You may know them as "a bicycle built for two," but bikes that seat multiple riders in a row are called tandem bicycles. Most tandem bikes seat two, but some seat three or more riders. Tandem riding requires cooperation between the riders. Only one person should steer, and both riders should pedal at a smooth, even pace. Successful tandem riders develop a firm trust in each other as well as effective communication.
The Bike
Tandem bicycles share several features with single-rider bikes. Both riders have pedals and handlebars, and the gear-shift levers can be on either the front or back handlebars. The brakes are usually on the front. But tandem frames are usually taller in front than in back. Many tandem riders are husband-and-wife teams, and bike manufacturers size the bikes accordingly, assuming the husbands will ride in front and the wives in back. This is because the person in front needs enough strength to manage the weight of two people and hold the frame steady when the bike is stopped. Other sorts of teams might need a custom-built bike.
The Riders
The rider in front is the captain, and the rider in back is the stoker. The captain trusts the stoker to help pedal, and the stoker trusts the captain to steer the bike safely and set a reasonable speed. The captain handles all steering and braking, and the stoker provides smooth, constant pedal power with extra bursts of speed to power up a hill, if necessary. The stoker never steers and has to be very careful to avoid sudden movements or balance shifts that might distract the captain. Because of the extra responsibility, the most experienced and strongest rider should sit up front.
Choosing the Right Tandem Bike
Your bike choice depends on the size of your body and your partner's body. It can be tricky to choose a frame size that fits you both. The frame must be short enough so that the captain can straddle it with legs slightly spread; it's his job to hold the bike steady while the stoker gets on, and he won't be able to do this if the bike is too tall. If this results in the frame being too low for a comfortable riding position, you can use a longer handlebar stem to add height and reach a comfortable seated position, according to Sheldon Brown of Harris Cyclery.
Helpful Riding Techniques
Starting the bike is often the most difficult part. The frame is heavy, and balancing it can be difficult at slow speeds. To get moving, the captain should stand astride the bike and hold it steady, brakes locked, with one pedal positioned at a 45-degree angle. Once the stoker hops on, the captain should push off on the raised pedal and work quickly to get up to speed. Once you're moving, the tricky part is choosing a speed that's mutually acceptable. A tandem bike's pedals move in sync with each other; in other words, the stoker can't pedal quickly if the captain is pedaling slowly, and vice versa. Developing smooth pedaling techniques is largely a matter of time and practice.
Tandem Bike Riding for the Disabled
Tandem bikes are a good way for disabled people to enjoy the experience of riding. Specially designed tandem bikes with extra support and a recumbent seating position can help disabled children learn to ride. The American Foundation for the Blind recommends tandem biking with a sighted rider positioned in the front seat. It's even possible that tandem biking may do more than help you maintain general fitness. Dr. Jay Alberts of the Cleveland Clinic discovered that eight weeks of regular tandem bike riding with a trainer who pedaled at 80 to 90 RPMs helped reduce the tremors of Parkinson's patients by 35 percent.
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