Tandem Cycling - New to me vintage Sears tandem. Couple questions.

Well in almost an amazing stroke of luck, after trying to get my girlfriend into riding for a couple months now, I go for a dumpster dive to retrieve an old sears tandem. It's in Rough shape right now, but I plan to get it into top shape again. It looks like the one in this thread. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=278588&highlight=sears

Mine is yellow, though, and has a BMA sticker, which I've found on the old Sears Free Spirit bikes started around 73. I don't know if this applies to this bike or not. It also has front and rear lights with a generator. If anyone has any info on these bikes, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm not having much luck finding info online.

Also, about tandeming in general, as I said I've been trying to get my girlfriend to go riding with me more. She says she doesn't like riding, though, because her legs get tired and burn on hills. I'm hoping to use the tandem to ease her into it. She's great and I've gotten her to go on 4-5 rides of a couple miles with me even though she doesn't like it and she said that she'd be happy to go on the tandem because then she can rest if she wants. My question here is, is this thing going to be ok to ride if I want to go 5-10 miles on it? I've read that some tandems aren't good for much distance, and I assume this would be one of those, but how far is usually ok on them? I was also thinking of trying to find an old 26" 3 speed wheel to put on it so that I'll have a few gears. Would this likely be the easiest route to getting gears on this thing to make hill climbing easier? Lastly, is there a way I can cheaply piece together a system to make it where one of the riders can have their feet on the pedals but not pedal, or is that something that you'd have to buy a bike equipped with?

Thanks and sorry about the short novel. I've never even really looked into tandem biking before, so I know Nothing about it. I'm fairly new to road biking in general. I can't wait to get this thing cleaned up and go for a ride!

Welcome to tandeming!

She'll find that the more she rides, the easier it becomes and the farther she can go. I think that even an older beach tandem can easily handle 5-10 miles if the tires and wheels (and you) are in good shape. I think that you'll of course probably need to pull most of the time in the beginning so that she doesn't get discouraged.

Without an independent coasting system, the pedals are interlinked so she'll have to at least move her legs in unison with yours. I don't believe that there is an inexpensive way to resolve this. As it turns out, she'll likely find it easier just to spin along with you (without torque) instead of lifting her feet off the pedals.


.

Awesome. I plan on completely wearing myself out pushing us both if need be to get her into it. I figure the easier I can gradually bring her into it and let her slowly build up the better chance I have of her actually starting to enjoy it herself. Hopefully it won't take Too long and she'll be asking me if I want to go for rides. I'd love for us to tandem down to a local park and play some frisbee or something.

I plan to put new tires, brakes, chains, and paint on it before we do much riding, so since it should be comfortable enough for those short trips, all should be well. Thanks for the advice.

The limiting factor isn't likely to be the bike. I think it's best to "ease" into it and try to make sure that you always run out miles before you run out of fun. If you do that, faster and farther will gradually happen.

I don't really care much about speed when riding with her. I plan on making all of our trips just fun short trips. There's a zoo a couple miles away and a couple good parks. I've got a rack I plan to put on the bike to carry things and I figure the zoo, picnics, and a couple little trips to the local small shop strip for lunch and things like that will make for a good start. I don't really care if I wear myself out at first pushing the both of us. I'd prefer that to her taking a dislike to it. I don't mind wearing myself out a little from biking anyway, as I'm sure many of us don't. I just need to figure out something for gearing, because I don't know that I can push the both of us up a hill if she gets tired and I tell her not to worry about it and I'll do all the work. Guess I'll have to find out the hard way. :P

After an hour or so of a general tune-up and adjusting a few things tonight, I got the bike into decent riding condition and took it for a short spin around the apartment parking lot. Hopefully we'll get to try it out in the next couple days!

Does it make any difference which person you have in which position? I planned on letting her be the captain and me the stoker because I figured it would be more fun for her that way. Is that a good idea?

Does it make any difference which person you have in which position? I planned on letting her be the captain and me the stoker because I figured it would be more fun for her that way. Is that a good idea?

Yes it makes a difference. Look up "How to get started on a tandem". I think you'll find it on Santana's site, and Sheldon Brown's and several others. If you are close to the same size and have similar upper body strength, then it makes no difference whatsoever, provided you are just riding in "safe" environs. In serious traffic, mixed-to-poor road conditions, twisty downhills, etc. the more experienced cyclist should be at the controls. If she can handle the bike, it likely would be more fun for her to captain - I've had my larger, stronger son on the back of mine and having that powerhouse in the rear is definitely fun. But if not, it could well be frightening for both of you.

Haha, well I hope it doesn't get frightening. I plan on our first time out being on a bike path, so that should help. She also biked to class for a few years of college in down town Madison, so I think she'd be ok as far as experience goes, thought I am the stronger and more experienced rider. Maybe we'll just try it with her captain and see how it goes in the safer places first. I also don't plan on us going through any serious traffic or poor terrain probably even if we get good at it. I don't even ride in serious traffic on my own unless I have to to get to work sometimes. I'll get reading on those sites. Thanks.