How to Find the Right Bike for You

Tandem bikes 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 2. By the 1800s the bike design had been patented and marketed. Today?s tandem bike designs are far more than merely two regular bikes welded together, they're high end custom machines designed for hi-performance. There are even off-road models available for adventurous biking couples.

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There are several terms you need to learn when talking about a tandem bike. The 1st is the term used to explain the person riding in the front seat. This person can be called the captain, the steersman or the pilot. The person sitting in the rear seat is known as the stroker, the rear admiral or the navigator. Some of the parts of the bike that you may need to get to grips with include the cranks, which are the pedals, and the timing chain, which is the chain that connects the 2 sets of cranks. This chain is critical because it forces the two cranks to turn at the same time.

When shopping for tandem bikes you may need to familiarize yourself with the different types that are on the market today. The 1st kind of tandem is the bike tandem. This tandem has 2 wheels, 2 seat, two sets of handlebars, two sets of cranks and a single timing chain. The second type of tandem is the tricycle. This kind has three wheels and it is designed for 2 people. Its wheel configuration encompasses a single front wheel and a pair of wheels in the back. The 3rd kind 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 makers. Bohemian Bicycles in Tuscon, Arizona and Co-Motion Cycles in Eugene, Oregon are two companies that hand build their bicycles. If you're looking for a manufacturer with a larger choice of options then you may desire to take a 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.
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