Can you ride tandem bike alone

That is, there are two pedal holes in each crank: one closer to the bottom bracket axle for smaller children, and one further away for larger children. When the time is right, you unscrew and refit the pedals. With the rear saddle so low down, your child will be able to get on and off without your help, too. A few custom frame builders are well known for their tandems and will readily make child-backs for a four-figure sum.

For rather less outlay, you can get an off-the-peg child-back tandem. The reach may be too great, in which case you will need a longer or telescoping stoker stem. Adult cranks are too long for children. An engineer who is able to cut down cranks to suit a child can alternatively drill another pedal hole, which will allow two pedal positions — adult or child. Another interesting option is the Bike Friday Family Tandem , a small-wheeled tandem that fits a child or adult stoker — and packs up into a couple of suitcases!

The now out-of-production Bike Friday Family Triple Traveller was a three-seater version of the same bike, with the middle seat meant for a child and the rear for an adult or a child. You can only get such bikes to order in the UK. What you need are kiddy cranks. You could saw up an old bike to get the bottom bracket.

An easier way to is to buy it: St John Street Cycles sell a kiddy crank seat tube block. Get a tandem specialist to advise — try www. You also need to let your child reach the handlebars. A long stoker stem and backswept stoker bars is one option. Another solution requires a bit of DIY but arguably works better for smaller children. You will need: two pairs of drop handlebars; an extra stoker stem; two broom handles; lots of handlebar tape.

Fit one pair of drop bars in the normal stoker stem, upside down, bar ends pointing backwards. Saw down a broom handle so that it is several centimetres longer than the distance between the bar ends and wedge one end in each bar end, if necessary wrapping the broom in insulation tape to provide a tighter fit. Repeat with the other handle.

Your broom handles need to be roughly the right diameter. Take your drop bars to the hardware shop to check. Your child will have handlebars all down each side and can hold on anywhere. And one day you can remove the whole caboodle and be left with a standard tandem. Riding a tandem is easier than riding a solo bike plus trailer cycle. The long wheelbase of a tandem makes is very stable, although the slightly bus-like cornering at slow speed takes some getting used to.

The stoker has to trust the pilot completely and not try to steer the bike or tense up. Inexperienced adult tandem riders may struggle to synchronise their pedalling efforts effectively. The thing to watch for with a child stoker is his or her feet coming off the pedals. Use toe clips to keep little feet in place. The hardest part of tandem riding is starting and stopping, particularly for two adults.

To get on, the pilot straddles the bike, feet on the floor, holding the brakes on. Once straddling the bike, the captain holds the bike up for the stoker to get on. The bike should be held steady for the stoker.

The captain grabs the brake levers so the bike does not roll forward. At this point, it is very important for the captain to spread the feet far enough apart to CLEAR the front set of pedals. Failure to clear the pedals means that the captain will more than likely get smacked in the shin or calf with the front pedals when the stoker climbs on and places their feet on the pedals.

To avoid this, it necessitates that the captain adopt a very WIDE stance with the feet. The captain should then SIT on the top tube to hold the bike steady. You are now ready for the stoker to get on the bike. This is the easy part. Stoker climbs aboard just as on any other bike, by kicking their leg to the rear, over the back wheel. The stoker should get up on the seat and place both feet in the pedals holding onto the handlebars. Note to stokers: the captain will move the bike when you are on it and this will make YOU very uncomfortable!

Stokers, resist that urge to put your foot down! The captain is likely only moving the bike a few degrees, but it will feel like much more than this. At this point, the captain is or should be!

The captain should NOT try to sit on the saddle of the bike. The stoker should be seated on the bike, both feet on the pedals, holding onto the bars. Just like dancing, someone has to lead. When riding a tandem, the captain leads. So the captain decides which foot to start off with sorry stokers, you must adapt to this one. The next step is for the STOKER not the captain to move the pedals into position by backpedaling so that the right pedal is in front of the knee, just above horizontal.

The captain is still standing with both feet planted firmly on the ground. Placing the pedal in this position allows the most power out of the pedal stroke.

You have been WARNED: attempting to start with your feet in any other position than just described will result in a very rough start! Stokers, this may make you uncomfortable but you trust your captain, right?! The captain should NOT attempt to sit on the saddle. So now the captain is holding the bike with one foot down, one foot on the pedal, and the stoker is on the bike, both feet on the pedals.

You are ready to ride! Keep in mind that your first start will be your worst start, but there is a learning curve. These are commands that the captain gives to the stoker when tandem riding. I tell new stokers that it is natural to not want to do anything wrong, so the tendency on the back of the tandem is to do nothing, waiting for the captain to take off! Because the stoker has both feet on the pedals and is seated on the bike, the stoker can really give the tandem the initial push to get going.

When a stoker is hesitant or not committed to starting, the start will be up to the captain. Remember that tandeming is a team sport. Here is where it is important to work together. At the same time, the captain should push or step downward on the pedal, lift up the bum and sit on the saddle while keeping the bike moving straight ahead. The first time you do this, it will be a new sensation, and perhaps not the smoothest start. But a little practice, and you will have mastered this.

While it takes a little while to get used to it, there is a great deal of technique involved to get the hang of the whole enchilada. There are a few strategies and tips that you should know about before mounting a tandem for the first time. The key to riding a tandem effectively and without much hassle is building a good team. A good team is more than the sum of its parts. Tandem riders are generally referred to as the captain the rider in front and the stoker the rider in the back.

The captain handles pedaling, steering, braking, and basically everything else that relates to bike handling. This is achieved by paying attention to how you and your partner move, accelerate, stop and carry out other basic bike handling functions. Here are some useful tips and techniques for the captain and the stoker to synchronize their pedaling efforts effectively.

For others, it can come naturally and feel just like a normal bike. Regardless of which group you fall into, there are a few tricks and tips that help you get the most out of the bikes made for two. Sure, it takes a little bit of time to figure it out, but once you get the hang of it, you and your partner will have a blast.

The most important thing is to work together as a team and perform all movements gently in unison. Communication is also vital and involves developing a special level of verbal and nonverbal communication, notifying each other about every possible change during riding through every step.