Tandem Cycling - Man, do we love this thing called ...Tandem!

Yesterday, my fiance and I went out for our first ride of the year on the Vinci... a nice 50 mile ride with about 3500' of climbing. Typical for Northern Cali riding. At least for me. The day before I had ridden practically the same route on my fixie which is my favorite from of single riding by far. Don't ask, it just is.

I couldn't help but think of how much I enjoy riding a tandem with Kathryn. We upgraded from an older Cannondale RT2000 I picked up on Craig's List a year ago to the daVinci in September. Being new to tandem's, our problem was stopping and starting and the ICS on the daVinci answered our dreams in that department. Within a month on getting the daVinci we had put 400 miles on it including a 109 mile ride. She was lucky to put 400 miles on her single in a year. Now, she loves riding with me. That is a very good thing! Another plus in the tandem's corner.

The cold is another detriment for her riding. I do it because I love to ride so I'm out there like the Michelin Man. 40's and 50's and I'm riding with 4-5 layers! Well, I went out a bought her a bunch of cold weather gear so we decided to take it out for a spin yesterday. Since we've committed to riding from SF to LA in June on the AIDS/Lifecycle, we both want to be in shape on the tandem.

All I can say is, we'll have no problem! The IP/OOP issue is a non-issue on the Vinci. Climbing? Non-issue. Standing? Getting better but still needs work. Have I ever had one second of buyers remorse getting the daVinci? Absolutely NOT! Feeling as one? Definitely. The tandem, in our case and I imagine all of yours, is a wonderful piece of equipment that has brought us together. Sorry for the bad pun but it really has.

OK, off of my soapbox.

Glad you're enjoying it so much Dan! Jo & I did Diablo yesterday on the new Pinarello tandem just to get out of the Antioch "gloom". It was 45F when we left the house, but it was 63F and sunny at the summit of Diablo.

Dan, your enthusiasm is simply fabulous, but Michelin Man at 50+ degF says you're a native Californian. I agree that 40's can seem a bit nippy, but given the number of posters who live in cold climes I'm reluctant to complain about our weather lest I get banned.

Buying the tandem ranks as one of the best things my wife and I have done in the last 10 years. We ride at least 3x per week and try to get in a longest ride in the 40-60 mile range on the weekend. We should hit 5000 miles or so this year with the number of centuries we're planning on doing.

The standing is certainly going to take us a lot more practice, but it's improving. Everyone does it differently and I think that's the one area where a conventional timing chain would be somewhat better (but I wouldn't trade my DV). Bumped into Chichi and his wife while on a ride in San Jose and on a short slight climb this wife stood while he remain seated. I've tried standing while Sherrill remains seated for a short bit where I didn't get us in the right gear. I find if we're in the right gear the standing feels pretty natural and I can relax somewhat, too low or too high a gear is a problem and shifting can be a bit more challenging while standing.

BTW, were you planning on doing the Rice Valley Tandem Rally?

Glad you're enjoying it so much Dan! Jo & I did Diablo yesterday on the new Pinarello tandem just to get out of the Antioch "gloom". It was 45F when we left the house, but it was 63F and sunny at the summit of Diablo..

Cool Jeff,

I did that last week on the IF. Since we did our inaugural ride on the Vinci to the top in September, we're trying other "epic" rides..at least for her. Coming up, Mines Road and Morgan Territory,

Hope to see you and Jo soon on the road.

Dan, your enthusiasm is simply fabulous, but Michelin Man at 50+ degF says you're a native Californian. I agree that 40's can seem a bit nippy, but given the number of posters who live in cold climes I'm reluctant to complain about our weather lest I get banned.

Buying the tandem ranks as one of the best things my wife and I have done in the last 10 years. We ride at least 3x per week and try to get in a longest ride in the 40-60 mile range on the weekend. We should hit 5000 miles or so this year with the number of centuries we're planning on doing.

The standing is certainly going to take us a lot more practice, but it's improving. Everyone does it differently and I think that's the one area where a conventional timing chain would be somewhat better (but I wouldn't trade my DV). Bumped into Chichi and his wife while on a ride in San Jose and on a short slight climb this wife stood while he remain seated. I've tried standing while Sherrill remains seated for a short bit where I didn't get us in the right gear. I find if we're in the right gear the standing feels pretty natural and I can relax somewhat, too low or too high a gear is a problem and shifting can be a bit more challenging while standing.

BTW, were you planning on doing the Rice Valley Tandem Rally?

No,no Rick, I'm born and raised in Miami! You can take the boy out of Miami but not the Miami out of the boy! I'm sitting here at the airport in Salt Lake, dreading going to out to rent a car. BBBBRRRRRRRRRR.

Thanks for the heads up on Rice Valley. Since I'm gone this week on business, I'll wait for Kath to get back to me. Of course I want to do the century! Is there a cut off on registering?

cold weather gear? 45? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

3 degrees this morning when I went to work. Roads are a mess. Might be able to ride this weekend, but there is the potential of another storm coming in for Sunday. Night rides o the bike path are done until the snow is gone, asa they don't clear them. I ran 2.6 miles on Saturday while the stoker took our niece to figure skating. 25 then. Ran with my winter riding tights only for a layer, heavy socks, Gore Tex trail running shoes, Under Armor base layer, then a technical shirt, then my heavy riding jacket. And a wool hat. Very comfy. Wind was blowing about 15 MPH. Figured as time was tight and no one could ride, I would get the run in. Glad your having fun out there. :mad::mad:

I would kill for it to be in the 50's. Heck, I would kill for the roads to atleast be dry, stinkin oregon......

Yeah.....50s and roads without snow and ice would be nice, but that's still about three months away in WI. Really, you guys that are able to be out and about on a tandem at this time of year have it made!

Used to live and tandem in the Midwest (primarily Michigan). Rode in winter when roads were dry and 20 degrees.
Got smart and moved to Tucson, AZ back in 1978.
Doubled our yearly miles easily + tripled the sunshine!
No regrets!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

We Love our DaVinci too. We rode 1200 miles together last year. We have a joint venture and when people yell she's not pedaling - I'm usually not! The tandem works great for us because I could never keep up the pace on my own road bike. We need spring....12 degrees is to cold for riding! Northeast Ohio Lake Effect snow...We are used to it. We are going to do the Bike the Drive in Chicago the end of May. Tandem season is to short! Enjoy!

Excellent! Glad you're enjoying your tandem!

I remain intrigued by the DaVinci ICS system. Since it is capable of being locked to produce in phase pedalling, it appears to present the best flexibility for pedalling options depending on stoker preference.

I pedal in phase often with kid stokers so it hasn't really been a problem to keep pedalling cadence and control since they naturally just follow my lead, but it must put some bit of strain on the chain as the impulses gets transmitted.

.

We love our tandems, too. Love to blast down descents in the 60's.

But if it gets any colder than that, we quit! :roflmao2:

Dan, When are you planning Morgan Terr.?

Used to live and tandem in the Midwest (primarily Michigan).

Did you used to ride an Assenbacher tandem?