Inside the Chicago Area Tandem Society

BY JULIA MAZUREK | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CHICAGO AREA TANDEM SOCIETY

Two seats, two sets of pedals, perfectly synchronized: a moving display of teamwork and trust.

Tandem cycling demands coordination, communication, and a shared rhythm. Every pedal stroke is a partnership. Riders quickly learn that the success of riding a tandem isn’t just about strength or endurance. It’s about connection.

Connection has been at the heart of the Chicago Area Tandem Society (CATS) for more than four decades.

The local club was founded after the 1984 Midwest Tandem Rally. What began as a single event sparked something bigger: a desire for tandem enthusiasts to continue riding together long after the rally ended.

Today, CATS remains a welcoming, connected community of 35 tandem teams who value the rides and the friendships formed along the way.

A Shared Connection

CATS Members Greg and Jeanne Browning have been involved with the club for nearly 20 years.

“We’d always enjoyed bike riding, but our lives got busy raising kids,” says Greg Browning. “As we found more time to take bike rides again, we found that we rode at different speeds. So we decided to try tandem riding – and we wound up discovering a shared passion.”

After attending the annual Midwest Tandem Rally years ago, the Brownings became more and more active with CATS.

Many members live in the greater Chicagoland area, but the club’s reach extends beyond state lines, drawing riders from neighboring regions who share a love for tandem cycling. Experience levels vary, but what unites them is a shared sense of fun and an openness to connection.

“We usually have a couple of club rides each month during the warmer months,” shares Browning. “The rides typically range from 25 to 45 miles. Some people are faster, and some people are slower – and that’s all OK.”

Designed as much for socializing as for cycling, the rides typically include a stop for lunch, whether at a local restaurant along the route or a gathering at a member’s home. These stops offer riders a chance to share stories, laugh, and deepen friendships. And one thing holds true: no one rides alone.

This sense of belonging extends beyond Illinois. Across the Midwest, tandem clubs have formed their own unique identities, often with a sense of humor to match. The club in Minnesota is named for the state bird: the LOONS.  Wisconsin riders call themselves COWS: Couples on Wheels. Indiana’s club is called HOOTS: Hoosiers Out On Tandems. In Iowa, it’s PIGS: Paired Iowans Going Somewhere. And Michigan riders go by MUTS: Michigan United Tandem Society.

The highlight of the year is the Midwest Tandem Rally, the very event that inspired CATS’ founding. The event takes place over Labor Day weekend and is hosted by a rotation of tandem clubs throughout the region; this year’s event will be hosted by MUTS in Kalamazoo, Mich. With over 200 teams participating, the extended weekend of riding and socializing is a reminder of how far the tandem community reaches.

Traveling by Tandem

Some CATS members have taken their tandem passion on roads well beyond the Midwest.

CATS members Bob and Nancy Hoel rode their tandem bike through the Netherlands.

“Our tandem can be ‘de-coupled’ or deconstructed into separate pieces that can fit into two standard suitcases for checking on a plane,” Browning explains, and elaborates on their tandem experience in Switzerland last fall.  Zurich served as their start and end point, where they secured and left behind their large suitcases and loaded necessities to the back of their tandem.  They spent two weeks riding from one Swiss town to the next.

CATS members Bob and Nancy Hoel have also traveled via tandem in the Netherlands several times.

“It is such a pleasure to bike in Europe, especially the Netherlands, because everyone bikes there, and drivers are very respectful of cyclists,” the Hoels explain.  “Cycling also gives you a better opportunity to meet locals and visit sites that you may miss in a car.”

Tandem Appeal

The appeal of tandem cycling is layered. It is inherently social. It is practical for riders who have different endurance levels or prefer varying speeds. It requires mental and physical presence and participation – your partner depends on you. Tandem riding fosters unique trust, whether riding with a spouse, friend, or someone you’ve just met.

“We’re always happy to welcome new members,” says Browning, adding that newcomers are welcomed no matter their level of experience or riding style.  “It is a great group of people.  If you ride a tandem, it’s likely a passion. To be surrounded by people doing something they have a passion for is just really enjoyable.”

The group shares a willingness to move forward together, in perfect rhythm, one mile at a time.  And most importantly – to enjoy the journey.

For more information about CATS, or to join an upcoming tandem ride, visit chicagotandems.com

Upcoming CATS Tandem Rides

Tandem riders biking the lakefront in Kenosha

July 12 – Long Ride to Long Grove, Long Grove, IL

July 25  – Lake2Lakes Ride, Silver Lake County Park, WI

August 26  – Meet in the Middle Ride, Inverness or North Aurora, IL

September 4-7  – Midwest Tandem Rally, Kalamazoo, MI

September 8-10  – Minnesota Root River Ride, Lanesboro, MN

September 20 – Plowing Match Ride, Big Rock, IL

October 3 – Kenosha Lakeshore Ride, Kenosha, WI

October 4 – Fall Meeting and Wrap-Up Ride, Willowbrook, IL

December 12  – Holiday Lights Ride , Arlington Heights, IL