From: dave@berlioz.nsc.com (David Hawley)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Re: Tandems - help from experienced riders please?
Summary: Novice advice, questions, bee anecdote
Date: 20 Aug 92 21:54:50 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: National Semiconductor Corporation

In article <1992Aug19.141115.9775@keps.kodak.com> Pamela Blalock
(pamela@keps.kodak.com) writes: []

In article <1992Aug20.021537.20807@slc.com> Marc San Soucie
(marcs@slc.com) writes: []

Ahh!  Two of my favorite tandem posters!  Being a much more casual
rider than most posters, however, I may have a slightly different
perspective.  Read until you get bored...

I bought a Burley Duet two years ago, partially on the recommendations
for tandeming I heard on rec.bikes.  Although I haven't used it as
much as I'd like (new baby, temporary relocation to England, etc.), it
is really the ideal way for my wife and I to ride together.  I get the
most punishment if I exceed our capabilities, she gets to watch the
scenery, and we can talk while we ride.  We're looking forward to
becoming a tractor-trailer rig later this year.

We're lighter than the standard profile - I'm 5'8", 135lbs, and my
wife is 5'4", 100lbs.  We probably won't break any spokes!  Anyway,
we bike in standard tennis shoes, using loose toe straps on the pedals.
(I probably lose efficiency, but save $$, and anyone can go for a ride!)
When we come to a stop, I say "stop" and we both put our left feet
down (unless the road slopes the other way, in which case I say "right
foot stop").  When we start, I say "ready" "go", and we put our feet
back on the pedals and go.  Once we're up to speed, I say "coast" and
we put our feet back in.  Our right feet stay in the pedals.  We
found (at least for our shoes/pedals) that this was easier than my
holding the bike up, and wasn't difficult to coordinate.  As far as
getting on and off, the captain gets on first and off last, so
swinging the leg over the seat isn't a problem.

The rest of the posted comments I've applied well.  A new rider should
get the feel of the bike alone, then the two of you should ideally get
used to turning, stopping, starting, and signalling in an empty parking
lot or on a quiet road.  Communication is critical at first, important
later.  We were fortunate in that we move and anticipate well together,
so we almost never fight each other.  I think we both stay centered on
the bike during turns, which is very predictable.  Stay loose and relaxed,
and move yourself, not the bike (except forward!).

Now a couple of questions:  I've been riding a mountain bike single
where the handlebars are fairly high and close.  The tandem is probably
a little short for me, but the next size up felt just a little too big.
I've forgotten where handelbars usually are on a road bike, but it
feels like I'm leaning WAY over on the tandem; the bars are almost an
inch below the seat.  Is this normal?  Is there an easy way to raise
the handlebars?  Is there an easy way to add brake levers to the top
(flat part) of the handlebars?

How easy would it be to rewire the braking system so that I have the
front and back wheel brakes on separate hands (now combined), and move
the drum brake back to the stoker (now on the other hand)?  Should a
novice try this, or should I pay a shop?  Instructions?

Now for the anecdote:  On the day of what was to be our first "real"
ride (from Pescadero, for those who know the SF Peninsula), a storm was
coming in from the south, resulting in a very unusual northward wind.
Wanting the wind at our backs on the coast, we took the inland road
south to Butano State Park (a slight uphill, into the wind).  Almost
to the park, a black object whizzed into my face, bouncing off my
front teeth and onto my right knee.  I frantically brushed the
bumblebee off my knee while Lynn yelled at me for jerking the bike
around.  The bee stung me before I could get it off.  Once we regained
our composure, we headed on.

I wasn't paying much attention to the bike when Lynn asked if the
ride wasn't a little rough.  I looked back, and we had a flat rear
tire.  Unfortunately, the bike shop didn't sell a lightweight wrench
for the back wheel, and I hadn't transferred the one from my mtn bike.
So we wheeled the tandem into the state park entrance, and asked the
ranger for help.  He brought a toolbox out of his VW, but I had a hard
time concentrating on removing a wheel with drumb brake.  I was having
a wierd sensation, my armpits and crotch were itching, and I was seeing
spots and feeling flushed.  I suddenly realized that it wasn't from
bending over after exercising, but a sting reaction!  The ranger at
the entrance wasn't prepared for this, so he got the chief ranger-in-
residence, who took us into his house where we waited for my symptoms
to improve or get worse.

After a half hour I was feeling better, so we loaded the tandem into
his truck and drove back to the car.  The events were so intertwined,
I can't decide if we were lucky or unlucky on that ride!  (It turned
out I had gotten the tire loose, I just didn't recognize it; I finshed
the tire change in my garage.  The emergency room said that I should
carry an antihistamine with me in the future.)

I figure bee stories are better than a repeat of the cow/sheep/dog/cat
or squirrel adventures, especially when spiced with a tandem!

Dave Hawley (dave@berlioz.nsc.com - not speaking for National Semiconductor)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles