Only just converted to riding tandems and having joined the tandem club after years of riding/ time trialing solos, why is it that the tandem rides are so short?
Here are a few statistics of a trip to France we did in July.
Thursday:- Time &.34.59
AVerage speed:- 14.5 mph
Distance:- 110.04 miles
Max speed 37.5
Friday Time 4.17.15
Average speed 12.7 mph
Distance 54.58 miles
Maximum speed 50 mph
Saturday
Time 4.49.11
Average speed 13.7
Distance 66.16 miles
Maximum speed 39.5
Sunday
Time 4.38.44
Average speed 14.0
Distance 65.31 mles
Maximum speed 40 mph
Monday
Time 5.05.15
average speed 15.4
Distance 78.66
Maximum speed 39 mph
We ride a Dawes double edge here in hilly Devon our maximum speed on the flat was 43 mph .53 mph down hill, the only trouble was we couldn’t get past the cars distance cover 82 miles on some of the hilliest roads around Devon. when we are on the tandem, we do smile and laugh the whole trip, but 25/40 miles is just the out would leg. We want to stay out longer but the body eventually runs out of steam. We really love riding Sue’s tandem. I don’t want it to stop. so why only 25 miles?
Why do people always equate low milegae / slow speed with a bad day out? As a teenager, I’ve done 150+ miles in a day and long since decided that it’s something you need to do, just to prove to yourself that you can. Racing MTBs on a weekend, I expect to do 30+ miles in a couple of hours. The rest of the time, cycling is about enjoyment, tandeming is especially about being sociable. Ride slowly, enjoy the scenery, chat with your partner, stop in every village you pass and have a look around. Anything more than about 40 miles in a day is alot to us, when we tour with the camping gear we often do less than that. We do have a small problem withour tandem in that it won’t go past an open pub, maybe that slows us down We’ve met lots of other cyclists, tandem and solo, who agree with this view so at least we know we’re not completely on own. Just my opinion of course, wouldn’t do for us all to be the same…
Hi Dave, thank you for your very sensible reply.
Now if I stopped at every pub we went past I’m sure my mileage would increase.
Just by swaying from one side of the road to the other, the only other thing would be my stoker, I don’t think she would appreciate the speed on some of the corners, as alchol would make me more confident going faster into corners than I do when sober, and boy would she scream. She certainly screams now. I think I’ll stick to caf`es and Tescos, for beverages.
That’s the other reason for low mileages, I don’t know a touring cyclist who can get past an open cafe. When was the last time you read anyone’s tandem trip review and there wasn’t at least one cafe in there . Still it’s all part of the fun and social interaction. We’re just the same when we’re on the motorbike (cafes that is, not pubs...), maybe it’s an age thing
The rides our local tandem club do are often very decent distances, 70 or 80 hilly miles, maybe you should move to Yorkshire. The tandem club are always looking for active members, I am sure they would be delighted if you wanted to organise some longer runs.
The Double Edge is a great tandem, I have done many miles on one with my fiend Helen on the back, although I would run out of bottle long before 53 mph on a descent. Respect for your 43 miles an hour on the flat though. I have yet to get a speedo on our Santana Beyond, but when we do we’ll have a go at a flat sprint and let you know what our max is.
Nice to have people posting on the forum, if Jonathan doesn’t send you all complimentary bottles let me know and I’ll give him a prod.
Hi Ruth, well since we have been riding as a team, Sue and I have not had so much fun.
Today was a very hard 82.5 miles, hilly very uphill.
Now I think you should move down here, we are also very hilly.
We are planning to come up and see you all and have a ride on that Santana Beyond with speedo fitted of course. What a dream machine.
Yes we stop at cafes, today 3 in total. One was a pub, at Ashburton alas no food, only coffee, so we went to the cafe at Buckfast and had some food, then onto the Hoe with lovely views of the Sound.
The only draw back was that we had got home, and the ride had ended. We were totally pooped. But thats what I like about riding Sue’s tandem. Social, yes! Fun, yes! Remarks like “you shouldn’t be riding that fast up hill on a tandem” Great!!Why shouldn’t we?
We are always smiling.
Now if it were pubs we were stopping at not cafe’s and as stoker I drank the same as the captain I recon it would make riding the tandem even more hilarious than it already is, there’d be less screaming, even more laughing!
Hi stokes , now if you knew how many times I have come of my bikes and how many stitches and steel plates hold me together, then I think achohol, might have made to make the landings/crashes easier.
But I was stone cold sober and it hurt. Spent many years in hospital, not much fun there.
Still if you are down this way at any time I might trying consider it.
Only just converted to riding tandems and having joined the tandem club after years of riding/ time trialing solos, why is it that the tandem rides are so short?
We’ve met lots of other cyclists, tandem and solo, who agree with this view so at least we know we’re not completely on own. Just my opinion of course, wouldn’t do for us all to be the same…
