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martygarrison
Trad climber
Washington DC
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Aug 28, 2012 - 11:58am PT
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I had a couple. here are my thoughts
great if you and your wife or partner ride at two very different speeds.
they go really fast on flats and downhills
very slow going uphill
sitting in the back sucks, feeling of no control.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Aug 28, 2012 - 01:15pm PT
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^^^^^^^^
Exactly what Marty said. Being on the back sucks. Especially if the front guy hits a bump or pothole without warning you.
But I did Seattle-to-Portland one year, and the fastest, easiest part of it was when a couple of tandems let us draft them. They were going so fast, they didn't even want us guys on regular road bikes taking pulls. Just sat on for about 30 miles at about 30 mph. Was great.
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Karen
Trad climber
So Cal urban sprawl Hell
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Aug 28, 2012 - 03:38pm PT
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A couple of points, my ex and I had this really nice Santana, however, he and I had two very different riding styles, I liked to spin and he would just randomly coast, SOOOOO annoying! Also, every time we'd go over some bump in the road it was unpleasant for me being the stoker.
The coolest thing I've ever seen on a tandom was this couple on a mtn bike tandom who were topping out on Mammoth mtn, they had ridden from the bottom up, amazing.
Personally, I like tandoms but would only consider riding one with the right sort of cyclist. Nice shaved legs and hot in his lycra:-) No Freds allowed
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dee ee
Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
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Aug 31, 2012 - 12:33pm PT
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Tandems are cool.
We've had one for years and had many fun rides. When Margy was pregnant she could still enjoy a low impact ride. Now that my boy Jake fits on the back it helps to get him psyched for riding and off the video games for awhile.
Yeah, yeah, slow on the ups but way fast on the downs.
One (couple)of our posse at the Solvang Century had one and drafting them was the bomb.
Love the tandem!
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matty
Trad climber
under the sea
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Sep 25, 2012 - 01:16pm PT
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Used to ride one with my dad for a few years in michigan. It was 50/50 work for us. Fun to keep up speed on the flats and the downhills....in michigan they aint very big, but we could still get up to 65+...what a thrill.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Feb 25, 2013 - 06:46pm PT
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Maybe. Maybe not. This needs further discussion.
I'll be glad to admit I am a dotl. I might be convinced to try this bike instead. They get to share the view and nobody gets to catch farts.
More vintage bikes on today's Flames thread.
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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Feb 25, 2013 - 07:12pm PT
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Always had a blast on them as drunken teenagers. Lots of good crashes.
For roadbiking, they definitely cook. Two engines for basically the same aerodynamic profile.
Fun for plain cruising around on with your lady, and also fun, I imagine, if you have kids. I've seen some pretty interesting custom rigs out there that look like they're fun for the whole family (or all the Whos in Whoville).
A few years back I ran across these guys while doing the Indian Valley Century. They had their labrador riding along in the trailer. I doubt they did the full 100 miles, but you never know.
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labrat
Trad climber
Auburn, CA
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Feb 25, 2013 - 07:22pm PT
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Thanks Jay. The back to back video is crazy!
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Daphne
Trad climber
Black Rock City
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Feb 25, 2013 - 08:25pm PT
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I just broke up with a guy who introduced me to tandem biking. We did NOT break up because of the biking.
I LOVED riding tandem and I totally pulled my weight in the hills of Marin County. My view was great all around ;)
It's true that the bumps kinda suck from the back end, but that was the only downer.
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MisterE
Social climber
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Feb 25, 2013 - 11:12pm PT
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I have cycling friends who call tandem bikes "The Divorce Horse".
Just sayin'.
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Feb 25, 2013 - 11:12pm PT
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tandem hell, take a whole platoon
or at least ride something cool
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Apr 30, 2013 - 10:45am PT
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S. African tandemizers at the Argus Peninsula event of events.
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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Apr 30, 2013 - 01:08pm PT
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This wacky family stayed at our house for a couple of nights last summer.
Not really my idea of fun but they do go on some cheap and scenic trips as a family.
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gonzo chemist
climber
Fort Collins, CO
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Apr 30, 2013 - 04:12pm PT
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come visit Fort Collins in the summertime. Its like bike central here. You'll see all kinds of weird sh#t. And I think that's awesome!
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