You’re right, the tandem cycling world is rife with terminology. You might not be expected to know any of these terms right out the gate, but you’ll become more familiar with them the longer you ride and the further you go down the tandem cycling rabbit hole. The two most important terms you should know refer to who is on the bicycle.
Captain/Pilot – this is the person who rides in the front seat on the bike. They are in charge of steering, balancing, gear changing and braking. If you’re going on a difficult, hilly ride, the captain will need to be able to call out any necessary commands to the stoker (see next term) so they will know what’s ahead of them.
Stoker – this is the person who rides in the back seat of the bicycle. The person who chooses to ride in the rear seat needs to be able to relinquish control. They have to feel comfortable with putting all of their trust in the captain. When it comes time to take corners, the stoker will need to lean with the bike, try and keep it balanced and pedal when necessary. The stoker also has the important task of being the photographer, food passer, singer and entertainer.