The catch phrase,”Can you ride tandem?” comes from a long line of PG tips tea adverts.
You may remember it?
It seems appropriate this week to mention it as it was called ‘Tour de France.’
Well until today I couldn’t say that I’d ever tried a tandem, but this afternoon that all changed.
At our annual cycling club BBQ we strolled into the garage to ‘ew’ and ‘awe’ over the host’s new acquisition – a super light framed bike. The garage was full of bikes and bike bits and other bike related stuff. The car didn’t have a look in. The mower was squeezed in a corner.
I wandered off after seeing the bike, but soon returned to see what was going on when I heard jollity: a tandem had been unearthed and various folk were being allowed a go.
We watched several experienced cyclist pairs wobbling off up the drive way and their return several minutes later, amused at their varying reactions. Some loved it. Others were rather reserved. No–one seemed to like being a the back.
“Let’s have a go,” I said. Cycloman was less keen, but agreed.
It started off with me at the front and we went at my pace and once I’d got used to the slight wobble of another persons effort it was OK. Never replace proper cycling, but OK. The reach was too long for me and the saddle so uncomfortable – with a few minor adjustments I would have been able to cope, I think on a longer journey.
At the end of the drive we came to a standstill and swapped places. This was a different matter. My heart rate soared. I could feel the adrenalin flow. So disconcerting, such an unsafe feeling, with no view.
Some how I don’t think we’ll be getting a tandem. I prefer my independence.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Might have to! With the price of gas over there who will be able to afford to run a car.
Someone has to pay for the bunga bunga of the govt/police/journalists!
And don’t forget there is the foreign aid to pay for, Somalis camped to starve in the back yard and a nice new green tax to benefit the power companies!!!
Get a tricycle for all the family.
We have a tandem: I am the stoker and my husband is the driver.
It does take quite a bit of getting used to. We originally bought our tandem so we could do long rides and drag my step-daughter along as well. She started as his stoker when she was about 8 or 9 years old. It’s a great bonding experience for her and, since we are car-free, it’s the easiest way to move her around when she is visiting.
For two adults (I assume that is the scenario here) it requires that the stoker trusts the driver 100% and that the driver understands that the stoker is always right. Those are the rules. Ask anyone who rides a tandem for any length of time and they will tell you the same. 🙂
Personally I find the tandem difficult because I can’t tell how much effort I’m giving to getting us down the road versus how much of the effort is from my husband. As a consequence, I tend to push really hard all the time and, with no real “relaxation” times, it’s then doubly hard when we need to climb.
It took me a long time to get used to the tandem. I wouldn’t say I “love” it, but I’m getting used to it. It takes practice, and in our case, necessity.
I’d prefer one two wheeler each, ackershally!
Then we can all go our different ways as needed.
This is of course an allegory of marriage! 🙂
Thank you dubbike… I can see why it works for you. how does the step-daughter like it?
Janus… I like running in parallel and then sometimes taking another route, then coming back together again, so I think that is a good allegory of marriage, indeed.
Could be okay unless your the one at the back and the driver had beans on toast for breakfast 😦
Of course, she loves it! She sits on the back, does her nails, takes pictures, chats to people passing in cars… well, you can imagine! Only when we tell her “we are climbing now!” does she actually kick in and do some work. Other than that, she sits on the back and gets carted around like it’s her own personal chariot! LOL It’s always a bit of a shock to her when she gets on her own bicycle and acutally has to work. 🙂
…and how old is she?!
Unbelieveably, she will be 13 in a few months!