[Sportsandrec] more tandem tips needed

[Kathy McGillivray]

Having trouble sleeping, so writing email instead. LM, I really do think you 
should look at "The Tandem Book"which I mentioned in my previous email and 
is you can get from NLS. I think it's also in a recorded format if that's a 
preference over Braille for anyone. People have different ways of starting. 
When I ride, the captain usually straddles the bike, I get on and clip in. I 
put the pedals in the position the captain tends to prefer, whether it be 
the right or left pedal up. Then, we push off. As the stoker, I am giving us 
a major push at first. I know Ron and some others like to start where both 
riders have one foot on the ground. I've also taken that approach once in a 
while, but tend to use the first method.

I'm not sure about the wobbling. I suspect this will go away during your 
next ride or two. Also, try to relax your arms a little bit more and maybe 
you'll feel less pain in arms and hands. Are you wearing cycling gloves? 
That will help with your hands, too.

I'm so glad you got the bike and hope you have fun with it. I'd also like to 
try gears in the back of a bike some time. I rode with a captain the other 
day who has a terrible sense when it comes to the gears. I do tell him up or 
down. Still, some captains may not appreciate that a whole lot. Fortunately, 
this guy is okay with it, but I'm hoping he gets a better sense of that 
piece at some point.

One more thing. It might be fun for you to try riding with a pilot/captain 
who has a little more experience on a tandem. This may give you a different 
experience on the bike and give you some things to take back to your regular 
partner. Just a thought, for whatever it's worth.

Kathleen McGillivray
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lisamaria Martinez, NOMC" <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "Nino Pacini" <ninopacini at gmail.com>; "Chris Downey" 
<topherdowney at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 12:53 AM
Subject: [Sportsandrec] more tandem tips needed


> Hello List and Others,
>
> I want to thank everyone for their wonderful tandem advice and I also want 
> to apologize for hogging your inbox lately with my tandem questions. It is 
> amazing though how complex starting a new activity can be.
>
> So, tonight we went on our third ride. But let's back up to last Sunday 
> ...
>
> Last Sunday we completed 14 miles. We had some complications during the 
> first half of the ride. Now that Joe wasn't concentrating so much on 
> shifting, he was trying to match my pedaling and I was trying to match his 
> and their was some frustration. We eventually got it figured out, but only 
> after I got grouchy and refused to pedal for 5 minutes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 
> I know it was totally childish but I was getting really annoyed.
>
> We did have some real problems with starting. Now, the tandem bike shop 
> dude suggested I pedal like mad on Joe's "go" and he then get on the bike 
> and situated. I don't think Joe has ever trusted me enough to do this. Our 
> starts are always really shaky and wobbly and we crashed the bike sideways 
> Sunday. After the small crash, I suggested we start the way I previously 
> started pre our new baby. We both chose a side to push off from and we 
> pushed on "go." This actually worked really well for us.
>
> My question is, are their better ways? Is pushing off together bad? Or 
> should one of us pedal like crazy while the other balances the bike at 
> first and then situates?
>
> And now for tonight ...
>
> We did 12 miles on our gorgeous bike. The ride was mostly smooth sailing.
>
> The more I ride, the more I really want to clip in--not only for my knee, 
> but for efficiency and fluidity. My foot is flying off the pedals at times 
> and I'm really uncomfortable with that. I actually feel like I am focusing 
> so much energy on keeping my foot in the right place.
>
> Everyone's suggestions on pedaling onm the lower gears is helping my knee 
> a lot. Less pain. Now if I can only get around the hand pain. But all that 
> aside, tonight we had some wobbly issues. I suggested to Joe that he not 
> move his shoulders so much. This actually helped with the steadiness of 
> the bike, but there was a lot of wobbliness despite this small change.
>
> Could this be because he seemed more tired than usual? Is it hand 
> position? Bendy elbows or not bendy enough? He did get tired toward the 
> end which also led to less communication which of course ...
>
> Tonight I broached the subject of gears in the stoker's handlebars and he 
> was a lot more open to that idea than I thought he would be. So, we might 
> just do that. I'm super anxious about this idea since I've never shifted a 
> gear in my life, but I tend to ask him to shift up or down anyways so why 
> not, right? Also, I see the benefits too when and if I switch captains. 
> any thoughts on this?
>
> Any ideas from anyone about any of my questions would be greatly 
> appreciated. We love all the suggestions so far.
>
> As a disclaimer ...
>
> Joe really is not a bad guy. I feel like I am slamming him on these 
> emails, but it definitely isn't just him. After all, I through the tantrum 
> on Sunday and quit pedaling. It slowed us way down. We usually cruz at 
> about 13 to 15. When I stopped we went down to 9 or 10. when we haul butt 
> though we can top out at 26. We're excited to work up to faster speeds.
>
> Peace out and many thanks,
> LM
> The Occasional Tantrum Thrower
>
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