Riding a tandem bicycle can be a lot of fun, but if you have never owned a tandem bike, you will want to shop around quite a bit. And even before shopping around, ask yourself where you will be riding this bike, and who will be your partner. Couples beware: Do not ride a tandem bike unless you are on good terms. Tandem biking demands a level of cooperation that a shaky relationship just cannot handle.
First-Time Tandem Buyers
Some good advice from the Tandem Link states that you should try out many tandem bikes before settling on one. Finding the right bike might be tricky since there are two of you who have to like the same bike, but this agreement is nevertheless a crucial first step. Each manufacturer varies slightly in how the build their tandem bikes. Some are heavy and unwieldy, some very responsive. Some are comfort bikes you should only ride around town, and others are safe for road trips. But the most important thing to agree on is the bike frame.
Right Frame
The first rider is called the captain, and the second the stoker. Obviously the bike should fit you both, but if a perfect fit remains elusive, it is preferable to buy a tandem bike that is slightly smaller than you would have liked, rather than bigger. The reason for this is obvious: a bike that feels too big will make the smaller one of the two feel insecure on the bike which in turn means your bike will probably gather dust in your garage. John and Pamela Blayley, tandem bike afficionadoes, advise on their website that a good rule to observe is that the front seat tube should be smaller than the one on the regular bike the captain uses. At the same time, the captain's reach should be as on his single bike. The rear top tube should not be too long as this adds unnecessary weight and makes the bike harder to handle. On the other hand, the stoker needs room to sit and not have his face bump into the captain's back. This is another reason why sizing is so important and can be downright tricky, especially if the two riders are of very different sizes.
Solutions
For every problem with tandem bikes, you can find a solution, including for a big difference in size between the two riders. If the person designated to ride in the back is very small compared with the captain, you can find a manufacturer who builds tandem bikes with an unusually broad size differences between front and back. This solution however will probably be costly. A more reasonably priced alternative would be to use a kid-back. This means that a second set of cranks is installed on the rear seat tube, which allows the stoker to pedal comfortably.
Consider the Cranks
Cranks can be in phase, -- synchronized -- or out of phase. There are advantages to both, say the Blayleys. With the cranks in phase, stopping and starting are easier on the stoker, but with cranks slightly out of phase, speed increases since there is no dead time in the pedaling. You will find what out what works best for you.
Before You Buy
If you want to give tandem riding a shot, you might want to consider renting one first. You or your partner might not be quite as pleased with the experience as you thought. If you do enjoy it and would like to avoid spending thousands of dollars, you could buy one used from places, including Craigslist or Ebay. Tandem Links advice comparing a new tandem bike with a used one that already comes with all the bells and whistles you would normally have separately, and figure out if you really want to buy new. Also, if you seriously take to tandem biking, you might want to upgrade in a few years anyway, so maybe it isn't worth it to invest in a brand new bike as your first bike.
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