Tandem bikes are a bit different, for obvious reasons, and while a large number of horses have been broken to accept single cyclists the low volume of tandems creates a dangerous cocktail when tandem teams approach horses. Horses are intelligent creatures and will recognize and remember single bicycles but seeing one rider pedal by followed closely by a second rider can cause a horse to spook.

To avoid dangerous interactions with equestrians tandem teams are encourage to follow these rules of the road when encountering a horse and rider:

1. Immediately slow to a safe stop. When approaching from the rear slow to speed equal to or slower than the speed of the horse.
2. Announce your presence with a friendly hello.
3. Request instruction from the equestrian rider “is it okay for us to pass” or “do you need us to pull off the trail”.
4. Abide by the instructions of the equestrian rider.
5. If not instructed to do so ask before speaking to the horse. Generally equestrians appreciate you speaking in a calm voice to the horse to help the animal learn that you are not a predator.
6. Once clear of the horse take care not to make abrupt movements or loud noises until you are well away from the animal. Most spookings occur when riders think they are clear.

The number of equestrians has dropped tangentially over the last decade making encounters more and more rare. This drop in volume has created the adverse effect of increasing the chances of coming across a non-broken or easily spooked horse. Taking your time and working with the equestrian rider will ensure safe and happy rides for both your tandem team and the equestrian.

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Simply throwing a leg over a tandem does not mean that your team will succeed in conquering monster climbs. It takes practice, coordination, and some rules of the road to become kings of the hill:

1. Getting Ready – Climbing extreme grades should not be tackled by the uninitiated. Depending upon the grade and surface a premature exit could result in a nasty tumble. Before tackling your first extreme grade take time to gradually ride steeper and longer grades. The goal is to build both power and endurance to ensure your team can physically conquer a grade.

2. Addressing the Climb – With power and endurance out of the way the next step is to identify your first serious challenge. Depending on the region of the country you hail from an extreme grade could be found on your local trail or a few hundred miles away. The best bet in either direction is to start off with a grade composed of a smooth surface with excellent traction, a great excuse to head to Moab for a weekend. The slick-rock trails of Moab UT provide unparalleled traction and when combined with a semi-slick tire will allow your team to scale “walls”.

3. Line Choice – Having found that first steep grade it is time for tire to meet trail. Line choice both on the approach and during the ascent are vital to a successful climb. The majority of the responsibility falls upon the captain of the tandem team to ensure a good line. On the approach to the climb scan the full length of the hill for an ideal route working top to bottom. With that hypothetical route in mind approach the grade at a perpendicular angle to the grade, shift in to your highest gear range, settle your cadence into a smooth consistent stroke and begin the climb.

4. Push, Pull, and Adjust – Once your tandem team starts the climb focus and concentration become key. For the stoker it is important to keep an even power stroke through the pedals in sync with the captain. The stoker should mentally block out the steepness of the grade and focus only on pedaling through the stroke. The captain should focus their attention on the line immediately in front of the tandem. A steep grade serves as the ultimate test of a captains skills as gravity and torque fight to wrench the tandem side to side and back down the hill. Constant steering inputs and weight shifts will be necessary to keep the tandem on the trail. Depending upon the length of the grade the captain can also stand and pedal to shift their weight further forward and add additional power into the stroke.

5. Go with the Flow – That line you envisioned back on step 3 will almost 100% of the time not be the line you end up riding. As your tandem team ascends the grade shifts in weight, ruts in the trail, and surface materials will force your tandem team to adjust the line to compensate. It is important for the captain to not fight too much with these shifts. Instead allow the tandem mountain bike to establish its own line and work to provide enough power and steering inputs to keep the tandem upright and moving vertical.

6. Cresting the Top – The last few hundred feet are always the most difficult. With the top in sight it is easy to lapse concentration and either drop a tire into a rut or off the trail or to simply forget to pedal. Fight the urge to celebrate prematurely and keep your teams composure over the grade. Once past the apex is the time to celebrate.

For tandem mountain bike teams the successful completion of a once impossible climb will be a long remembered success. Utilizing the tips above prepare, practice, and succeed with your big climb you will find just rewards for your accomplishment.

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Pacelines present unique challenges and advantages that both tandem partners need to be aware of in order to keep things safe. To begin with it is best to understand the basics of a paceline.

1. Pacelines work best on flat roads or gradual slopes
2. Pull at the front with  a consistent steady speed. Do not dart out and race away.
3. At the end of your pull gently move to the drop back lane and allow the next rider to pull through.
4. To drop back in order simply let up your force on the pedals to slow your pace just below that of the paceline. Slow too much and you will be forced to accelerate hard to jump back into line. Slow too little and you will disrupt the paceline movement.
5. Pacelines are about shared loads but as the big team in line you will be expected to put in a bit more effort out front. Only pull as long as you feel comfortable in doing so.

A few pointers for the captain:

1. Set a consistent pace and pedalling rhythm
2. Allow enough room in front of your tire to avoid sudden braking or swerving should the rider in front slow quickly.
3. Do not make sudden moves.
4. Communicate with the stoker and realize that they will be under added stress because of the tight riding quarters.

A few pointers for the stoker

1. Follow the captains lead.
2. Minimize conversation with paceline partners to those you know are comfortable operating in the paceline. Often-times you will find rookies who are having a difficult time simply operating in the paceline let alone maintaining conversation during the process.
3. Communicate shifts in body weight with your captain.
4. Avoid burning yourself out while pulling at the front. Put in comfortable efforts only.
5. Help the captain maneuver into and out of the paceline by keeping watch for other riders.

If you find yourselves in a good paceline your average speed will jump considerably as the effort is shared across partners. Generally speaking the tandem team will dictate the flow of the paceline and the ultimate success or failure of the efforts. The most basic tip for paceline safety is practice makes perfect. Ride enough on the road and you will find yourself in a paceline mind the tips above and enjoy the ride.

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During our stay at the park we took countless trips in the car up and down the Gong-to-the Sun Road. Each and every-time we discussed riding the route on the tandem. Basically we went through a checklist of the pros and cons to the ride:

1. Scenery
2. Difficulty
3. Reward/ Fun factor
4. Vehicle traffic
5. Passing lanes/ lane width
6. Road surface quality and traction
7. Attentiveness of the average driver (is it bike friendly)
8. Escape routes in emergency
9. Alternatives (then back through the above list with the alternatives)

In the end the above decision tree brought us back to the same conclusion over and over again; the route was a no-go. The average drivers are not paying attention to the road, the roadway itself has no shoulder and very narrow lanes, the road surface is rough and pot-holed, during the ascent the edge of the roadway abuts a shear drop, and so on.

At the end of the conversation it was clear that every ride a tandem team ventures on undergoes a mental checklist like the above. As a tandem team the risks are doubled should a serious accident occur therefore the planning and qualifying of a route is incredibly important to the long term safety of your team. Sadly for our vacation this epic ride went off the radar but in the end the alternatives were suitable for lasting memories.

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Answer: Used tandems present a unique opportunity for tandem teams to enter into the sport on a tighter budget. Buying second hand allows you to dable without fully committing and depending on the tandem purchased may be a great way to get a very nice tandem bike on the cheap. The downside is that purchasing a used tandem presents an entirely new set of early risks not found in buying or building a new tandem.

When purchasing a used tandem your inspection should begin at the frame level. Depending upon age, frame design, and material used there are a number of points of contact to inspect for signs of premature wear, previous damage and repairs, and signs of neglect. Generally speaking tandems are manufactured using the standard materials of the day; steel on pre-1990 frames, aluminum on post-1990 frames, and carbon fiber on more recent road tandem frames. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, beyond the scope of this answer, so perform some web searches for “signs of fatigue on xyz material” to learn more about what to look for. In your cursory review look for weld cracks, gouged tubing, or signs of early fatigue.

If the frame checks out next move on to the components. Tandem bikes are generally assembled using heavier duty single bike parts. While suitable for use on tandems these parts are not designed or certified for use on a tandem. In your inspection start with the parts that can cause catastrophic failures:

• The fork and steerer tube should be in complete working order with no signs of bending or cracks.
• The captain seatpost should be straight and show no signs of stress cracks.
• The stoker stem, coming off the seatpost, should also be properly attached and display no stress cracks.
• The stoker seatpost should be straight and if it is a suspension type post should have proper movement.
• The wheels should be straight and true with no dents or flat spots on the rims. Inspect the spokes for broken or replacement parts with careful attention to the drive side rear spokes for signs of chain slap gouges that can weaken said spokes. The hubs should spin smoothly with no lateral or vertical play in the bearings.
• The brakes should operate properly with the brake pads and braking surface displaying no signs of misuse (ie gouges, ridges, severe discoloration, etc).
• The bottom brackets should spin smoothly with no lateral or vertical play. Pay attention to the crank arms for signs of stress fractures.
• The drivetrain should operate smoothly with all cog teeth displaying normal wear patterns. Pay attention to bent or broken cogs/ chainrings.

Overall you are looking for signs of neglect or abuse. A tandem is designed to handle the weight and torsional forces delivered by two riders but the components, generally, are not. Should you be unsure of how to inspect any of the parts above then do take the bike to a qualified shop for inspection. If there is any doubt about the status of a component part now is the time to replace it.

If everything checks out a this point do plan on replacing the following components/ parts no matter what:

• Tires and tubes
• Pedals (go with the style you are used to)
• Seat (same as pedals)
• Brake pads
• Brake fluid if equipped with hydraulic brakes
• Shifter cables and brake cables (if equipped)
• Grips or bar tape

Assuming everything has checked out, been replaced, and the used tandem is in your hands take care on your first few rides to not push the new tandem to the limits. View the first few trips as a breakin period for both your tandem team and the tandem bike. Get to know the characteristics and handling traits of the rig. Pay close attention to the frame and components for any signs that you may have missed in previous inspections.

As your comfort level increases with your ability to handle the new bike and with the condition and quality of the tandem begin to up the intensity of your rides and enjoy the fun of a tandem bike.

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For tandem teams that look forward to off-road riding make note that the vast majority of off highway trails will be closed to anything other than hiking. Generally the only off-highway access available to bikes will be on improved gravel or dirt roads open to vehicle traffic. For more serious and challenging off-roading tandem bike teams will be forced to ride outside of the park grounds in adjoining forest or state park lands. As an example in Yellowstone there are only about 12 miles of off-road routes legally available. To better evaluate mountain bike tandem options visit the appropriate park website (this is an example from Yellowstone National Park).

For road tandem teams National Parks are a riding paradise. Some parks cater to bicyclists by limiting vehicular traffic on main highways, an example is Zion National Park, while others integrate bike routes and paths to enable a safe route around the sights, an example is the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington DC. For tandem teams being in the saddle is a memorable way to enjoy and experience our National parks and Monuments.

As is standard for riding a tandem in a popular location you will become an ambassador for our sport to thousands. For many tourists the sight of a tandem team pedaling along will be something unique and new. Remember this at all times that your tandem team represents us all so take time and care to set a good example. With summer finally arriving making plans to visit a National Park or Monument should definitely include plans for riding the tandem.

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• The stoker and captain pedaling out of sync
• The riders shifting weight in contradictory directions
• The captain braking while the stoker pedals hard
• The pair pedaling in violent thrusts versus smooth circles

While out on a tandem ride the other day our editors decided to ditch the paved course they had planned and took to the mountains. The only wrench in their gears came in the form of slick tires mounted to the wheels. Normally they run slicks on the mountain bike for paved rides and knobby tires for off-road treks. Throwing caution into the wind they hit the trails anyways and discovered a great secret for working better together.

The slick tires on the soft dirt work as an amplifier of imperfections. The hidden fight noted above becomes a pay per view special in this slippery exercise. As our editors pedaled along the dirt trail they were forced to sync pedal strokes and weight shifts to avoid toppling over. The captain was made to brake smoothly and communicate the braking vocally to ensure the back tire did not skid uselessly. In the end they finished the ride with no crashes and only one dab after pedaling too violently on a slick climb.

Riding a tandem on dirt with slick tires is not for the faint of heart but it is an excellent exercise to build unison for the more advanced tandem couple.

The techniques used when riding on dirt translate to all tandem teams. Communication is key and synchronization is the goal. Working together the tandem team can navigate most any course set out by single rider bikes and in some cases ride courses not manageable by them. The additional weight and power available to a tandem team, when applied uniformly to the surface, can provide significant traction and torque to top crests not ridable by a solo rider.

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What is the Danger for Tandem Teams?

Aside from the obvious difference between tandem bikes and solo bikes, tandem teams are uniquely susceptible to dangers posed by choosing the wrong riding group. A tandem handles different from a solo bike on the three major axis including acceleration, braking, and maneuvering. Placing your tandem team into a group that sets inconsistent paceline speeds, erratic rider movements, or poor warning signals (for potholes and the like) can quickly change a fun ride into a lethal accident waiting to happen. The trick for picking the right group is matching their characteristics with your tandem team’s characteristics (not just the stoker or captains preferences).

Not all groups are equal

Not all cycling groups and clubs are created equal so care and due diligence is required when picking one. Based upon the combined psycho and demo graphics of the group you could find yourself in a lazy-pace flanked by geriatrics or spinning away in a sprint for the next sign-post. In an example from the Denver area, our editors rode with a group that seemed very professional and courteous on the front-end (on the website and at the pre-ride meeting). Unfortunately once rubber hit pavement the group dynamics switched with riders blowing stop signs and lights, diving through traffic, and all but ignoring even the most basic traffic laws.

Clues to Makeup

Cycling can be a competitive medium and sometimes people forget to delineate the difference between a social ride and a competitive event. Early clues can be found on the club website or group forum by looking for telltale signs of racing. Look for links or forum posts discussing races, racers, or training rides. At the pre-ride meeting pay attention to social clues to how the riders interact with one another. Are they discussing kids and work or are they debating the merits of wind sprints and cross-training? Combining the various clues will provide an idea of the group you are about to join.

On the Road

The majority of solo riders will only have seen a tandem in passing and have no real idea how it works. Your first few miles will be spent discussing the pros, cons, and differences inherit with a tandem bicycle. Use this “getting to know you time” to educate the other riders as to what to expect from your team and how to interact with you on the road. Discuss the key handling differences and make gentle suggestions on what you look for from other riders around you. At the same time pay attention to the group members and how they interact and react to your discussion. Are they displaying characteristics mentioned above or are they friendly nice and within the same general skill areas as your tandem team?

Be honest with your tandem partner as to your feelings. In our sample above from Denver our editors ended up pulling out of the group 5 miles in after witnessing the erratic behavior of the members. Since they did have a route que sheet they simply waited 5 minutes and then continued on the ride alone.

Not all groups and clubs are made the same and it will take time to select the proper one to mix with your tandem team’s skillset. By carefully selecting the group that meshes with your needs and expectations you can enhance your tandem riding experience by throwing in a few group rides every month.

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There is an urban legend that Eskimos have hundreds of words for snow, describing the various types, consistencies, and impact on their world. For tandem mountain bike teams it is a bit easier to learn the words for mud but the concept mirrors the urban legend.

Mud in its basic form is a mixture of dry dirt and water. Based upon the makeup of the dry dirt the resulting mud can range from a little extra grip for better traction to a sticky gooey mess that will destroy your components. The big variable for mud types derives from the amount of clay combined with the size and texture of dirt grains. Generally speaking the more clay in the soil the stickier the resulting mud.

Clay is composed of inorganic minerals, silicates, and can include organic materials from plants and grass. Clays have been used for centuries to build buildings in part because they suspend in water allowing them to be applied and dried into shapes. Clay is more readily encountered in alluvial deposits and near active stream beds where seasonal run-off drops the smaller mineral deposits. In large enough quantities the clay overwhelms the stone and gravel to form a paste that will immediately stick to the tire, then itself, then the tire again building mass like a snowball going downhill. A trail heavily comprised of clay deposits should be considered completely off limits for mud riding.

Gravel, sand, and stones in contrast to clay do not stick to your tires and paint. The stones will not suspend in water and therefore can not be carried to stick to your tandem or your body. In fact a little rain on a sandy trail can make riding a bit easier by compacting the top layers eliminating the tendency for your tires to drift or wash out.

Clay mixed with gravel, sand, and stone in varying consistencies generates mud. Choosing trails with low volumes of clay is the first step to successful mud riding. Once on the trail the tandem captain must use line choice carefully to stay on the gravel and out of the clay. Momentum and mass will be your friend on a tandem mountain bike up to a point; past that point, meaning once too much clay builds up, mass and momentum can carry your team further into the sticky stuff = getting more stuck.

Riding a Tandem Mountain Bike in the mud is not our idea of a good time but hopefully this lesson on mud can help your team should the urge to ride come during or immediately after a storm.

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1. Always obey basic traffic laws – Laws are designed to protect everyone by codifying a basic set of tenants.
2. Keep your tandem in top operational form. There was a recent trial in Los Angeles regarding a road rage case where a doctor passed two cyclists and then slammed on his brakes in front of them. The defense actually hired a scientist to inspect and test the brakes on the cyclists’ bikes. Had they not been of good quality their case could very well have been lost right there.
3. Communicate upcoming obstacles, turns, and weight shifts. The stoker is essentially blind behind the captain meaning they will be late to react to changes in course. By proactively communicating and making it a routine tandem teams will be able to work together on the bike and avoid costly over-corrections
4. Anticipate the negative actions of others. When approaching cross-streets anticipate that the vehicle approaching on your side will not see you or stop. Prepare ahead of time to avoid the potential collision or take actions to make sure the driver will see your team.
5. Listen - often the best early warning system while riding is your hearing. Keep your ears open for vehicles approaching from the rear paying attention to engine rpm pitch, down/ up shifting, or braking. Again be proactive in your attention to sounds if the vehicle doesn’t sound normal take a look to be sure your are safe.
6. Avoid the road rage trap. Unfortunately there are folks out there that will go out of their way to provoke a confrontation. Coming from all walks of life their reasoning and cause can vary but their actions generally do not. Most times it starts with a honk or a brush by of the side view mirror. The perpetrator will follow it up with a steady view in their rear view mirror waiting for your reaction. Here is the trap… You can react aggressively and escalate the confrontation by any number of socially known moves (flipping the bird is one) OR you can make a note of the vehicle and license and report the action to authorities and continue on your way. Although option one can feel better the perp is often hoping you will escalate so they can further harass. By taking the moral high ground you avoid getting into further altercations and hopefully help build a case against the aggressor.

In the end your tandem team is out to have fun and enjoy the experience of a bicycle built for two. By taking basic precautions you can help minimize risk and avoid dangerous situations for your team. Ride safe and ride smart.

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