TAJ Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Anyone any experience of tandem bikes? We are thinking about it either a cheap new one or off e-bay. In theory it seems a good idea, but will it be the road to harmony or stress?!! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Cool! No experience but people I see on these always seem to be happy and working well together I guess it depends on whether you have comparable cycling skills and speeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Go for it! We've had one for 20 years - great fun Ours is a Dawes which is pretty MOR - good quality and its lasted very well. My OH used to be a pretty serious cyclist and in fact he's just persuaded a neighbour to buy a 2nd hand Dawes which is more or less the same as ours. I think the men have visions of trips to pub with no desiginated driver issues whilst us women don't! Anyway - women tend to be on the back (aka the Stoker) which is obviously where all the hard work is done. Men tend to ride the front and play with the steering and gears. Seriously though, its very fast downhill (like up to 50mph on the right hill) and hard work uphill. My OH is very strong and can drag me uphill if I struggle. You need complete faith in your front person and they need to be happy with the weight/cornering etc. My best advice is to see if you can borrow/hire one to see if you both get on with it. I have some very happy memories of tandeming, tandem holidays and even racing tandems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Tandems can be great fun, but I would advise hiring or borrowing one first to see if you get on with it, as it isn't everybody's cup of tea. I wouldn't get a cheap new one, but rather get a good second-hand one. An absolute must is good brakes - you need good disc brakes or rim brakes front and rear, and tandems are also often fitted with a hill brake operated by the stoker to provide extra braking. You need to learn to communicate effectively with each other about starting off and the pilot (on the front) needs to tell the stoker (on the back) when he/she is changing gear, signalling, swerving to avoid potholes etc etc, otherwise things come as a bit of a surprise as you can't see where you are going when on the back. We borrowed a tandem for a while, and it was great fun BUT DH is right footed and I am left footed, and I found starting off with the wrong foot very difficult (you have to start with the same foot and pedal at the same speed). Also, I found pedalling at his slow cadence difficult - I prefer to twiddle in a lower gear, he prefers to use strength in a higher gear. It might have been a good solution to the fact that I'm not as fast as him up hills, but these difficulties meant we couldn't ride successfully together, so he just has to wait for me on my bicycle instead I'd love to ride a tandem again, but with somebody closer to my own riding style! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Brilliant fun! Would suggest practising off road until you get the hang of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Tandems can be great fun, but I would advise hiring or borrowing one first to see if you get on with it, as it isn't everybody's cup of tea. I think that's a good plan. I have a friend that bought one and hated it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 but will it be the road to harmony or stress?!! No idea about tandems but... we squabbled for hours when we first paddled our two man canoe So much for a gentle, relaxing pootle down the river - his swore (literally) he was paddling gently but I was paddling furiously to try to keep up (not with his stroke rate, but with his force) so our quiet paddle turned into a shouting match We had to stop and call a truce then agree a game plan. Maybe it was harder in a canoe as we each paddle one side so you have to match or you go round in circles. And he saw it as a gym exercise and I saw it as a chill-out exercise... So yes, communication is key! And I guess like a canoe, you need to be a good match for a tandem to be enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 A couple of my friends have one and they love it! somehow they have even managed to fit the kids on i think!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted April 5, 2010 Share Posted April 5, 2010 We bought ourselves a Cannondale tandem as a wedding present to each other. It's been great fun both on and off road. We've even had a baby seat on the back and more recently a tag along!!! This summer we are planning to cycle the coast to coast on it with a few other bikes in tow too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 6, 2010 Author Share Posted April 6, 2010 We went to look at a place locally that does tandem rental - so that is our plan for the morning if it doesn't rain. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 How exciting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 ooh - let us know how you get on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted April 6, 2010 Share Posted April 6, 2010 Ooooh yeah one of my favourite things to do!! If you possibly, possibly can, get down to JD Cycles in Ilkley. My partner & I live in London and the trip to Ilkley was so worth it - I'd have travelled double that for the advice Ruth and John were able to give us. They let us try out lots of tandems before we finally made our minds up. My partner is much faster than me on solo bikes. Which means that when we're riding solo, she goes off ahead (without meaning to) and I feel like a burden trying to catch up, and as though I'm holding us back. Which is daft, because I'm not a total weakling myself. On the tandem, it doesn't matter that she's faster than me on solos. She can't leave me behind. It's sociable. You can talk while you ride without having to ride side-by-side and invoke the Wrath of Motorists (the Highway Code says no more than two abreast, but a lot of people think it's illegal to ride two abreast.) After we moved in together, we had a holiday & rode from Seattle to San Francisco on our tandem, complete with tent, stoves, sleeping bags etc. That was quite honestly the best holiday I've ever had. It does help that I know I'm a less skilled cyclist than she is. In traffic on solos I'll be more cautious than her. So when it comes to putting complete trust in her decision making on the tandem, I don't think I know better - I know I don't. It took a little while to get the hang of not putting a foot down at lights and so on, but we were both patient with each other's mistakes to start and now we can even get out of the saddle together (that's one to practise with soft grass each side!) I've written an essay now. TL;DR: get one they're ace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Oh no!!! I must be the only person who's tried it and hated it! Caused loads of arguments, if you're at the back then you can't see as well, either. A bike each is way more fun!!!! I think you're all wierd Either way, I would definitely definitely recommend you hire one a few times before buying one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Tandems do look fun, but definitely hire one from somewhere first. Maybe they'd help Dad with his recovery???? I second the recommendation for Dawes bikes, my Dad has one and they're really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 if you're at the back then you can't see as well either. agreed - if you've got drop handlebars you do get up close and personal with a lycra clad bottom, which, depending on who it belongs to, is not always so bad On the plus side - the driver can't see you with your feet up either, and without the responsibility of steering, if you turn your head you can see all the wonderful countryside for miles on end Way to go LadyJ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 We are back safely after 3 hours on a tandem - no stress or cross words and a few laughs - we even did a few hills AND he even listened when I requested we slow down and actually used the break downhill! The bike we rented was a 2010 Dawes Duet that had only been rented twice before and was the actual bike we are considering buying so it was great to get out on it. I am now very tempted! The issue is the difference in price between buying local or getting JD Bikes/Picton bikes to deliver - £200 cheaper not to buy locally Decisions to be made. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 Glad you enjoyed it My OH buys all his gear and bikes online and saves £££; in your case thats what I'd do too. You could put the savings towards contents insurance, panniers, clothing, roofrack, decent shoes etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted April 7, 2010 Share Posted April 7, 2010 They look like fun if you get on well! Glad you enjoyed your experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted April 7, 2010 Author Share Posted April 7, 2010 Dawes have a very naughty bit in their warranty - it is only valid after a full build and pre-sales check has been completed by the supplier i.e. buying mail-order invalidates the warranty! So the mail order saving is a bit of a gamble, decisions, decisions! Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 hmm, not sure what to do here. Are you certain the mail order firm won't do a check? I suppose the thing is to suss out what the warranty covers and for how long. Depending on the fault wouldn't you be covered by the Consumer Protection Act or whatever - manufacturing fault, not fit for purpose? Not to say this is the right way to go but my OH has bought maybe 5 bikes in the last 5 years mail order and none have had a problem. Sometimes when he gets them he realises he needs a different seat pin or whatever, but thats not a fault, more that the bike would be more comfy changed. Also, maybe you could check out the shop's policy for dealing with stock not bought from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 I would try some serious bartering with the local shop. Bikes do really need checking after about 6 weeks of riding as the gears will need tweaking. The difference is quite a lot thought so it will need to be some serious bartering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Also I would look on ebay, you could pick up a cheaper second hand one and get your local shop to service it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Oh no, just the thought had me in hysterics Sorry Visions of Peter and Harriet Potter on their tandem in Carry on Camping had me flying to Youtube to find a clip. Alas none there but plenty of others had me guffawing down memory lane. They don't make 'em like they used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyjulian Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 We are back safely after 3 hours on a tandem - no stress or cross words and a few laughs - we even did a few hills AND he even listened when I requested we slow down and actually used the break downhill! The bike we rented was a 2010 Dawes Duet that had only been rented twice before and was the actual bike we are considering buying so it was great to get out on it. I am now very tempted! The issue is the difference in price between buying local or getting JD Bikes/Picton bikes to deliver - £200 cheaper not to buy locally Decisions to be made. Tracy Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. I'd go with JD (if that's the Ilkley JD) because they are quite definitely the UK tandem experts. And now for a totally gratuitous tandem picture: Ours is a Santana, which has a bit more room for the stoker. Most tandems leave the stoker's face pressed up against the captain's *coff* lower back, but for touring we wanted a bit more room, which also means I get a better view on the back. JD built it up to exactly what we wanted, which was a peculiar one because we wanted something that we could tour on AND race on (we did a 24 hour time trial which was pretty much its first outing!) I want a tandem ride now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
