[Xanti Andia]

On our new Mocha I am going with 26" 40 spoke wheels. I would prefer to go with 36 spoke wheels becuase a 40 spoke rim is not available down here, but my tandem shop tells me that 36 spoke hubs are not available with thread for a drum brake. Is this correct?, I don't want to abandon the drum brake.

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[TandemGeek]

Phil Wood FSC to name one off the top of my head.
http://www.philwood.com/Price%20List/P06.pdf

Here's another: White Industries "Daisy" hub:
http://www.whiteind.com/tandem-specs.html

I thought Shimano offered the HF08 in a 36h left-hand threaded version as well, but haven't had a reason to check in quite a while.

BTW: Just who is your "tandem dealer" anyway? I'm about ready to ask them for a cut of their margin for consulting services.

[Eurastus]

I can vouch for the White Industries offering. We've got many thousands of miles on two separate 36-hole White hubs with nary a single problem. Good quality components, in my opinion.

[vosyer]

I find this interesting because my Mocha came with 36 hole Hugi's with drum capability and I think I have recently seen them in both drum and disk capability combined. I currently have the Hugi's in 36 and 40 hole drum capable and 40 non drum. Call Hugi in Colorado to get the straight scoop and I am sure there are 36 hole sets available laying around in various bicycle part warehouses if they have discontinued making.

[TandemGeek]

It's possible, but not for certain, that his dealer may be trying to steer him towards a 40h wheelset predicated on the dealer's experience and "gut feel" that the OP may be better served over the long-haul by having a more robust set of wheels: a belt & suspenders, if you will.

Just something to consider as often times tandem dealers -- as well as many experienced bike dealers -- will do their best to sell a customer what they, the dealer, believe will work best given what the customer has told them about how a bike will be used. If the dealer feels strongly enough, they may be inclined to use a variety of different approaches to eliminate other options and/or to streamline what may or has already become a protracted and unnecessarily complicated decision process.

FWIW: To this day, my builder and I will never agree on components but that's OK. His experiences are more extensive and, therefore, different than mine. While we agree to disagree I respect his opinions and recommendations as I know that he's looking out for my best interests. However, at the end of the day, I've opted to go with my own instincts and experience and have had not regretted my decisions. Such is the nature of these things and, thankfully, so long as you get the frame right you can always change out the rest of the components if you end up in eating crow (i.e., he was right and you were wrong), if your needs change, or for any other reason.