There is a reason why they call tandems "Divorce Coaches"
My wife and I have known several cycling couples have the worst fights on a bike ride. They all sounded like this - Captain: "Work harder" Stoker: "I am working as hard as I can" Captain: "No you're not. This is not working, let's sell the tandem" Stoker: "Fine"
When you see couples on a tandem that are smiling, you know they're not married.
I think Paul & Rita Lee are the only two people that I know that ride a tandem and don't fight on a bike ride.
My .02
Michael D. Schmidt Millington, NJ
Message: 3 Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2011 09:30:00 +0000 (GMT) From: alex m <alexpianos@yahoo.fr> Subject: [CR] Why are tandems relatively unpopular? To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Message-ID: <4987.37741.qm@web26607.mail.ukl.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Looking through period photos and magazines, and as a Rene Herse Alex Singer etc collector, I notice that tandems were really popular in the 50s and 60s in France. Always husband in front, wife behind. Sometimes a little trailer behind for the offspring.
Why is it you never see a tandem on the road nowadays?
Something to do with people being more individualistic? Or women's liberation? The radical decrease in the number of tandems produced and ridden must say something about the history of social relations.
Are there any tandem riders on the CR list? Peter (Weigle), have you ever made a tandem?
Alexander March
Bordeaux
France