Learning to ride two on one
Here's a truth: You're never too old to learn to ride a bike.
Andy - That's Captain Andrew Coggan, PhD. - taught me how to ride as stoker today in preparation for the upcoming state timetrial. Stoker. That's tandem speak. The stoker's the one in the back. The one in the front is known as the captain. See, I not only learned to ride a (tandem) bicycle today, I also learned a couple of new terms.
How'd I get to be the stoker, you ask? It turns out there is a simple decision process tandem teams use to figure this out. The captain is the one who makes the decisions about where to guide the bike, when to shift, pedal, and brake. The stoker makes no decisions. The stoker is there to push the pedals with as much force as he/she can muster when the captain so orders. That's it. Nothing more.
Based on these job descriptions, the decision didn't require very much analysis. Andy has a National Championship jersey in tandem timetrialing. He scores pretty well in the "knowing something about riding a tandem" department. I, on the other hand, seem to possess a reasonable ability to follow orders. Easy decision. Plus, it's Andy's bike.
In all we put in about 2 hours' training today. Somewhere in that time I'm sure I gained a little competence as a stoker. That is to say, I learned how to pedal hard, to keep my head down out of the wind, and to sit quietly so as to not rock the bike and perturb the captain.
Unfortunately all that good learning was more than countered by my fatigue. On balance, Andy probably felt like I was getting worse, rather than better as time went on. The thing is, I was lost for how hard to go with only perceived exertion to gage my effort. Two guys hammering on a tandem yields a pretty good speed. The road flies by. We passed singles like they were standing still. But the way I was tucked in behind Andy, I was barely feeling the wind.
It was like pedaling down a grade with a tailwind. The only difference was the lack of diminishing returns for pedaling harder. I couldn't push against the wind, so I just kept pushing harder on the pedals. That is, until the inevitable explosion. Note to self: Learn to gage effort.
That'll be the important thing for me in the state TT in two weeks. Otherwise I'll hear from the captain again:
"I need more power up here. What's going on back there? Push!"
"I blew myself up (again). Can we coast a bit?"
"We can coast after the finish line."
"My legs hurt, and I..."
"Don't make me come back there!"
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Excellent - good luck in TT
I think I posted this once a long time ago, but my grandfather was a stoker (from the late 1920s)
I recently tried riding a tandem and it was much, much harder than I thought, balancing turns and gear changes with the other rider. My wife and I have decided that it might jeapordize our happy marriage.
Racing with one must be pretty crazy, especially on a rolling or turn-filled course.
If you ever need another partner, my Flemish friend just went over the entire high Alps on a tandem with his wife. Yikes, he is strong.
This is me, his tiny wife, and their Tandem.
Again good luck. pretty cool!
The look
I like the look on your grandfather's face. I think I understand that look. Anyone who has ever been stoker knows that look.
How technical is the TT
How technical is the TT course?
Not at all
It's not technical at all, really. A flat out-and-back with no turns.
Hopefully not even the turnaround will be exciting. Unfortunately that means heads down hard pedaling for the rest of the time. It will be painful!
your seat's too high :-)
Seriously, though, based on just that one pic I wonder if it might be. OTOH, I'm wondering if perhaps mine is a hair too low. In any case, interesting contrast in styles, especially considering that we wear the same model of shoe (therefore = heel "lift").
Anyway, it was a blast riding on Sunday, and I'd say that we handled the hills on Ossenfort, Melrose, and in Babler quite well considering that the bike weighs >40 lbs, we couldn't stand, and we didn't have anything lower than a 39x23.
Proper saddle height
Hard to say. Really hard. Here are some data points to show why.
In the process of fitting my new bike the LBS pros tell me my saddle position is right where it should be according to the system they use (Serrotta, I believe).
With their system I had to freeze a posed position so they could get an accurate reading. In the pose they positioned my heel-toe to neutral - neither toe-up nor toe-down.
From the photo it appears I pedal toe-down. I was surprised when I saw the degree. However we were climbing at the time the photo was taken. I also appear to be well back on the saddle. I can also tell you I was anything but relaxed at the time, this being well within the first 5 minutes of my first tandem experience.
Lastly, I'm riding on your saddle. It might be better for me to try mine next time. That should help to fine tune height more easliy.
BTW, I raised it from this height a little further an hour later. I would have preferred to move it back a little but I was out of saddle rail.
I'll second that
I completely agree. It was a blast. There's no question in my mind I worked harder in order to put in my share of the workload. That was some really intense training.
BTW, I ended up compromising and assigning it 135 TSS. ;)
remember to wear your suit and tie
I expect you to uphold my grandfathers dress code while racing :)
A non-technical TT will be a great test of legs and lungs, but I would also love to see a more technical race as well.
Good luck
That and a helmet
I do intend to wear a suit; but it might be a little more form-fitting than the one your grandfather is wearing. :)
I think I'll trade the tie for a helmet. I know, the tie is more aero. Don't try to talk me out of it. My mind is made up.
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