Cycling UK Forum

Ditto don't stop on hills!

Stop at the top not at the bottom or midway up. It just makes it a pain to get going. If you must stop, often, you can pull off into side roads or stop where the hill relents a bit. If you really, really must stop on the steepest bit and want to ride the rest, traffic allowing you can always start across the face of the hill to get you going again.

Failing all that, use standard procedure but perfect it on less steep terrain before hand.

TonyR wrote:Personally I use the small ring and two or three down from the big cog.

Generally yes, but that doesn't account for all the hill starts which we avoid by walking to the next flat bit of road. This is where a Rohloff scores IMV - see other thread - at least you are in the right gear. Having said that, if you concentrate enough and work together (PUSH! PUSH!) (where have I heard that before?) you can do hill starts.

Well this last weekend went very well. Our cadence is still a tad low for me, but it still feels high for MrsD2B; I'm guessing about 60rpm. We went further this weekend, still local trips though and I have started to notice a discomfort that I felt on my Specialized Tricross before I changed the saddle, I got an uncomfortable tightening high up on the left inner thigh. Our speed is also lower than what I would personally like, but it is much improved on the previous week and I think we did go over 10mph. Most importantly, out kick-off is better and we have settled for both of us starting with one foot on the ground; I have not yet experimented with holding the bike on my own.

MrsD2B does not want toeclips! Ah well....
Her main concern is when I ask her to indicate and I am about to slow down for the turn, I think she cannot support herself securely, MrsD2B is not 'petite'. As one mini-roundabout I wanted to turn right and there were cars on the other exit, my call for a right indication was refused, so I had to abandon the turn at the last moment and just go straight on, could not risk an unindicated turn. This could be a real problem. I did suggest that she plants her other hand on my lower back, but this also was rejected. So has anyone any suggestions for stoker stability when indicating?

We got a wave from a roadie out around Lower Wittenham and one youngster playing cried out, "A 2-person bike! I wan't one of those" I chuckled and said over my shoulder, "See that, you have street cred"

At one place I had to pull into the middle of this residential road to pass a parked car. There was another car coming the other way, so I held up one hand in the 'STOP' sign and the driver did; I said thank you. Later on a white van man passed a parked car and narrowly missed us coming the other way. MrsD2B did warn me that this was the 'rougher side of town' and people will drive at you.

I spent ages on Saturday morning exploring how best to fit it in the garage. It will fit across the end, slightly diagonally. I had some lengths of cane joined with elastic bands to represent the size of the tandem and I was moving this around the space. I then realised that I could swivel the rear handlebar vertically (the most critical dimension) and then just wheel it in between the car and the sidewall

For both rides, I had my camera on. Most of it was uneventfull, but our banter can be heard, "Your going too fast! No I'm not, Yes you are" and "Why are we pedalling? We are going downhill, I don't know anyone who pedals downhill" And the best one, "My feet are turning much faster than your's! No, they are turning at the same speed" And so on..... If I have the wherewithal, I might just edit out the best bits and post One alarming bit though was when a black labrador suddenly dashed in front of us, I nearly ran over the silly mutt.

Still a long way to go before we can consider 'going anywhere' though. Don't know how I am going to get it back to Reading for it's 6-week service.

I'm pedalling faster than you, brilliant
Wonder how many stokers have come up witht hat one!

For added interest how about rear butterfly bars, this is the latest I request I have heard from a lady stoker of my acquaintance. I am fascinated to learn how the pilot copes with such an item behind his posterior!

As for balancing when signalling it is case of countering the change in c.o.g. and probably she will need to move non-signalling arm out to the outer limits of the bars. It is just a case of getting used to do it really and developing the confidence that she won't come off.
Long before he learnt to balance on a bike my stoker could sit upright, no hands and suck his thumb, so it is only a matter of confidence.


Pedalling down hills, assure her we all do it's about keeping the momentum going os it is easier when we get to the flat or have to go up hill again., bit like keeping the revs high for a large vehicle that has to tackle a hill.....

eileithyia wrote:........................

As for balancing when signalling it is case of countering the change in c.o.g. and probably she will need to move non-signalling arm out to the outer limits of the bars. ....................

Or perhaps to the centre of the bars, like doing a handsling?

531colin wrote:

eileithyia wrote:........................

As for balancing when signalling it is case of countering the change in c.o.g. and probably she will need to move non-signalling arm out to the outer limits of the bars. ....................

Or perhaps to the centre of the bars, like doing a handsling?

Or easing off any weight on the hand thats on the 'bars.

I would not ask my wife to signal,she often confuses left and right. May be I'm lucky I never had issues with signalling myself.
All these tales bring back the memories of twenty years ago ,when we bought our first tandem as a silver wedding present to ourselves.
Twenty years later we are on our second tandem,we have many happy tandeming memoires.That include numerous Audax events and the end to end of France.
Keep progressing slowly ,listen to each other and enjoy.

eileithyia wrote:For added interest how about rear butterfly bars, this is the latest I request I have heard from a lady stoker of my acquaintance. I am fascinated to learn how the pilot copes with such an item behind his posterior!

Well, I threw my rattle out of the pram in pretty short order!

My... Oops! Our tandem came with butterfly bars at the front. I had been interested in trying them, but very rapidly came round to Robin Thorn's view that they are out of place on a tandem. If you take a wide grip to help cope with unexpected contingencies, such as the stoker shifting about, then you cannot reach the brakes. I replaced them.
Finding myself the unexpected owner of spare butterfly bars I tried them in the rear cockpit, as my stoker had expressed a wish to try a shorter reach. Alas, we will never know if they would have helped her, as I discovered a quite unjustifiable aversion to them beating time on the back of my thighs, and removed them pdq.
Self indulgent I know, but I promise - I did sort the stokers position in the end!

On a tandem, who checks behind that it's clear to pull out, eg to overtake or turn right? Is it normally the stoker or captain? I'm just curious (or nosey).

snibgo wrote:On a tandem, who checks behind that it's clear to pull out, eg to overtake or turn right? Is it normally the stoker or captain? I'm just curious (or nosey).

In our case its me always,but then I use a mirror. Which I have used for a longwhile.You must remember that starting off with a tandem is slower and its greater length needs to be factored in.
By the same token I have all the brakes ,by that I mean the drag brake as well.

Signaling is usually done by the stoker though if we're in a position where oncoming traffic can't the stokers signal then I signal.
I'm (captain/helmsman) in charge of all three brakes,if the stoker was in charge of say the drag brake,a misunderstood instruction or a panicked stoker could cause mahem,if theres any mayhem to be caused I'll do it

I'm just wondering how she manages to signal on a solo bike.

I thought the following system was universal for stokers/pillion passengers;-

Driver does arm signal........stoker/pillion taps driver on the shoulder (s)he is signalling with meaning "I am taking over the signal"
No need for bellowing instructions, no confusion over left and right.

Well I spent some time last night going through the videos that I took of last weekend. I was going to edit them down to the 'highlights' and post them on Youtube, but then decided that showing someone in a less favourable light would not count as honouring the one that I love. However, listening to what was going on regards indicating, I come to two conclusions:

1. MrsD2B is a timid lass and not given to the assertive things that I do. It could be that she sees indicating as 'I am doing this' rather than 'I am communicating my intention'. Hence indicating right, when there is a car approaching from behind may be regarded tantamount to stepping under the wheels of a moving car. I cannot be certain, just guessing, but the stress level in the voice was at it's highest when there was a following car. I am still trying to get across the concept that she is not a second class road user, she has as much right to be there as anyone else and despite the claim that drivers round these parts are particularly bullish, drivers don't choose to run people down - looks bad on the insurance record.

2. I don't think it's a matter of shifting centre of gravity. From what was said on the videos, I think what's happening is that she needs both hands to prevent her weight being thrown forward when I brake, just using one hand might be causing her to slew sideways.

I think that indicating is the stokers job, the pilot has plenty to do. What I might try is suggesting that we indicate together for a while. Also that we briefly indicate a good way in advance before braking commences, then again just before the turning and when the braking has finished. I realise that polished teamwork takes time and that it's probably best to just deal with one thing at a time.

Alan D wrote:
2. I don't think it's a matter of shifting centre of gravity. From what was said on the videos, I think what's happening is that she needs both hands to prevent her weight being thrown forward when I brake, just using one hand might be causing her to slew sideways...................................

It was the slewing sideways bit that led me to suggest holding the centre of the bars.
Signals are to show what we intend to do...soon.
How about this for a scheme.....driver signals well in advance. Stoker moves non signalling hand to bar centre, taps driver on shoulder meaning I'm signalling now, driver then has both hands available to brake gently and in good time.