Tandem bicycles are a wonderful way for two people to enjoy cycling together who may or may not be of equal strength. Tandems have their own unique strengths and weaknesses most of which depend on the skill and fitness levels of the riders, known as the captain (front seat) and stoker (rear seat). Typically the taller rider is the captain because the frame of the tandem is structurally more sound when built with that arrangement in mind. Also, aerodynamics can be greatly improved by creating a "teardrop" shape to the profile of the riders on the tandem.

A tandem usually dominates riders of single bicycles on flat terrian since there is a much better strength-to-weight ratio on a tandem as well as far superior aerodynamics. Some tandems can be very strong climbers but to achieve this, a tandem team must become very in-tune with each other and perfect their climbing techniques. Descents belong to the tandem with it's heavier weight, greater aerodynamics and horsepower. No single rider can challenge the raw speed potential of a tandem on most descents given equally fit riders. I've regularly dropped single bikes even when they were sitting in my draft (using me to block the wind) by sheer acceleration on steep, fairly straight decents. My personal downhill speed record is somewhere around 65 MPH although given a good straight downhill road it would be easy to top 70!

Frame: Cannondale Road Tandem, 23"x19", Polished, Steel fork

Drivetrain: Campagnolo O.R. derailleurs / 8-speed downtube shifters, Sugino Fuse 500 crankset, 172.5mm / 170mm (28, 38, 50t aluminum triple rings), Shimano HG-90 8-speed cassette (11x23t), Sachs-Sedis SCR-80 drive chain, SC-40 Argent idler chain

Rear wheel: D.T. Hugi tandem hub (double-threaded), 36H, 140mm, 15G straight spokes, Spline Drive alloy nipples, 3-cross lacing, Mavic CXP-30 rim

Front wheel: Sachs New Success hub, 36H, 15G straight spokes, Spline Drive alloy nipples, 3-cross lacing, Mavic CXP-30 rim

Tires: Continental SS Ultra 25c, Wire bead

Miscellaneous: World Class Titanium bottom brackets (2), King 1 1/8" headset (threaded), Salsa Quick release skewers (steel shaft), American Classic seat posts

Stems: Control Tech Road 120mm x -15-degree (front), Control Tech Stoker adjustable rear stem

Handlebars: 3ttt Forma, 44cm (outside) front and rear, Sorel Macalu Cork tape

Seats: Sella San Marco Strada Titanium

Brakes: Shimano Deore Wide calipers, Arai Drum brake (rear) with quick-release (captain-controlled), Dia-Compe 287 Dual-pull Levers (front), Dia-Compe Blaze stoker levers

Computer: Avocet 45