10 tips for cycling on a tandem

Tip 1: Preparation is the key

Before you start riding, adjust your saddle to the desired height and check that the tires are well inflated and that the brakes and, also lights are working. You should also avoid wearing baggy pants and skirts that could get caught in the chain of your bike. This can lead to dangerous situations.

Tip 2: Practice makes perfect

Before you go on a bike tour, practice getting on and off the tandem and riding the tandem. You should also test the handling of the tandem at an appropriate speed on an even surface. In this way, you will learn to react better to unexpected movements of the tandem. Furthermore, you should try to practice riding, shifting gears, and cornering in a quiet environment. 

Tip 3: Safety first  

Do not get on or off the tandem while the Tandem is moving. Always keep sufficient distance from other cyclists, motorists, or other traffic participants and constantly follow the rider's instructions. With extra options such as belts and back supports the safety of the cyclist can increase even more.

Tip 4: Pay attention to your surroundings

Look for a route with a flat surface. Please note that the way you aim into a curve can vary from tandem to tandem. With a tandem, you are slower than with a traditional two-wheeler. Therefore, you need more time to cross the road. You should pay attention and cycle with foresight.

Tip 5: Use parking brake

You should lock the parking brake on your tandem when you get on and off the bike so that the bike cannot roll away.

Tip 6: Appropriate speed

Especially when riding downhill, make sure that no dangerous speed is reached. Use the breaks on time and drive at moderate speed.

Tip 7: Know your electrical system

If your tandem is equipped with the unique, specially developed electric pedal support system: Get used to the functions it. Always be careful when switching on the electric system and do not be surprised by the sudden activity of the electric motor. Switch between the three support modes Eco, Comfort, and Sport in order to get a good feeling of how the support modes work on your tandem. The Twinny Plus, Kivo Plus, and Fun2Go are equipped with a reverse function. Practice the reverse and start-up functions of the electric motor.

Pedal support

Tip 8: Communicate with each other

Good communication between driver and co-driver is extremely important when riding on a tandem. As the driver, you should indicate when you are riding into a corner or when braking and shifting gears on time.

Tip 9: Maintain regularly by yourself

Check your tandem regularly to ensure that the wheels, handlebars, and saddle are properly secured and that all connections are tightened properly. Every (electric) tandem requires maintenance. The dealer where you bought your Van Raam bicycle can do the maintenance for you, but there are also a number of things you can do yourself. We would like to give you a few tips for this.

Look at the 10 maintenance tips

The perfect tandem

Choose the right tandem for you, which is best suited to your situation. During a test ride at Van Raam it is possible to test all tandems. As mentioned before, Van Raam has various tandems in its assortment. These are the following:

• Twinny: two-wheel tandem for adults
• Kivo: two-wheel tandem for one child and one adult
• Twinny Plus: tricycle tandem for adults
• Kivo Plus: tricycle tandem for one child and one adult
• Fun2Go: Tricycle tandem where you ride side by side

At Van Raam's showroom in Varsseveld, you can make an appointment to receive help from a technical advisor in choosing a tandem. It is also possible to try out a tandem outdoors on the test track. You will then receive a free offer to order the adapted bike from a Van Raam dealer. Not able to visit Van Raam? At some dealer locations, it is also possible to take a test ride. Contact a dealer near you.

Dealer near you