Thorn Cycles Forum
Community => Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) => Topic started by: jags on June 01, 2015, 01:27:56 pm
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Well looks like i'm gonna be doing my first ever tandem ride with a blind person.
going to meet him today for a chat see if we can work out a plan ,so any tips from you lot would be greatly appreciated do's and dont's . no smart answers i know what your thinking ;D ;D
yeah should be interesting as its my first time on one of these bikes (terry Dolan custom ) no idea how the gears work do i need to call out everything or is it just like a guy sucking your wheel im used to that in the local group. ;)
anyway wish me luck hope to do first spin either wed or thurs evening. 8).
nice bit of advice so far from Dan still no harm in a bit more.
anto.
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Communication is important!!!!
The first time I rode on the back of a tandem, the pilot kicked the pedals round without warning, ready to set off. My pedals turned too and cracked me on the shin - ouch!
Oh, and you need to allow a bit more space for turning, like driving a long lorry. I was once nearly scraped off on a park gatepost.
So I'm thinking, god help your stoker! :D
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just had a good chat with my new cycling buddy he more or less said the same swing wide and call out potholes , jazus i could be shouting at him every 50 yds HOLE ;D
whats worrying me is the balance i reckon if we get right all should be well. ;)
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I ride with my Son (kiddyback tandem) and my misses has jumped on the back once or twice. Both people I didn't have to think about balancing at all.
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you make it sund easy hope your right. ;)
anto
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I did practice with my son first who is only 8 (was 6 when first bought) so I guess I got eased into it. I don't like riding tandems but it gives me and my son an activity to do together. This isn't because they are bad, it's because I like riding by myself.
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well it's a first for me , his wife is going to take it down to me later today or tomorrow so as i can set it up for myself, so i'll take it around the block to see how it handles,
yeah should be interesting to say the least ;D ;D.
anto
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Hello Anto
Hope it goes well
My wife is Visually Impaired (registered blind) and we ride a Thorn tandem.
It's great fun - but as already said, communication is the key.
I actually think my wife makes a better stoker than I would - she doesn't try to steer which is a huge advantage!
So keep talking ;) and don't forget you're a long vehicle!
Rob
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Thumbs up to your blind friend! It takes a lot of courage to get on a bike when you can't see where you are going. I'm not sure if I could do that.
- Dave
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Cheers Rob yeah i will have to keep that in mind because if im in a group at speed i wont break going around corners flat out as the man said ;) guess im gonna have to slow up.
mind u this guy is young and i reckon strong but if i'm in control he will have to ride at my speed (wont he) :o
side note the weather here today is unreal lashing rain galeforce rain when are we gonna get some good weather.
anto.
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Dave he was doing a good bit with his wife but shes expecting there 2ed child , i reckon they were just doddling along once i get used to this if it works out he's in for some hairy rides. ;)
anto
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Can he tell if you are pedalling or not? ;)
- Dave
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hah no idea.
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Good luck, Anto. If you and your blind buddy pass me on the road, I'll give you half the credit.
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Good luck Jags
I started riding a tandem with the wife about 2 years ago after solo riding for 30 years so it was quite a shock.
First issue was trying to find a comfortable cadence that both of us were happy with. I prefer top side of 100 and the wife prefers bottom side of 80 so this was not that easy to achieve.
The second thing is communication. Every gear change, every start of pedaling, every length of coast needs announcing. Sort of like "and coast in 3 , 2 ,1"
Starting off and getting going is the most difficult bit and needs practicing on a quite, flat road. Once you are up to speed it gets pretty stable and all should be good.
We found over time that less and less communication was needed and more chance to enjoy a chat about other things than just keeping the bike moving.
Have fun
Andy
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andy the guy is young so he should easly be ably to follow my cadence which average is 79,i didnt think that gear changes would be an issue,i change gear pretty regular to keep up my cadence.
im going to get a few spins on it on my own just to get the feel of it.
i hope i get on with this lad if not i'll strand him out on some lonely road ;D
only joking.
anto
Andre i'll never make it down that far and if i did i would expect more than half. ;)
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jags
Gear changes are not a big issue but you will both want to ease off for the gear change and you will need to see if he finds the sudden change in resistance unnerving without prior warning. I would start with communicating everything and let him tell you what he does and does not need to know,
I am sure it will get easier the more you get to know each other
Andy
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Cheers Andy im still waiting for his wife to bring the bike down to me maybe they had a change of heart ::) or it could be the weather is bloody terrible .
ah if he definitly on for it i will give it my best shot.i guess it's a matter of getting to know one another see what happens after that.
if i get the bike i'll ask dan to post it here ok so its not a thorn but we are all cyclists.
anto.
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Lots of good advice here, Anto . . . also, agree on which side you will 'stop' towards i.e. which way you will lean, which foot down, when stopping. Can look a bit untidy otherwise . . . .
Lewis
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yeah Lewis i'll sort all that out with him.hes a big lad so hate to have to lift him off the floor. ::)
anto.
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Well tandem arrieved its a class looking bike but to big for me.myself and son Noel spent the last hour adjusting it to try and get it to fit but its still half inch to big in the saddle height and a full inch on reach ,i'll try it out later on to see if i can manage it as it is.
fingers crossed it works out if not hes gonna have to look for another captain :'(
anto.
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ok first spin done and dusted feels not bad to be honest only adjustment i have left to me is change the stem but i'll go for a good spin tomorrow see how i get on. strange changing gear as u have to go by feel, crankset on the rear so no idea what gear im in ::)
still if it feel right im in the right one ;),brakes are set up wrong way roung front on right leaver oh thats bad for anto, i prefair to have it on left leaver the correct way.anyway i sent Dan a few photos not sure if he will post them up seening its not a Thorn ::)
anyway lads thanks a million for the help and best wishes wish me luck for my first proper spin with the stoker (see im even learning the lingo. ;) saturday morning is the plan.
anto.
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i sent Dan a few photos not sure if he will post them up seening its not a Thorn
Anto, I might find a way to make a photo or two accessible to members, but none have yet arrived in my email box. Did you send them?
All the best,
Dan. (...who is delighted to see you discovering the joys of tandeming. They don't make half-bad tourers when ridden solo. Just be mindful of slightly dodgy handling with only the captain's weight at the front)
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cheers Dan yeah sent u 2 photos actually i posted them on facebook as well if u fancy going that route. ;) just gonna take it out for 20 km spin its a lovely morning but windy.anyway better get the gear on before it starts raining.
anto.
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not back long from a 26 milere out for 2 hours very windy in my face for a lot of it but sure im here to tell the tale ;)
stillneed to adjust a few things , new saddle wouldn't go a miss shorter stem and i think i'll turn the bars towards me just a tad ,other than that its a great ride.
my feckin back i s in bits but that's par for the course these days.
of course i got one or two smart remarks .
Here buddy are u missing anything ;D ;D
your buddy fell off ;D ;D
all in good fun .
anto.
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Anto, you've cracked me up with those quips. Have you lost somebody indeed! I like it ;D
Safe travels to you and your stoker :)
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Lost it years ago Znook ;D.
its not very often you would see a tandem in my part of the world seldom if ever, and when a geek like myself goes flying by your always gonna get some wise cracks ,but its all in fun ;D ;D.
anto.
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I'm enjoying this conversation! ;D
Anto, have you taken your passenger for a spin yet? My mate captains for a national champion blind triathlete/iron man, who is massively strong and totally fearless. Their training runs are often upwards of 200km! The experience has profoundly changed my friend's riding abilities and fitness.
Just look at it this way - you're suddenly gifted with a much younger pair of legs, and the two of you can't argue about which route to take. ;)
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Hi Sam yeah buddy tomorrow is the big day ,i spoke to my new cycling partener earlier hes really looking forward to getting out. ah the weather is for sun and very strong west winds which mean easy out hard back :o
i kinda have a route in my head not many hills few drags and only a few dodgy turns.
jazus im more nervous that he is ;D ;D i just hope my back doesn't cave in i would love for this partenership to work out well at least until his wife is ready to get back cycling .
anto ;)
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hold on lads my grandaughter wants to say something.
i am Chloe Byrne ::) i like to colour all day and i like to play out in the street all day on mondays,i like to eat my dinner and unicorns they can fly and do magic ;)
going to get my tea goodbuy everyone. ;D ;D
aw man shes class.
anto.
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Hello, Chloe. Nice to talk to you. Goodbye, Chloe.
Yo, Anto, I hope you don't get any of our wind. Two fellows up on a tandem must be like the side of a barn to the wind.
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I was kinda thinking the same thing ::)
well with the route i've planned i'll have the wind on our backs for the first 10 miles then head wind for 8 miles rest of the spin should be a side wind but a few long drags .
pity about the strong wind i would have done a really nice spin around the coast 40 miles or so. ;).
i must see if i can dig out a utube video of Darragh hes a brilliant musican uillein pipes .
Chloe is asleep Andre i'll tell her u said hi ;D
anto.
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Two fellows up on a tandem must be like the side of a barn to the wind.
Thankfully, not so bad as you'd think...possibly a bit less than two singles...not unlike a tourer with four bags and a handlebar bag in a crosswind. The extra weight on the tires seems to help a bit.
All the best,
Dan. (...who cautions against falls on a tandem, as they're never pretty and best avoided)
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Dan this is Darragh sound quality is not great.
Jack might like this slow aire .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RurAaoG8D_A
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I just phoned him and he was able to get it. Said he enjoyed it very much, Anto; thanks for tagging Jack (my father and also a Forum member) in this thoughtful share.
I will view it later when I have a better connection. Looking forward to it.
All the best,
Dan.
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Ah good stuff Dan glad Jack enjoyed it tell him to get his guitar out and play along ;)
i hope this feckin wind dies down :'(
ok thats me im away to me bed night all.
anto.
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waiting for my stoker to call .man theres smoe strong wind blowing.
am i feckin mental ::)
still gotta be done i'll take photos if this happens. see yis all soon hopefully.
anto.
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Will be an adventure. Hope it's not like taking the kids on the tag along where they refuse to pedal up hill and then go like fury when you are grabbing the brakes!
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All went great 30 miles super tough with the gale force wind especally on the long drag back home .
found it hard at first balance was dodgy starting off wow serious hard he kept peddling but we sorted it out with a bit of practice ,also coming back into town with traffic lights and long lines of cars but we managed no problem.
man my shoulders are in feckin bits my set up is not perfect but theres just no adjustment left .but once we get used to it im sure i'll settle in no problem.
i posted a photo on facebook maybe Dan will post it on here .
thanks lads of all the good wishes and advice much appreciated.
anto.
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Well done, Anto -- to both of you!
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Thanks John ;)
anto
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Well done on your tandem adventure day!
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Cheers Andre whats the wind like down your way :o
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Hello Anto
A bit late I know - but glad to hear it all went well!
Don't know about you but I find riding the tandem takes much more energy than riding the equivalent distance solo. Especially when it's windy!
Rob
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Hi Rob, hard for me to say only because the wind was terrible most certainly the hardese day so far this year.we actually started off way to fast ide safely say my stoker didnt do much cycling in the past year or so .i have a fairly high cadence 80 to 95 daragh was looking to push high gears but its just a matter of time before we are both happy with speed and cadence.
Rob im not a fast rider ,on my todd im usually average 13 to 14.5 mph seldom do i go over that different in a group of course when all the glory hunters decide to pick up the pace ::).
i think we are heading out tomorrow morning i couldnt go today i was sick as a dog .
and my stoker is gigging tonight so he might not be in the best of fettle in the morning. ;D
anto
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Quick update on the tandem cycling.
Well we are much improved ;) i think so far we done about 12 rides 40 km during the week evening time as darragh works , much longer spins at weekends usually with the local cycling club 90 km average speed 23kph.
i have to say im enjoying the tandem hills are hard tho if we are with the group we usually get droped but on the flat we can certainly motor.last week we passed a guy toeing a caravan i'd say he nearly had a heart attack when we went flying by at 50kph .
we got a minute on the group and they never caught us Darragh loves speed no fear whats so ever bloody headcase. ;D
anyway folks thats the latest all's going well thank god long may it last.
anto.
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Great stuff, Anto and Darragh. Any photos available?
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ah can't post photos because its not a Thorn :'( sad but true.
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Yes very sad Anto, I just enjoyed reading your tandem posts, and would have liked to see a picture or two.
Methinks the rules need relaxing!!...who knows, your experiences may encourage others to try a tandem...and I guess one of their first port of call may be SJS.
Anyway fair play to you Anto and your stoker....takes some guts for him but at the same time must give him a tremendous sense of freedom.
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He loves it Steve he was getting out with his wife for ten twenty km spins ,
when he started coming out with me i soon changed that to 50km now up to 90 km spins at a much fasrer pace ;).
yeah pity i can't post photos here i know its a thorn forum but we kinda have a little community going here, i love to see and hear what you lads and lassies are up too be it on a thorn bike or a massy fergusin tractor makes no odds to this kid ;D ;D.
anto
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90km! That's amazing, Anto. Congratulations to you and stoker both.
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Darragh couldn't make it this morning so got a spin in meself well me and bob dylan 8)
56 miles 13mph averagh not bad for an ould fella.
last 5 miles was into a very strong headwind man i thought i was going to die ,this wind will crack me up it being a gale all year what the hell is going on with our weather, havent cycling on a calm day this year. :'(
anto.
2 videos on facebook and few photos .really oscer winning stuff ;)