Sojourn Chronicles

by D. Brent Miller

I know all of you had responsibilities and special duties on Mother’s Day. You are either a son or daughter, which means you have a mother or mother figure. Or, you are a mother, which means your kids should be doing something to make your day special. Or, you are a father, which means you have kids by a mother–perhaps your wife, an ex-wife, or not.

Mother’s are the key component to our lives and the future of the world. Frankly, one day is not enough to recognize their emotional and biological importance to our lives, but Hallmark and every florist in the world reminds us how special the day is and what we should be doing to recognize that importance.

So, I told my wife, my best friend, that whatever she wanted to do on Mother’s Day, I would cater her every whim. Of course, she’s not my mother, but I had to stand in for the kid who is now in Utah. (Thank God, he finally called later in the evening!)

Her first response to “catering every whim” had something to do with “housework wearing only a thong.” Okay … nearly every whim. I am not built like a Chippendale dancer–not even close.

What she wanted most was to go for a ride (YIPPEE!) … on the tandem bike. (oh … okay.)

After digging through boxes of stored household items looking for bike helmets and gear, filling tires with air, and checking out the gears, we headed out for a very popular recreational path, but a further out access point to avoid the heavy trail traffic.

With the bike assembled, helmets on, water bottles in their cages, we launched for a ride, and down the trail we went. It was our first tandem ride in perhaps three years. Three years! Why so long?

First let me say, we had a great time exploring the trail and area. But, there are a few things about riding a tandem you should know. The “captain,” also called the pilot sits in front and controls the gears and steering while pedaling. The “stoker” sits in back and basically … pedals. With most modern tandems you are leaning forward a little. The captain has a unobstructed view. The stoker is looking directly into the captain’s back. I’ve been told it’s like having this big billboard in front of you. Can’t see ahead, only to the sides. The stoker has to absolutely rely on the captain’s choices … unconditionally … without comment. Well, without comment would be a perfect world, wouldn’t it.

1. Never buy a tandem thinking you are going to spend more time together and improve your relationship. If you don’t already have a good relationship, you are in for a big surprise, and possibly wasted a whole bunch of money on an expensive bike with two seats, two sets of pedals tied to each other by a chain and 21 gears to take you up and down hills and along the back roads.
2. Communication is key. The captain warns the stoker of bumps, stop signs ahead, other traffic that will cause a little manuevering, for without such verbal communication, the stoker is unaware that something is ahead. The stoker communicates to the captain things like: “You changed gears without telling me,” “You stopped pedaling without telling me,” and my favorite, “Are you slowing down?” Another good one is, “I feel like I’m doing all the work. Are you pedaling?”
3. Finding a happy medium is the challenge–the right rpm of the pedals and right gear to provide foward momentum comfortable for two people of different physique and physical abilities.

Of course, there are plenty of benefits for a tandem, too. You always ride together … at the same speed, and work as a team. A tandem weighs a little more, but with two cyclists working together, you can maintain a pace that would rival the Tour de France … that is if the stoker is willing to do that.

We rode 20 miles stopping every five miles to stretch the not-often-used muscles and flex the buttocks–those bike seats are not as comfortable as my Honda Shadow. But, ride we did … on the tandem … and we had a good time.

Mother’s Day for my mom in Phoenix: I sent flowers earlier in the week, and called both Saturday and Sunday. She’s the best mom I’ve ever had.–DBrent