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posted to rec.boats.paddle
Keenan & Julie
 
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Default A question from a new paddler...

"Wilko" wrote in message
...
!Jones wrote:
A bicycle only has one person steering...


Not exactly. Try riding with an inexperienced stoker and you'll
agree!!!


I have, both on a tandem bicycle and tandem kayak. I prefer the tandem
kayak because it doesn't hurt as much when you end up going over sideways
because the other person isn't keeping their balance... :-)

There are several (antique) bikes where *both* handlebars are able to
steer: the "Colson" and "Cleveland" models from the early 1900s, for
example.


Sure, but they're not exactly common modern tandem bicycles, are they? :-)

I would put the two activities in a very similar category. Not that
they are the same; however, a team that is good at one will probably be
able to do the other with practice.


Sorry Jones, I've ridden a bicycle for the past 30 years, almost daily,
going to school and work on my bicycle, untill I got a job which was too
far away for that to be possible. (even in a flat country with bicycle
lanes everywhere, there are limits to what you can do with a bike :-) )
In my view, riding a tandem bicycle is ridiculously easy compared to
paddling a tandem kayak on moving water, both with and without experienced
partners.

I do see parallels, but riding a tandem bike doesn't quite compare.


I'd suggest it's a bit like riding a tandem bike through downhill
cross-country course :-)