Any hints on riding a tandem with a child? We are about to buy our first tandem (a Cannondale something or other, 2nd hand through a local bike shop) and I will be riding with my daughter. I'm a relatively inexperienced cyclist (have only been riding for 2 years, never rode as a child). Up til now I've towed my daughter on a tag along but she has outgrown it. She has a heart condition and doesn't have the stamina to propel her own bike past about 5 km so the tandem is our only option at this stage to take her on family rides. Any advice appreciated.

Also for the smart people out there who understand how everything works - is it possible to set things up so she can 'coast' and only pedal on the uphills? That was our arrangement with the tag along and it seemed to work well and avoid any heart issues. I gather with a tandem when the captain pedals the stokers wheels go round?

Hello KatyBee,

Several previous posts could be found with a search, but the area we find has given us most cause for thought is the feeding and watering. Getting enough water and calories down her neck on a regular basis is one of the keys for a happy child. My 8 year old daughter and I (overweight 44), started cycling last December (I did ride as a child). In August we completed our first century and plan to do more. We ride once per week.
You can get arrangements to allow the stoker to coast, but it adds weight (more on that to follow), and though I haven't experienced it, I am not sure it adds much. However, one thing to consider is getting clipless pedals for your daughter, as if her feet fall off the pedals, then the pedals will come whizzing round and whack into the back of her legs as the Captain has probably not noticed and will keep on pedaling.
Weight.
Its a big deal when you have a big bike and a child. Encounter hills and it gets slow very quickly. Anything you can do to keep the weight down will help.....
cheers
mike

There is an easy way to get a freewheel arrangement if her legs are still short enough to need a "stoker conversion". That is when there is a separate axle and crank for the small person set 6" to a foot or more above where adult stokers would have their cranks and bottom bracket. Have a free-wheel for the stoker who can coast while the captain keeps pedaling. I have something just like that built into my Counterpoint tandem so the stoker can coast and even shift and pedal at a different cadence then I do.

A while back Santana was offering a Stoker Kit option that used ATP's Independent Pedalling System (IPS) crankset... which does exactly what you're looking for for your daughter. However, ATP went out of business and the IPS rights were sold to another bicycle parts manufacturer (J&B?) and I'm not sure if Santana is still offering them. However the IPS crankset is still available and I would think it could be made to work just as it did in the past.

Best recommendation would be to call Santana Cycles to see if they still offer the IPS option: 1-800-334-6136.

If they don't, I'm pretty sure the Easy Street Recumbents [(512) 453-0438] is still spec'ing the system and they may be able to advise on availability ad pricing. You can find it listed about 1/2 way down this page.