Monday, August 11, 2008
The Search for a Bicycle Built for Two
The tandem bicycle that Kyle and I ride across the country will serve as our only means of transportation, our (very light) suitcase, and our home during the day, every day, for almost two months. It's also a serious investment - it will be one of our most expensive belongings and will hopefully last well beyond the trip. It's not a purchase to be taken lightly, so Kyle and I started researching our options months ago. But when Kyle found the Hase Pino online we were fairly sure that our search was over. The Pino is a tandem bike with a recumbent seat in the front and a regular saddle behind it. All steering and shifting are done by the "captain" in the back. This stadium seating effect improves visibility and communication, and allows riders to switch between an upright saddle and a reclined seat when things are getting monotonous, sore, or both. Check out snazzy photos at the company website
Since the Pino doesn't look like a normal bike, we could hardly expect it to ride like a normal bike, and we had no plans to spend thousands of dollars without being sure that the Pino was for us. As you might imagine, only a few shops regularly carry the Hase Pino; luckily one of them is within an hour of Kyle's house.
We rolled into the Mt. Airy bike shop Saturday afternoon and were stunned by the number of bikes lining the parking lot and lawn. After wandering the packed shop we asked for a spin on their only Pino. A young grease monkey slapped on some bright orange petals as the salesman explained the basic mechanics of the bike and directed us to a one mile loop through the nearby countryside. I made Kyle captain us first, which meant I sat in the front while he managed a very awkward zig-zagging start. Possessing minimal understanding of basic mechanics, I thought tandem bikes allowed riders to shift separately and pedal at different speeds. Not so. We had to pedal together, and I realized the hard way that if the captain unexpectedly shifts or changes cadence it makes matters difficult for the rider in front. (Thank goodness the bike allows us to communicate well.) Being in front is amazing though; it really offers a new perspective on the world whizzing by, and as a bonus your hands are free to snap photos (even an overhead candid of the captain). Pedaling is slightly harder in the front since you're pushing out instead of down and can never stand, but being able to recline in a comfortable seat and ignore steering and shifting concerns can trick you into feeling like a relaxed rickshaw passenger.
Halfway around the loop Kyle and I switched positions. I had asked/forced Kyle to captain as we left the shop (and when we returned to it) because I assumed captaining would go poorly for me, and I had no intention of embarrassing myself in front of a crowd. It turns out I was right, and may have even underestimated my Pino incompetence. My time as captain began with a dozen or more false starts. I couldn't seem to begin pedaling without turning the handlebars slightly, and on an extra-long bicycle a slight turn means disaster for the bike's stability and bruising for Kyle's shins. Eventually - with a lower seat and gear and a lot of coaching from Kyle - I was able to get going and even navigate a turn and a small hill. I still terrified myself and Kyle by trying to figure out the shifting without actually looking at the mechanism (I refused to take my eyes off of the road ahead) but once I got the hang of it captaining was exhilarating. It was also completely bizarre; I didn't realize how much steering from the back would throw me off. I suppose it's akin to pushing an oversized stroller while on roller blades, except that you're tied to the stroller, everything is heavier, and the toddler yells whenever you shift up.
I haven't been shy about voicing my concerns about our cross country ride, and testing the Pino has added a few worries to the list. First there's the linked pedal strokes. Kyle and I have very different riding styles. I frequently sprint on flats, on slight downhills, and whenever I have a burst of energy and motivation (because I expect to quickly lose it). Kyle has more mental endurance - mostly because he enjoys cycling more - and more experience, so he rides more consistently and strategically, saving energy for climbs and taking downhills at high (some would say reckless) speeds. On our rides together I match or outpace him...until we hit a hill and he blows past me. Even when we're riding at the same speed Kyle maintains a constant and quick cadence on a lower gear while I prefer powering through strokes at a higher one. Basically Kyle has better traditional form and I do whatever random moves work for me. But hey, I also have ugly form when I shoot a basketball or lay out for a disc, and I'm fairly successful at both. Unfortunately our differences are problematic on a tandem; I honestly doubt my legs can move fast enough to match his normal cadence, and while captaining I kept shifting higher than he could comfortably handle. We'll be in a better position if I learn to pace like Kyle and if he improves his performance on flats, but we're never going to have the same cycling style. Marriage is about compromise though, right?...
Marriage is also supposed to be about communication and trust, and our ability to do both will be tested on this ride. I could tell Kyle found it hard to have me captain, and not just because I was so inept and terrified. The recumbent rider has to relinquish all control, and that can be difficult for someone who has more experience and is used to leading. Tandem bicycling opens the door for frustrating backseat - or in this case frontseat - driving. But - and here's the good news - our chaotic country mile showed me that Kyle and I possess more patience and persistence than I expected. I failed to start the bike again and again, but Kyle never got angry and I never had the urge to throw the bike into a ditch. In its own way it was a beautiful moment that bodes well for the future.
So despite raising several concerns, trying the tandem was exhilarating and made me look forward to spending more time on it with Kyle. We may even be able to rent the Pino for an upcoming charity ride. It's still early in the game, but I really do look forward to the insane, difficult, but amazing ride(s) to come.
| posted at: 16:22 |
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