Tandem mountain bikes are built for two people to ride. They have two seats, sets of pedals and handlebars. They make great racing bikes because you have four legs instead of two powering the bike. Tandem riding off-road tests various components to their maximum due to the unique nature of tandems. Tandem mountain bike components have to stand up to the stresses of off-road terrain and the weight of dual riders.
Tandem-Rated Forks
The suspension on a tandem mountain bike is very specialized. Tandem-rated suspension forks are available at a few bicycle manufacturers. These suspension forks are customized for tandem use, modified for heavier loads. Riding style, weight and type of terrain affect fork performance. The key is to match your style of riding and frame design to the proper type and size fork with the proper spring rate and damping, according to MTB Tandems. The fork can then be fine tuned to meet individual needs.
Brake System
Brakes are one of the most important safety features on a tandem mountain bike. The braking system for tandem bikes must be able to control the speed of two people and a heavier bike in off-road conditions. Two people pedaling gives you the added speed on a tandem, but this also increases the heat build up on the brakes. This is increased for downhill runs. Hydraulic and disc braking systems are good for tandems, but they must be built using a heavy-duty design to stand up the to the additional loads and stresses.
Wheels
Tandem mountain bike wheels must be rugged to handle the off-road terrain. Another consideration is selection of tires, which is usually done with a single rider in mind, according Tandem Bicycling. It is best to account for variations in riding style and which person is the dominant rider. Tires are made of three pieces combined into one unit. The bead is the part of the tire that connects to the rim. The casing is the tightly woven fabric covered with rubber on the inside of the tire. The casing helps prevent punctures in the inner tube. Mountain tandems typically use a lower thread count casing depending on tire width, trail usage and length of rides. The tread of the tire is the skin and the only part that meets the ground.
Drivetrain
The tandem drivetrain is all the parts that power the bicycle. It consists of the pedals, chains, cranks, chainrings, bottom bracket, chain that connects the chainring to the rear sprocket, derailleurs, rear sprocket and rear hub. All these components allow for synchronized pedaling and bike speed.
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