Tandem Cycle Dynamics

[El Toro]

I want to take up tandem cycling, but are getting very confusing and opposing arguments in regard to who should sit in front or back, the heavier or the lighter rider?

I heard several arguments in favour of the stronger rider seated at the back. If this is true then why don't most men (who are heavier and stronger by default) sit at the back when they have a female partner? My opservation is that in the majority of cases I notice the smaller and lighter rider acts as stoker, and that very seldomly the taller, or heavier, or stronger rider, sits at the back. Why is that?

What effect does a difference of 15kg's between the two riders have when it comes to handling characteristics and dynamics?

Will the bike not sway more when the heavier rider sits at the back, similar to a car with a lot of weight in the boot?

Weight distribution must have an effect, but what?

Does it matter who the stronger of the two riders are since they are providing the same driving force regardless of where they are seated?

I would like to hear from the experienced riders out there in my quest to remain a safe and competitive cyclist! El Toro2009-09-07 06:46:19

[Guest Big H]

I would never trust my wife to sit in front as she cannot cycle and she does not have the bike handling skills I have. She is however very competent at the back. I have never been on the back of the Tandem so I cannot be of any help here.

[2 X 2]

The lighter the person at the back, the better the handling at the front

[Johan Bornman]

The lighter the person at the back' date=' the better the handling at the front[/quote']

 

Why would that be?

[turtlek]

i have better bike handling skills than my partner who weighs 40kg's more than i do so in the end it comes down to who will be least likely to crash the two of you while going into a high speed corner

 

 

 

also generally the fitter one of the two should sit at the front because fatigue affects the gearing and also the decisions made on the road

[hillbilly]

In my experience (mtb tandem) it depends more on the individual riders. At the front you have to pedal AND steer so it's harder work and your arms and shoulders can get really tired - especially if the stoker moves around a lot at the back or keeps trying to look over your shoulder. The stoker can affect the steering from the back so a lighter stoker would have less effect in this regard. But even if the stoker is heavier, as long as they sit still and pedal smoothly (and don't try to steer from the back) then the lighter rider could still be the pilot. I've ridden both back and front and the general rule is when at the back, just focus on pedalling and let your partner up front do the rest.

[Bionic man]

One thing I learnt from Tandem riding - it's like a dance, if you both move in sync you will have a perfectly balanced machine, if one of you is nervous and moves around a lot, the bike feels unbalanced, regardless of the size of riders and where they sit. (We won't even mention the effects of flatulence on the stoker)