TandemGeek

Anatomy of a FDGB (Fall Down Go Boom):
Moved from another thread


Step 1: Have what appears to be a pretty good and uneventful day riding off-road.




Step 2: Do some "photo shoots" with friends

Step 3: Spend too much time socializing between loops
Step 4: Find obstacle that no else is willing to attempt near break spot.
Step 5: Decide to take it blind instead of pre-walking.
Step 6: Pick bad line such that tandem is not perpendicular to the obstacle when you enter it.
Step 7: Attempt steering correction 1/2 way into obstacle... bad idea on a tandem.


Step 8: Recognize that front wheel is "flopping" and start to bail off the front end (note how easily my right foot releases from the right Speedplay Frog pedal)


Step 9: Always make the best of a bad situation and laugh once you confirm your stoker is OK and laughing.

Brian

It's a fact that off-road tandems always crash in slow motion. In the rare instance of a stack, I used to try to convince my wife it was time for a rest stop.

mudmouse

Great pics - love the big smiles, especially in the last...

kari

SugarHillGMC

Uh, well most times it's slow. We have had two really good FAST crashes. Once we endo'd (yeah the stoker is REALLY up there), next time during a race we had the fastest front end wash out while in a left hand corner- first lap out of three. Bloody legs, scraped arms, misc bruises- but we got back on and finished.
I try to avoid injuring the stoker- she remains fearless and is confident that I try very hard to bring her back in one piece.

John S & Cathy B
EFTA Series Champions- 2001, 2002 & 2003
Tandem Division

stapfam

As Stoker on a team that frequently falls off- I have got used to staying on the bike-Holding on to the bars, feet clipped in and not putting a foot or arm out to break, and pulling myself in tight when it goes pear shaped. It may be my slow reactions that means I do not have time to react, but so far my theory has proved right, and even my pilot is fast coming to the same conclusion. Luckily- most falls are at slow speed, but the Fast offs so far have only hurt the pride as they always seem to happen in front of a crowd of spectators.