123598.PDF
9
Getting Underway
Allow time for a complete pre-ride inspection. See your
Cannondale Bicycle Owner’s Manual
for
overall bicycle pre-ride checks. See the Maintenance section of this supplement for Tandem
checks.
Starting Off
Starting and stopping a tandem is smooth and easy, but only if you do everything in the exact
prescribed order. Start by shifting the bike into a comfortably low gear.
The captain mounts first. Before, and only before anyone gets on the bike, it can be leaned over
to lower the clearance to straddle the bike. Swing your leg forward over the handlebars, not back
over the rear of the bike. There might be a person standing there!) Straddle the top tube, plant
your feet on the ground, and spread your legs to clear the pedals. Firmly hold the bike upright
and squeeze both brakes.
Never let the bike lean to the side, particularly after the stoker gets on. This is the biggest
difference between your tandem and your single. (Your single is so light that you don’t think
twice about leaning it. The tandem is not only heavy, it’s top heavy. Once you let it lean a little,
the stoker’s weight makes it want to lean more. And the stoker just hates the way that feels.)
The stoker gets on now. Because the captain is holding the bike rock solid, the stoker can mount it
like a horse. Put one foot on a pedal and swing your other leg rearward over the saddle. Now the
stoker puts both feet in the toe clips or clipless pedals. When you’re ready, the stoker backpedals
so the captain’s preferred starting pedal is in the up position. The stoker says, “ready.”
Now the captain can start. Pick up one foot, put it on a pedal, and stand on it while steering
straight ahead. (Don’t put your rear end on the seat before starting to pedal, because that could
make the bike lean over and wobble, and possibly fall.) After you’ve started the first pedal stroke,
get in the saddle, put your other foot on the backside of the pedal, and continue pedaling and
steering. Don’t worry about the toe clip or clipless pedals. Let the toe clip scrape the ground.
Pedal until you are going comfortably fast (10 mph or so), and then put your other foot in the toe
clip or clipless pedals.
