Tandem Cycling - Midwest Tandem Rally

My stoker and I are looking forward to our first Midwest Tandem Rally this week-end. Any hints to help us enjoy it to the fullest from those of you who have participated in the past?

My girls and I are also headed to Rochester this Friday. It'll be our 10-year-old daughter's sixth consecutive year stoking a triple at MTR. No special hints... Just be ready to rise with the tide and go with the flow. Remember that the event is run by volunteers. Take it all in and enjoy socializing with hundreds of other tandem teams. Be on the lookout for other teams that ride at a pace similar to yours. Perhaps you'll strike up friendships that you can renew year after year on Labor Day weekend.

It'll be our first year too. When my stoker read that there will be an ice cream social on Friday she was sold.

My captain and I will be driving 12 hours on Friday and won't arrive in time for the ice cream social or the tour of Rochester ... but we are looking forward to enjoying many tandem miles on Saturday and Sunday. The weather forecast is looking good.

My only advice is to have some "tandem cards" (like business cards) available to give to the new friends you make during the weekend. Ours have a photo of us on our bike on the front, and our email and mobile numbers on the back. I have mine made at moo.com but you can use business card perforated paper from an office supply store and your personal printer, too.

Jacqueline
Co-Motion Primera Co-Pilot, cranberry red

My wife and I decided that we won't be going this year. I think the rally has finally passed our price point. Instead, we decided to take several three day weekend trips this year at smaller events.

MTR is a big social event that happens to include lotsa tandem.
There are long/short/medium rides. Some fast, some slow. But you'll soon find a group you'll be comfortable with.
Have attended half dozen MTRs including the first one in Kokomo, IN w-a-y back in 1976.
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Thank you, all. We will load up the Cannondale and head North in a few minutes.
Tom and Ginny

This will be our first MTR also. Stoker, Michele's parents live in Burnsville, MN so we flew from Orlando to Minneapolis yesterday, reassembled the bike and will borrow her dad's truck for the drive to Rochester this afternoon. Agree that tandem rallies are mostly social events that just happen to include some riding, we're looking forward to both. And some ice cream.

Thank you to Jennifer McDonald and her crew and the city of Rochester Minnesota!
We really enjoyed MTR 2009. It was good to meet you, regomatic, at the newbie meeting.

Thank you to Jennifer McDonald and her crew and the city of Rochester Minnesota!
We really enjoyed MTR 2009. It was good to meet you, regomatic, at the newbie meeting.

We had a great time too and agree Jennifer & her crew did an awesome job!

Great pictures, regomatic! We especially like the one of us Chicago Area Tandem Society (CATS) members having lunch on Sunday. Thank you.