Bibshorts help a lot with this issue.

Also a funny story: Stoker get mad at captain (she is right of course) and takes revenge by pulling captain's shorts down in back and hooking them under his saddle.

After hearing that I only ride bibshorts on the tandem

Wayne

We have tried both methods of starting out. For us having the stoker clipped in worked better when we were pedaling OOP, and not clipped in when pedaling in phase. I can't say why we prefer it; it just evolved over time trying both methods. One thing not mentioned is for some newbies using spd or similar pedals it is a bit intimidating, even if they use them on their half-bikes. Consider starting out with flat pedals or better yet, toe clips and straps. You may never change, or after perfecting your techniques, you can introduce clipless pedals. Another task the stoker does on our bike is the energy bars and bananas are in the captain's jersey pockets. She peels the bananas and opens the bars. Sometimes we pin the map of the ride to the back of the captain's jersey and she navigates by announcing the distance and location of the next turn. When you ride with each other long enough you will sense how the other person is doing. Sometimes I (the captain) will request a stop to adjust something or take a bio-break or whetever, not because she requests it, but because I know she would really like the break. This de-emphasizes any differences in strength and makes her feel more a part of the team.

For us the tandem has been a great improvement in domestic tranquility. On solo bikes I routinely out climb her and this is a source of considerable disharmony...and yes I always waited patiently at the top. On the tandem, I don't think we climb even as well as she does on a solo, but even if we have to dismount and walk, we are together and she doesn't feel inferior or abandoned.

We pedal with our pedals 90 degrees out-of-phase (OOP) and as such there is not issue starting up, even on an incline as stoker provides power immediately after pilot's pedal goes over the top.
Another benefit of being OOPers!

I figure it's okay if one of you says "Giddyup", but saying "Hyah Mule!" is probably too much.

Just learn this simple phrase: "I'm the captain of this ship, and what I say goes!"

;)

The roads are littered with badly injured captains who tried that line.

Seriously, lots of teamwork involved. Take is slow, work on communication and skills, enjoy the ride.
Don't be too embarrassed to hoof it if you have to up a steep hill. Your feet are your lowest gear. :)

The only time I have invoked that sentiment is on a rare safety issue disagreement. I as captain am responsible for our safety so yes I look back sometimes even though my stoker says its clear and yes I may stop when my stoker might have crossed an intersection. If we are hit because of a cyclist error then it is ALL my fault period.

All other decisions are a team decision. My type A stoker has no problem with this because it happens so rarely. I believe it also creates trust in my stoker that I always have our safety in mind even when we are bombing down a hill.

Wayne

You may be the captain on the tandem, but a rear admiral outranks a captain in Navy-talk.
Or she can tell you ". . . just wait 'til tonite honey . . . and wait . . . and wait . . . and wait . . ."
Hooking capt's shorts over rear of his saddle is ultimate revenge and we have seen it done only once!
Litterally 'cracked' us up!!!

I suggest you wallpaper a room together. If you both live through it, you're ready for a tandem.

At our house we say, "I am the captain of the ship and I have my wife's permission to say so."

Fabulous input everyone - thank you. We solo'd our tandem sunday with no problem after i road it around a bit!

starting out
 

Great advice all around here. Don't know Bill at Santana, but we don't start his way either. We start with both right feet on the ground, left foot clipped in, and simply ride off like a single bike. Sometimes I rember to say "off we go then". Even after 50,000 kilometers of riding together we cannot seem to get a graceful start with our left feet on the ground.

Otherwise, talk, listen, laugh lots, and get used to your stoker saying "look over there" (you'll probably understand that after a few rides).
Many good miles to you.
Joe

Oh NO! it seems my stoker is easily distracted - every time she sees something that catches her eye she says "look over there at that squirrel, or flower box, or the way they did so and so or whatever" the problem is my stoker stops pedaling when she STARTS looking. arhg says the captain, keep your eyes on my fine rear end and ... mush would ya!

Part of t he stoker's art is looking without leaning. In fact the stoker needs to practice doing most everything without leaning. Just all part of the Twogetherness of tandeming(copyright attribution to Rudy!)

Interesting comment. Could this be bike specific to some extent? From day 1, I have not had any bike handling issues related with my stoker leaning except at exceptionally low speeds.

It's possible that my sensitivity comes from riding on roads with very narrow shoulders and high speed traffic. I wouldn't describe this as an issue at all, but when you're dodging nails, nuts, bolts and glass as we sometimes do an unintentional wiggle can spell disaster. I do like to know when stoker is reaching for a water bottle although most of the time I hardly notice.

There is a definite change in stoker balancing issues with different front end geometries however I don't think there is much difference between a stock steel fork Comotion, which I seem to recall you own, and a stock DaVinice.

I believe that some people have more ability to balance without giving it a thought while others may need to learn and think about it. It helps to have good general body awareness, flexibility and functionality off the bike.

Wayne

My wife and I both have our own commands. It's her job to keep her weight on the same plane as the frame of the bike. She does is quite well and we rarely lose control. I call out shifts, turns, braking, bumps, stopping, right foot up, signal left/right, etc. She calls out upshift, downshift, coast, pull over, speed up, slow down, etc. I am the captain and in control, but if she needs something, I do my very best to comply. We're not the fastest team in the world, but we're smooth and work together very well. It is teamwork and can be very satisfying if you're both committed to a great ride!

Just to clarify, the stoker's movement doesn't really upset the handling of the bike except to the extent that some compensation is necessary, conscious or unconscious. The very slight risk is that the stoker will do something slightly off-balance just as I'm reaching for a water bottle, or putting my hands on the tops for a few minutes during which time corrections are not so smooth.

At very low speeds all bets are off or with a severe quartering wind. At Palm Springs this year I was having to make bit steering corrections when we were hit with a gust since our speed was already quite low. At least we didn't fall over as happened to some of the slower singles.

Certainly if a stoker does the 'hula' back there, captain will be aware of it!
Stoker Kay is so s-m-o-o-t-h back there that she can remove arm warmers/jacket, then reach back and put the stuff in the trunk bag without pilot being aware of it.
Had the expereince one time of doing test ride on a tandem with a +/- 250-lb male stoker who decided to try and steer as we were rounding a corner.
Definitely a no-no! Barely missed hitting a curb.

Well the tandem experiment, no longer an experiment, has worked so well we have decided and started building a house together! The economy does need stimulating !
it was a spin off of wall papering the bathroom together before attempting to ride a tandem. Thanks for all the great advise and the humor.

Trekfx7.9, you really said it! If a couple can wallpaper a bathroom together, then they're probably pretty good candidates for a tandem!