Are tandem bikes better than solo rider bikes?
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Are tandem bikes better than solo rider bikes?
I've been lately thinking about buying a tandem bike for riding together with my younger brother but he thinks solo bikes are the best. Any suggestions?
#3
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If you want to ride a bike with another person (the same bike), I'd recommend a tandem.
If you want to ride separate bikes, I'd recommend single bikes for each.
With that out of the way, before you even consider buying a tandem to ride with your brother, you should spend some time talking about who will be in the front (controlling steering, shifting and braking, and with a full view of the world) and who will be in the back (pedaling and staring at the captain's back). I cannot imagine a tandem team working unless they are both enthusiastic about the idea, and they both are fully on board with their respective roles.
Also, many of us ride our tandem with our mates, often because we found it impractical to ride single bikes together (the man generally being much larger and stronger than the woman, so they naturally ride at different speeds). A tandem is brilliant at allowing each to work at different levels, while keeping together. If you and your brother ride single bikes at pretty close to the same speed, keeping with single bikes probably makes more sense than riding a tandem.
If, after serious discussion, you both believe you want to try a tandem, rent one a few times, before you buy.
Mark
If you want to ride separate bikes, I'd recommend single bikes for each.
With that out of the way, before you even consider buying a tandem to ride with your brother, you should spend some time talking about who will be in the front (controlling steering, shifting and braking, and with a full view of the world) and who will be in the back (pedaling and staring at the captain's back). I cannot imagine a tandem team working unless they are both enthusiastic about the idea, and they both are fully on board with their respective roles.
Also, many of us ride our tandem with our mates, often because we found it impractical to ride single bikes together (the man generally being much larger and stronger than the woman, so they naturally ride at different speeds). A tandem is brilliant at allowing each to work at different levels, while keeping together. If you and your brother ride single bikes at pretty close to the same speed, keeping with single bikes probably makes more sense than riding a tandem.
If, after serious discussion, you both believe you want to try a tandem, rent one a few times, before you buy.
Mark
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If you want to ride a bike with another person (the same bike), I'd recommend a tandem.
If you want to ride separate bikes, I'd recommend single bikes for each.
With that out of the way, before you even consider buying a tandem to ride with your brother, you should spend some time talking about who will be in the front (controlling steering, shifting and braking, and with a full view of the world) and who will be in the back (pedaling and staring at the captain's back). I cannot imagine a tandem team working unless they are both enthusiastic about the idea, and they both are fully on board with their respective roles.
Also, many of us ride our tandem with our mates, often because we found it impractical to ride single bikes together (the man generally being much larger and stronger than the woman, so they naturally ride at different speeds). A tandem is brilliant at allowing each to work at different levels, while keeping together. If you and your brother ride single bikes at pretty close to the same speed, keeping with single bikes probably makes more sense than riding a tandem.
If, after serious discussion, you both believe you want to try a tandem, rent one a few times, before you buy.
Mark
If you want to ride separate bikes, I'd recommend single bikes for each.
With that out of the way, before you even consider buying a tandem to ride with your brother, you should spend some time talking about who will be in the front (controlling steering, shifting and braking, and with a full view of the world) and who will be in the back (pedaling and staring at the captain's back). I cannot imagine a tandem team working unless they are both enthusiastic about the idea, and they both are fully on board with their respective roles.
Also, many of us ride our tandem with our mates, often because we found it impractical to ride single bikes together (the man generally being much larger and stronger than the woman, so they naturally ride at different speeds). A tandem is brilliant at allowing each to work at different levels, while keeping together. If you and your brother ride single bikes at pretty close to the same speed, keeping with single bikes probably makes more sense than riding a tandem.
If, after serious discussion, you both believe you want to try a tandem, rent one a few times, before you buy.
Mark
However, whomever you plan to be the stoker must really be OK being a stoker. It is a much different experience than riding a bike on your own.
#5
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Agreed. Over many years of cycling, I have found that riding with another person who is even slightly different in ability isn't much fun for either the faster or the slower person.
However, whomever you plan to be the stoker must really be OK being a stoker. It is a much different experience than riding a bike on your own.
However, whomever you plan to be the stoker must really be OK being a stoker. It is a much different experience than riding a bike on your own.
A tandem team must have team morality. It's perfect communist enterprise: "From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs."
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Are you both similar in size? If so, how big? Most tandems provide more room for the captain versus the stoker. Of course, one can have a custom frame made to accommodate more room for the stoker. If you are both similar in size, then you can trade off being the captain and the stoker.
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I think that I didn't make myself clear. If one is riding SINGLE bikes with another rider of different ability, it isn't much fun for either. A tandem eliminates that difference.
#8
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Agreed. Well, until you hit that long 14% grade and the entire communist enterprise grinds to a halt!
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Cheers for tandems! We have friends who don't tandem, but ride singles, but although they ride "together", they are never at the same place at the same time. Judy and I enjoy being "together", so yes, we have to compromise, but we do have a SUCCESSFUL endeavor.
R&J
R&J
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as a completely unqualified enthusiast who is inching towards getting a tandem spring I wanted to say that (I've heard at the Holiday Inn Express) going uphill is slightly harder on a tandem than on a single but going downhill and on straightaways the going is slightly faster than with a single.
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as a completely unqualified enthusiast who is inching towards getting a tandem spring I wanted to say that (I've heard at the Holiday Inn Express) going uphill is slightly harder on a tandem than on a single but going downhill and on straightaways the going is slightly faster than with a single.
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This has been discussed on this forum extensively.
A tandem has an advantage over a single bike on flats & downhill. This is an aerodynamic advantage. Basically, anything over about 15 mph a tandem has less wind resistance than a pair of singles. Some strong teams are very fast on the flats and courageous teams can hit over 50 mph downhill.
Going uphill at speeds below 10 mph, the advantage disappears. It then becomes a power-to-weight ratio. A couple on a tandem can climb a hill at about the average of the speed they can each do it on a single.
A tandem has an advantage over a single bike on flats & downhill. This is an aerodynamic advantage. Basically, anything over about 15 mph a tandem has less wind resistance than a pair of singles. Some strong teams are very fast on the flats and courageous teams can hit over 50 mph downhill.
Going uphill at speeds below 10 mph, the advantage disappears. It then becomes a power-to-weight ratio. A couple on a tandem can climb a hill at about the average of the speed they can each do it on a single.
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Tandems still have lots of area for improvement.
#14
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Beloved stoker and I rode together for a number of years before buying our first tandem. I've always been the stronger rider, but she drafted nicely on flat or rolling terrain. When climbing I'd pace myself off her. One of our first dates was me serving as a tow-truck for her first century.
As the years have passed we've come to rely solely on the tandem for riding together except for the occasional easy "recovery" ride.
YMMV.
As the years have passed we've come to rely solely on the tandem for riding together except for the occasional easy "recovery" ride.
YMMV.
#15
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Got my 1st tandem/aka dating tool in my teens. I find they work best under a dictator model. I've had stronger rider than me stoke. The art is the stoker learning to follow the captain's lead. After some time, both learn how hard to work, when to stand etc. It does take a bit more time than you might think. One partner and I got our bunny hop down. I'd have to go first and take the front wheel over, he'd kick up his heals and take the rear over. I don't really know how he did it, but we'd jump tracks etc. Ironically (or not) I found one gender of stokers much more OK at taking orders - just saying.
Tandems still have lots of area for improvement.
Tandems still have lots of area for improvement.
It is true that many women want to assert their independence so much that they're uncomfortable in the stoker position. I totally understand that, but it's too bad because there's so much good to be found in partnering on a tandem.
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I've posted parts of this picture several times. The stoker is Mike. Mike could wind up 2,000W. Mike was a national champion. I was strong too. Mike did exactly what I told him too. We did fondos of 10,000 riders and finished 5-10 min in front. We did hill climbs and dropped all the singles (in a fondo). I could have never done that without Mike. He could have never done that without my tandem.
Things worked well.
Things worked well.
#18
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I've posted parts of this picture several times. The stoker is Mike. Mike could wind up 2,000W. Mike was a national champion. I was strong too. Mike did exactly what I told him too. We did fondos of 10,000 riders and finished 5-10 min in front. We did hill climbs and dropped all the singles (in a fondo). I could have never done that without Mike. He could have never done that without my tandem.
Things worked well.
Things worked well.
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#20
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"taking orders" . . . I've ridden with stronger stokers also. It was fun to whup some butt on group rides. My wife has been my best stoker, even if she only has half my power/weight. She's really good back there. Unless there's some event ride I want to do solo or Stoker is out of commission for some reason, I only ride the tandem now. It's the most fun, even if we do lag way behind the group sometimes. We'd rather ride by ourselves anyway.
It is true that many women want to assert their independence so much that they're uncomfortable in the stoker position. I totally understand that, but it's too bad because there's so much good to be found in partnering on a tandem.
It is true that many women want to assert their independence so much that they're uncomfortable in the stoker position. I totally understand that, but it's too bad because there's so much good to be found in partnering on a tandem.
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Our structure is more like a British Monarchy. I bow and kiss her hand before she gets on the tandem.
#22
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Being stoker is, to me, an unattractive role, and I am immensely grateful that my wife is happy to perform that role. But for it to work, she has to absolutely trust me, which includes that she knows that her wishes are paramount (which includes that I don't give her "orders").
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agreed
Exactly!
Being stoker is, to me, an unattractive role, and I am immensely grateful that my wife is happy to perform that role. But for it to work, she has to absolutely trust me, which includes that she knows that her wishes are paramount (which includes that I don't give her "orders").
Being stoker is, to me, an unattractive role, and I am immensely grateful that my wife is happy to perform that role. But for it to work, she has to absolutely trust me, which includes that she knows that her wishes are paramount (which includes that I don't give her "orders").
I think its more about understanding each other than passing orders now and then.
I read somewhere that tandem is a best way to boost communication between two person's.
#24
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But when you are, it's really a wonderful experience!
#25
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