Central Park offers visitors plenty of space to explore and try new hobbies. Maybe tandem cycling will be yours. If this is the first time you’re discovering tandem cycling, let our guide answer your questions.
A tandem bike is a bicycle built with two or more seats, handles, and pedals on an aluminum alloy frame, essentially a single bike that is stretched out. If you haven’t tried tandem bike riding, you need to visit Fancy Apple after reading this guide to find your nearest location and try one today.
We offer excellent quality, cheap tandem bikes that you and your partner can use to explore New York City. Going tandem NYC with a multi person bike is a fun way to see new places while still having a close conversation with someone.
What to Know About Riding a Tandem Bike
Your first question may be, “is it hard to ride a tandem bike?” Although it isn’t difficult, riding a tandem bicycle is quite different from a single occupancy bike. Knowing how to ride and balance on a bike, whether a mountain bike or beach cruiser, is key to having a great experience trying a tandem bike for the first time.
Riding tandem Central Park allows you and your partner plenty of space to practice. If you haven’t explored Central Park before, joining us with one of our touring bikes will ensure you see the best parts of the park. Renting a tandem bike costs the same as renting two single bikes but is twice the fun. Let’s talk about the different kinds of tandem bikes.
2 Person Bikes: Romantic Tandem
The most common tandem bikes are 2 person bikes. Tandem refers to the seating arrangement with riders behind each other instead of side by side, with the larger or more experienced cycler in the front.
A two person bicycle allows two people with different riding abilities to bike and socialize together. Since both riders pedal, tandems can reach higher speeds than 2 riders on single bikes. To account for this speed, a two person bike (called a twin), usually use disc brakes as they are all-weather breaks.
3 Person Bikes: Family Choice
Perhaps you have one more friend or family joining your trip and you want to introduce them to using road bike. In that case, a 3 person tandem bike may be a better option. A tandem cycle works using a fork technique to adjust the weight of multiple people and distributes it across the road bike, accounting for all skill levels to enjoy a 3 seater bike.
4 Person Tandem Bikes for Extra Fun
A 4 person tandem bike or a quad tandem will really bring your friends together. In addition to exploring Central Park and around the city, you can also join the Quad Tandem World Championships if you are all up for it.
A four-seater bicycle also uses disc brakes, allowing the bicycle to break quickly and smoothly, even under fast acceleration. A 4 person bike rental is a lot more accessible than you think, so you easily can go tandem cycling today!
5 Person Bikes: Ample Space for Everyone
5 person bikes are co-motion cycles with enough seats for 5 people. This is enough for a family with 2 adults and 3 children who are out for a fun day of bonding.
Using a 5 seater bike in such a setting is the perfect situation to practice communicating with one another as all 5 people need to coordinate to keep the bike balanced. A few local bike shops carry quint bikes, but you could also rent one with Fancy Apple!
6 Person Bikes: Team-Building Goals
A 6 person bike can either have all 6 people seated behind one another with the 5 people rely on the captain to guide and steer or 6 seater bike with 3 pairs of people next to one another. In both cases, those at the front and rear of a 6 seater bike provide balance for all.
7 Seater Bikes: Flying Experience
Riding a 7 seater bike will surely turn heads as you ride by. As one of the rarer and more custom bikes, a bike for 7 people is one of the most fun to ride on.
While you enjoy more communication, there’s also more speed due to the longer and aerodynamic frame design. This 7 seater tandem bike, co-motion speedster can make you and your team feel like you’re flying down a path.
A Few Reminders for People on Tandem Bikes
Here are our top 7 tips for you to enjoy the ride at the most.
1- Capitan
The first thing to decide before hopping on a tandem bike is who goes in front since this person will be the “captain.” The captain will usually steer and call out if there are any obstacles in front since a steer from the rear tandem bike is not as common.
2- Bike Size
Try to get a tandem bicycle that fits the riders as comfortably as possible. When using a bike rental, the bicycle will need to fit the front rider the most as they steer those behind them.
3- Communication
The key to having a lot of fun when tandem biking is ensuring all parties can hear one another and communicate to control the speed and prepare for bumps or turns.
4- Practice
Before you begin your biking adventure, have everyone test out their seats on the bicycle. The bike may feel a little different and heavier compared to a single bike.
5- Speed
Tandem bikes can go faster than regular bikes, so be sure to arrange your safety first.
6- Knowing Your Role
All parties have a responsibility as soon as they hop onto the bike. While the captain steers, everyone else involved provides the peddling power, directions, and maybe even a few fun stories.
7- Have Fun
When getting on a tandem bike for the first time, it can feel like you’re learning to ride a bicycle all over again. This new adventure is for you and your friends to have a great memory together.
Join Fancy Apple Family Today!
There are many tandem bicycles available for you, and with one, you and friends can explore all that Central Park has to offer. Stop by Fancy Apple the next time you all want to go on a biking adventure to rent one with us.