Tandem Cycling - Rode our first ride with a group of tandems!

We've done a century ride where there were other tandems but yesterday Kath and I rode with a local group of riders where there were two other tandem riders. Man, we had a blast. I certainly thought we'd be lagging behind most of the day since the other two were very seasoned tandem riders. We were definitely the newbies here. Oh, there were also about ten singles on the ride.

It turned out to be a 73 mile ride for us traveling through (East Bay California area) Sunol, Pleasanton, Livermore, out and up Cowell Hallow Road, back down to Highland and return to home.

Kathryn picked up some cool stoker tips (like standing when I stayed sitting) and some other balancing tips. And to top it off, we were not dead last...ever. We actually kept our place tucked in second position (with the tandems that is) some of the day. Kathryn made me laugh because she's always making fun of me when I tell her I hate getting passed (which is all of the time). One time out on the flats, she said,"can we catch that other tandem?". I told her "watch us". And we did. That, to me, was the highlight of the day. Beautiful day which started out foggy and 42 degrees. I know, you hard core sub zero people will call us wimps, but that to us was friggen cold!. Turned out to be a clear day with a high of 65.

Nice work!

Congrats on the great day. Ain't it great when a plan comes together. Also amazing when two worlds come together. I'm the buddy of Drummer 5359.

Glad you 2 had a great time!
Stokers can be funny!
Years ago we used to ride with a German friend; us on our tandem, he on his custom single. He always wanted to 'race'.
He had no use for a woman on a bicycle. So one day we were out riding with him, and stoker had warned pilot: "no racing with Hans!'
So Hans tucked in behind usl 'til we came to a good down hill; then he shot past us, laughing!
Whereupon stoker Kay pounded me on the back and yelled: 'get that s.o.b!'
We stomped on it, gave Hans a wide berth as we passed him so he could not grab our draft.
He who laughs last . . .
Want to ride with lots more tandemistas? Do a weekend tandem rally.
The largest we've attended was with 'only' 600 tandem teams at MTR in Des Moines, IA.
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

Kathryn made me laugh because she's always making fun of me when I tell her I hate getting passed (which is all of the time). One time out on the flats, she said,"can we catch that other tandem?". I told her "watch us". And we did.

I love it. We aren't a very fast team and I hate being last. Mrs. Grouch has often chided me about my competitiveness. HOWEVER, if there is a tandem team that she thinks we can beat - LOOK OUT! She can be way more competitive than me.

Oh - and we were in Des Moines.

Awesome.

Sherrill and I have been able to ride with other tandems a few times: definitely a different experience to ride in a loose paceline with bikes that have similar dynamics (with apologies for the engineerese). This past weekend's Western Wheelers LDT ride had four tandems who rode off in a group. Unfortunately, my wife was visiting her brother and I was on my single. I hope the weather is reasonable for the Rice Valley Tandem Rally in Gridley, CA on the ; I'd put up with some moisture, but I really don't want to ride 100 mi. in real rain.

On the other front it's a bummer being older and competitive, but the good news is that we're so new at this that we've got plenty of room for improvement!

It's 60 here in San Diego.
I decided to go the gym and run on the treadmill instead of a cold windy bike ride.
I really prefer warmer weather.

Want to ride with lots more tandemistas? Do a weekend tandem rally.

the 2010 Northwest Tandem Rally will be in the Medford, Oregon area -- just about 20 I-5 miles north of the border.

Sorry we missed it!!! But as you saw, I got to do some riding in Taipei instead. Let us know in advance, the next time you have a "mini" tandem rally!

See ya,

Jaguar

Sherrill and I have been able to ride with other tandems a few times: definitely a different experience to ride in a loose paceline with bikes that have similar dynamics (with apologies for the engineerese). This past weekend's Western Wheelers LDT ride had four tandems who rode off in a group. Unfortunately, my wife was visiting her brother and I was on my single. I hope the weather is reasonable for the Rice Valley Tandem Rally in Gridley, CA on the ; I'd put up with some moisture, but I really don't want to ride 100 mi. in real rain.

On the other front it's a bummer being older and competitive, but the good news is that we're so new at this that we've got plenty of room for improvement!

10 Day forecast for Gridley CA is mostly cloudy which will work! I'll reg in a couple days as it grows closer. Fingers are crossed!

Dan, I agree, there is nothing more fun than riding with other tandems! We'll tag along with singles on our club rides when they are flat or rolling, but hills make it tough. Even on the flats, you need to be patient and not kill yourselves to accelerate from stops with the singles. Once we get going or the road flattens out, we reel everyone in and then the singles want to draft off of us! When it's all tandems, which are all on the same page, it's really like a dance!

Nice tale! Love the stoker scarf!