This was the big reason I started rebuilding older Schwinn Twinn Tandems with IGHs. Coordinating with the stoker on down-shifting prior to a stop, or having to start in wrong gear is way more inconvenient on a tandem --especially a casual one with novices in control. Shifting anytime to any gear was HUGE! I built up three of these and gave them away --but loved them for the few months I kept and rode them. Nice.