October 19, 2021
First Quadricycle in The Villages of Florida
This quadricycle is a first in The Villages of Florida. I’ve seen tricycles for one, tandem bicycles for two, a pair of single bikes for two, and uprights and recumbents.
The Old Way
Most of us know about tandem bicycles built for two. However, how many people have learned how to ride them safely? One recent episode of the TV show, Blue Bloods, covered a collision in a New York City park involving a couple on a two-wheeled tandem bicycle and a priest conducting a marriage ceremony for a second couple. The backseat tandem rider, the “stoker,” commented after the crash that she tried to steer away from the collision. However, as she found out in the last microsecond before sending the priest to his afterlife early, the stoker only pedals and plays no part in the remaining responsibilities of riding a tandem bicycle. The “captain” does everything else, including steering, braking, and shifting.
The Villages
I’m not condemning tandem bicycles at all. If you are young, capable, and experienced, the standard tandem bicycle with a captain and a stoker will serve you well. If you live in The Villages of Florida, you might be older, less capable, and not experienced enough for a tandem bicycle.
Cycling On The Quadricycle
Cycling separately, with two bicycles, people struggle to stay in sync. One will be going too fast for the couple to stay together. On the quad, the two-person crew sits side by side on comfortable seats and must stay together. There can be only one driver: the captain. But in an emergency, the passenger could grab the steering wheel and the brake. If the captain passes out on a tandem, you will both fall to the ground and get hurt.
Share The Experience
The quad riders do it together. On the quad, two can cycle together, talk, and share the experience. Both have a set of pedals and shift mechanisms. One can pedal easily, and the other can pedal hard. The two cyclists can even argue as they ride safely down the roads and cart paths of The Villages.
I feel we will see more quadricycles soon in The Villages of Florida.
I Like It!