36 years of friendship on the Kettwiesel TWO

Lotte and Juliana have known each other for 36 years. That is a pretty long time – especially considering that these days, they see each other far less often than they would like. So when they do get together, there is always plenty to catch up on.

Lotte still owed Juliana a present for her 41st birthday. Rather than wrapping up something, she decided to plan a day out together instead. With a picnic, cold drinks, and the new Kettwiesel TWO.

For Juliana, it was quite a contrast to what she usually rides. She is a keen triathlete who has been known to cycle 300 kilometres in one go. Just for fun. A three-wheeled side-by-side tandem, with two seats next to each other and a relaxed riding position, was completely new territory for her.

“At first, I was sceptical,” she says. Understandably so. If you are used to covering long distances on a road bike, a side-by-side tandem for two adults probably deserves a closer look at first.

Cycling together – and finally having a proper catch-up

Her scepticism disappeared pretty quickly, though. Lotte and Juliana set off and soon realised what the day was really about. Not average speed, heart rate, or how many kilometres they still had to cover. It was about finally having some proper time together again.

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And that is where a side-by-side tandem has one big advantage: you really do sit next to each other. There is no need to shout over your shoulder, nobody is staring at someone else’s back, and the conversation can simply keep flowing. For two people who have known each other for 36 years and still have plenty to talk about, that matters.

“When we see each other, we obviously have a lot to catch up on,” says Lotte. “On the TWO, that worked really well because you can actually talk to each other the whole time.”

The two of them were out for around four hours. They stopped for a picnic, rode through the countryside, and kept on talking. Juliana’s initial hesitation about the unfamiliar bike soon turned into genuine enjoyment.

Why the Kettwiesel TWO side-by-side tandem was such a good fit for the day

That was exactly what surprised her. For Juliana, cycling usually also means training and a sporting challenge. This time, the bike could simply be a means to an end: getting outside, being on the move, and spending a great day with an old friend.

That is exactly the appeal of the Kettwiesel TWO. Cycling as a pair is not just about arriving at the same destination together. You experience the journey together, too. Side by side, with an unobstructed view ahead and close enough for a perfectly normal conversation.

In the end, perhaps that was a more fitting birthday present than anything Lotte could have wrapped up.

After all, 36 years of friendship does not necessarily mean seeing each other all the time. But if four hours of cycling together are enough to make everything feel completely natural again, the day must have gone pretty well.

And Juliana? She would happily ride along again. Even if it is less than 300 km.

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