Tissington Tandem Hire

[middleagecyclist]

Thinking of hiring a Tandem for a day from Ashbourne Cycle Hire and the start of the Tissington Trail.

Has anyone done this and are the tandems any good? We could use our own mountain bikes but thought a tandem day out might be quite fun. Would hate to get there to find they not really suitable.

Cheers for any help

 

[Black Sheep]

Been trying to persuade the wife into this (her parent's place backs onto the trail near Alsop)

there is one section of the trail between ashbourne and tissington that, to me, looks like a bridge was removed as the trail decends quite steeply for a railway line only to rise again moments later, there are signs advising cyclists to walk that part, and the metal rails to wiggle round at the bottom of the dip might make this a good idea with a tandem.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Been trying to persuade the wife into this (her parent's place backs onto the trail near Alsop)

there is one section of the trail between ashbourne and tissington that, to me, looks like a bridge was removed as the trail decends quite steeply for a railway line only to rise again moments later, there are signs advising cyclists to walk that part, and the metal rails to wiggle round at the bottom of the dip might make this a good idea with a tandem.

Oh I know the trail. I cycled it as part of the Pennine Cycleway last year. I meant the quality of the tandems. Sorry for any confusion.

 

[Globalti]

Erm... sorry to say this but.... the Tissington trail is a little boring!

 

[growingvegetables]

I took a fully laden tandem up the Tissington Trail ... 3-4 years ago? Great ride - don't remember anything particularly hard or tricky .... that came later as we hit the Pennine Bridleway (interesting bits ).

 

[middleagecyclist]

Erm... sorry to say this but.... the Tissington trail is a little boring!

It's pootling but through some lovely countryside. It's easy but was planned (originally) to be with some young kids. It's got tandems to hire and try away from roads. What's not to like?

 

[BearPear]

Me & Mr BP had a go on one at a Sky Ride this year - it was awful!! I thought I was a bit of a control freak, 10 minutes on a tandem confirmed it!!

It didn't help that we use opposite lead-off legs & hubby was "driving".

Good luck!

 

[middleagecyclist]

Have now done the Tissington Tandem Hire. A video and the reasons I will not be going tandem again here.

 

[Cubist]

Have now done the Tissington Tandem Hire. A video and the reasons I will not be going tandem again here.

That looked great fun!!!!!

 

[srw]

Have now done the Tissington Tandem Hire. A video and the reasons I will not be going tandem again here.

You looked naturals (although the bike was a bit small). One top tip - it's easier if the stoker gets on properly before the pilot sets off. That way the stoker can provide the push while the pilot is sorting himself out.

 

[growingvegetables]

the reasons I will not be going tandem again

Aw, come one - you enjoyed it!

Seriously though - it's a damned sight harder with a cyclist as stoker; the instinct to steer, lean, and control really can make things difficult! I'm a crap stoker - unless perhaps blindfolded.