10
Stopping
If you stop briefly, say, for a traffic light, the captain stops the bike while the stoker stays strapped
in. The captain takes one foot off the pedal, dismounts from the seat, and puts the foot on the
ground while holding the bike absolutely upright. Starting up again is just like your initial start-up.
The captain should let the stoker know what’s happening —talk to one another —no surprises.
To stop and dismount, reverse the mounting procedure. The captain gets off the seat, spreads
legs to clear the pedals and brace the bike upright while the stoker climbs off. Then the captain
can dismount.
Slow Speed Riding
Tandems are stable and easy to maneuver at slow speeds. But they need a confident captain who
doesn’t overcorrect or induce wobbling. A smooth style is the key to good slow-speed riding.
After you’ve gotten to know your tandem well, you’ll find you can make a U-turn on a narrow
two-lane road.
Communication
Some tandem teams talk a lot about riding. They inform each other of every bump, every shift,
every time they slow down, every drink from a water bottle. Others almost never talk. They
prefer to communicate silently. Whichever style you pick is up to you. Just pick the one that
works for you.
One important coordination activity may require talking, at least at first: shifting. The reason: on a
single bike, riders intuitively let up on the pedals when they’re shifting. On a tandem, the stoker
doesn’t necessarily do that. This is hard on derailleurs (especially front derailleurs) and may make
shifts more difficult. Make sure you both let up on the pedals during critical shifts. Whether you
do that by talking or by the stoker feeling when captain is about to shift is up to you.
WARNING
GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE CAPTAIN AND STOKER INCREASES THE SAFETY
AND ENJOYMENT OF THE RIDE. MIS-COMMUNCIATION OR POOR COORDINATION
INCREASES THE CHANCE OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NEW TANDEM RIDERS:
Before riding on a more challenging course, choose an open area free of hazards to practice
and develop good Tandem communication skills.
