So we bought the tandem

04-25-2004, 07:02 PM

Yesterday we just took it up and down the street, then around the block a
few times, and then finally out to the arterial and back. My husband's never
ridden a tandem, whereas I have some stoker experience and I've been a
captain on our other tandem with the kids. So it took some practice to feel
steady and stable on the thing. It's much easier to get started with the two
of us than me and a kid -- it really helps I think to have a stoker and a
captain with a clue.

Today, the kids went to the movies with some friends, so we had the chance
to ride the new bike a bit further. We did a fifteen mile loop: down to the
lake, then along it for a bit, and back. This included a big downhill, and a
steady uphill climb.

Notes:
o My husband's used to riding at a higher cadence than me. Maybe it's just
as well I get used to that.
o He'll eventually learn to warn me when he decides he's going to coast, or
suddenly start pedaling again. Especially since the suddenly start pedaling
again thing could have potentially damaging consequences to my crotch.
o Our speed was totally kick ass. We were cruising along, at an effort that
would have produced in our mutual estimations about 17 mph in him and 15 in
me, but I know we were going probably 22 at a minimum. We rode past a couple
of This Is Your Speed signs (speeding along the lake is a real problem), and
were at 17 mph on an uphill stretch, and 25 on a flat. Maybe we'll
eventually buy a computer for it.
o I'm close enough to him to *smell* him. And this was on only a 15 mile
thing largely in the late afternoon shade. Makes me wonder if we'll really
do the Flying Wheels Century together on that thing. He'll be pretty ripe on
a summer's day after a hundred miles.
o Amusingly, I can literally kiss his ass, especially on downhills in a
tuck. Heh.
o It's easier for me to reach the water bottle when tucked into his back
jersey pocket than on the bike. Maybe after we both feel more confident on
the thing, we can reach down for waterbottles, but we're not quite there
yet.

This tandem thing might prove to be fun.

Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
Please replace earthlink for mouse-potato and .net for .com
Home of the meditative cyclist:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
See the books I've set free at: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]