Tandem Bike Archives - AllBicycleRider

Most people hesitate to explore tandem riding on a bicycle. It is easy, fun, keeps family and friends together and lets people of different abilities ride together. There is hierarchy among two riders, duties and experience which brings up the question 'How Do You Ride A Tandem Bike?' Tandem Bike Riding involves the bike and the riders. Correct selection of tandem riding bikes is the start followed by need to understand key aspects of Tandem Bike Riding like safe riding, positions, cadence, synchronisation, respective roles and practice will make tandem bike riding fun. I carried out research on the subject for tandem riding by two persons and here is what I think are essentials of tandem bike riding. Step 1: Questions to Ask Before Selecting A Tandem Bike Selection of bike will remain limited to what is available locally. The questions that you need to ask yourself are : Purpose of tandem bicycling? Who will be riding? What is their age? What is their proficiency in riding bicycles? What is their size and body weight? Are there any physical disabilities in the riders? Answers to these questions before looking for a bike will be helpful. You will know what to look for, for e.g. do you want both riders to pedal in sync? Do you want rear rider to idle pedalling? Do you want pedalling of front and rear crank separate? Step 2: How Are Tandem Bikes Different From Standard Bikes Standard bikes have one drive train from crankset to the hub of the rear wheel where as the tandem bikes have a drive train involving two cranksets before the drive train goes to the rear wheel hub. There are four varying arrangements in tandem bikes: #1 Different Front and Rear Crankset in Tandem Bikes The drive train is from front crankset to rear crankset and from rear crankset to the rear wheel. The cranksets of front and rear are not interchangeable. This is more to do with the design and interchangeability of cranksets. Both riders need to pedal in a coordinated way and the stoker cannot coast. The stoker may not put power but needs to pedal all through the ride. #2 Similar Front and Rear Crankset in Tandem Bikes The drive train is same as the first one, i.e. from front crankset to rear crankset and from rear crankset to the rear wheel. The cranksets of front and rear are interchangeable. The arrangement of chain is different but the output is same as first one. Both riders need to pedal in a coordinated way and the stoker cannot coast. The stoker may not put power but needs to pedal all through the ride. #3 One Drive Train in Tandem Bikes In this arrangement the chain runs from the front crankset all the way to the rear wheel through the rear crankset. This is not preferred and will rarely be found on offer. #4 Idling Option in Tandem Bikes This arrangement permits the front rider to apply power for the ride while the rear rider can coast. The crankset is in the front with wheel hubs in the rear. The chain goes from front to rear rider and rear rider to the rear wheel. It permits the rear rider to keep his feet on pedal without moving it. The complete power is provided by the Pilot. There are different options where the stoker can pedal as well as the Pilot can coast while stoker pedals. How Do You Ride a Tandem Bike? Deciding The Riders Positions (Captain/Pilot and the Stoker) There is a strict hierarchy in tandem bike riding. Despite being a 'team' there is one person who is 'in-charge'. Like aircrafts which have a "Captain', or 'Pilot' and a 'co-pilot' or 'first officer', the tandem bike riding has the 'Captain' or 'Pilot' or the 'Steer-Person' at the front and the 'stoker' at the rear. Who is The "Captain" or the "Pilot" of Tandem Bike The Captain occupies the front seat. This person steers, navigates, paddles, brakes, shifts gears, provides overall balance and keeps his foot down when the bike comes to halt. Captain is the more experienced and the senior partner among the two riders. Who is The "Stoker" of Tandem Bike Stoker sits on the rear seat and must pedal depending on the model of the bike. Stokers strength and endurance matters since he/she provides power to the bike. His/Her main responsibility is to remain in 'centre' on the bike because his/her movements destabilises the bike. His sudden movement can affect the safety of ride. How Should the Pilot and Stoker Make A Successful Team in Tandem Bike Riding Play Allotted Roles It both riders play their roles Tandem Bike Riding is very safe and fun. The Pilot is the person in charge of navigating, steering, power pedalling, braking, keeping the foot down on halts and setting the pace where as the Stoker centres, balances, pedals in cadence and synchronisation and applies power or just coasts. What Should Be The Minimum Age For Tandem Bike Riding Tandem riding is for family and friends as well as serious riding by adults. Children from age of 3 years to 5 years can be the 'stokers'. It is necessary that the children are able to sit firm, hold the handle and pedal with ease and comfort. Short rides can very deliberately be extended as the children become confident and the Pilot is confident. For higher age groups it will simply be necessary for both riders to know cycling and proficiency levels do not matter. The better one becomes the pilot. What Should Be The Weight and Size of Tandem Bike Riders This is a very important aspect. The heavier in upper body weight must ride the front seat. Most of the activity is done by the Pilot and the riders weight adds to stability. A heavy rider at back will make the ride very unsafe because it affects the balancing negatively. The larger in size rider must ride in front. Weight as well as size give stability to the bicycle because the complete weight is transferred to front wheel through the handles and makes bike easily manoeuvrable. Do You Have A Specific Question on Tandem Bike Riding? Write in comments and I will research for you and write a detailed article.