Uni out, Tandem in!

[saskatchewanian]

If I could find a good cheep tandem I would loose my cargo bike. I used to love my longtail but I pretty much only use it as a grocery getter since discovering unicycles with wheels larger than 20".

In my opinion a tandem would make an excellent utility bike with the option of picking up hitchhikers

[yoopers]

One more project delegated to the future, probably when I'm done with my college classes. It will be a fun project to work on.

[Naomi]

Originally Posted by sarah.miller

One wheel each. it still sort of fits the uni theme.

Nah! it's a tricycle: theree wheels. Joking apart, great fun way to transport the kids around, almost... almost makes me wish I had some.


Nao

[gkmac]

Originally Posted by jamessd

Tandems are fun.

Especially this sort.

I used to have one but it got stolen

Very thrilling to ride

An example of thrilling duo and solo mini-tandem riding: view or right-click to download.

[DarkTom]

Kit, man.

That is proper sweet!

I gotta have a go on that at some point.

Take it easy!


T.

[Poseidon]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Can you?

Can 1 person coast and the other remain pedaling.

Or do you both have to keep pedaling at all times, or both not pedal entirley?

Can you!?

[saskatchewanian]

Relax man, Teachndad has not posted since starting the thread so he probably has not seen your question. I don't know for sure but I think that most tandems have the captain and stoker cranks connected by a chain with no freewheel so I do not think that one person can coast while the other pedals.

There could be some sort of freewheel mechanism between the gears and the cranks but this would be just one more thing to break and adds to the cost. also if one person freewheeled for a bit then started pedaling you could have offset rhythms which could be bad.

You could be patent and wait for your answer or if you want the answer NOW go and do some research.

[UniBrier]

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Can you!?

On most tandems the two cranksets are locked in sync by the left side chain. The exception is the da Vinci Designs’ Independent Coasting System (ICS) and some recumbent tandem systems.

How can you tell a Tandem Captain? His chain ring grease tatoo is on his left leg.

[teachndad]

Hi,

It's been a very very busy week at work and family. I just didn't get a chance to respond until now.

I am glad to hear so many of you have good stories from riding tandems. They really are a jewel of an experience. You seem them only very seldom. I wonder if a lot of them sit in garages next to unridden unis and keep each other company.

Originally Posted by UniBrier

Tandems are fun and practical. With three kids I started with a bike, rear bike seat, and Burlery trailer, later dropped the seat added an AllyCat tag-a-long; we would run that tripple.

We got the tandem six or seven years ago, I would run that triple too! Eight feet for the tandem and three feet each for the attachements made a 14 footer! We later found a used six speed Burley Piccolo tag-a-long, very superior to the AllyCat or TrailABike, after 5+ years of use we sold it for the same amount we paid for it.

I did the Seattle to Portland with me eldest when she was 11, I need to get in shape to do it with my youngest some day but she may be 13 by that time.

My son also has Down Syndrome and even though he has the balance, he won't solo, so the Tandem is a great equalizer! Tandem dates with the wife (sans kids) are a fun outing too.

If you ever decide to train or go on long rides, invest in a Tandem Talk to communicate with the stoker. Beware though: Your kids will hear everything you say, so watch your comments.

Steve,

Your idea of the "triple" was also something I had in mind. I do have an old beat up Burley bike trailer that i bought and renovated from a garage sale almost ten years ago. It sits in the garage taking up space and gathering dust. We had a lot of fun with it when the boys were smaller. My four year old can still fit in it, but I thought if I added the trailer, that it might pull the Trail-a-bike off track on a tight turn. But, now that I think about it, If I had son number 3 on the Trail A Bike, a 60 lb kid with trailabike would be enough weight to counteract my worries. When it stops raining here, I am gonna put the "train" together and we will go down to the 7/11, for kicks. Unfortunately, we would have to take two cars to take that all down to the beach to ride.

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Can you, and your son directly behind you in stoker position each coast individually? Or do you both always have to be constantly pedaling.

This is really sweet though, that's a hell of a way to bond with your kids.

Steve(unibrier) answered that pretty well. The Captain and the Stoker are connected. When the Captain coasts, the stoker coasts. They cannot run independently of each other.

It is a hell of a way to bond with your kids. I don’t know how to describe it, but it is intimate, not in a sexy way, but in a close way. You get to talk. The kids aren’t distracted by a computer, Gameboy, or gaming system. No one else is around, and you get to talk about whatever. It’s been really good for my 9 year old. I really really enjoy it! We are outside in the sun and getting exercise. There are too many distractions in the house, and you get be out in the world and explore together.

Originally Posted by MrBoogiejuice

I entered the exciting world of tandem riding at the end of last summer. They're wonderful fun and I think you're right about people commenting more when tandeming than when uni'ing.

I found mine on e-bay while looking for a bike for my girlfriend and it's become my pride and joy.

Here she is:

That is a Wonderful! beach cruizer!! I want one! No, not a girlfriend.

A tandem like that. She looks awesome.

My tandem was bought on the cheap. Can I ask how much you paid. That wins the Character award for tandems!!

Originally Posted by sp4rky-m4rky

So you only rode a uni for the attention and the looks? And now you have found something that gets more looks you are going to drop the uni. Thats what it sounded like to me, I hope thats not what you ment

I do have to admit, I have been tiring of uniriding. Not sure what it is, but the Love I once had for it is not there as it was when I first started 7 years ago. I love Muni, but it's not the same anymore. My 9 year old can ride, and we went on a short Muni ride about 6 weeks ago on my old 20 inch. We had a good time, but the tandem was better. I don't think I will ever drop Uni riding, but, right now it's not at the forefront of the things I want to do. Weekend warrior rides on techie trails once every two months is it for now.

Originally Posted by yoopers

One more project delegated to the future, probably when I'm done with my college classes. It will be a fun project to work on.

Bruce,

That will truly be a labor of love. A lot of TLC is needed for that one. I love the handlebars with the fenders! That must be in the garage with an old 43 Dodge? Just joking.

Looks like a fun, but challenging project.

Cheers.

[tomblackwood]

For those with $5000 to $7000 to spare, there's always this triplet:

[teachndad]

Originally Posted by tomblackwood

For those with $5000 to $7000 to spare, there's always this triplet:

Ya, and are the pedals extra? Notice the pedals are not pictured. From their website.

"As more families strive to find healthful activities they can do together, Co-Motion Cycles has seen an enormous increase in triplet and quad sales. The PeriScope Trident and Trident Convertible, introduced in 2005, have made triplets more affordable and versatile than ever before."

The periscope model (move your mouse over the tandem to see it change) runs over $6,800. That's more than I paid for my van when I bought it used 4 years ago. I spent 125 bucks on my tandem and bought two new seats and two new tires for it. It will go the same places as the Periscope model. But, hey, if you got the cash, why not, I guess.

Cheers.

[MrBoogiejuice]

Originally Posted by teachndad

That is a Wonderful! beach cruizer!! I want one! No, not a girlfriend.

A tandem like that. She looks awesome.

My tandem was bought on the cheap. Can I ask how much you paid. That wins the Character award for tandems!!

She's a proper beauty. I'm even moving to the coast next month so it can feel at home... Well perhaps for other reasons too but the first thing I want to do when I get there's go for a ride along the beach.

I paid £180/$360 for it second hand. It has a few bumps and scratches but only wear and tear really.

[lobbybopster]

A great combination.

[lobbybopster]

Try Four!

[monocyclism]

Yeah, for me in order of preference it has to be unicycle, recumbant trike, tandem then bicycle. I can understand the attraction of a tandem and have had one for 15 years. Recently I rode the Snowdon Bike Ride on the tandem 'cos the route was too difficult for me on the uni - here it is in action on that event....no jokes about my stokers headgear please