Many a relationship has been broken on a tandem: This sentence from a colleague was the first thing that popped into my head when I was persuaded to test ride the Nuovo Sport from Santana with my girlfriend. I'm actually attached to my relationship. Nevertheless, I agree - without telling my girlfriend first. The next day, I present Johanna with a fait accompli - and put the tandem at her feet instead of her mountain bike. From her questioning look and the index finger tapping energetically on her forehead, I realise that her enthusiasm for the swap is limited. Johanna is only reluctantly persuaded to take a seat on the pillion. I sit in the front. Not because I'm the bloke. It's because I've got a lot more weight in the race and more cycling experience. Then we're ready for the challenge.
Jelly on wheels
Problem number one: the chocolate side. I like to start with my right leg on the pedal, whereas Johanna does it the other way round. But as both cranks are firmly attached to each other, a solution has to be found. So we start with the left leg. Here we go. As we both try to keep the bike in balance but are not in sync, we feel like jelly on two wheels for the first few metres. However, as the speed increases, the two-seater stabilises itself and leisurely makes its way around. However, the 2.40 metre long behemoth doesn't let itself get off track so easily in the first bend and we continue straight ahead. Leaning into the bend with the bike, as I'm used to doing, isn't really something I want to do with two people on the tandem. The reason: Johanna doesn't want to lean into the bend. This calls for teamwork and, above all, trust. My partner has to rely on me completely, because she can't see the bend coming.
Curve artist
Communication is supposed to be good for the relationship. So from now on, I announce the bends. Little by little, I start to enjoy changing direction. For its considerable length, the Nuovo Sport goes through the bends quite quickly. At the next set of traffic lights, however, a glance back at Johanna tells me that her enthusiasm for my cornering skills is very limited. My habit of squeezing past the traffic lights on my bike is also met with little enthusiasm. My girlfriend calls my riding style reckless. I would describe it a little differently: as a skilful use of the space between pedestrians and stationary cars to reduce waiting times.
To take the heat out of the argument, I refrain from daring manoeuvres and get in the back of the queue at traffic lights. When we finally leave the city behind us, Johanna's face brightens - and she can finally enjoy the great advantage of being a tandem passenger: taking in nature in peace. And me? The tandem ride also makes me smile more and more. The reason: our travelling speed is well above my usual average. The tandem simply equalises our different performance levels. And without any unauthorised aids. Everyone contributes their share to the overall performance. One more, the other less.
Unimagined calf weight
The next day, I go out on the road. My colleague Stephan joins me on the bike as the stoker, as the passenger on the tandem is known. Known for his hard pedalling, he is supposed to help the team really heat up. Let's see what we can do. Ahead of us lies the kilometre-long straight of the Olympic Road south of Munich. We set off, and the power of four calves pushes us forward with unexpected force. 40 km/h is child's play with the 15.75-kilo projectile. We don't glide along as usual, but literally fly over the tarmac - and leave countless oily, shiny calves behind us. On a serpentine descent, we take it easy at first, but then work up a sweat. On the bend, the bike pushes dangerously close to the outer kerb. I pull the brakes. However, I can't elicit much more than a hoarse groan from the V-brakes. The braking distance is like that of a four-tonne lorry. I wish I had a run-off area. Fortunately, we're not on a downhill pass in the Alps, but in the Isar valley.
After a few downhill hairpin bends and a short flat section, the first climb awaits. We gain a lot of momentum, but don't get very far. The high system weight brings us back down to earth and almost to a standstill. We go on the attack and start pedalling in the cradle. But after just a few metres, our tandem bobs up like a duck in distress. We are out of rhythm and realise that it takes a well-coordinated team and a lot of experience to push a tandem dynamically up the mountain in the cradle. We don't have that. That's why we struggle up the rest of the climb in a less athletic, seated position. I had more fun with Johanna.
Tandem tips
The Nuovo Sport offers couples of different abilities in particular the opportunity to experience their passion for cycling together. To avoid conflicts, however, it requires a sensitive captain and a lot of trust on the part of the passenger. For 3,630 euros, you get a solidly equipped tandem that offers plenty of potential for tuning measures. As the US manufacturer Santana, which specialises in two-seaters and multi-seaters, generally offers its models in a custom body, it is advisable to invest in better brakes right from the start. All Santana tandems can be fitted with optional rear disc brakes.
Santana Nuovo Sport
Price complete wheel 3,630 Euro
Weight of complete bike (without pedals) 15.8 kilos
Manufacturer Santana Europe
Reference/Info Telephone 08031/14573, www.santana-tandem.com
Frame heights S/M/L
Fork Santana 700C Chrome MegaSize
Headset/bottom bracket Tange Seiki, 1.5 inch
Bottom bracket No-name, 53/39/30 Z.
Shift lever/front derailleur/rear derailleur Shimano 105/Ultegra/Deore
Brakes Avid Single Digit V-Brake
Impellers Shimano tandem hubs/Velocity rims (40 holes)
Tyres Continental UltraSport 28 mm
Saddles/saddle supports Specialised/No-name (front), Satori-Teleskop (rear)
Handlebars/stems Profile/Woodman (front), Modolo/ControlTech (rear)
