Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Reading this thread, a two wheel tandem seems to be the obvious solution. There is a way to find out. Either find a local tandem team (best) or visit a bike shop which sells tandems. What you want to do is:
1) You go out as stoker with an experienced tandem captain.
2) You go out as captain with an experienced stoker or captain, and for more than just a few minutes. .
3) You try it with your wife as stoker, first time in an almost empty parking lot.
The trick for the stoker is to not influence the balance of the bike, no anticipating a turn and leaning for instance. Stoker remains absolutely still, just sitting there. In my experience, the stoker should always be clipped in, either clipless shoes and pedals or toe clips. That way her feet can't come off the moving pedals and whang her ankles, guaranteed to give one a negative opinion of tandems. It doesn't matter so much what pedals the captain uses.
The trick for the captain is to learn the Proper Method (google) and just ride the bike. A tandem is much more stable than a single.
https://gtgtandems.com/tech/propmethod.html
We started tandem riding in 2007, when our team age was 117. We're still at it. My wife loves it.
The obvious solution for me is a recumbent tandem trike.
I have no interest in a two wheel tandem. Never have, and at my age I don't see that changing. I don't think Webster has invented the words to change my mind on that one.
Depending on how this works out, I might look into a recumbent tandem. So far I haven't found any carbon fiber tandems, much less any that can be easily transported. As the years go on I'm not keen on having to lift too much weight into our van.
John