Stoker and... ?

[Cudzoziemiec]

I always thought the person doing the steering, braking and shifting on a tandem was the Pilot but recently on this forum and elsewhere I've noticed that Captain is a commonly used term, and I'm sure I once heard Driver used in this way. So what do you say? Perhaps there's a completely different term you use: Commander? Lord of the Universe? Supreme Creator and Protector? Merciless Bastard? Boss?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Captain is the most common term with Pilot coming into fashion when I began racing tandems with blind folk nearly 2 decades ago.

I prefer Captain and Rear Admiral.

[clarion]

Captain sounds a bit hierarchical.  Since the fictional cafe incident in Rampton, I have no illusion that I have complete command of the tandem.  That said, I do sometimes need to remind Butterfly that I don't regard the Helios as a democracy, and I try to just do what I'm told.

Captain was already a pretty old-fashioned term in the 80s when I first considered dallying (though had not the resources nor anyone willing to dally with me...)

[Cudzoziemiec]

I think we need to be told about this "fictional cafe incident in Rampton". We like a good story. 

[clarion]

It has been related on these virtual pages before.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

Tandeming means the front rider is in charge, with control of steering, gears and brakes. I've ridden long distances in both front and back seats. Captain is an accurate terminology. In a difficult situation, do what they say with no arguements.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Searching for "Rampton" by "Clarion" returns two results - the one above and one in P&OBI. Doing the same with Butterfly instead turns up nothing. And I've no idea who else might have been involved or narrating or what other key words to look for, so my hooks remain tentacled...

[Cudzoziemiec]

Captain is the most common term with Pilot coming into fashion when I began racing tandems with blind folk nearly 2 decades ago.

I prefer Captain and Rear Admiral.

I like the naval theme but doesn't an Admiral out-rank a Captain?

[mcshroom]

I think that's the point

[LittleWheelsandBig]

That is the idea. The Captain is in charge and takes responsibility but the Admiral says what they want and the Captain makes it happen.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Ok, got it now. Ta. Perhaps other suitable terms would be Lord/Lady/Duke/Countess/etc and Footman? 

[L CC]

You only count as a stoker if you're doing your share.
When I'm Captaining, I (generally) have passengers.
Mr Smith is the Pilot. He leads, but I'm in charge.

[Charlotte]

When Julian and I are crewing Josephine, I am most definitely The Captain.

Although many of the responsibilities on board are delegated to my stoker (navigation, signalling and sweeties being some of the most important) I take full responsibility for decisions made whilst awheel.  When I issue an instruction, we have a rule that it is to be followed without question and immediate confirmation given.  For instance, if I say "signal right", she calls that she's signalling because I want to know that her arm is out - even before I check over my shoulder.

There's a good reason that ship's crews reply "aye-aye" to an order - in the heat of battle, the Captain wants to know that the order has been heard.  I see no reason to deviate from this scheme of things aboard a tandem.

Also - and let's face it - if you're rocking the appropriate pirattitude, Captains are just way cooler than pilots 

[clarion]

...many of the responsibilities on board are delegated to my stoker (navigation, signalling and sweeties being some of the most important)...

What?!?   More important than massage, bum-fondling and that excellent traffic calmer, jazz hands?

...Also - and let's face it - if you're rocking the appropriate pirattitude, Captains are just way cooler than pilots 

Yebbut pilots get the cool shades.  And uniforms.  Don't forget the uniforms...

[Clare]

I usually call him Vernon but sometimes Moron and just once You f*cking ar$ehole.

We have matching tops from SSTL which have our names on the collar, we could choose what was written on the collar, 'Pilot' and 'Tail Gunner' was vetoed on the grounds we might have trouble at a border post somewhere (probably the Surrey/Hampshire crossing) and I wasn't allowed 'Militant Tandemcy' because Vernon wasn't keen.

[Wowbagger]

Where's the "Lord and Master" option?

[Charlotte]

Yebbut pilots get the cool shades.  And uniforms.  Don't forget the uniforms...

That's as maybe, but pilots don't get to wear tricorn hats and carry swords 

[clarion]

Can if they want to.  So there!

[Cudzoziemiec]

When Julian and I are crewing Josephine, I am most definitely The Captain.

Josephine? Who is this Josephine? What have you done with Margaret Hilda? And can you actually ride Josephine tonight? 

[Butterfly]

I think we need to be told about this "fictional cafe incident in Rampton". We like a good story. 

It had been a long, cafe free Wednesday. As we crossed a cross roads, I saw a garden centre off to the left. Garden Centre = potential cafe. So I stopped pedalling and turned left . Clarion's knees weren't impressed. I wasn't impressed that the garden centre was closed on Wednesdays . What kind of behaviour is that? Garden Centres should be required by law to open 7 days a week, have a cafe open till 6 pm and serve toasted tea cakes. It's only reasonable. (I wouldn't remember the name of the village, which is why Rampton doesn't show up in my posts!)

Anyway, I say pilot or captain or driver depending on who and when.

[Julian]

When Julian and I are crewing Josephine, I am most definitely The Captain.

Josephine? Who is this Josephine? What have you done with Margaret Hilda? And can you actually ride Josephine tonight? 

Josephine's been part of the family for four years now!

[Polar Bear]

When Julian and I are crewing Josephine, I am most definitely The Captain.

Josephine? Who is this Josephine? What have you done with Margaret Hilda? And can you actually ride Josephine tonight? 

I currently own Margaret Hilda.   I was going to sell her but I think she has just been given a reprieve.   

[Butterfly]

When Julian and I are crewing Josephine, I am most definitely The Captain.

Josephine? Who is this Josephine? What have you done with Margaret Hilda? And can you actually ride Josephine tonight? 

I currently own Margaret Hilda.   I was going to sell her but I think she has just been given a reprieve.   

Yay!

[clarion]

Can't possibly come to our stable.  Not without a change of name.

[Butterfly]

I was saying Yay to the reprieve!