Congratulations Dan. I am currently communicating with some families in South Manchester CTC about doing some shortish rides now Liz and I have got the Twosday up and running. If you want to come along let me know.
How are you getting on with the Twosday now?
I'd been putting off riding it through the latter part of August (since we got back from the Birthday Rides). As you know we didn't take it to the Rides because of a problem with the gears. Three weeks ago my mechanic (Brian from Withington Cycles who does freelance mobile work) came and sorted it. (It was a very simple problem which I should have spotted
So then I had no excuses. I had been putting it off because I've always avoided tandems with two wheels due to instability when setting off. When I got it out for a trip to Taekwondo a couple of weeks ago Elizabeth was really excited. We have now progressed so that we can do hill starts as long as they aren't too steep. Last weekend I got around to buying bits for it...a mirror (essential), some lights, a bell and a horn. We can't use it at night yet because I haven't had time to put the lights on this week. So we're still using the Tandem Trike in the evenings at the moment.
I still feel more vulnerable on the Twosday than on the trike; it's because drivers don't give us as much space. But the Twosday does go faster. We can also get more shopping on it as it has front and rear pannier racks whereas the trike can only take a saddlebag (and one pannier in daylight, but it has to come off at night as it obscures the rear lights).
Elizabeth and I are intending to try to do a CTC B ride but only as far as the first cafe stop. There is one coming up soon which goes to Knutsford for coffee. I think we may aim for that one as we can combine it with a trip into Tatton Park...very lovely at this time of year. It starts in Cheadle so not too far from you if you can manage it.
