Tandem Cycling - TT bars for stoker

Any ideas on what to do for handle bars for the stoker for the best aero and reasonably comfortable position for time trialing? This is with a regular 28 1/2" rear length and a 5'7" stoker. So there obviously isn't room for the normal bar set up that you would use on the front, or a solo bike.

We have jsut about the same situation. 5'8" stoker, and same rear cockpit length (IIRC). Clip on aerobars, even the shorties didn't work, even playing around with different set ups, and even with cutting them shorter.

We ended up using Cane Creek speed bars. They allow a narrow, low position. The advantage of the speed bars, over drop bars is the narrower position.

Another alternative is to use bull horn base bars with flat tops, and have the stoker rest forearms on the tops, and grab the Captains seatpost for stability. Depending on fit, that can interfere with the Captain's pedalin stroke however.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/bobstewart/ttsetup.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i165/bobstewart/speedbars.jpg

Thanks. A hand position somewhere down there was what I was thinking also. I may even be able to mount some stubby handlebars near the base of the captains seatpost as this is quite long being a compact frame (Cannondale).

Check these out, they are kind of hard to see but they took a std cowhorn bar stokers bar and extended the horns a bit and added forearm pads. It's a very aero position. These guys used this set-up on the Furnace Creek 508 a few years back and they were very comfortable. I was thinking of using a similar set-up for RAAM this summer.

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This article (http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/team-wiggle-tandem-looks-to-break-distance-records-24776) just appeared at BikeRadar.com. It's about two Brits who are going to try to break lots of distance records on the tandem pictured below, calling themselves Team Wiggle Tandem (due to sponsorship by the UK online retailer Wiggle (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/)). It has a similar setup for the stoker's bars as that shown in the pic posted by Homeyba. The bike manufacturer is a British company called Dolan (http://www.dolan-bikes.co.uk/tandem.html), who apparently also make a lot of the track tandems for the British paralympic squad who dominated at the last Olympics.

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Interestingly, the shifting seems to be controlled by the stoker and the braking by the captain. Also, the stoker has a longer seat tube than the captain. I'd like to see a picture of these guys riding it.

More bike details given on their official blog (http://www.wiggleblog.com/2010/01/25/team-wiggle-tandem-launch/), which also contains several more photos. "Team Wiggle Tandem will ride “Rocket 1″ a development tandem built by world famous constructor Terry Dolan, helping to develop and test new tandem technology including Rotor Q rings, electronics and Hope disc braking systems for an all carbon framed Rocket 2 for 2011."

More photo galleries (http://www.teamwiggletandem.com/photo_gallery.html).

If you blow the picture of the Dolan up you can see that the stoker bars are almost exactly the same setup. In fact, on their blog it has an even better picture of them. It's much easier to see in their pictures than mine.

I'm thinking that setup would work well for long distances. However, for a 40k or shorter, where comfort is not as big an issue, I see some drawbacks.

Most notably, the wide hand position is going to stick the stoker's arms out into the wind. For us, for my wife's forearms to go past my hips, would put her in an abnormally wide position.

The speed bar setup allows eher to be narrower, and as low and close to my back as she can be without colliding.

It doesn't offer the same support, as a setup that allows you to lean on your elbows. Hence I can see why people are doing the "extended cowhorns" for long events.

I'm thinking that setup would work well for long distances. However, for a 40k or shorter, where comfort is not as big an issue, I see some drawbacks.

Most notably, the wide hand position is going to stick the stoker's arms out into the wind. For us, for my wife's forearms to go past my hips, would put her in an abnormally wide position.

The speed bar setup allows eher to be narrower, and as low and close to my back as she can be without colliding.

It doesn't offer the same support, as a setup that allows you to lean on your elbows. Hence I can see why people are doing the "extended cowhorns" for long events.
I agree that the extended cowhorns must be less aero than having your arms tucked in behind the captain. May definitely help for comfort though, allowing the stoker to stretch out a bit.

Yeah, I would say that you're right Merlin, your set-up is probably more aero and therefore may be better for shorter TT's. They don't look very comfy but for TT's that isn't so important.

I was in the process of posting about the Wiggle tandem guys in a new thread, but you got here first. See here for details:
http://www.wiggleblog.com/2010/01/25/team-wiggle-tandem-launch/

Basically they are planning to break UK tandem records for point to point rides. Not many people attempt these rides as you need to set a date, get observers in place, organise support... The key to a successful ride not just to be extremely fit, but also to have a good weather man and reliable support crew. Some rides are extraordinarily quick - Andy Wilkinson's records are amazing, but then his record is 302 miles in 12 hours on a closed course (no net wind assistance), so he's quick.

I quite like the bike, but think they might go faster with the following modifications:
a) Zipp wheels 808 at the front. Sponsor products are unfortunately not as fast.

b) A different approach to the rear aero bars? Campbell-cunefare added space so that the rear rider didn't need to stick his arms out. Similarly merlinextralight used Cane Creek speed bars.

c) Out of phase pedalling? Unfortunately not a good idea with Rotor Q rings though.

That said, I wish them fun in their wind-assisted time trial season.

We'll be doing a few point to point long distance TTT's this year as well, although here in the states. In fact, were planning on doing a cross California run in March as a prep for RAAM in June. I'm throwing around the idea of doing PBP again as well. That is a very tandem friendly course.

This is probably the best answer, but not too many people are going to go for a tandem frame built specifically for time trialing.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/hookerTandemTT.jpg


Edit: Actually if you could take that concept, get Calfee to buid a frame with that stoker dimension out of CF, with enogh rigidity to eliminate the second top tube, and with a stoker seat post wrapping around the rear wheel then you'd really have something,

That looks like a huge outer chainring. Any idea of what gearing combinations they use?

It's probably something between a 55-60T.