| Tandem bicycles can be viewed as one of the first | | | | familiarize yourself with the different types that are on |
| customized bicycles. The first tandem was created | | | | the market today. The first type of tandem is the |
| when an inventor welded two bicycles together to | | | | bicycle tandem. This tandem has two wheels, two |
| create a bicycle for two. By the 1800s the bike design | | | | seat, two sets of handlebars, two sets of cranks and |
| had been patented and marketed. Today's tandem | | | | a single timing chain. The second type of tandem is the |
| bike designs are more than merely two regular bikes | | | | tricycle. This type has three wheels and it is designed |
| welded together, they are high end custom machines | | | | for two people. Its wheel configuration includes a single |
| designed for high performance. There are even | | | | front wheel and a pair of wheels in the back. The third |
| off-road models available for adventurous biking | | | | type of tandem is the recumbent tandem. This type of |
| couples. | | | | tandem has seats that are positioned so that the |
| There are several terms that you need to learn when | | | | riders are in a reclined position instead of an upright |
| talking about a tandem bike. The first is the term used | | | | position. |
| to describe the person riding in the front seat. This | | | | Tandem bikes are manufactured by several custom |
| person can be called the captain, the steersman or the | | | | bike builders and major bike manufacturers. Bohemian |
| pilot. The person sitting in the back seat is called the | | | | Bicycles in Tuscon, Arizona and Co-Motion Cycles in |
| stroker, the rear admiral or the navigator. Some of the | | | | Eugene, Oregon are two companies that hand build |
| parts of the bike that you may want to familiarize | | | | their bicycles. If you are looking for a manufacturer |
| yourself with include the cranks, which are the pedals, | | | | with a larger selection of options then you may want |
| and the timing chain, which is the chain that connects | | | | to look at the bikes offered by Trek Bicycles. This |
| the two sets of cranks. This chain is important | | | | company not only manufactures quality tandems, but |
| because it forces the two cranks to turn at the same | | | | they have also produced Tour de France bikes for |
| time. | | | | Lance Armstrong and bikes for the Discovery Channel |
| When shopping for tandem bicycles you may want to | | | | Pro Cycle Team. |