My Wife, the Tandem and I.

When I swapped my Dura Ace groupset for a child sized tandem, I could hardly have imagined that I would be riding it all over the Derbyshire Dales several years later. It is a brightly painted monstrosity that has an extra small seat tube at the rear, about 13", to accommodate a child. When I originally unveiled the bike one evening in 2004, it was received by 10 year old Georgia with boiling excitement. It was a priceless moment and peaked shortly after with a 45 mile ride to the "Magic Lake". I still believe the calm waters are silently enchanted but the teenage version of Georgia is less convinced than ever.

On April 11th, 2004, Helen climbed aboard the tandem for the first time and we did a short loop around the local lanes. 10 miles in total. It was a thrill, but it would be another 11 months later in March 2005 when she next took to the road for a 21 mile jaunt through some of the surrounding countryside. Within a month we had stretched the ride distance to over 50 miles. It was the beginning of something new for both Helen and myself.

Shortly before we were married that year, we did a 70 mile ride. We passed the "Magic lake", Dimmings Dale and on beyond the natural boundary created by the River Dove into Staffordshire. Whilst Helen had lived in the Derby area for most of her life, the view from the tandem was opening up a vast area of the county and surrounding counties that she had never seen before. It's probably the same for a lot of people whom might never have had any reason to traverse the narrowest and greenest of our byways. For Helen, who loves landscape, other peoples houses, villages and the sheer beauty of our countryside, the bicycle was reason enough to explore some of these rural gems on a regular basis. And despite some reluctance at first, the figure hugging cycle clothing that she had once mocked, became a permananet feature of her wardrobe.

2006 and 07 saw similar kinds of tandem rides to the previous year. We had a day out in the Charnwood Forest area of Leicestershire in July 06 and topped our best ride with a 74 mile route. We were however, always hampered by a lack of time. My own cycling activities took up a lot of the time that Helen was free to ride the bike. Opportunities to get the tandem out were far too infrequent. It might have gone either way at that point but we both very much enjoyed the rides we had been doing. Our fitness, although up and down, had enabled us to do some stunning long rides into areas as far as Warwickshire and Leicestershire that neither of us had ever seen before.

In 2008 we upped the pace and began to ride on a more regular basis, avoiding long intervals between rides. Whilst Helen's work stops her from riding a bike during the week, she took to using a turbo trainer for 40 minutes, three or four times a week. I guffawed to myself at first. Having had one or two trainers over the years, I didn't think it would be long before it ended up in the garage. However, she stuck to it and never lets it pass. It has paid off as well, the extra fitness that she has gained through using the trainer has really upped her power output and our average speeds in general have steadily increased.

In June 08 we cracked a century ride for the first time. It was a hot day and saw us head south into Leicestershire and west into Staffordshire before hitting the Derbyshire boundry at about 80 miles. We did other rides over 80 miles and had some challenging rides in the Peak. Of particular note was a lovely day in September when we traversed the steep sides of the Manifold Valley from Grindon to Alstonfield. In fact we were managing to get up all of the steep hills. Buttermilk in Staffs, Greendale out of the Churnet Valley and Ireton Wood to name but a few.

In October 08 we did our first bit of a tour and carried panniers into Rutland for a night in a hotel on the banks of Rutland Water. The ride home was tough from the start and rain in the afternoon was enough to see me in trouble before we'd even got to Loughborough. Helen was fine and thoroughly enjoyed her first bit of touring. She was a little put out though as to how little you can realistically carry in such tiny bags.

This year we have been able to use our fitness to do some of our best rides to date. At the beginning of March we did an 80 mile ride and at the end of the month we did 95 miles on our first club run out to Tatenhall. That was a lovely sunny day and a new experience for Helen in riding with a group of riders. In April we did 106 miles exploring the lanes to the west of Cannock Chase. The area is awash with very quiet, barely used lanes and we again visited this area at the end of May. Everywhere was very green and lush and the sun turned our arms and legs a lovely shade of brown. It was an exceptional day and we clocked 110 miles with apparent ease. Another 106 mile ride in June took us back over towards Rutland and into the Charnwood Forest area for coffee and cakes at Newton linford.

Last weekend we did a very challenging 62 miles through some tough areas of the Peak. The Riber Hill out of the Derwent Valley is savagely steep and not one I thought we could ride up. It was tough but Helen was unfazed and it did little more than slow our progress for a few minutes. I thought the climb up the two mile ascent of Callow Bank might stretch us but a steady rhythm saw us crack that one comfortably. The quick descent into Hathersage had Helen gripping the bars very tight and screaming down my ear to slow down. We'd barely passed 46mph.

After a bucket of coffee and large slice of cake in the cafe, we climbed up through Abney Clough during what must be the most beautiful time of year to see this lovely wooded valley. Onward through Great Hucklow and over Longstone Edge we were soon tackling the brute of a climb that is Kirk Dale. It's not very steep but an uncomfotrable gradient for a good mile or so. It makes your legs begin to wilt by the time you come out of the trees half way up. We skipped the coffee at Monyash and by the time we crested the climb at Elton we were still going strong enough to ride straight past the cafe.

Whilst things are good for us as riders, we are at a disadvantage with the tandem. The bike is now doing above and beyond what it was ever designed to do. It's very heavy and had pretty much all of its lower end parts replaced. Sometimes it feels like you only have to look at something and it wears out in front of your very eyes. Such is the strain exerted on the working components. Even the frame is beginning to show signs of stress. It's time for a new one. Over the last few months I have ammassed tubes and frame components as well as reconstructing my tandem frame jig. This winter I hope to manufacture a new frame and kit it out with some altogether more appropriate components.

In terms of long rides, challenging routes and overall mileage, 2009 looks set to be our best year yet. We regularly see couples out on their bikes together. It's a common sight to see a lady several bike lengths in front of her husband, trying her hardest while hubby tries to remain enthusiastic about being there. It is particularly a problem when an established bike rider introduces his wife to the pleasures of riding a bike. The abilty gap is often so huge, and so unlikely to be bridged anytime soon that the ladies bike usually ends up in the shed after only a few outings.

A tandem is a wonderful way in which to unite both the abilty of man and woman. It can take a while to develop some of the skills and techniques but at no time will you drop your wife on any of the hills. She is always, just behind you. She can also keep up down the fastest of descents, as long as you don't go too fast as to scare the living daylights out of her. It really is the finest way to spend a day out together. She's also a captive audience and after many miles of cycling talk, she has no alternative but to become interested or give up.

Helen is a regular reader of Cycling publications these days and enjoys watching the big races on the television. We have been regular spectators at the Lincoln Grand Prix for some years now and Helen knows the riders and fully understands the racing that unfolds on the day. The down side of course is that she is now well aware of the low status I hold in the big scheme of the UK's cycle racing scene. Any jokes and clever quips directed toward the rear of the tandem usually come back to remind me of all the races I haven't won and the fact that my age and ever silvering hair aren't likely to add to that tally any time soon.

My ultimate goal over the coming years is to bring my passion for the French Alps and riding the tandem together. Whilst the long ascents up to the top of the Cols may require a great deal of patience and fitness, the sure footed nature of a tandem will undoubtdly be a whirlwind experience on the way down. Both Helen and I enjoy the delights of French cuisine and what more reason than to fill up on Alpine high carbohydrate dishes and cakes could you ever desire. Let's hope Georgia gets settled into her University any day soon.

Avoid marriage guidance, get yourselves a tandem. Chris Riley.