I'm going Double-Up

[mdk555]

......NOPE don't even try and stand as that could be ........ well let me just say, don't stand!!!!

Don't what ever you do, take a cell call or even better make one

 

Enjoy and take care make sure you close your eyes on the down hills

Great tips - Agreed that standing isn't easy and the easiest way to learn is to attemp it on a very slight downhill and once you feel comfy try it on a bridge. In the intitial stages dont even try to rock the bike like you would with a half bike because the results will be earth shattering. To this day my boet and stand upright and so far are OK.

[mdk555]

hehehe' date=' skye, sounds like you can write a book.

i admire anybody that can make the tandem thing work.   [/quote'] Going double = double the fun. Hills can hurt but that is Q-ring where invented. Wind is no problem as you have double the power but only have the wind resistance. Flats and downhills are awesome. My only negative is that sometimes going double up at a race can be a lonely ride as you can loose the bunch on the hills and are way too strong for the half bikes on the flats.

 

In a way this is not a bad thing 'cause bunch riding with half bikes can be a nightnare as the tandem cannot stop or turn on a dime so best is to be in the front. One of my best rides ever was at the West Coast Express where 6 tandems rode doing the thru and off thing and the South Easter was at our back. 50 -60 km/h and HR was only 65% of max.

 

Now that is mote than double the fun. 

[slowpoke]

double up is fun as long as the two of you get along - my first double-up partner was extremely overweight and lazy so that didn't work out. let's leave it at that. (shush amateur... )

 

since that though, i've been both pilot and stoker (don't go there!) with Gav (yep, the visually disabled Gav) and we had fun. Also been stoker with ewep (thanks boet) beginning last year when my shoulder was still too weak to cope with H2H and we also had lots of fun... in fact, boet, when we doing it again?????

 

it really is lots of fun so enjoy it!

[IanC]

Zoo Cookie

I thought you might be a possibility for a tandem partner on the Kremetart.. 

 

and after that impressive list of do's and don'ts' date=' I think ,if i ever had any ambitions of getting on a tandem - i'm cured.

 

[/quote']

[2 X 2]

Well, I think the most important thing is communication.  The pilot will not know if you are uncomfortable if you don't say it.

 

Try to set up your position at the back as close as possible to your roadbike.

 

Be prepared to help the pilot with his eat stuff.

 

Pay attention to the opposition at the back and inform the pilot

 

Relax the upper body, have fun and don't try to steer

[Guest Big H]

I did a race once on the back of a tandem and it was a hell of a lot of fun!  Just make sure you get a comfy saddle. I couldnt ride for a week after the race!

 

I'm taking my own saddle along

 

Also try to get the setup of the Tandem as close as possible to your own bike ie seat height, distance from seat to stem etc.

[mdk555]

Half bike = Tandem set up. Agree that the tandem set should be based on the half bike set but due to the different styles of riding (more seated riding) they cannot be identical. My saddle on the tandem is slightly further back and the handlebars are slightly higher than the half bikes set up. I just find this set up a lot more comfy. mdk5552008-05-21 00:18:18

[lowracer]

2 donts:

 

dont complain your footrests are moving.

 

dont stop pedaling. not even to coast. your feet is connected to the captains feet via the timing chain. just keep the legs moving. if you are getting tired, talk to the captain.

[mdk555]

Communication is vitally important to a good ride. It is pointless that both stoker and pilot are unhappy and with some small adjustments to speed, cadence and bike handling can be the difference between having a great time or breaking up a relationship.

[slowpoke]

or is you really do want to stop pedalling just unclip your feet first (ask ewep for the details on how to do this nicely so that your partner (eg stoker) can maintain a nice cadence!)

[Mrs Colonel]

oh my word...I think I'm going to start having sleepless nights. 

 

Thanks everyone for ALL of this advice!.  I'm not one to keep quiet, so I don't think communication will be too much of a problem.

 

Skye - you have successfully convinced me never to go downhill on a tandem.  Thanks for that very informative warning.

 

[lowracer]

Mrc C, not to worry.

 

just communicate with your partner.

 

looong ago and far away ... when captaining, I tend to spin more, and my stoker is a bit more of a slugger/masher. she quickly told me to change gears if that happens

[mdk555]

oh my word...I think I'm going to start having sleepless nights.  Thanks everyone for ALL of this advice!.  I'm not one to keep quiet' date=' so I don't think communication will be too much of a problem. Skye - you have successfully convinced me never to go downhill on a tandem.  Thanks for that very informative warning. [/quote']

 

Don't stress as one big thing that has not been highlighted is that the stoker must trust the pilot and believe me next time you tandem with me you might want to bring the camera with so that you can take pictures as you have fun. 

[Mrs Colonel]

oh my word...I think I'm going to start having sleepless nights.  Thanks everyone for ALL of this advice!.  I'm not one to keep quiet' date=' so I don't think communication will be too much of a problem. Skye - you have successfully convinced me never to go downhill on a tandem.  Thanks for that very informative warning. [/quote']

 

Don't stress as one big thing that has not been highlighted is that the stoker must trust the pilot and believe me next time you tandem with me you might want to bring the camera with so that you can take pictures as you have fun. 

 

Well that's promising mdk!  I haven't gone with you once yet and I get a 2nd invitation

[Sean Badenhorst]

Expect to be sore the following day because you mostly pedal seated on a tandem (Jo McLoed and I only stood twice on average during the few Arguses we raced - on Chappies and on Suikerbossie). The tandem position/angle is also slightly different to your single bike.

 

Don't judge tandem riding/racing on your first ride/race. With some conditioning it becomes lots of fun!

 

Enjoy!

 

 

[mdk555]

oh my word...I think I'm going to start having sleepless nights.  Thanks everyone for ALL of this advice!.  I'm not one to keep quiet' date=' so I don't think communication will be too much of a problem. Skye - you have successfully convinced me never to go downhill on a tandem.  Thanks for that very informative warning. [/quote']

 

Don't stress as one big thing that has not been highlighted is that the stoker must trust the pilot and believe me next time you tandem with me you might want to bring the camera with so that you can take pictures as you have fun. 

 

Well that's promising mdk!  I haven't gone with you once yet and I get a 2nd invitation

that's because I know you will have fun and will want to do it again.