With summer in full swing and temperatures well into the 90’s across the country it is a great time to discuss riding in the heat. Tandems pose unique hazards as the combination of two different riders of unique body type and composition can wreak havoc on the completion of a ride. Ride Planning If...

The captain (sometimes called “pilot”) of a tandem is the rider in the front. Generally the captain should be an experienced solo bicyclist and, for new teams, requires good upper body physical strength. The first time captain There is a first time for everything and being a tandem captain...

Riding a tandem in itself makes you unique on the roads and trails. There is not a ride that passes without someone shouting a compliment or joke (the standby is usually “he/ she isn’t pedaling!”). Given the high visibility of tandem riding, etiquette is very important. When passing...

The vast majority of tandem teams utilize paved roadways for cycling routes. For many this is a choice that places the two riders into immediate harms way. Here are five tips to being safe while riding the roads. Tip 1 – Pick a line Whether the roadway has a bike lane, wide shoulder, or no shoulder...

In a move to better the use of Google Maps by cyclists nationwide Google has added bike routing ability to Google Maps. This addition required significant programming by Google to account for bike friendly streets, grades, and traffic patterns. Until now tandem teams were forced to use “walking”...

As cyclists on a roadway tandem teams interact with many different people utilizing various competing transportation forms. From passenger cars to big rig trucks the other road users, in general, are operating larger and heavier equipment. To add a layer of safety into the regular tandem routine the...

Q: On a recent outing our ride took us down a descent with grades in excess of 15% on a hill that was over 4 miles long. We have disc brakes but the rotors and pads must have over-heated because by the end of the downhill it took all of my strength just to stop us. How do I prevent this in the future? A:...

For any tandem team with even a few miles of road riding under their belt a quick realization will occur that pacelines naturally form around you. Solo cyclists view you as a great wind-blocker and even better flat road pace setter. With this it is inevitable that you will be called upon to operate your...

For the majority of tandem teams their favorite rides occur on the same roads occupied by cars. This brings up a series of serious considerations that must be addressed for safe travels. The following tips are intended to help keep your rides safe: Take as much of the lane as necessary to safely ride....

Most tandem teams spend the majority of their time fighting one another on the bike. This fighting is not physical in nature rather it is a hidden fight that works to impeded the smooth operation of their machine. Examples of this fight include: The stoker and captain pedaling out of sync The riders...