Help - Tandem trouble

AlanD · Post by **AlanD** » 12 Apr 2011, 2:29pm

Some of you may know that I have wanted to buy a tandem for many years and right now I am coveting the Helios Auster from Circe Cycles.
Well I know one couple who own a tandem and a few days ago they turned up to a party with it. So grabbing the opportunity, I steered my fiancee outside for a spin down this very quiet cul-de-sac. As was to be expected for a first time, as soon as we kicked off, we were wobbling, but I fought to get this under control and was beginning to win before we ran out of road. But what was most disappointing was that this experience went down very badly right from as soon as we pulled away.
The 'stoker' for the owning couple did say that we need to go out for a long ride, because when she first got on it, she hated it for the first day.
I did suggest to the 'pilot' that he should take my fiancee out, because you can never teach anything to someone close to you.
I am concerned that the damage is now done and that we will never go near a tandem again. :cry:

So I would really like to ask questions pitched at two levels:
1. Is there a 'best way' to teach/learn how to ride a tandem? (I have piloted & stoked tandems before, although not for a long time) and
2. Has anyone suffered similar setbacks and how did they overcome?

Punk_shore · Post by **Punk_shore** » 12 Apr 2011, 3:40pm

Would your fiancee get on any better as the pilot? :shock:

Also, I have heard of brake controls being fitted to the rear handlebars. :roll:

eileithyia · Post by **eileithyia** » 12 Apr 2011, 4:43pm

1. learn to handle the tandem with an experienced stoker.
2. Let your fiancee go out as stoker to an experienced tandem pilot.
That way you can both learn the skills with experienced partners.

ie do a partner swap.

As an experienced cyclist I found it quite daunting to be on a stoker on a tandem the first time I tried it, my pilot was a very experienced tandemist so I just put my trust directly into him.

TonyR · Post by **TonyR** » 12 Apr 2011, 5:15pm

Tandems are all about teamwork and communication so you will end up either loving it or hating it depending on how good you are.

The usual mistake is starting off. The heavier person should captain and the stoker should climb on and sit with BOTH feet on the pedals and not try to start as they would on a single. Get the stoker to put the pedals in the right starting position (communication again or there will be lots of shouting about your shins and the pedals) put your foot on the pedal, do a count of three and then go.

Good luck. A tandem can be wonderful especially if one naturally cycles faster than the other.

horizon · Post by **horizon** » 12 Apr 2011, 6:50pm

I suppose Alan the way is to go for a long ride on two single bikes with you carrying the picnic. Then disappear.

Seriously though, many people say that they will never be stokers (being the captain can be pretty stressful mind you). The stoker must have complete trust (well, almost complete). I first rode a tandem with my young daughter on so by the time Mrs H got on it some years later, I was OK. It helps if the captain is heavier and confident of handling the bike but that also comes with practice. I would say that your stoker needs to make a commitment about what a tandem means to your cycling and then build up to it . +1 for what eileithyia suggests about swapping partners.

Post by **Vorpal** » 12 Apr 2011, 7:30pm

I don't have any experience with them, but http://www.tandeming.co.uk/ has been recommended to me.

Robert · Post by **Robert** » 12 Apr 2011, 7:51pm

Our first experience on a tandem was exactly the same. I'd had the tandem for years and pilotted and stoked with my son. The tandem was far to big for her, it was an old fairly flexible Peugeot and that put her off for a couple of years. It was after meeting a group from the tandem club and chatting to a couple with a tandem trike that she thought she'd like to try one. Try one we did at Longstaffs. I couldn't ride it! Her cries of derision stopped when she had a go on the front. Then she tried a bicycle with the guy from the shop, realised it wasn't the fearsome thing that she thought it was and we ended up buying a Dawes Discovery Twin that we ride as much as we do solo bikes.

I'd go with the advice that she should ride with an experienced pilot that isn't you. Also if it's something she doesn't want to do, it's going to be difficult to make her want to.

Mr.Benton · Post by **Mr.Benton** » 12 Apr 2011, 7:55pm

Vorpal wrote:I don't have any experience with them, but http://www.tandeming.co.uk/ has been recommended to me.

+1 for the tandem experience as suggested by Vorpal.

When we were looking into buying a tandem we opted for their tandem experience day. the day started with about an hours worth of coaching for the pair of us. it started with a lesson on mounting the tandem, then coasting down hill, then pedalling. It was like learning to ride a bike again. Then when we were both happy we took the tandem out for a days ride. The slow start approach meant we slowly built up confidence in the tandem and in each other. They certainly gave us some good instruction on how to start and stop safely.

We now own a tandem and it is excellent. One day we may even swap positions but not sure how good I would be at the back.

gaz · Post by **gaz** » 12 Apr 2011, 8:44pm

Somewhere in the depths of the loft I have a book entitled "The Tandem Scoop". Whilst written from an American perspective it has much advice to offer. I'm happy to loan it to you, PM sent.

boblo · Post by **boblo** » 12 Apr 2011, 8:59pm

I'd go for a cheaper s/h tandem to start with. That way, you won't have invested too much if you can't get on with it. If she's interested, involve her in the selection process so she feels part of the plan.

I wouldn't give an inexperienced stoker any controls. They may panic and change gear/apply the brakes at the most inconvenient moment with serious consequences.

Is your intended a cyclist already? It may be, if she is, she's having trouble givng up some of the controls. If she isn't, she may just be struggling with the cycling.

I'd get a bike that fits, take her out for a few gentle 10 - 15 mile rides. Call everything you're doing and any bumps etc to ensure she doesn't face any discomfort or alarming braking/changes of direction. Make it fun, go to the pub for lunch, have a laugh and lighten up. I'd try and avoid 'swapping partners' as this will lead to inevitable comparisons and perhaps defensiveness. Discover tandeming for yourselves at a rate you are comfortable with.

My wife was a complete cycling novice. We tried solos, it was a 'waste of time'. I bought our first tandem without her knowing (not necessarily recommended) and within 3 months, she'd done her first century. 15 years later, we're still going strong and have cycled all over the world on our tandems.

Deckie · Post by **Deckie** » 13 Apr 2011, 8:01am

You need to go out together - everybody cycles and balances differently so if you each get used to riding with someone else you will be back to square one again when you get together...

My wife has a brake lever for the back brake, no problems - it gives her some more confidence and she can gently rub it if she feels we are going too quickly down hill as a signal to me to use the main brakes.

The key is communication. On the back she can't see anything ahead as you are there, so you have to countdown to starting, stopping, road humps, let her know when you are approaching junctions.

We first went out on a tandem when we hired one for a day in the New Forest - there's a bike hire place in the car park at Beauly Castle that has them - and were hooked. We then went to JD Cycles (near Ilkley) as they specialise in tandems and allow you to try them out. We tried several on a 4 mile circuit to find what felt most comfortable for us.

When we first went out I was the most nervous, but after a couple of circuits of the (empty) car park I gained my confidence in the balance and steering (you have to steer more than lean) and we were away, we haven't looked back! Well Joules has as she does the look over the shoulder & signalling at junctions - I have a mirror just to check!

horizon · Post by **horizon** » 13 Apr 2011, 11:09am

Deckie: I wonder if you and Joules had a stronger commitment to tandeming that encouraged you to get it right with all the communicating and technique involved? Some people are adamant that they won't go on the back of a tandem (though the front isn't a piece of cake either). I alway tell Mrs H that the single bikes are still an option but she knows the advantages and these outweigh the problems every time. The rest then just follows with a certain amount of arguing and shouting. I am hoping that Alan has some luck because the end result for a couple is pretty amazing - a world of adventure opens up.

Deckie · Post by **Deckie** » 13 Apr 2011, 11:16am

Oh, there's still plenty on arguing and shouting from time to time! Usually to do with how much effort is (not) being put in :lol:

We still have our solo bikes, but Joules hasn't been on hers for a while (few years) so I'm just getting her back into that now, slowly...

sleeping_menace · Post by **sleeping_menace** » 13 Apr 2011, 1:34pm

Ok.. this is pathetic, but it was pointed out to me that if you read the majority of these comments aloud to yourself and replace 'tandem' or 'a tandem' with 'kinky sex life'.. it's really quite entertaining >>>

........................
http://anotherdooratthe.endoftheinternet.org

Cycle related blog entries, including a few 5 minute reviews:
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stewartpratt · Post by **stewartpratt** » 13 Apr 2011, 1:45pm

This is the truth:

TonyR wrote:The usual mistake is starting off. The heavier person should captain and the stoker should climb on and sit with BOTH feet on the pedals and not try to start as they would on a single. Get the stoker to put the pedals in the right starting position (communication again or there will be lots of shouting about your shins and the pedals) put your foot on the pedal, do a count of three and then go.

Do that and you're pretty much sorted.

The remaining issues are that as captain you may need to shout "BUMP!" when your stoker is about to receive a jolt up the bracket (a suspension seatpost for the stoker helps for when you forget), and at least in the early days you may need to communicate that you're about to stop pedalling (either to corner or to stand up; indeed the stoker sometimes needs to do this to stretch their legs, too); however these days I find this can be communicated by just pushing against the pedals slightly - your stoker will feel the resistance and know you're about to stop.

Oh, and speeding down steep hills: either build up slowly, braking on hills at first and taking the next a little faster so that your stoker trusts you; or make sure you go so fast you can't hear the screaming

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