Tandem Bicycles - A Bicycle made for two

The main advantage of tandem bicycles is that they allow two riders of unequal abilities to ride together, unlike single bikes. After all, bike riding is great exercise, riding a tandem bicycle is a great two person form of exercise, and one of the great things about modern tandem bicycles is overall improvement in handling and comfort .

Although some people may be taken aback by the unconventional look, recumbent bikes offer riders a comfortable place to sit back and relax. The stronger of the riders usually rides at the front while the weaker one takes the rear seat and control of gear changing. It's a two-person touring bicycle which both riders pedal. The energy produced by two riders working together, dramatically increases speed and efficiency. Many models have shocks on the front and/or rear to reduce the shocks that riders will feel when going over obstacles on off-road trails.

Some specialized bicycles such as tandem bikes also allow independent pedalling and also navigation by the rear rider. This in effect means the faster rider doesn't need to wait for the slower one; and the slower rider doesn't need to struggle to try to keep up with the faster rider. You will have the benefit of individually taking short brakes from pedalling, yet still moving along.

A tandem turns the basically solitary, individualistic activity of cycling, into a mutual enjoyment and experience that may be shared by a couple.

A Tandam Bicycle for Exercise

Your first few trips are very important. You should not exceed around thirty minutes, out and back, until you both feel confident and also have the energy to venture further. Many couples don't exercise together because one partner is much more fit than the other, touring tandem bicycles is just the job. Riding a tandem bicycle is a great equalizer. The amount of work you do on a bicycle depends on how hard you push on the pedals, having the right bicycle gear is important. Pushing twice a hard on the pedals takes twice the work, so a world-class bicycle racer can ride with a novice and still get a good workout. Even a beginner will be able to keep up with the spinning pedals, no matter how fast they go. The less-fit partner just applies little or no pressure so he or she will not get tired. No matter how hard one partner tries to leave the other, you will always be together. Tandem riding is also something the entire family can do together. Young children or grandchildren can travel in luxury in a two-wheeled trailer behind the bicycle. And one the children are a bit older, they can move into the stoker position by using extended petals. At tandem rallies, it’s not uncommon to see entire families, from newborns to grandparents, all enjoying this wonderful sport of cycling together.