Tandems

email hidden said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

The answer is yes, particularly if the tandem is like this:
http://www.bilenky.com/viewpnt.html

Jeff

email hidden said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

Dear U,

Let us distinguish mere males and females from proper ladies and
gentlemen.

The rule is ladies first, so the only proper place for a lady on a
tandem is obviously in front:
http://i5.tinypic.com/85b0u8x.jpg

If you think about it, this also makes for a stronger frame.

Naturally, the tool bag is in the custody of the gentleman, no lady
being willing to soil her fingers.

Further details of the Goldsmiths' Columbia 43 tandem:
http://americanhistory.si.edu/ONTHEMOVE/collection/object_296.html

***

A proper Victor lady-first tandem of the same era:
http://www.amoser.ch/christian/quellen/victor1898/images/page11.jpg

Details:
http://www.amoser.ch/christian/quellen/victor1898/images/page09.jpg

***

Note that the Columbia nad Victor tandems both have dual steering,
allowing the husband to correct any foolishness on the part of his
bride.

Modern females, of course, are like 800-pound gorillas and sit
wherever they please.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

Modern females, of course, are like 800-pound gorillas and sit
wherever they please.
Cheers,
Carl Fogel

Agreed!

Best Regards - Mike Baldwin

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

Nobody cares.

In practice, the better cyclist and stronger person acts as captain,
which is to say, is in front. In most mixed crews, this is (for cultural
and physical reasons) most likely to be the male.

Most tandems are built, Carl's 19th-century examples aside, for the
taller rider to be up front, or with a lady's frame at the back, or with
somehow universal sizing. There are exceptions.

Sheldon has some excellent articles on the matter of tandems, learning
to ride them, and team assignments:

http://sheldonbrown.com/tandem.html#fitting

I have a lightly-used tandem for my lovely bride and I. It is a
small-wheeled step-through, quite unsuitable for long tours. As both
size and skill were considerably disproportionate on our team, there
wasn't even a question but that I would captain and she would stoke. The
tandem lets her go for a bike ride without worrying about falling or
struggling to get up a hill.

--
Ryan Cousineau [email hidden] http://www.wiredcola.com/
"My scenarios may give the impression I could be an excellent crook.
Not true - I am a talented lawyer." - Sandy in rec.bicycles.racing

Ryan Cousineau said:

In practice, the better cyclist and stronger person acts as
captain, which is to say, is in front.

Typically, yes, But again it's up to the personal preference of the
team: being stronger and more experienced I rode as stoker so that
we could share more of the riding. The other way was too much of
just a heavy bike for me and too much of a passive role for my
partner.

--
MfG/Best regards
helmut springer panta rhei

email hidden said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

Review "Shovelin' Coal" by Tony Pranses, about midway down
http://www.bicyclinglife.com/NewsAndViews/BikePoetry.htm

It gives some important clues.

- Frank Krygowski

Quoted message said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

Makes no difference.
It relates much more directly to the personalities and relationships
involved. My captain would _never_ ride stoker, just not her way.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by [email hidden] [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

On Dec 31 2007, 7:07 pm, "[email hidden]"

Quoted message said:

When riding a tandem, is it proper for the male or female to be in
front? Even if one is stronger than the other?

Review "Shovelin' Coal" by Tony Pranses, about midway down
bicyclinglife.comNewsAnd...BikePoetry.htmOpen ↗

It gives some important clues.

- Frank Krygowski

Having spent considerable time as both captain and stoker on a tandem, I speak from experience when I say that riding in back can be just as fun. Not having to focus on steering, hifting, braking, et cetera leaves you free to enjoy the scenery or, in a group ride, talk to other people.

As such, on a conventional tandem, I suggest having the stronger and/or more experienced rider up front. The captain has to be able to support the weight of themselves, the bike and the stoker when stopped, and must have the strength and experience to steer and brake (quite a task with the massive weight of the bike and two people).