I own several kinds of bicycles and ride each a considerable number of miles every year. My road bike is smooth, quick and light. My mountain bike is heavier, handles rough terrain and likes off-pavement riding. The tandem, well, it's like driving a stretch limo.

Looking back over the years of riding bicycles, I can truly say that some of my most pleasant and relaxing rides have been on the tandem. It is sleek, cruises quickly down the road (except on steep uphill grades), quickly gathers speed going downhill and provides a significant ingredient that my other bikes don't offer.

I get to take my favorite companion with me on every ride. You see, the tandem doesn't handle very well, nor is the ride as pleasant, without her in the "stoker" seat.

Tandems, bicycles built for two or more riders (I have seen up to six seats on them), come in different sizes, shapes and styles. There are conventional upright road and mountain bike models as well as lower-to-the-ground recumbents and trikes.

Tandems are not for everyone. Those anticipating sharing the workload of pedaling a tandem must have good communication skills, a great deal of trust in each other and be able to assume different (both important) roles. The front rider is called the captain. The person who occupies the rear seat is the stoker.

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For reasons of balance and handling the bike, the larger-bodied person typically serves as the captain and the smaller rider as the stoker. The captain pilots the bike, shifts the gears, watches for obstacles and leads the pedal cadence. The stoker assists with pedaling, signals for turning, leans in the curves to provide the necessary balance and, in some cases, operates the drag brake on steep descents.

People who do not ride tandems often have the misperception that the person in the front does all the work and the one in the rear kicks back and enjoys a free ride. Nothing can be farther from reality. Both sets of pedals are connected by a chain so that they turn in synchrony.

Stroke after stroke, the stoker's pedals turn with the same amount of effort as the captain's. Both riders contribute significant energy in moving the bicycle forward.

If you and a riding partner are considering purchasing a tandem, I strongly recommend you borrow or rent a tandem before you make the commitment to purchase one. You and your partner should spend some time on a tandem to see if it really is your cup of tea. The toughest decision is not whether or not you can handle the bike, but if the two of you are compatible and will be comfortable with the different roles each rider must play.

Anticipating becoming the captain of a tandem pair? I highly recommend you ride as stoker with a trustworthy captain for a few rides. Experience that initial feeling of fear when you realize you have no control of the bike. I'll never forget the first time I sat in the stoker seat as the captain pulled into the street with a car approaching a lot closer than my comfort level allowed.

I had no brakes to squeeze, no handle bars to turn to get out of the way, and no way to get off the bike. It's an awesome trust to turn over your life to someone else and it is important for the captain to realize this feeling.

Because the captain is responsible for the well-being of two people, the captain's role can be more stressful than riding a single bike. You must stay mentally alert, watching for obstacles and hazards in the road and remember that it takes more time to stop or maneuver the tandem around obstacles.

Don't expect to just hop on a tandem and go for an easy ride. The learning curve is steeper and longer than learning to ride a single bike. Captain and stoker have to learn to effectively communicate with each other. This is the key to a successful, stress-free, safe tandem ride.

It takes practice to learn the techniques of starting, pedaling, shifting, standing and stopping. It may also take several rides before either rider releases the death grip from the handle bars and refrains from sudden shifts of body weight.

After you and your riding partner get into sync, you may not go back to riding your single bikes together again. The tandem is a great equalizer for couples with different riding abilities, eliminating frustrations of one waiting and the other struggling to keep up. If you and your partner are compatible on a bicycle built for two, you will enjoy many rides together. (If not, sell the bike before it destroys the friendship.)

Riding a bike is great, but being able to ride a tandem with your special companion is awesome.

Bicycling enthusiast Bob Korfhage of Phoenix is a former president of Siskiyou Velo bicycle club.