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You Oughta Know: Two for the Road
By Paige Singleton
Who: Tandem riders Lynn Dexter and Patrick Gibbons
Patrick Gibbons and Lynn Dexter decided to ride away from corporate life on a bicycle built for two a decade ago, with 6-foot-tall Patrick piloting the bike and Lynn, at 5-foot-4, "stoking" from the second seat. To support their avocation, the husband-and-wife team opened Tandem Cycle Works at 1080 S. Gaylord St. in Denver, the only shop in the U.S. that sells and rents only tandem bikes. Stocking 40 to 60 tandem road and mountain bikes at a time, their business now has a customer base that reaches across the country and into Europe. Gibbons and Dexter also spend a lot of time sharing their passion for tandem life by organizing events ranging from day rides in Denver to weekend trips in Colorado and in Utah and New Mexico. Right now, they're planning a two-week tandem tour of Ireland in August and hope to be joined by a dozen other pairs of riders.
Tandem biking is fairly unusual. What inspired you to pursue the sport?
Dexter: Pat and I were avid cyclists before we met. On our dates we would participate in events such as Ride the Rockies on our separate bicycles. We realized that we could never stay together because we each rode at our own pace, which defeated the purpose of sharing these journeys.
Gibbons: We had never tried tandem cycling before, and we decided that it may be the perfect solution to our problems. Since then, we have never gone biking together without one.
How did you come up with the idea to start a store? Did you have any notion it would be as successful as it is today?
Dexter: Pat wanted to get away from corporate America, and I came up with the idea. Tandem biking is a passion that we both want to share with everyone. Our store is a lifestyle, not just a business.
Gibbons: I certainly had my doubts about the success of the store. We hoped that it would flourish, but we weren't 100 percent optimistic.
There are several myths centered on tandem cycling. Some people say that riding tandem is the pathway to divorce.
Dexter: We get a lot of laughs out of that rumor. In our 10 years of business we have never heard of a couple getting a divorce because of the tandems. In fact, we find tandem biking to really strengthen relationships.
Gibbons: Riding together on a tandem is a great way to solve problems in a relationship. Single bikes can become divisive. It is easy for couples to get too competitive or frustrated that they can't ride at the same pace. Our customers almost always say that they ride more often after discovering tandem bikes.
What other myths have you heard?
Dexter: Several people have said that tandem riders are sexist because the man typically rides in the captain position up front. Guys are typically heavier and having more weight on the back makes it difficult to control the bike. Also, tandem bikes are taller in the front compared to the rear. It is a physical issue, not a psychological one.
Gibbons: I have heard people say that riding in the back is a sled dog position because the view doesn't change. As a matter of fact, stokers talk about how liberating it is to not have to concern themselves with looking straight ahead. Captains are the ones who have to concentrate on the road.
Is the pedaling process with tandems easier, equal or harder than single bikes?
Dexter: As with any new sport, it takes a little practice. It gets much smoother after a few rides, and we often compare it to dancing. You have to adapt to each other's different pedaling styles.
You visited the Tour de France and even rode your tandem on some of the toughest routes just for fun. How did people react when they saw your unique bike?
Dexter: We rode up L'Alpe d'Huez to see Lance Armstrong in 2003, and many people cheered us on, as they see very few tandems in Europe. The French love the sport of cycling as much as Denverites love the Broncos.
What are some of the greatest rewards that come with teaching people how to ride tandems?
Dexter: Tandems are great because most of our customers are baby boomers who want to get into shape while trying something new. They want to meet another couple who can talk to them and help them with the sport.
Gibbons: Tandem cycling gives people with disabilities an opportunity to ride bikes. We have sold tandems to blind people, as well as customers suffering from multiple sclerosis. We once had a customer who recently had a stroke and was in tears to feel the wind in her face again. Tandems deliver a positive change in their lifestyle.
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