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General Category >> Technical >> Dumb question about tandems
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Message started by robert.j on Feb 8^th, 2008, 4:54pm

Title: Dumb question about tandems
Post by robert.j on Feb 8^th, 2008, 4:54pm

This came up at lunch today. Never having ridden a tandem I didn't know the answer. Do the two riders pedal independently of one another or do they both have to maintain the same cadence/gears.

Title: Re: Dumb question about tandems
Post by Bud_Bent on Feb 8^th, 2008, 6:04pm

robert.j wrote:

This came up at lunch today. Never having ridden a tandem I didn't know the answer. Do the two riders pedal independently of one another or do they both have to maintain the same cadence/gears.

The standard setup has both riders pedaling in unison. Clipless pedals are very important if you use this setup, since one rider suddenly starting to pedal could throw the other rider's feet off the pedals. The captain (front rider) should call out things to the stoker (rear rider) like "Coast", when he stops pedaling, to help things go smoothly.

You can also install an IPS (independent pedaling system) on most tandems, which makes the two cranks independent of each other. This is probably a better setup for occasional stokers or child stokers. If it will be the same stoker and captain all the time, and the two can work out cadence levels that work for both, I think the standard crank setup is better (or course, that's just my .02).

Title: Re: Dumb question about tandems
Post by richardr on Feb 14^th, 2008, 2:07pm

To elaborate on Bud's answer.
IPS means one person can coast while the other pedals. When both are pedaling, they still have to pedal in unison.

When our Anura trikes are connected in tandem, we have actual independent pedaling. Since we each drive a different set of drive wheels, we can be in completely different gears. This is really nice, because it allows each of us to shift as we feel the need without a noticeable affect on the other person.

Richard Reed

Title: Re: Dumb question about tandems
Post by FlyingLaZBoy on Feb 14^th, 2008, 4:22pm

So where are those photos you promised, Richard???? :)

Title: Re: Dumb question about tandems
Post by Strada177 on Feb 14^th, 2008, 5:19pm

Paul,I taught him everything about taking pictures while riding. 'Nuff said.