain.

However, size, weight and strength issues come into play on the tandem, that aren't involved in driving.

Where one of the riders is significantly heavier, and/or stronger (upperbody, not necessarily cycling fitness) its usually going to work out better with that rider in front.

And most tandems are set up to fit the taller rider in the front if you're not doing something custom.

All that said, I always drive, and always captain. I have no control issues:innocent:

On the bike Kayla would rather not worry about the cars and the shifting and the steering. She enjoys our time together, getting a good workout and admiring the scenery.

If we take her car sometimes she drives, but she would rather not have to deal with other cars and steering.... It is also challenging to read magazines if you are the driver. If we take my car, then I drive because shifting becomes an issue that she doesn't feel the need to learn.

I drive, except when she picks me up, or we're on a long trip and trade off.
She doesn't much like driving. That said, stoking is giving up a lot for her, since I block most of the view. Because of our size/strength difference, there never was really a choice, so I didn't have to think about whether I'd have control issues...

My wife is kind of a control freak. She told me I didn't need to call out coast or shift in the car.

My wife is kind of a control freak. She told me I didn't need to call out coast or shift in the car.
:lol:

I always captain, but we split the driving.

My wife always drives, because my driving makes her sick. I mean, she gets car sick easily as a passenger. And I don't really like driving anyway. I captain the bike. I'm lighter by about 20 pounds, but have much more experience on bikes. She gladly relinquishes her need for control in exchange for safe rides.

In our family the captain drives the car (likes to drive) and the stoker reads or crochets. If we meet a bicycling couple who does not tandem and the wife says "I don't want to give up control" Martha will ask "do you ride in a car with your husband?"
Sheldon and Martha Hall
Greenfield, IN

My favorite saying is "All human relationships are, at base, about control." Not everyone sees it that way. :) Looks like tandem teams are a lot more self aware than average. Be that as it may, stoker and I have rules (or should I say "customs"?) for everything. She drives there, I drive back, unless it's on ice or snow, in which case she wants me to drive, which is fine. That places a chivalrous nicety on me as I get to be the strong man and drive when we're both tired.

I captain, I drive. I'm the captain because I'm bigger 6' to 5' but in the car my wife can become tired quickly and she enjoys grabbing a quick wink whenever possible. It's not about control jsut size and stanima.

We ride a custom tandem due to stoker Kay's size (4'10 3/4"). No way she will fit front of our tandem.
She did have a single bike many decades ago, and ridden many centuries solo; but since we started tandeming (in 1975) her preferred bike was the tandem. She no longer owns a single bike.
Likewise, she had a driver's license but was never overly comfortable in heavy traffic. Since we moved tro Arizona (in 1978) she preferred not to drive any more and let her driver's license lapse.
On bike trips and long car trips she is my navigator. Nothing like shared duties!
No question of control issues.
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandm

I always drive. Wifes very involved at work, even on her off days shes on the phone talking to somebody at the place of employment. U know, it's against the law to be on the phone while U drive, and thats just another distraction 4 her, even with a hands free device.

Driving a car and piloting a tandem are quite different skills so I don't see why the same person would generally be the better of the pair at both skills.

I'm the captain on the tandem, because my wife doesn't want to have to try to remember to call out instructions, worry about gearing too much, etc. We don't own a car, but when we rent one (which is a few times per year) then she nearly always drives, because she is better at that (and I'm quite happy being a passenger). We each have our own strengths, and it works well for us.

My wife usually drives when we are together. Maybe like 60/40. She would probably captain the tandem sometimes too if it were physically possible with our frame.