Originally Posted by
bjjoondo
Here's my 2 cents as a noob tandem team, IF you have a great relationship and TRUST with your "stroker", (no matter, wife/husband/SO/boy/girlfrend, etc.) and YOU as the capt. can handle being able to say, I'm Sorry a lot, LOL, then I think, from what my wife (stroker/navigator) says, is that it's actually a lot of FUN riding a tandem. If your a "ME" person, it's gona be hard cause you've got to constantly THINK about what the stroker needs to know during the ride, ie: bumps, turns, shifting, etc. When they call tandem riders a "TEAM", they really mean it, otherwise I think you'd both hate the experiance. For us we really dig being on a tandem, hope this helps. FYI, YMMV, JMHO.
You gave the best answer to your own question.
most important thing: have fun, teamwork, listen to your partner and find a middle ground.
I'm always thinking of my stoker - are we going down hill too fast (or around a corner too fast), is the pedal cadence too high, do I need to warn her about a bump, or a branch, does she need a chance to stand up and stretch (relive the pressure on her butt), etc. Listen to each other, practice, and have fun. That is more important than any technical questions (assuming the bike fits OK).
As for being a stoker - I like it. Takes all of the pressure off, and I can just enjoy the ride, enjoy the scenery, wave to people. Its nice. I road all over southern france like that and loved it! Its not better or worse, just different.