My husband and I purchased our Santana road tandem in 2000. We bought the bicycle to start touring. We hoped we would like it. The bicycle came with a Terry Butterfly saddle in the stoker position – the back seat, where I ride. Little did my saddle or I know the adventures we would share over the next 45,000 miles and eighteen years.
I started tandem riding when our girls were little. We bought a cross-bike tandem with a special set of pedals for kids so we could take longer rides together. We credit this bicycle with helping us build a strong family.
As the girls got older, Peter and I discovered we enjoyed riding the tandem together and wanted to try a bike more suited for long distance touring. The Santana (Violet) allows us to do this, and maintain a strong marriage.
Between 2000 and 2013, we bicycled 25,000 blissful miles (if you don’t count incessant winds, driving rain, blistering sun, and even snow) with me on my Terry saddle. After successfully completing several three-week unsupported tours, we decided we were ready to take on a bucket list item, bicycling across the country. So, we began planning for our 2014 tour from Bellingham, Washington to Bar Harbor, Maine.
Before leaving on our epic adventure, I decided that, maybe, I needed a new saddle. Thus began test rides on no less than seven different seats. Ironically, after all the testing, I ended up right back on my original Terry Butterfly. She has now completed three cross-country tours and has served me well.
My Terry saddle and I have survived 45,000 miles together, but our experiences have left us both a bit worn. When I noticed unusual wearing on my bicycle shorts recently, I discovered the character lines on the leather of my saddle had finally turned to tears. Sadly, it was time to retire my old friend. To know I can replace her with a new Terry Butterfly saddle is comforting.
It was bitter sweet to replace the Terry bicycle seat on the tandem. It is a reminder of all the miles and trips we have been on, we are both a bit worn from all the miles! I will definitely hang on to the old seat. Meanwhile, I replaced the seat on my single bike with a Terry bicycle seat as well!
Contributed by Tracy Flucke
Vice President, WE BIKE, etc, LLC
Check out Tracy and Peter Flucke’s book “Coast to Coast on a Tandem” to find our more about their first big adventure.
I had that very saddle for years on my mountain bike, in fact it was on two of them. Love my Terry saddles!