Tandem cyclists Daniel and Donna Pond, of Le Mars, are hosting a group of Iowa tandem bicyclists this weekend for several rides around Plymouth County. The Ponds have been tandem cycling for three years. [Click to enlarge]

On the same bike.

The Le Mars couple bought a tandem bike three years ago and liked it so much they joined a tandem bike club dubbed Paired Iowans Going Somewhere, or PIGS for short.

This month they are inviting PIGS to Le Mars for a three-day bike tour.

"There are 35 registered couples," Donna said. "They will all ride on tandem bikes, except for some on quad or triplet bikes."

The bikers arrive in Le Mars Friday, Aug. 8, and will start the weekend riding Le Mars' trails, ending at the Ice Cream Capital of the World museum and parlor.

Saturday will include a round-trip bike to Hinton, with lunch at the Long Branch Steakhouse in Hinton. After returning to Le Mars, PIGS will gather for an evening banquet at the Le Mars Convention Center.

Sunday morning will kick off with a ride to Oyens and back, with breakfast in Oyens.

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This is the first time the Ponds are hosting a PIGS event, but they've been involved with the group for several years.

The duo first got into tandem biking after they rode RAGBRAI three years ago.

"We saw a couple having fun biking on a tandem, so we thought we'd give it a try," Donna said.

They were hooked. They've done RAGBRAI, an Okoboji ride and are members of the Plymouth County Cyclists club, enjoying their Thursday night rides.

Tandem biking can be a challenge, Donna admitted.

"Some couple's can't do it -- there are trust issues involved," she said. "You have to trust the captain. They're in control"

The "captain" is the front-seat biker. That person steers, shifts and brakes. For Donna, that's her husband.

"I have to trust him," she said. "I can't really see in front of us unless I lean over. And when we stop the bike, I keep my feet on the pedals. He takes care of everything."

Donna is the back-seat biker, or the "stoker."

Her job is simple: pedal.

"It actually feels kind of awkward getting on a single bike after I've been riding as a stoker on a tandem," Donna said. "I'm used to not doing anything."

She'll be stoking this weekend, when the PIGS come to town. She encouraged people in town to step outside and watch the bikers. They usually get a few onlookers, anyway.

"We get a lot of stares, a lot of waves. It's fun, especially with the group of us," Donna said. "We're quite the sight."