Tandem Cycling - First ride

Howdy,
xray brought his Raliegh tandem into the office today, at luch time he and I took a twenty miler out to the Great Salt Lake and back. I rode the stoker seat for the entire ride.
I had a great time, we averaged just over 20mph. I did however find it difficult to look to where we were going, I guess that "you go where you look" thing, I would try to think the bike one way while xray took it another.
All in all it was a great experience, even though it was 26f with 10-15 mph wind.

M.R.

Hhowdy from Tucson!

Sounds like a 'c-o-o-l' ride at 26 degrees! However if the road is dry and you dress properly it can be fun!
Being the stoker you have to adjust to be satisfied with looking to the left and right; or if the captain is not too tall and riding in the drops you can see part of what's ahead. However a stoker constantly leaning over and straining to see what's ahead can cause steering issues especially for a novice captain.
Make sure that the captain communicates properly so you know of any changes, like shifting, turning, braking, standing, coasting . . . and bumps!
Welcome to the tandem world!
Have ridden extensively in the Cache Valley (Logan area) and will be back out there riding this summer.

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/Zona tandem

I want to be like xray when I grow up

I never want to grow up.

I call out all the turns, shifts, stops, and bumps to my stoker.

What ITLD didn't tell you was that after we got back from our ride I tried the stoker position for a couple of minutes. Wow, was I terrible!! I need some additional time in the stoker position. I think that will make me a better when I ride a Captain. During the ride I did try to communicate to ITLD shifting, standing breaks, braking etc. It was a lot of fun.

RB

We busted the timing chain once, and I had to get in back and pedal while my wife steered us home. We both had more respect for each other's positions after that.

We busted the timing chain once, and I had to get in back and pedal while my wife steered us home. We both had more respect for each other's positions after that.

I have a regular co-rider, and I own the damn tandem so I want to sit up front. However Stuart is quite powerful and Wheelspin on mud when you ask for power is not too pleasant. I put him on front to show him what Problems he causes me and Hey Presto-- I am now an accomplished stoker.
I do occasionally take solo mountain bikers out with me, but I am afraid my nerve goes when they are on the front. Don't care how accomplished a mountain biker they are, They take the worry seat, until my shoulders give out, and then they may get a try at the front.

Incidentally Expatriate, what forks do you have on your Tandem,? They look awesome but heavy

They're made by ATC Racing, but it's a Hanebrink design. Dean, the owner of ATC Racing has a machine shop that produces really really really high end stuff. He had about 10,000 pieces (no exaggeration) on the Pathfinder that went to Mars. Alex of MTBTandems.com sent me there, and Dean custom built a tandem rated fork for us. It weighs under 6 lbs, has 5 very plush inches of travel, and is completely user serviceable. We'll have to switch to a Marzocchi Dirt Jumper single crown for travel, but this things works perfect.

Howdy,

I own the damn tandem so I want to sit up front.

I imagine thats xrays feelings as well.

M.R.