Tandem Cycling - fun with our tandem today

Our tandem: http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb8/dianemisso/Tandem20110618/?action=view&current=IMG_0694.jpg
1994 Trek T50, which we are just starting to ride. My wife has balance issues, so never rode a solo bike. I commute 12 miles each way to work on a 1985 Schwinn World Tourist, with some upgrades.

This morning was our fourth time out on the tandem, heading east on Willow, red light at Meridan. Waiting for the light a 20 something in full gear pulls up on $1K+ road bike with drop bars, etc. He takes off, we accelerate slowly (500+ lbs team here), in about eight blocks, we blow by him :D Diane said he did not look happy at all :lol: The light at Lincoln was green, and we were pulling away. We slowed to take the bike trail south along 87, and he passed us, continuing east on Willow.

It is fun for an over 50 couple, just starting on the tandem to blow by a youngin' on a fancy road bike. :D :D

Cherish that one!
Enjoy the ride TWOgether!
RUdy and Kay/zonatandem

THAT is always fun. My wife will sometimes chide me for a focus on average speed etc reminding me that we are just out for a ride together. Then - on Saturday's ride, we tried a new route along lake Michigan and had a great 55 mile ride. O our return route, she noticed a single bike gaining on us after a small climb. We didn't really "drop the hammer" but did add a little effort without working too hard. She was actually enjoying giving me updates on our chaser. He appeared to be working pretty hard she said and we were at perhaps 75% effort. We managed to keep him back there for about 5 miles until we pulled into our lunch stop. I think she finally understands the mentality I have from time to time.

THAT is always fun. My wife will sometimes chide me for a focus on average speed etc reminding me that we are just out for a ride together. Then - on Saturday's ride, we tried a new route along lake Michigan and had a great 55 mile ride. O our return route, she noticed a single bike gaining on us after a small climb. We didn't really "drop the hammer" but did add a little effort without working too hard. She was actually enjoying giving me updates on our chaser. He appeared to be working pretty hard she said and we were at perhaps 75% effort. We managed to keep him back there for about 5 miles until we pulled into our lunch stop. I think she finally understands the mentality I have from time to time.

cool !!! it is great when spouses understand :)

Nice kill! ;-)

One of the things I enjoy when riding the tandem is catching up with a hammerhead or two on single bikes and drafting them for a while. Once they get comfortable and think that we're doing all we can just to stay up, we drop the hammer on them and pass them, leaving them in the dust. Unless we stop, they rarely catch up. One of the funnest things about the tandems is pulling stunts like that on the guys riding their fancy carbon bikes. :)

Both my son (14 and autistic) and my wife (never ridden a bike) will be riding with me on our new Bilenky viewpoint (I will be captain, and in the rear). I was wondering how those first rides of yours went at the beginning, in terms of balance mostly.