bdcheung

And I'm scared to death!

I'm a very experienced cyclist - her, not so much. She can ride clipless fairly well, but for our first venture on the tandem we're going with platform pedals. Maybe clips and straps if I think she can handle it.

Any beginner tips for how to make this first experience as painless as possible? Thanks!

chichi

Do a couple of rides with platform pedals (stoker), skip the straps. After a couple of rides the clipless pedals will be a non issue. For the captain, mtn bike shoes are a good choice as the bottom is usually not slippery which will help to avoid slips when you are holding up both the bike and stoker.

First 1 mile on a tandem and in particular the first turn will almost convince you that riding a tandem is impossible. After 5 miles its just like riding a bike.

MB1

Just take it easy for your first few rides, go short and slow and get used to riding together. She'll love it.

BTW you should be holding the bike up when starting and stopping so there is NO reason for her to use anything but her clipless pedals.

Thigh Master

A useful attitude/mantra is: "make the stoker happy." So whatever she wants, you bend to it, unless it is unsafe. You are ultimately responsible for any accidents - so blend that responsibility with her lack of control; e.g., if she isn't used to spinning, then go slower for her and work overtime on picking up leg speed with her. The first rides should be mellow, short on Captain attitude and long on fun - so she'll want to return to the tandem over and over.

Both of you might benefit reading stoker posts to learn from that perspective - there's some good ones.

moleman76

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=proper+method is one of many threads here about how to start and stop.

I'd say "try it both ways" and likely even start out with the traditional, both riders have a foot down, approach. It's more "normal" and will take the "can I hold the bike up/will he drop me" factor out of the discussion. Once you've got the bike in motion, just be sure that when you come up to the first stop, there is agreement on what you're going to do then!

Bill McCready's documentation on the "invention" of "the proper method" says that it was pioneered (in his part of California) by fast-riding teams who didn't want to lose time at stoplights to the routine of getting shoes onto pedals, and toestraps tightened, for both riders. I think that "modern" cleat/pedal technology speeds that up a lot, and besides, you can still leave one foot clipped in. [I'm sure that the 'proper method' was probably developed somewhere in Europe shortly after the invention of the toe strap, but ...]

Personally, I prefer putting my left foot down, if only because we tend to ride along the right side of the road, and the crown in most roads / streets means that the pavement is a bit higher on that side / less of a feeling of leaning over toward the low side, if that makes sense.

charmed

As the stoker, who was much less experienced than the captain, I have to say I preferred being clipped in, and staying clipped during stops. When unclipped, starting up again made the bike feel unstable to me, and as a stoker that is a bad feeling. I found if the bike was going down I could unclip fast enough to hold it up. And that is from the perspective of someone whose only clip in pedals were on the tandem, my regular bike had platforms.

Yes, keep the stoker happy. She gets to pick speed, right up until she wants to go faster than you are willing to go. Call bumps if you can, otherwise get a really good suspension system. Your pockets are her pockets. Stop for treats. (Coffee always worked for me.)

DaveloMA

I went through just this last weekend, and my situation is similar to what you describe. I'm far from experienced (we have one ride of thirteen miles under our wheels), so I'll humbly offer the following in the hope that another newbie's experiences prove useful to you:

- The benefits of clipless pedals are obvious the first time you use them. Similarly, platform pedals offer a number of drawbacks (feet falling off the pedals; permitting the stoker to use legs as outriggers when balance-panic sets in; difficulty getting the captain's pedals in place so he can clip in; etc.). My wife had never used clipless before and was a bit anxious about them. So, what we did was spend some time in the garage, me straddling the bike, and she practicing getting clipped in, seated, and unclipping. It took her a fair amount of trial and error for her to line up the cleat with the pedal, but after a while it became far easier and, honestly, halfway through our first ride, became nearly second nature. (Also: should the unfortunate happen, I think it's much easier to get out of clipless pedals than it is straps.)

- Read the resources cited in other threads; read them together and discuss. You really want your stoker to be comfortable before setting out -- possessing some basics tips about tandeming and stoking will make it much easier for her to relax and enjoy the experience.

- In a neutral setting (say, a garage or driveway), spend some time discussing and practicing the basics -- mounting (captain straddles, stoker mounts/clips in, etc.), figuring out where your preferred clipping in pedal position is, how you want to shove off (counting down worked for us). I'd go further and suggest doing this entirely separately from any ride you decide to take, to work out kinks and remove pressure (performance anxiety) from your first time riding.

- For the first ride -- literally, your first time riding the bike -- find a wide open space (a high school parking lot worked for us) for practicing. Not just getting under way, but shifting, turning (she will likely not take naturally to leaning while turning, and you don't want to discover that taking a sweeper at 40mph!), and stopping (no more track-stands for you!). We devoted about 10 minutes to the parking lot before hitting the open road, and it was time well spent.

- Talk/ask questions while you ride -- How's this pace? Is your seat comfy? Want to coast a bit? Don't just "go!".

- Have fun! (Else, what's the point?)

David
"Two-up since 4/12/09!"

Thigh Master

AGREE! There's lots of threads on this issue. We like the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST.

Phantoj

If you can ride the tandem a little bit before you ride it with her, it will help.

I thought, "Hey, I can ride a motorcycle with a passenger; this will be no big deal." But I was wrong; tandems are very long and they don't quite steer the same way as a smaller bike. We were very wobbly. Try to relax if possible. Take your first ride(s) in a safe environment.

(My wife and I really haven't ridden the tandem together, except for our first test ride. When we ride bikes together, I'm on the tandem with the kids, and she rides her single bike.)

WebsterBikeMan

And transitions to coasting, and shifts (so she can back off), and turns (she might even signal for you). Describe what's coming up (unless she can actually see past you): not just bumps but intersections with stop signs, lights, turns.

I find that when I stop it's best to make the last bit of the stop somewhat sudden. That throws me off the saddle, so I can put my already-unclipped feet on the ground without tilting the bike. On a single I tilt the bike and put only one foot on the ground. Not a great idea with the extra weight. Both starting and stopping I'm trying to keep the bike vertical. As far as I can tell you have the choice of BOTH putting a (normally left) foot down, or captain putting BOTH feet down. Only the captain putting only one foot down is a great way to either drop the bike or at least scare the stoker into thinking you will.

bdcheung

These are great tips, thanks so much! My wife and I will read this thread together, and the attendant links, before going out for the first time.

Thanks a bunch, and keep 'em coming!

Butcher

[QUOTE=Phantoj;8748849]If you can ride the tandem a little bit before you ride it with her, it will help.QUOTE]

I am not an expert but I know for a fact that riding a tandem without a person in the back is much different than riding a tandem with a person in the back. I would not think that learning to ride the tandem without someone [to get familar with the bike] and then taking someone out is a good idea. If there is a good way to transition I would mention it. In the beginning it was shakey at first [so do not plan on turning right away] and after several miles it got easier. Stopping was not really an issue but my son trusted me and stayed very still and clipped in. Stopping will be the next issue you should tackle. What ever you do, do not give up and tell your stoker not to worry you are in good hands. Good luck and have fun.

bdcheung

Should we anticipate falling over the first couple of times out?

My wife does better when the bar is set low and we come in above it.

i'm not above wearing pads for our first foray into tandems!

Butcher

We have never fallen except for the time we were going home and the rear wheel was not tight enough and slipped when going up a steep hill. Just have some room to manuver [large parking lot].

bdcheung

there are plenty of parking lots around us.

She's pretty new to riding clipless - would it be best for her to stay clipped in when we stop/start?

Keith99

I go with whatever makes her feel comfortable. If her balance or your strength is at all in question have her clip out.

Just be sure to start slowly enough that she has no trouble clipping in.

I think I remember some pairs where the stoker is the one who unclips. Whatever you do avoid having both thinking it is the other who is putting a foot down.

bdcheung

Sounds like this will be an excellent exercise in communication.

TandemGeek

Not unless:

a. You're riding a tandem that too big for you where you can't get a wide stance straddling the top tube
b. You're using a a pedal / shoe system on the tandem that you're not familiar with.
c. You're using clipless road shoes with slick soles or slick cleats (Speedplay lolipop cleats are the worst in this regard) which can make for poor footing when stopping or starting.
d. You're stoker is your equal in size or better and nervous as a long-tail cat on a porch full of rocking chairs.
e. You forget you're on a tandem while your stopped and take your hands off the handlebars while your stoker is still clipped-in and shifts her weight.

At least for road tandems, those are some of the most common causes of a fall-down-go-boom (FDGB) and as you can see, they occur when you're stopping and starting. In this regard, riding a tandem is sort of like flying an airplane in that once you get going you're usually in good shape.

The only other thing to be mindful of with regard to tandems is attempting to steer on loose gravel, sand or silt as a tandem's front wheel will wash-out much more readily than a single. Folks who ride off-road tandems learn this qwerk about tandems in a hurry.

5 Keys for success:

1. Communicate before you ride; here's what we're going to do.
2. Mutual trust
3. Communicate while you ride; read to go, bump, turning, shifting, stopping, how ya doing back there?
4. Relax and have fun
5. Communicate after you ride; so... how'd you like it? What do I need to do? Anything need to be adjusted to make you more comfortable?

Each ride will be better than the previous one in you follow these 5 keys to success.

bdcheung

a. Nope
b. Nope
c. Uh oh...
d. ****...
e.

this will be fun.

TandemGeek

Yeah, here's the deal on that one....

Unlike your single bike, if you leave your handlebar unattended on a tandem while you're stopped with your stoker mounted and they shift their weight left or right of center, the tandem will lean that way and the front wheel will immediately flop over. When the front wheel flops with the stoker still seated you don't really have much of a chance of keeping the tandem from falling over underneath you since the bars (your only point of leverage) are already askew.

andr0id

I'm sure this is just academic speculation, not first hand experience.

andr0id

The other thing to be mindful of is that when you stop and come of the saddle, that you come straight forward and DON'T lean the bike. It is very normal to lean a single and put one foot down, but you can't do this more than a few degrees and keep the stoker balanced. I did this on our first test ride around the neighborhood. Figured it out and fixed it, and we haven't had any trouble since.

One exercise that will help both your and your stokers confidence is to pull in between two cars, you dismount and leave stoker seated and clipped. You can then see how far you can lean the bike with the stoker on. Between cars is good because if you go too far, she will just bump the car and not fall over.

Ritterview

The OP topic was addressed on this old thread, which I've updated.

Stoker clip pedal terror

TandemGeek

Yup. Been there and done that but I actually got credited with a partial save. I hand a light hand on the tiller when it started to go and Debbie is a petit flower, therefore I was able to grab the bars and hold it long enough for Debbie to get a foot out and keep us from a full capsize.

geranimo57

This most likely has no bearing.. however unconditional trust is very important. My wife cannot ride a bike and has no desire to do so.. she has been on the back of OUR motorcycle for the last 15 years and at least 300,000 miles. Since I really missed her company on the bicycle rides we decided to get a Tandem.. after about 5 miles we were a team! I suppose the moral of the story is your stoker needs trust in the captain.. then everything will follow! After all you are out to have fun and spend time together.. what can go wrong? Its a trust thing.. communication is key also, but that goes with any relationship!