Bicycle Built For Two

Near the C&O Canal Trail in MD

Tooling along wooded paths with your sweetie on a tandem bicycle is a romantic way to spend an afternoon. My husband and I enjoy riding our bike on rail-to-trails and canal trails in several states on the East Coast.

As with any relationship, riding a tandem bicycle requires trust.

In our case, the rider in front, the captain, is in control. He controls the speeds, the brakes, and most of the steering. The rider in back, the teammate, pedals—hopefully, in rhythm with the captain.

The teammate must trust the captain to make safe decisions especially when crossing roads and navigating obstacles such as drop-offs. And the captain must trust the teammate to pull her weight.

Communications is important, whether it be verbal or by way of body language. Need to pedal hard, in unison, to make it up that hill.

With time, skills are honed and riding as a team becomes effortless. Well, almost, you'll still feel the muscle aches tomorrow.

If you're a writer wanting to force your characters to resolve trust issues, put them on a tandem bicycle and let the gravel fly.

Enjoy bicycling with your honey? Consider a bicycle built for two.