Tandem Bikes

Explore The Outdoors On Tandem Bikes

Are you looking to prepare a romantic date on a summer afternoon? Would you like to explore the outdoors with your family, but have children who may have difficulty keeping up on their own bikes? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then you should consider purchasing tandem bikes for the family or that special date. For the people wondering about tandem bicycles, they are a type of bicycle (sometimes tricycles as well) that are designed so that there can be more than one person riding the bicycle. The definition of tandem bikes excludes bikes that arranged side by side, as those are called sociables. The reason tandem bikes are named in such way is because of the bike’s seating arrangement, which is fore to aft.

Different Models

Before jumping into a further discussion about tandem bikes and the different models of tandem bikes that are available today, we will go over a brief history of tandem bikes. Although there are disputes about who exactly invented tandem bikes, there is a reliable source indicating that Mikael Pedersen was the first person to submit a patent right for tandem bikes. Mikael Pedersen submitted a patent in approximately 1898, when he had created tandem bikes that sat two people and other tandem bikes that sat four people. Like the first folding bikes, tandem bikes also made their appearance during the Second Anglo-Boer war in the late 1800s.

Another Moment In Which Tandem Bikes Became Really Popular

Another moment in which tandem bikes became really popular was during the late 1800s when these bikes were used for courting purposes. For instance, a young man would borrow or perhaps save money to purchase one of the many tandem bikes for sale in order to commute to a nearby town to visit a girl and court her. Back in those days, the level of formality required that the women who rode in tandem bikes sit in the front section while the male sat in the back seat. Eventually, tandem bikes would change their role slightly, transforming from a courting device to an entertainment device for the entire family.

Origins Of Tandem Bikes

Now that we have looked into a few explanations to understand the origins of tandem bikes, we will briefly discuss the mechanics that allow tandem bikes to function properly. Tandem bikes usually have two sets of cranks that are linked together through a mechanical process to the chain of the bicycle. In most common models, the cranks of tandem bikes turn at the same pace. What does it mean for the bike if the cranks turn at the same pace? When the cranks of tandem bikes turn at the same pace, the result is that that it creates a double pedaling power, which is why tandem bikes are very capable of achieving high speeds. In regards of common terminology used for tandem bikes, the person who is in the front of the bike is typically called a captain, pilot, or sometimes even a steer-man. One the other hand, the rest of the people riding in the backs of tandem bikes are called the navigators or stokers.

Tandem Bikes

Now that you have learned a little bit about the history of tandem bikes as well as the mechanics that allow tandem bikes to operate, you may be convinced to purchase one! One more piece of information that you may want to understand is the different parts of tandem bikes. Knowing this information will help you to find the best design for your unique needs. Generally, the parts of tandem bikes include wheels, cranks, stoker handle-bar and the stem, arai drum brakes, and the eccentric. If you are unsure of the functions of these parts, it would be wise to read further into these parts before you purchase tandem bikes.