Try tandem bicycle tours!

We are pleased to offer
tandem bicycle tours
on our TREK 900 tandem
bicycle for all our itineraries in
Central Europe. Please bear in
mind that terrain suitable for
a hybrid bicycle and a tandem
bicycle are slightly different.
As a result, the exact routes
on our tandem itineraries will
be slightly changed to ensure
that you get only the best
rides on your tandem tour.

Technical details

There are many benefits for choosing tandem bicycle tours:

• On a tandem bicycle tour a child can ride with an adult, special needs people
  (e.g. the blind) can ride with an experienced cyclist and a trained cyclist can
  ride with one not so experienced.
• The very fact of sharing time together in this way and the coordination required
  to ride a tandem can add an extra dimension to a tour by bringing a couple or
  friends closer together.
• Two is better than one! You will find you can cycle longer distances and much
  faster on a tandem bicycle than you would if you were riding solo.

Our TREK 900 tandem bicycle is a solid, strong and comfortable tandem. The Alpha
aluminum frame makes it light. Bontrager Comfort K tires provide smooth rolling and
easy braking, with the comfortable, upright riding position allowing you to enjoy the view.

• If you want to bring your own shoes and pedals then please do. We will fit them
  to the tandem for you.
• For individual requests we can fit out 2 high quality Lookin saddles for the TREK 900.
• If you want to bring your own saddles then you are welcome.

See our tandem bicycle tours supplementary equipment.

All our tours can be ridden by tandem bicycle so browse through them and get in touch
with us to tell us which tour you would like to do.

New to tandems?

The Captain is the front person on a tandem bicycle. They need to be already accustomed
to riding bikes with good skills of control as it is their job to control all aspects of the bike
– steering, braking, shifting gears and balancing the bike at rest. The captain should be
the last one with their feet on the ground when starting the tandem and the first to put
their foot down when the tandem stops.

The Stoker is the person behind and they act as the main engine of the tandem bicycle.
Besides not being able to see where they are going, they have another difficult task. They
must learn to keep their weight in the center of the tandem by leaning with the tandem
around corners and trying not to steer. This is an unusual sensation for a novice. With
their concentration not fixed on the road and being able to cycle hands-free, a Stoker can
do many things. Ask most experienced tandem cyclists which roles they prefer when riding
a tandem bicycle and the Stoker is the favorite!

The more couples or friends ride together on a tandem bicycle, the more they develop
their own riding style. From the outset a good tandem bicycle ride is assured by the
Captain being considerate to the Stoker – telling them about a gear change or any rough
patches in the road ahead and stopping or slowing whenever they want.

If you are completely new to tandems we highly recommend that you get some experience
before going on a tandem bicycle tour with us. Get some saddle time in and get used to
controlling a tandem. You can start by reading Sheldon Brown’s excellent articles on riding
tandems in the link below.

TREK 900 Tandem bicycle

• frame: Alpha Aluminum. Oversized power tubes. Wishbone monostay. Accessory Port.
• fork: Trek triple butted Cro-Moly.
• wheels: Alex TA19, 40 hole rims w/stainless steel eyelets; alloy hubs; 14G stainless,
   black spokes.
• tires: Bontrager Comfort K, 26x1.95".
• saddle: Trek Webspring/elastomer comfort w/flashing light.
• seatpost: Alloy/Suspension.
• handlebars: 50mm rise front, 80mm rise rear.
• stem: Alloy AHS, adjustable rise.
• headset: AHS 1-1/8" semi cartridge, sealed.
• shifters: SRAM MRX Plus.
• front derailleur: Shimano T301.
• rear derailleur: Shimano Deore.
• crankset: TruVativ 48/38/28 w/chainguard.
• cassette: SRAM 5.0 11-32, 8spd.
• brakeset: ProMax forged V brake.
• pedals: Dual density platform.

Links:
Trek tandem bicycle - TREK bikes page
Tandem bicycle tours - articles about tandems

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