Tandem Bicycles

Tandem bicycles can be viewed as one of the first customized bicycles. The first tandem was created when an inventor welded two bicycles together to create a bicycle for two. By the 1800s the bike design had been patented and marketed. Today's tandem bike designs are more than merely two regular bikes welded together, they are high end custom machines designed for high performance. There are even off-road models available for adventurous biking couples.

There are several terms that you need to learn when talking about a tandem bike. The first is the term used to describe the person riding in the front seat. This person can be called the captain, the steersman or the pilot. The person sitting in the back seat is called the stroker, the rear admiral or the navigator. Some of the parts of the bike that you may want to familiarize yourself with include the cranks, which are the pedals, and the timing chain, which is the chain that connects the two sets of cranks. This chain is important because it forces the two cranks to turn at the same time.

When shopping for tandem bicycles you may want to familiarize yourself with the different types that are on the market today. The first type of tandem is the bicycle tandem. This tandem has two wheels, two seat, two sets of handlebars, two sets of cranks and a single timing chain. The second type of tandem is the tricycle. This type has three wheels and it is designed for two people. Its wheel configuration includes a single front wheel and a pair of wheels in the back. The third type of tandem is the recumbent tandem. This type of tandem has seats that are positioned so that the riders are in a reclined position instead of an upright position.

Tandem bikes are manufactured by several custom bike builders and major bike manufacturers. Bohemian Bicycles in Tuscon, Arizona and Co-Motion Cycles in Eugene, Oregon are two companies that hand build their bicycles. If you are looking for a manufacturer with a larger selection of options then you may want to look at the bikes offered by Trek Bicycles. This company not only manufactures quality tandems, but they have also produced Tour de France bikes for Lance Armstrong and bikes for the Discovery Channel Pro Cycle Team.