JBinDC

My (soon to be) wife and I are a pretty strong team and joke about using our tandem in the triathlons we compete in. But I just realized I’ve never actually asked whether there are any tandem categories in road racing. It seems like an easy category that could be added to races which would attract some more competitors and be fun for spectators. Have any couples competed on their tandem in any form? We have a road tandem and are interested in an offroad rig so are open to suggestions.

Take care,
JB

bwebel

I hate to say it, but there is not a lot of tandem racing these days. You used to find an occasional crit that would have a tandem category and CoMotion sponsored a multiday stage race in Oregon, but at this point, the most you are likely to find is a time trial that will have a tandem category. And I often have to ask for them to create one specifically so we can compete, which most TT promoters will do because it's fairly easy and will make them a little more money.

USA Cycling had tandem categories in the past at Masters Nats, but there were none last year. Not clear if that was just a one year thing or if there will be no more there either. Kind of a depressing state of affairs.

B. Carfree

Oh, that's a shame. I seem to remember a picture of one of the folks who posts here (merlinextraligh?) on a podium with a bronze medal from Masters Nats. I think he even mentioned increasing the size of his big ring because they spun out at an unfortunate time in the road race at nationals one year. I thought it was kind of cool that there were tandem categories.

bwebel

USA Cycling had to switch around the Masters Nats location for last year relatively late in the process. It's possible that the cut in the number of categories had to do with this. I'm hoping that this is the case and the tandem categories will come back, but I fear they are gone forever. I'd expect the schedule to be out relatively soon, which would answer the question.

joeruge

Here in southern AZ we do 3 or 4 rides a year that we treat as 'races.'

The biggest one that we participate in is El Tour de Tucson, which has something like 8,000 riders in 4 distances.

The organizers call these events 'Rides.' Just try to tell that to the guys who do the 106 miles in just over 4:03!

These events are big enough to attract a number of tandem teams at each distance and the organizers are nice enough to break out the tandem times in a separate list of finishers.

I realize that this is not the kind of racing you were asking about, but its what passes for racing for us.

Your idea of doing triathlons as a tandem team is an interesting one. From what I've seen of triathlons, (I don't do them myself) timing begins when a competitor enters the water. In a pool situation, not every competitor can get on the pool at the same time so starts are staggered. How to get teams together after the swim would be tricky and having the swim after the riding could cause chaos in the pool afterwards... But I like the thought of it.

PDub62

If you look around there are a variety of Fondo style rides/races with tandem classes. We did Levi’s Gran Fondo a few years ago on the tandem; unfortunately we found out that though they have a tandem class they only give awards to the half-bike categories. Here in WI there’s Race the Lake and Chequamagon Fat Tire 40 (mtn bike) that both have tandem classes.

DonP

The MO state championship has Tandems. Last year only 1 showed.

turkey9186

A buddy and his wife have been racing their mountain tandem for ten plus years now. I think they are on their third or fourth bike.

2592

We had three tandems racing on the Alkek Velodrome last season before Harvey shut it down.

StephenH

It depends on what you want to do. A lot of the long-distance races have tandem categories. These are typically 6-hour, 12-hour, 24-hour or 500-mile type distances. In a lot of them, you will be the only tandem, so if you're looking for actual competition, that's something different. Here's one, for example, 12 hour and 6 hour with tandem categories in both: HOME - Maryland Endurance Challenge Look up others at www.ultracycling.com


The Texas Time Trials in Glen Rose, Texas (southwest of Dallas) is a 500 mile/24hr/12hr/6hr event that includes tandems.
The Texas Time Trials Championship is a 40k time trial in south Texas that also includes tandems. I've done the first, know some people that have done the latter- it had three tandems in it that year.

DonP

This is a 40K race.

DonP

We are going to give Time Trials a try with our new DaVinci.


https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1517376288

Trsnrtr

My wife and I did the Miami Valley Stage Race in Dayton, OH in 1991. There were at least 10-11 tandems, can’t remember. Anyway, there was a Friday night prologue TT of 1k, Saturday morning TT of around 12 miles, Saturday night criterium and points sprints, and a Sunday road race about 55 miles.

Lot of fun.

waynesulak

Were these fixed gear tandems or do they allow geared bikes possibly with brakes removed??

2592

Fixed gear.

fietsbob

Yea back when the cooperatively owned Burly company was going, they had tandem races in Eugene Oregon,
As mentioned above CoMootion, another Tandem bike making company, Used to as well.

I expect a few tandem entrants in Brevets, like Paris-Brest-Paris..

merlinextraligh

That would suck if they no longer have Tandems at Masters Nationals. We did the RR and TT two times. One of the last places that had tandem road races with a decent sized field.

I'd be a bit surprised if USA Cycling doesn't bring it back given the field sizes were big enough they were getting revenue.

Gravel racing is growing and many have tandem categories. We did Pisgah Monster Cross in the Gravel division last fall, but only two teams.

Last I checked Everest Challenge had a tandem division.

merlinextraligh

Very cool. Tandem crits are awesome. Setting up out of the last turn for a field sprint in a tandem crit is not for the feint of heart. I'm not sure there are any anymore.

GuyRocket

The Tour de Acoma in New Mexico has a tandem class. It's not a sanctioned race, but there are timing chips, a tandem class, and always a few tandems. First prize is some nice pueblo pottery. Options from 25-100 miles are available. The scenery is spectacular.

Team Fab

This event has a tandem class.

https://www.bicycling.com/culture/ro...-through-house

Trsnrtr

For the record, Bill Shook of American Classic and his stoker won everything.

zonatandem

Yes, the El Tour de Tucson is 'technically' not race due to the high insurance costs. The likes of Tour de France and world champ racers (Jeannie Longo/Greg LeMond etc) riding it does make it quite competitive!
However there are trophies for different distances/mixed tandem teams, all male and even all female duos.
Have ridden it 29 times, of which 15 years as tandem participants with my wife Kay and once with a female 12 year old stoker
There was also the Tour of the Tucson Mountains for 25 years at which event there were tandem categories, with trophies. Had the honor to have the Tour of the Tucson Mountains dedicated to the two of us w-a-y back in 1995.
While tandem events/races are not an every day thing I've never heard of tandem triathelons; how do you propose to swim/run as a tandem duo?
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

JBinDC

Looks like we have a tandem category in a Washington DC underground parking garage criterium on 4 April 2018! https://www.bicycling.com/rides/events/crystal-citys-underground-garage-crit-is-the-most-fun-race-youve-never-seen

OneIsAllYouNeed

Keep it wide around the support columns in the parking garage. I think my scariest experience on tandem was stoking in a parking garage crit.