F.A.Q. About Our Bike
Riding a recumbent bicycle OR a tandem bicycle is good for a lot of comments, questions, and strange looks. Riding a recumbent tandem bicycle means all those questions, and more! To help answer the most common, we present this list.
How much did it cost?
This seems to be the most popular question. Why, we don't know. The bike itself listed for $3,795 at the time we bought it. We've added accessories since then, so the total value is somewhere around $4,200. Yes, tandem recumbents are expensive, largely because there are so few of them. Ours is serial number 148.
Where did you get it?
We got our bike from Schlegel's Bikes in Forest Grove, Oregon. They are listed as a Vision dealer which worked out really well for us, since both of us have been purchasing bicycles from Schlegel's pretty much all our lives. The bike was made by Vision Recumbents.
Is it hard to learn to ride?
Yes, at first. It takes some doing to get used to any tandem bike, and recumbents can be a bit trickier at first because the steering is so much more responsive. However, the comfort of 'bents more than makes up for the learning curve. This is our first tandem, and we found that Vision's IPS (Independent Pedaling System) helped in learning. In a nutshell, the IPS consists of freewheeling hubs in both cranksets. This allows each set of pedals to be turned independently. In most tandems, the pedals must be at the same point in the stroke at the same time for both riders. In addition, it's very hard for one person to coast or exert slightly less (or more) force while pedaling on a regular tandem. With the IPS, either of us can coast at any time. Removing this added timing element made the bike much easier to learn to ride, and we think it's better for touring as well. Vision currently has a patent pending on the system, but no doubt other manufacturers will come up with something similar very soon.
Who rides up front?
Since Jim is blind, we decided that Debbie probably should ride up front :)
How long have you had it?
We took delivery of the bike in April of 2000. The staff at Schlegel's Bikes deserve a lot of credit for not only enduring our impatient excitement as we waited for the bike to arrive, but also for making room for this huge bike in their shop!
How long IS that thing, anyway?
The wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) is 87 inches, which is a standard for long-wheelbase 'bent tandems. There is a 'bent tandem on the market with a 103 inch wheelbase! With everything we currently have on the bike, its total length is 110 inches, which is just over 9 feet. Yes, it makes wide circles.
How does it handle?
Considering its length, the bike handles very well. It rides smoothly and corners well, but is not built for obstacle courses or parking lots. This bike, like most tandems, is a touring bike. It loves the open road.
How many speeds does it have?
There are three ranges of nine gears each, for a total of 27 speeds. That may seem like a lot, but because of the heavier load of two people and the way recumbents deal with changes in terrain, nearly all of those gears get used from time to time. For normal level-ground touring or on city streets, we use 2 or 3 gears and change ranges a lot.
Why a recumbent?
The best answer we've found for this question is to put people in the seat and let them feel for themselves. Unlike upright bikes (called "wedgie bikes" by 'bent owners), 'bents allow you to sit back, put your feet up, relax, and most importantly, they have large, cushioned seats so you can ride all day without sore back, arms, shoulders, wrists, or buns. There are also a number of mechanical and energy-efficiency reasons for owning a 'bent. A perusal of some of the resources listed on the previous page will lead you to more detailed information.
Aren't recumbent bikes more expensive?
That depends. If you're comparing the cost of a 'bent to the cost of your kid's first bike, yes. But most 'bents are priced about the same as a good-quality mountain bike. And when you add in the comfort, energy savings, and overall coolness, 'bents are a much better deal. They're not for mountain climbing, in fact they're not really great on uphills, but they more than make up for it on downhills or level ground. If you're looking for a touring or commuter bike, your best bet may be a 'bent.
Do you like it?
In a word, YES! We love it.
What's the hardest thing about learning to ride a tandem?
Learning to communicate with your partner. Learning to ride a tandem is a great way to learn a little humility, especially about how well you think you know your riding partner. Once you figure out how to talk about things like hills, bumps, stops, and gear changes, the rest is pretty easy. Another part that takes getting used to is that the stoker (the person in back) must forget everything they know about watching for things ahead of the bike, such as turns, potholes, etc. The stoker's job is to provide steady, constant power and to enjoy the scenery. Learning to "let go" like that can be difficult.
How do you take the bike on long trips?
Assuming that we're not riding it, our bike travels on top of our car on an ATOC Tandem Topper rack. This is a rack built to go on a standard roof rack and is specially designed for tandems and long-wheelbase recumbents. We looked at several racks and we're very glad we got the ATOC. It's easy to load, holds the bike securely, and is also easy to get on and off the car. They are a bit more expensive than some other racks, but well worth it.
What kinds of comments do you get?
Besides all these questions, we have experienced the following actions or comments:
More questions and answers will be added as people ask them. Thanks for reading!
-- Jim & Debbie Dorman
If you have a question or comment that isn't here, please feel free to email us.