Tandem Bicycles

A tandem bicycle is a type of bike on which more than one person can sit. Traditionally, bikes that seat two people, one in front of the other, are more specifically called tandem bicycles. In almost all cases, both passengers also pedal the bike, which gives it more power.

The tandem bicycle dates back to the late 1800s, though they have been a bit “off and on” in their popularity. Modern tandem bicycles are as well built and sturdy as their regular bicycle counterparts, and they are usually easier to ride when you have a passenger to help you pedal!

Despite what many people might think, the tandem bicycle is a very efficient design that can allow you to travel much faster when someone is with you than would be possible on a single bike by yourself. This is mostly due to the fact that you get double the pedaling power with just a little bit more frictional loss on the drive train. Wind resistance stays about the same, and you will notice that two people on a tandem bicycle can usually outpace a single rider on a flat stretch.

Tandems are fairly popular nowadays, and they are built a lot studier than they used to be. Usually, the person riding in the front steers the tandem bicycle, and also pedals.

The person riding in the back usually just adds to the pedaling power. The two sets of pedals are usually linked to a timing chain, and both turn at the same time.

There are some models available where the front rider pedals the front wheel and the back rider powers the back wheel, though these are not quite as popular, and their effectiveness is “debatable”.  Either way, tandem bicycles are great fun, and are also used in several sporting events.

There aren't yet any tandem bicycles with three wheels yet, but we're sure it's only a matter of time, and we'll keep an eye out for them! Additional information on tandem bikes can be found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandem_bicycle.