Cannondale TANDEM Owner's Manual Supplement - page 6
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the Captain’s Responsibility
The captain’s primary job is to make the stoker happy. With an unhappy stoker, the captain won’t have
a riding partner! So you must reassure your partner with careful, methodical riding habits. Anticipate
maneuvers, beginning them far in advance. Be alert to shifting needs. A too-fast or too-slow cadence is
doubly annoying to the stoker because she/he can’t fix it. Watch the road or trail ahead, and make your
steering and braking corrections smoothly.
Ride slightly farther from the curb, or from parked cars, than you would on a single bike. Your stoker doesn’t
want to feel hemmed in. If you ride too far to the right, you may find your stoker leaning to the left, trying to
veer away from the curb.
When you conduct a maneuver, such as merging across traffic to make a left turn or steering around a
pothole, make your decision early. Signal your intentions clearly, proceed on a straight path, and complete
the maneuver. A decisive captain will ride smoother, and that will make the stoker happier.
Most new tandemists find captaining exhausting, and they get sore shoulder muscles from being tense. This
too will pass. As you become accustomed to the requirements of captaining a tandem, you’ll develop a
light touch.
Don’t hot dog. If your stoker is nervous, ride slowly. In time, the stoker may become more confident and ask
for more speed. But if she/he wants to go slow, go slow! The more conservative voice must prevail. That’s
only fair. Remember, you’re the chauffeur, not the stunt pilot.
the stoker : the Best seat in the House
The back seat on a tandem is the fun seat. You have this person in front of you who’s giving all his/her
attention to making you feel comfortable. The view is terrific out to the sides, just like on a train ride. The
view to the front may be a bit bland, but the captain’s jersey pockets are a great place to put your fruit bars,
and other hedonistic goodies.
Your obligations are few: Pedal—at an agreed-upon effort level. Pedal smoothly, so your pedaling doesn’t
make your upper body move around. Don’t shift your upper body weight abruptly. (Your weight shift can
inadvertently steer the bike, and force the captain to fight you.) Hold your head high and enjoy the scenery.
Tell your captain what she/he is missing while she/he keeps eyes glued to the road for potholes.
Many tandem teams delegate hand turning signals to the stoker. This not only encourages communication
between the stoker and the captain, it also allows the captain to concentrate on the steering and braking
involved in making the maneuver.
Every successful stoker learns to delegate authority. The captain steers. The captain decides when to pedal
and when to coast. When coasting, the captain decides where to position the pedals. Never fight the captain
on these matters. She/he is busy giving you a great ride so you can enjoy yourself.