--- In sydneytandems@yahoogroups.com, Chris Horsfield <cjhfield@...>
wrote:
>
> Simon Phin (Beyond The Break) wrote:
> >
> > Hi
> >
> >
> >
> > I have enrolled myself on this email trying to get some
information
> > about Tandem Cycling.
> >
> >
> >
> > In short my partner and I are tandem surfers (
www.tandemaustralia.com
> > <http://www.tandemaustralia.com> ) and are keen to get into
tandem
> > cycling.
> >
> >
> >
> > We saw an ad for KHS tandem bikes in Australian Cyclist but have
been
> > unable to find any anywhere to have a look. I have spoken to
William
> > at Beach Road Cycles in Melbourne, who was very helpful but was
hoping
> > to find something a little closer to home here in Sydney. We live
at
> > Allambie on the Northern Beaches.
> >
> >
> >
> > Any direction or guidance would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Simon Phin
> >
> > Home 9939 1743 / Mobile 0400 100 814
> >
> Hi Simon, welcome. It is often possible to pick up a tandem on Ebay
for
> a reasonable price. Tandems typically dont get the miles on them
that
> single bikes (half bikes) do so they often are in pretty good
condition
> even though a few years old. You can setup a search so you get
emailed
> when one comes up. I would avoid the "beach cruisers" and anything
home
> made. People on this list have a range of bikes from the cheapest
to
> custom but they all get from A to B OK. Most tandems seem to be
built
> around 26" MTB wheels and wide range gears and have frame designs
that
> allow a wide variety of captain and stoker heights - often they are
made
> with only 1 or 2 frame sizes unlike road singles. Road tandems with
700c
> wheels are much rarer and I guess usually need to be built to fit a
> specific captain and stoker. Because tandems can use a lot of MTB
> components they have become a lot cheaper and even base models seem
> plenty strong.
>
> Theres a lot could be said about tandem riding but most people
agree it
> mostly comes down to the following:
>
> The stoker makes no mistakes - sometimes quoted as the stoker is
always
> right.
>
> There is an article on the net by Bill McCready with a few pointers
( I
> think Bill founded Santana Tandems in the US:
>
> http://www.gtgtandems.com/tech/propmethod.html
>
> In my experience kids make fantastic stokers - they are not fazed
by
> anything new, dont try to steer the bike and have complete faith in
> their parent up the front. Adults on the back have a much more
stressful
> time to start with. There is an incredible feeling of loss of
control
> and you want to steer - its quite scary especially if the captain
is new
> and leans the bike a lot at slow speeds. I think you could put a
stoker
> off for life in about 100 metres if you tried. Stoker stress
settles
> pretty quickly as you learn to be passive and trust the captain -
then
> you can just admire the view - to the sides at least. One way to be
a
> good captain is to be a stoker for a ride or two and you suddenly
know
> how not to scare the stoker witless.
>
> There is something special about tandems that makes people get
quite
> fanatical about them. Maybe its just the speed down those hills :-)
>
> Chris
>
> Ebay tandem that started life as a Specialized Something
>
> PS Have a think about the Tas trip early next year.
>


Update: I just found out that the person I referred to did get that
$660 tandem just through her LBS that didn't usually deal with
Dirtworks/KHS. But, yes, we've (I mean Marc has) sourced all our
tandems through eBay. Even the triple from Lithuania!!!!

I've always been a bit nonplussed at the real or imagined hype about
stokers trying to steer, etc. Maybe I'm just a "follower", but I have
never found myself trying to wrestle the bike around from the stokers
seat! Perhaps it is because Marc and I paddled TK2s (double touring
kayaks) for years, and so we have built up a bit of a trust/teamwork
thing. (And I predict that Simon & Nicole will have a headstart on
the teamwork and trust thing with the tandem surfing!!) Biggest
issue I have when getting on the back after a long time is if I
absentmindedly go to coast like I would normally do (Marc is more of
a pedaller - as Chris found out between Wingham and Taree, eh,
Chris!!!)

As stoker you have to get in tune with the Captain, and you do have
to learn to go with their style of riding. So you do have to have
your brain in gear in a different way, although to a point it becomes
intuitive - you sort of feel when he is about to start pedalling,
when to ease off as he's changing gears, when to put in a bit extra
just to get to the top of a rise. (I consider it a very important
job btw, did you notice?!!!) In many ways it is much more relaxing
riding as stoker - you don't have to think about the gearing, or
braking, or steering for that matter.

As stoker, you shouldn't be looking around at the road or path ahead
(you'll put the bike off balance), so you can't possibly see what to
steer around anyway!! (I reckon I see more of the scenery when
stoking than on the front, because, even if it is more to the side, I
don't have to be concentrating on the road! I often comment on
something that Marc hasn't noticed because he is too busy watching
the road!)

You DO have to trust your Captain, and it probably helps if you
admire their bike handling skills, at least a bit! In my case it is
no problem, I am prepared to admit that he is the better bike rider.
(It's just fact - and I don't have any feminist hang ups about it!!)
The other week, as we screamed down Red Hill into Coffs at over 70
kph, I did think to myself "This is what you call TRUST !" We've
been working lately on standing up together. I'm having a few issues;
I do have to keep reminding him of the Stoker is Always Right adage!!

(I might put a new pic up in the photo album section of Marc and me
on the Santana!)