Tandem Bicycles

Tandem bicycling has long been a rare but enjoyable activity for two people to take part in. It allows people the joys of bike riding but also allows them to go much faster than ordinary, single person bikes allow. This is mostly due to the fact that there are two people powering one bike. In addition to the speed benefit, it has been regarded as one of the best activities for couples to do in order to work out together.

Tandem bikes are good as a couples' activity because they equalize the abilities of people. Many couples who attempt to work out together soon find that they are unable to do so well due to differences in ability, fitness, strength, or any of a number of other issues. Fortunately, the tandem bike only requires that both people be able to ride a bike.

The main benefits of tandem bikes are that:

1. They convert an individualistic activity (cycling) into an experience that can be shared with another person

2. They allow the joys of cycling to be shared and experienced by physically handicapped people who might otherwise not be able to enjoy cycling

3. They allow parents to share biking with their kids at an adult level as well as regulate the cycling habits of their children

4. They allow people to experience the thrills of high-speed cycling every time they go out

In general, tandem bicycles have oversized frames made of aluminum. This allows them to have the increased stiffness and strength that is required to support two riders. Aluminum is used as it allows the strength but also allows the riders to be comfortable still.

On a tandem bike, when it is in use, the front rider is known as the "captain." Captains need to have excellent bike handling skills as well as good judgment. People who wish to be the captain need to make a personal assessment of their own cycling experience and abilities.

For the first time out, the Captain will need to have more upper body strength than that which is needed for a single bicycle. This is because the team doesn't know how to work together yet so more strength is required to steer the bike. As the team works together more, the upper body strength requirement will become less important.

The captain has two key responsibilities. The first responsibility is to control the bike. This includes balancing the bike when it is stopped and in motion, steering, shifting, and braking. The other key responsibility is to keep the stoker, or teammate, happy. A tandem bike is not a tandem bike without a stoker. The stoker needs to be able to trust the captain and, to help this, the captain must stop whenever the stoker wants to stop or slow down.

Another responsibility to the stoker is the requirement that the captain warn the stoker of any upcoming bumps, hills, curves, or anything else in the road. The stoker cannot see the road ahead of the bike and so is completely at the captain's mercy.

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Joseph Devine

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