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How are you forced to produce power output on a tandem bicycle? You can force the cadence but what happens if you just relax and let your legs go around with the pedals? I would think you would be producing zero power on your own, not exactly a grueling forced workout, or am I missing something?

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Read the NYTimes article... you learn that the two sets of pedals are 1:1 connected. Your partner pedals faster and you have to pedal faster. Maybe not harder - but you do have to keep pace.

It says that the power output was higher.

Power is work done per unit time. Inducing someone to pedal faster is going to increase their power output, so long as they do not slack.

Alviva was wondering why the people on the back were not slacking. MediaBehavior says they were only pedaling faster, not necessarily harder. I'm pointing out that the article clearly says they were pedaling harder.

Maybe we should design an exercise bike with motor, and you just put your feet in the pedals and let them roll around without applying any force yourself? Seriously, a fast cadence on a bike isn't even work if you're not applying any force yourself.

It didn't say it had to be grueling, just forced.

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