Comotion-@aol.com

To answer Bruce's question, by "in sync" I mean matched pedal strokes. By

having the maximum force applied simultaneously, the power is effectively

doubled. One way to work on this is to have the stoker soft pedal for a few miles

to get the "feel" of the pilot's pedal strokes. You can also try having the

stoker wear sneakers. Without being clipped in, the stoker is forced to follow

the motion set by the pilot. The other issue is out of the saddle climbing.

Sorry folks, that just takes time. Put on as many miles together as possible,

and get out of the saddle more than you might even want to.



Good Luck,

Sal Collura

Race Director

Co-Motion Classic Tandem Stage Race

Bruce Hecht

Sal,



Can you elaborate on what "in sync" means and specifically how a tandem team

can improve their climbing?



Thanks,



Bruce Hecht





Date: Mon, 09 Jun 2003 09:22:16 -0700

From: "Salvatore Collura" <salco-@hotmail.com>

Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tandem Climbing





To add to Ron's point, you only get twice the power (to go along with twice

the weight) if you are in sync.





Sal Collura

Race Director

Co-Motion Classic Tandem Stage Race

Salvatore Collura

To add to Ron's point, you only get twice the power (to go along with twice

the weight) if you are in sync.



Sal Collura

Race Director

Co-Motion Classic Tandem Stage Race



_________________________________________________________________

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Ron Magnus

Yesterday a note was posted about why tandems in general appear to be slower

climbers than individual bicycles. I sent that note to a friend of mine;

Dave Hayes who used to live in the area and is a good racer both on singles

and tandems (he also has a triple now for their daughter to ride with them).

Follows are his comments on the matter as well as some links for those of

you who are interested in pursuing the subject further.



Ron Magnus



It depends on the team...   ya gotta practice. I can tell you that Jenni and

I climb _much_ faster than Jenni can by herself, but slower than I can. Two

good climbers should be able to climb at about their average speed up the

same hill -- but only after they have ridden together for quite a while.

Technique counts for a lot.



The topic has been discussed _many_

times on the Tandem@Hobbes mailing list. One can easily search the T@H

archives

through <http://search.bikelist.org/>; For more info about the mailing

list,

surf to <http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/home-pages/wade/tandem.html>.



Dave