Originally Posted by
Ritterview
I think his objection might be overcome if a vendor were to approach him with a Santana-branded propriety tandem disc fork and brake. Then it would be the best, and all the other tandem makers pitiful fools for not adopting it.
Must resist commentary, must resist commentary, must resist commentary......
Let me say this about the premise: Folks have been riding crappy tandems that used to be pretty good tandems with all kinds of brake designs, brake block materials, rims, etc. for decades and prudence has proven to be the key to safe operation.
It's not hard to know when you're pushing the limits of your brakes (outgassing, brake fade and the like), and technique will always trump technology. Moreover, people have proven time and again that they can over cook rim brakes, hub brakes and disc brakes... it really doesn't matter. Then again, there are teams who have made epic descents using a lowly pair of single pull calipers without bursting into flames or driving off the edge of a cliff.
Therefore, given that the average dual mechanical disc systems have greater heat capacity than rim brake systems, it's safe to assume they're certainly "as good as or better" than any tandem with only rim brakes or even a front rim brake plus rear disc. After all, beyond dual discs, there's only the rear drum which trumps all when it comes to heat capacity.