Tandem Cycling - Dismount Question

Apologize in advance for asking a question to which the answer is obvious, but I'm a tandem newbie. I'm thinking I should go out of my way to make sure I can balance the tandem on either leg. Normally, after the stoker clips in I would hold the bike up with my right leg, clip in with left and off we go. My thought is that if we have to stop/start on a cambered section of road I might have to start with left leg supporting the bike, not a natural thing since I'm really right-side dominant. Similarly, there may be times when I have to dismount on the right side; not so critical since by then I can't drop the stoker.

BTW, in 20+ years of riding horses I can probably only recall one time when I had to mount or dismount from the right side. Don't want to take this analogy too far.

I'm thinking I should go out of my way to make sure I can balance the tandem on either leg.

Yes, you should be prepared and able to do so.

Apologize in advance for asking a question to which the answer is obvious, but I'm a tandem newbie. I'm thinking I should go out of my way to make sure I can balance the tandem on either leg. Normally, after the stoker clips in I would hold the bike up with my right leg, clip in with left and off we go.
So long as you don't let the bike tip far from its balance point, and hold both brakes on, it shouldn't much matter which leg. Have the support leg close enough to the top tube that if the bike wants to tip, it hits your leg first, but with the foot on the ground far enough that pedals can turn without knocking you on the shins.

Similarly, there may be times when I have to dismount on the right side; not so critical since by then I can't drop the stoker.

When I stop, I have both feet unclipped, and both on the ground before she dismounts. So dismounting on the "wrong" side is a question of swinging the "wrong leg" over either the saddle and her bars or the top tube, depending. (Loose fitting wind pants make over the saddle and bars a potentially embarrassing idea).

I always try to use the same method as carrying a passenger on a motorcycle: Captain mounts from left, holds brakes until the stoker (also mounting from the left) gets seated and set, then launch. Stop and dismount also on left side in reverse order (LIFO).

I am also right side dominant, but I am used to left side mount/dismounts so I typically stop with left foot down to hold. I could put the right foot down in an emergency (and then tip back over the the left) but I try to be consistent so the stoker knows what to expect.

Left side mounts are preferable for motorcycles because most have the muffler mounted on their right side so you don't want to drop it on right side. Presumably it's the same for derailleur equipped bikes; you would rather drop on left side to avoid damaging it (or else get a guard).

If you have proper standover, either side shouldn't pose a problem in a pinch.


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I always try to use the same method as carrying a passenger on a motorcycle: Captain mounts from left, holds brakes until the stoker (also mounting from the left) gets seated and set, then launch. Stop and dismount also on left side in reverse order (LIFO).

I try to be consistent so the stoker knows what to expect.

Same here; I always stop with my left foot down. If the wait is not going to be too long I will balance with my right foot clipped in and ready to go; otherwise I will unclip and use both legs to support the bike.

Same here; I always stop with my left foot down. If the wait is not going to be too long I will balance with my right foot clipped in and ready to go; otherwise I will unclip and use both legs to support the bike.

Plus 1 for me as well. I can't remember any situation that required anything different. After all, we do have some semblence of control about where we stop.

per Bill McReady

http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/propmethod.html

If you are right handed then your right leg is the agile leg and the left leg is your strong leg. I am too and I always start stop with my left leg planted and my right leg clipped in.

If you are right handed then your right leg is the agile leg and the left leg is your strong leg. I am too and I always start stop with my left leg planted and my right leg clipped in.

Not necessarily. I'm left-handed, but my right eye and ear are dominant and I kick harder with my right leg. But I do prefer start out on my left foot.

Not necessarily. I'm left-handed, but my right eye and ear are dominant and I kick harder with my right leg. But I do prefer start out on my left foot.

You FREAK. :twitchy: :lol:


In grade school a friend of mine was a righty and batted left hand over right, the opposite of how you are suppose to hit with a baseball bat, but he got home runs more than anybody on the team, so people stopped trying to change him.

I say do what works for you.

That said, I am right dominant, mount from left, stop with left foot down, and start off with right foot clipped in (what I perceive to be my stronger leg, plus if I fall at an intersection due to being clipped in, I want to fall away from traffic.)

I also mount from the left....but stop with right foot down....lead with the left foot clipped in.....I'm generally right dominant but have a few left dominant traits from lord knows where. When it comes to Tandems..Do what is safe, comfortable and gives you and the stoker confidence...

Bill J.

Perhaps my perspective has been skewed by different experiences riding bikes, tandems and motorcycles on and off-road in a variety of different terrain.

However, it has been my experience that betting on being able to bring your machine to a stop such that you are always able to use the right or left leg down first that you prefer is not a sure thing. The OP is even at a bigger disadvantage given his preference for a right-leg down start/stop.

FWIW, it would be impossible for us to ride our tandem off-road with an expectation that my preferred left leg down approach to stopping and starting. Riding in the mountains on less than ideal roads provides a variety of interesting situations and if you head to Europe the crown of the road will be on the wrong side of your tandem. Cranky, just on my ride to work every day there are certain intersections where the road is so busted up that I have to use my right foot down on my motorcycle if I end up at the wrong place in line.

Bottom Line: I stand by my original recommendation... anyone who rides a tandem should be prepared and able to start or stop with either right or left leg down, as awkward as it may be. This goes double for anyone who is inclined (no pun intended) to start and stop with their right foot down.

per Bill McReady

http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/propmethod.html

per Bill Cotney, who was riding tandems before anyone ever heard of Bill McCready

http://billnmaggi.tandemrides.com/debunk/

FWIW, I concur with TG's bottom line. Best to know it all, and be able to do it all, i.e., left foot, right foot, stoker up, double down, etc.

To yeamac: Most falls while stopped are to the UNCLIPPED side due to slick road shoes, oil, dirt debris, etc. So your method is more likely to have you falling INTO the traffic!

On the other hand, right foot downer's will fall prey to these hazards more frequently that left footers because they not only put their foot down on something slippery, but it's on a downhill slope as well, (in the US and many other countries.)

All that notwithstanding, I too am one of those "freaks" who's right handed but left foot dominant, so I like to start with my left foot clipped in. But I can do both easily, as years of riding motorcycles taught me to be able to stop and balance something heavy with the left foot, too. :thumb:

However, it has been my experience that betting on being able to bring your machine to a stop such that you are always able to use the right or left leg down first that you prefer is not a sure thing.

+1.

Make a point to practice starting and stopping with each foot. Then, when you're caught stopping unexpectedly, and leaning the wrong direction, you'll be ready to deal with it.