Cycling UK Forum

The original theme of 'Last of the Summer Wine,' now unfortunately drained completely to the dregs, wrung out now best ended for humanitarian reasons, was old men passing the time conducting bizarre experiments. I got that out of my system 50+ years ago in my first childhood, when I was a lot stronger and fitter than I am as I approach my second

Still, when time passes reeeeally slowly....

Agree with you about Last of the Summer Wine.

thirdcrank wrote:
As anniesboy points out, if you have toeclips (as in t-o-e c-l-i-p-s) you have to sort out the back ones - tightening the straps right up will get them out of the way.

...or you can use some shock-cord like on mine:

..... or magic?

How's it standing up?

he's not used it for so long, it's taken root

I ride ours solo occasionally. It's a little whippy and the rear wheel will lock up very easily, but curiously the average speed isn't affected at all which just goes to show she's pulling her weight. Or summin'

Mick F wrote:..... or magic?

How's it standing up?

We used to have a Thorn Voyager childback, and it was great, in part because you could drop off a child at school or wherever, and then continue on your own. I have also twice ridden it on a longer solo trip with a fair amount of luggage, once even with a lot of luggage in a trailer (two wheels). This all went without any real problems. It is true that you have less traction on the rear wheel, but that was never a problem.
My wife tried riding as a stoker, and hated it. So, once the younger child was old enough, we sold the tandem.
Willem

Wobbly John wrote:

Mick F wrote:..... or magic?

How's it standing up?

A clever bit of angle .........
Well done!

(John, can I ask you not to delete the photo from PhotoBucket? It seems that when people use it, they delete at some time, and the thread gets spoiled - Ta!)

Riding the Daylight 600k audax in (I think) 1996 the stoker on a tandem baled out with extreme saddle soreness. This was near Oban and his partner rode the rest of the way back to Edinburgh on his own.

We once rode 150 miles over 3 days with a 2½ year old daughter in a kiddy seat and her 9 month old sister in a trailer. Luggage was in 5 enormous ex-army pannier type kitbags - 2 front, 2 rear and one on the back of the trailer. I didn't dare weigh it but one evening rode from our B&B into the nearest town. Stripped of passengers and luggage it felt like a track bike.

In my youth I had a tandem road 15 miles to buy a new wheel n cycled 15 miles home with it attached where the stoker should have been
one thing I do remember
watch the cross winds,it kind of skidded sideways going out

kwackers wrote:

Mick F wrote:Also, a bit of advice. It will stand you in good stead, so make sure you take heed.

Get on at the front!

I saw a tandem in a bike shop up near Mytholmroyd that had the stoker at the front in what looked like a recumbant whilst the rear was fairly standard...[/quote

That was probably a Hase Pino.

I used to commute to work and every other Saturday a one rider Tandem would pass me on a slight rise. I got really sick of the guy!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do know of a converted semi recumbent tandem where the rider sits on a seat mounted at the back and uses the pedals at the front.

Today I saw a woman at 3.20 pm riding a tandem solo with a tagalong behind.

Clearly picking up the kids.

She seemed totally at ease with it

Hey Wobbly John, lovely steed you've got there.
Can you tell me a bit about the bars.
Are they vintage ones or are the front ones what are now called "moustache" bars and still available to purchase.
Thanks.