Two for the road doubles the fun

It’s easy to simply call a tandem bike the great equalizer, but it’s more than that. Because it allows two people of different ages, abilities and fitness to work out together, a tandem becomes the great bonder, letting them converse and share the adventure in an immediate, personal and fun way that is nearly impossible in any other fitness activity. Because it maintains the same aerodynamic face of a single bike while adding a second “engine,” a tandem can also be the great speedster, routinely outpacing soloists. New designs, such as those reviewed below, bring the fast fitness and pure joy of tandeming to kids, disabled people and the budget- and space-challenged.

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Roy M. Wallack

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Value and versatility

Diamondback Wildwood: Bargain-priced steel bike that fits adults and kids and goes on- or off-road.

Likes: Very versatile. Wide height range on rear seat accommodates 8-year-olds to 6-footers. Use of mountain-bike wheels and wide tires allows off-road and pavement use. Superb value: 24-speed drivetrain, suspension fork to smooth bumps, quick-release wheels (for example, tool-less wheel removal), and comfy cushioned seats and suspension seat post -- all at a rock-bottom price (for a tandem). Curvy frame tubes create a cool retro look and are easy to stand over while stopped.

Dislikes: Too slow and heavy for hard-core road riders.

Price: $680. (800) 222-5527; www.diamondback.com.

Exotic but pricey

Santana Beyond: No-holds-barred exotic road tandem with take-apart carbon fiber/titanium frame and custom components.

Likes: Its feathery weight (29 pounds, 9 ounces) is lighter than any other tandem and many solo bikes. Easy to transport: Frame is held together with 10 couplers that twist off with a special tool, and can be taken apart and fit into an airline-checkable suitcase. Includes powerful motorcycle-style disc brakes and a special overdrive gear that allows high-speed downhills.

Dislikes: Must dip into your kid’s college fund to pay for it.

Price: $13,000; $10,595 without couplers and disc brakes. (800) 334-6136; www.santanatandems.com (click on “new models” then “team tandems”).

Specialty specs

Buddy Bike: Unique design in which the “stoker” (traditional rear rider) sits up front, ahead of the “captain.”

Likes: Easy conversation and intimacy between the riders. The extra-long handlebar allows the captain to envelope the stoker. “There is no alternative when you have a kid who needs significantly more supervision,” says company owner Barry Nelson, who has an autistic child. My 10-year-old son enjoyed the intimacy.

Dislikes: Not a performance bike. Low-speed, seven-gear transmission. The design has flaws: The rear seat post is more vertical than a normal bike and the front pedals are too far back, so the seats are crowded too close together, causing the captain to ride with knees splayed out to avoid hitting the stoker’s back. My son was irritated by my knees poking his ribs. Nelson says you get used to riding knees-out.

Price: $1,295 ($998 with disability discount). (305) 932-2000; www.buddybike.com.

Cycle switcheroo

CycleMorph Tandem Adapter: A partial bike that turns a regular bike into a tandem.

Likes: Great convenience. Takes the expense and large garage-space commitment out of a tandem. Easy to transport in a car (a normal tandem isn’t). Simple, effective design; once the proper cabling is in place, the CycleMorph can be added to a normal bike in one minute. Rides like a normal tandem, with slightly more space between the riders -- which my wife appreciated.

Dislikes: Must go to a bike shop to split and refit the various shifter and brake cables. $50 to $100 one-time expense.

Price: $550. (512) 443-9459; www.cyclemorph.com.