TANDEMING

Tandem bicycle with fairing      Riding the tandem

Judy and Greg have been riding their tandem bicycle since 1988. Their longest ride in one day was 102 miles at the Hancock Horizontal Hundred ride. Their longest self-contained tour was five days, 250 miles, when they planned their own trip to explore the Vermont countryside.

By far the majority of tandemists ride modern bikes, manufactured within the last ten years.  But Greg and Judy have stayed with their original tandem all these years.  Even two cracked fork blades didn’t convince them to upgrade.  With two new brazed dropouts, the original frame is still going strong.  Their tandem is a 1986 Gitane Decouverte, imported from France.  It has over 15,500 miles on it now.  Unlike older Gitane models, the 1986 included as standard equipment:

Over the years, many additional accessories have been added, as well as some upgrades to the original equipment:

The Vetta computer also provides Judy with ride statistics. The Avocet on Greg's handlebars duplicates many functions of the Cateye. However, Greg has conducted tests and found that the Cateye accuracy cannot be beat. He has therefore been reluctant to give up his old Solar computer, and opts instead to mount the Avocet, Cateye, and Polar side-by-side on the handlebar.

Greg and Judy cannot remember the last time they had a flat tire; they estimate it was around 6000 miles ago! There are several factors contributing to their success. Kevlar belted tires, with thick tread and 35mm wide, do much to stop punctures, and prevent pinch-flats. Anything that might penetrate the Kevlar is stopped by the Mr. Tuffy tube protector strips. Finally, a full-size 35mm inner tube provides a little extra wall thickness for improved durability. These measures do add some weight, but Judy and Greg feel that never having to stop and fix a flat tire is well worth burning a few extra calories.

Side-by-side tandem Judy and Greg have a second two-seat bicycle on which the riders sit side by side, elbow to elbow. Instead of calling them tandems, bikes of this sort are called sociables. This bike was manufactured in Canada around 1990. The rider on the left side controls the bike with brake levers, gear shift, and a handlebar linkage to the main headset. The rider on the right has just a stationary bar. The two wheels lie in a plane between the two riders, so when they dismount, there is no bar to straddle. Since there is a weight difference between Greg and Judy, the center of gravity requires the bike to remain tilted towards one side when traveling in a straight line. It is very fun to ride. Many people are amazed when they see it, frequently asking many questions about the bike and its origin.

Communication is very important when riding a tandem. The captain needs to keep the stoker informed of events such as shifting, coasting, braking, and pot holes in the road. Since Judy (the rear admiral) cannot see the road immediately in front of the bike, Greg announces any major impact by saying "bump". Most of their rides range in length from 20 to 60 miles; being able to talk easily with your partner is one of the main attractions for riding a tandem bicycle.

   

Racing on the Major Taylor Velodrome   On the velodrome

   

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Folding bicycles with trailers hitched When traveling, Judy and Greg carry their Bike Fridays. These are lightweight, high-quality, 21 speed touring bikes that easily fold to fit into a standard Samsonite suitcase. Once unpacked, a trailer hitch and two small wheels attach to the suitcase, which then becomes the travel trailer to carry the rest of the luggage and belongings! Bike Fridays are custom manufactured to the measurements of each customer in Eugene, Oregon, by Green Gear, Inc.

   

   

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New! Midwest Tandem Rally Photos

Pet Ferrets

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