Off late, I’ve been pondering about getting a Tandem Bike. I have hardly ever seen people riding Tandem Bikes but they just seem so much fun and make the whole cycling experience a team game. While I am still in the final stages of settling on one for myself- I just wanted to write this quick post and answer the number one question that most of you would have- are tandem bikes hard to ride?
Tandem bikes are not hard to ride, but they do require practice. This is because tandem riding is a team sport and needs both riders to communicate well, be adjusting, as well get used to the larger bike frame. With an hour or two of practise riding, tandem biking will become quite easy.
Most people reading this would have some experience riding a bicycle. One of the key things for you to know is how tandem riding is different from solo riding. There are a couple of things that you’ll have to unlearn from your solo riding experiences
How is Riding A Tandem Bike Different From A Solo Bike
1. Tandem Biking is a Team Sport. The number one thing to remember is that tandem bike riding is a team sport. This means you have to communicate extensively with your riding partner, be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and designate roles amongst yourselves accordingly.
2. Each Tandem Bike Rider Has A Role. The front rider, called the ‘Captain’ is responsible for steering the bike, calling out commands to the rear rider, called the ‘Stoker’. In a nutshell, the Captain is responsible for steering the bike while the Stoker is the engine who is responsible for pedalling actively throughout.
3. Communication is Key In Tandem Biking. The Captain and Stoker must be communicate extremely well, else riding accidents may occur. A slightly weird part about tandem cycling is that the Stoker (rear seat rider) doesn’t get to see the road ahead, which can be unnerving initially. The Captain’s job is to garner a high level of trust by steering the bike well, which is why communication is key.
4. Turns and Stops Require Practice on Tandem Bikes. The turning radius on a tandem bike is wider, as it is a longer bike. This takes a bit of practice to get used to. Also the braking distance is a bit longer than a solo bike, so it’s key that the Captain call out the command well in time for the Stoker to stop pedalling and apply the brakes.
5. Tandem Biking Requires Synchronized Pedalling. This one also is pretty easy to get the hang of with some practise. Both the Captain and Stoker must have syncronized pedals. This is because the chain is common between both sets of pedals which means one set of pedals cannot go faster/slower than the other set of pedals.
How To Ride A Tandem Bike?
#1 – Decide Who Should Ride In Front On The Tandem Bike?
Generally speaking, if one of the riders is taller than the other, larger in size, or a more experienced cyclist, having them ride in front would be better as they’ll be able to steer the tandem bike easily.
Like I mentioned earlier, the rider in the front seat is the Captain and the one in the rear seat is the Stoker. The Captain has the tougher job out of the two. He has to maintain balance on the bike, give commands and communicate constantly with the Stoker, as well as pedal. Compared to this, the Stoker just has one job- to pedal, which is why if your partner is a newbie or relatively inexperienced, making them the Stoker will be sensible.
Now, these are just guidelines, and not ironclad rules. I read somewhere on a forum about a 6 ft guy and his 5 ft wife- the wife rides in front whenever they go out tandem biking and it suits them. In fact he mentioned that this way, both of them see the road ahead clearly, and because of his large size, even though he plays the Stoker, he still steers the bike from the rear seat.
Once you are comfortable riding tandem with your partner, you can switch up your roles so that both of you get an opportunity to experience being the Captain as well as the Stoker.
# 2- Mount The Tandem Bike
The front rider, i.e: the Captain gets on the bike first, followed by the Stoker. The Captain remains in standing position with one foot on the ground and the other foot on the pedal, in order to balance the bike.
Next, the Stoker gets on the bike by sitting on the rear seat and placing both his/her feet on the pedals.
A word of advice for the Stokers- you may be slightly unnerved by the wobbling you experience once you do this. Solo riders have complete control and hence can put their feet on the ground if they feel unsure. However Stokers cannot. They simply have to have a bit of trust in the Captain and be still. In a little bit, you will get used to the sensation, and as both riders get in sync, the wobbles will reduce too.
# 3- Start Pedalling The Tandem Bike
Once the Captain says ‘Start’, he will, while remaining in the standing position, place his second foot on the pedal and start pedalling. At the same time, the Stoker, maintaining sync with the Captain should start pedalling.
Prior to this, the Stoker should have already checked the Captain’s dominant foot and start point for pedalling. This is essential because cyclists have different dominant feet for pedalling. The Stoker has to adjust to the Captain’s style here, and start pedalling accordingly once they start. This is to maintain complete syncronicity, which is important as both sets of pedals are connected to a common chain.
#4- Keep Communicating With The Other Rider
Apart from the obvious, that is pedalling, the front rider or Captain on a Tandem Bike has the following responsibilities:
Giving Commands To The Stoker
The commands can be- ‘Start’ for starting pedalling. ‘Stop’ for stopping pedalling. ‘Turn’ for indicating he will start turning soon. ‘Slope/Downhill’ for indicating there’s a change in gradient in the road. ‘Bump’ to tell the Stoker to brace themselves for a speed breaker.
You get the idea right?
Basically, the Captain is the eyes for both of them and it’s his job to communicate any and all relevant information to the Stoker.
Balancing The Bike
The Captain CANNOT be unsure of his balance on the bike or move around unneccessarily, causing the bike to wobble. He has to steer the bike correctly, always keep his eyes peeled for any potential obstructions and keep relaying the lay of the land to the Stoker.
Frame sizing is key. If size disparity of two riders is high, it must cater to captain more than the Stoker
Apart from this, the Captain and the Stoker BOTH have to communicate about the route they’re taking, whether one of them needs a break, etc. Tandem Biking is a team sport and hence, both riders need to make a conscious effort to think about the other rider’s needs, strengths and weaknesses.
That’s about all you need to know about riding a tandem bike really.
Tandem Bike Cost
A decent tandem bike will cost you around $1500-2000. To start off, I’ll suggest renting a tandem bike if you have the option.
In terms of recommendations, you could take a look at this Tandem Bike on Amazon, which is the most highly reviewed on the site.
Can You Ride a Tandem Bike Alone?
You can ride a tandem bike alone without much difficulty. There are a few things to keep in mind though- the riding speed will be slower because of the large size of the bike, and riding uphill may be slightly tricky as the rear tyre might not get enough grip due to lack of weight on the rear end.
Can You Ride a Tandem Bike Without Any Cycling Experience?
Anyone who has no cycling experience can easily ride a tandem bike by becoming the Stoker, that is the rear seat rider.
How Much Weight Can A Tandem Bike Hold?
As a general rule, tandem bikes can hold weight in the range of 400-500 pounds. They are designed for two riders, which is why tandem bikes have the maximum load bearing capacity out of all types of bicycles.