Every alliance has its weak and its strong elements. In the training collective that Ron and I have formed, I am clearly the weak link - surprise, surprise….
While my pulse rate averages out at 150 (170 beats max.) and I get closer and closer to a complete collapse, Ron bobs along, averaging out at about 109 beats - freezing to death is, also, not an impossibility...
Some disharmony is inevitable… to be fair, it annoys me more than it does Ron.....

Since Ron is, by nature, a resourceful guy, he got the idea that a tandem could be the solution to our problems.
The ordering and delivery of this piece of sports equipment went lickety-split. However, the first ride was delayed a few days, due to weather conditions and the awkward responsibility of working.
Finally, the day of days arrived… our theme was: the early bird gets worms, uh… no, catches the worm and so, we arrived at the usual meeting place, near Tangstedt, on time, at 8:15am.
Robby K. from H., however, was a few minutes late... Upon arrival, his first question was: "Have you guys practiced at all? Ramona and I took our first ride in the Ikea parking lot." Anyone else would have done similarly, but not us......

In good old Don Ron manner: Feet up, click in, commence pedaling and we were off…
My impressions of the 2 hours that followed, in brief:
- due to asynchronous body movement, in the beginning, the ride felt similar to being at sea
- this improved steadily... - the trust that you put in your leader is endless! When you're in back, you can't see a thing.... A remark: mountain-bike-tandem? I doubt that all the pharmacies in Hamburg would have enough sedatives to keep me calm.... :-)
- I wouldn't want to be up front
- the turns, oh boy… the turn radius of a 12 ton semi… at this point: thank you, thank you, thank you…
- unlike riding in someone's slipstream, concentration is not required
- the person in back is free to lazily stare off into space… which I did…
- the achievement reached relies on the principle of the collection at church
- you put in what you're prepared to give. I guess, I didn't give enough
- my average pulse rate was lower than Ron's… oops…

Conclusion: I had a lot of fun!!! We were faster than usual and, with a little practice on the tandem, our pulse rates will converge too.

Ergo: Goal accomplished - I can only recommend it!!!

Gaby