Ride on a Tandem Bike

“been riding tandem for over ten years, 3 or 4 k miles per year. got started because she rode slower than me and i got tired of waiting for her, going back to find her when she took a wrong turn, etc. we've taken the tandem to europe half dozen times, we've toured alaska/yukon, the PNW - it works really well to keep us together and it allows us to do stuff we'd never attempt otherwise. However - we bicker all the time about shifting. she doesn't like how fast I go on descents. you gotta talk about everything and there's a lot of wind/road noise that makes it hard (Bluetooth intercoms are a big deal.) Finally - we've had crashes twice where she got hurt bad and I got hurt but much less badly. I feel really guilty afterwards and I know that I ride more conservatively than I would on my own. If there isn't a high level of trust off the bike you probably shouldn't go there EDIT - I realize I left out the best part: you have the mass of two riders and the wind resistance of one so as soon as you crest that hill you're flying. you go fast on the flats, too - we routinely drop people thirty years younger than we are. I ride tandem for the companionship, but I keep coming back because the ride is so good.”

“The benefits of persevering through those first few tough rides have been huge. Riding together, not just side-by-side, is a whole new way to experience the outdoors as a couple. I think we’re a darn good tandem pair and are learning to communicate better and better on the bike. We don’t panic unnecessarily and are always ready to laugh at ourselves, both of which seem to be necessary attributes of a tandem pair. Steve is letting the whole “Captain” title go to his head a bit, but since he gets hit with bugs in front and I don’t as stoker (the backseat rider), I’m calling it an even trade.”