Getting Dizzy...What to do?
 

We recently purchased a tandem bike that my husband and daughter could ride together. She is a cycling enthusiast, but she is young. We thought this would be the perfect introduction to the sport. We even added clip pedals to the back of the tandem so that she can learn how to use clips safely.

The only problem is that she is complaining that she is dizzy riding in back. Does anyone have any suggestions? It is the perfect way for us to ride as a family and get some good exercise. I'd hate for the dizziness to prevent us from using this bike.

Thanks for any input or suggestions you may have for us!

LB

Possible that as a typical kid she is watching her feet go round-and-round.
Suggest she looks off to left/right and look at the scenery.

• What's her age?
• You say that she's a cycling enthusiast, but go on to say that the tandem is being used to introduce her to cycling: has she been riding her own bike? If so, long has she been riding, how far (miles) or long (hours) does she ride?
• How far or long are they riding on the tandem? What is the level of physical effort during those rides and how does that compare to her single bike?
• Have you ridden along side when the dizzy-spells occur? If so, can you see her doing anything that might be contributing to the dizzy spells?
• It is possible that her dad is large enough to completely block her view and that she's actually experiencing a little vertigo?

Lacking any additional details, and assuming the level of effort is not beyond her reach, what Zona suggests would solve any issues related to vertigo, i.e., look right or left at the scenery instead of focusing into the back of her dad or down towards her feet or the road.

Dehydration can make a child dizzy, and they get dehydrated a lot faster than a full-sized adult.

Can it be she just doesn't want to be in the back?

Perhaps dad is too strong and causing her to work too hard?

Does she wear glasses on on the tandem? Poor optics at the edges of the lens can cause dizziness and the stoker is encouraged to look to the side and therefore is often not viewing through the center of the lenses as would be normal when riding a bike solo.

Thanks for the info!

She is only 10, and she does wear glasses. She is in great physical shape and can probably ride quite far. We wanted her on the tandem because it is safer than her riding on her own bike on the road (because at 10, she isn't as careful as she should be). She has had a bike with gears and handbrakes since she learned to ride in kindergarten. I will try your suggestions. Thanks so much for your help.