Rollers are where a well-oiled team can slay the singles, between the momentum of the big bike and the additional horsepower.

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.

As for the speed thing:
1) tandems are significantly faster on flat roads. Ever try keeping up with a tandem on a long flat ride? It ain't easy.
2) tandems accelerate slower.
3) tandems are slower going up hill
4) tandems are way fast on a slight down hill. I have people tell me all the time - oh, I don't want to be passing a tandem cresting a hill. Good advice because I never see them again after we crest.

Agree up to a point on the rollers, but as for "additional horsepower" as a 130+ y/o team we ain't got none. For us the big advantage is being able to ride together whether a 15 mile r/t coffee run or a Century.

I agree with all but #3. Tandems climb slower than the stronger rider (usually the captain) but faster than the slower (usually the stoker). Tandems just seem slow because their advantages #1 and #3 allow it to run with faster singles on the flat and then gravity brings back to earth when faced with a real hill.

Wayne
whos stoker would MUCH rather climb on our tandem than her single.


Wayne

Just wanted to say THANKS for all the good advise, the last two rides have seemed a LOT easier and todays 40 mile, vaired terrain ride was up to an 11.9 mph avg. speed so we are improving. I took my strokers advise and "ran 1 gear higher" than my "sense" was telling me to run and we don't seem so worn out! We've been riding "recumbents" since Jan. 2011 and "SPIN" is king, the tandem doesn't seem to respond as well to "spinning" , we are not mashing, just spinning a bit slower in a higher gear and the tandem responds better. Tandems were ment for the "open" road, it doesn't like stop and go intown riding but it's a dream out on the highway or the open bike path/wo a lot of stopping.

Now I don't have the strongest knees, having "Reiter's Syndrome", chronic arthritis, I find trying to "hold" up the tandem at stops, with just "one leg" for a longish time is VERY bad!!! I've gone to using both legs if it's not a quick stop and that too has helped with the, "tired/whipped" feeling problem. We do really like tandeming, again thanks!

I think that's what we like MOST about getting into tandeming, although we are looooong way from a "Century", LOL! At 112 y/o team level, were in it more for the FUN!

Glad you are having fun and getting the hang of it! I ride my track bike at 100-130 rpm. Needless to say, a slower cadence is better on the tandem with my wife! She bought some clipless shoes the other day, so now hopefully I can teach her how to clip in/out on the tandem without dropping her on the ground. ;-)

At any stop that will be longer than just a few seconds, I (captain) put both feet down. As soon as I unclip my second foot, Stoker, who does not unclip, presents me with my preferred pedal in my preferred position. I'm strong enough to hold the bike up just fine, but I feel we are much safer, particularly in town, with both my feet down. Stoker only unclips when we have a long stop, like waiting for someone or a clothing change. Safety first. We are only 128 y.o., so are looking forward to many more years of fun on the bike together. We also backpack together - doing a 70 mile 10-day with no resupply next month.

That's our preferred way of working too. Stoker is clipped in. I have my saddle (captain) set for proper pedalling leg extension - I have to come forward off the saddle for both feet down. (I thought about a remote locking telescopic post for a while, but gave up on the idea as the stoker's bars are clamped to the captain's post.)

If you want stoker to keep clipped in then it's important to keep the bike dead upright, not lean over like a solo - if it starts to lean she loses nerve.

Stoker has finally learnt to present the pedal at a speed that I can avoid. I had a few bashed shins while we worked that one out.

102 y.o. btw

You have two people with different riding styles and what is needed is a compromise. Sounds like you have different required cadence so just keep riding and talk to each other. Stoker wants a higher gear- Give stoker what they want. It may be hard on you for a while but gradually those two different cadence levels will meet- somewhere in the middle and you will both have adapted so it is comfortable.

Took me and my pilot about 3 months and 500 miles to start to become a team. Then another 3 months before we started to gel and after 1 year it all worked. Hills became shorter- I started to know when a gear change was happening- knew where the bike was going by the way the pilot approached the corner that I couldn't see because he was bigger than me--You name it and and it wasn't two riders and a bike- It was one team.

But that cadence will be a problem till the pair of you compromise on what works--for both of you.

I have finally learned to stand with my feet wide apart. No more bashed shins. Stoker has learned I won't drop her, even if the bike leans over on a shorter stop. I've learned to lean the bike more than I lean my single, to make sure that an inadvertent stoker movement doesn't topple us. I guess she just guts it out. I never stop on the saddle with just a toe down. I always come off the saddle, even for a one-foot stop.

It is interesting to read that many of you have your stoker clip in first and stay clipped in. We tried it and it does not work for us.

Here is our technique: I get on and clip my right foot in with the right pedal down, left foot firmly on the ground, straddling the top tube. She gets on and clips in her right foot while straddling the top tube. We then move our right feet into a power position (approx 2 o'clock if viewed from the RH side) and then back up a little then push off and get on the saddles then pedal until the LH pedal is at the bottom of the stroke, I then clip in, she let's her left foot dangle until I am clipped in. I say OK and then she clips in and says OK and off we go. When we stop we both take our left foot out and put it firmly on the ground while straddling the top tube. It works for us and the fear factor and loss of control issue is resolved.

I know it is not the way Bill from Santana says to do it but his way does not work for us.

Wayne

With both of us also being "Solo" riders- this is the only way we can start. Even works up slopes on the offroad although on the steeper ones we may point ourselves across the trail. Stoker will be off the saddle though as for a normal start.

All generalizations, including this one, are false. ;-)

Tracey and I both ride singles often, yet our tandem starting procedure is: (1) I hold bike with both feet on ground, (2) Tracey clips in both feet, (3) I clip in right foot @ 10'clock position, and (4) were' off!

Another vote for the "proper method" here. Having the stoker clipped in and giving full on power immediately from the start allows uphill starts with ease. I say go, she puts both feet in motion as I step down on the pedal that is waiting at the top of my power stroke and clip in. I can clip in on the move so our pedals never slow once they start to move. No pause to clip in that will kill your momentum on an up a hill start. The stronger the stoker the better this method works.

Wayne

As a stoker I love what I do. Besides stoking, I sightsee, socialize, snap photos, sing, and generally have a great time. I spend a lot of my bike time on my half-bike (tandem jargon for 1 rider on 2 wheels), so being able to throw control away and just pedal as hard and as fast as needed. Give the stoker a chance to enjoy it before you decide she might not enjoy it: She may surprise you.

Oh, and FYI: Wherever your relationship is headed, the tandem will get you there faster.

Hope you give it a whirl.

I agree, Before getting a tandem my wife road about 3500 miles a year on her single. After having a tandem for a few years I can't get my wife to ride her single! All she wants to do is ride the tandem!

Wayne

We have successfully been executing a rather "improper" method. Captain straddles the bike and clips in right foot. With left foot securely planted and the bike leaning slightly to the left and saddle firmly planted against captains right hip, the stoker gets on the bike and clips in right foot.

Depending on the terrain, she may clip in the left foot as well. I think she used to always clip in the left foot prior to the bike moving, but the method has evolved over time due to our tandem mountain biking. There are more situations where we may need to stop for a switchback or significant obstacle than the road tandem. Always starting with the right crank roughly parrallel to the down tube. This has worked for thousands of miles of tandeming including numerous offroad races. I think its a function of wanting to get rolling quickly.

I think we are in the minority in not using the "proper method", so I'm not advising others to follow our lead, but it DOES work, so I thought I'd share. I suppose it would only take the stoker leaning hard to the right just once and we'd change our mind, but I have no plans to change our method.

Cheers.
Dan

I actually SIT on the top tube with my legs spread, she mounts up with both feet on pedals, (yes, were wimps, I use clips and straps, she uses half-clips), IF the bike is standing up, the most "foot" she can get on the ground is her "big toe" and that's with a "14.5 inch. stroker position", she set's my pedal, I ask if she's ready, if so I say GO and were off!

We do it like you too.