View Single Post
Old 10-17-13 | 12:04 PM
  #19  
uspspro
Tandem Mountain Climber
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,104
Likes: 3
From: San Mateo, CA

Bikes: Calfee Tandem, Litespeed Gravel, SuperSix Evo HM, Larry vs. Harry Bullitt (e-cargo)

Originally Posted by Turbotandem
Just as an alternate thought, consider.
I know you love the bling of your rims, but deep section carbon rims have limited heat dissipation capacity, as any carbon rim is limited in this way. And I don't think you get to leverage the deep section capacity of those rims in your terrain with rolling hills and a speed adverse stoker. If you are looking for better heat capacity, either way you'll be getting a new front wheel, dished, 32 spoke at a minimum for disc loads. But you could raise your heat dissipation capacity all that you need by getting a deep section aluminum rim, 18 or 20 spokes. A rim such as the Kinlin XR 300 or 380, or even a rim by Fir if you go that far. All these rims are well tested on tandem platforms in intensive mountains, even on triplets. The heat dissipation capacity is more than up to the challenge. Carefully select rim tape, which is a weak point on warm rims. One of the couple tandems not to have problems on Ventoux (sp) was an all rim brake tandem. With this set up you get to maintain stable steering, no shudder, and likely less weight than the front disc fork solution.
I agree with this 100%. There is a reason Cannondale uses the "Fatty" fork and high spoke count wheels. The front disc puts a tremendous load on the fork. Reviewers of the SRAM road hydraulic disc were saying that they could feel the fork flex under braking on the SINGLE bikes they were testing.... imagine the loads from a tandem. Bending the fork near the end of the blade is much different than applying the force at the crown (rim brake).

I would stick with getting your rear disc back on track (Aluminum Spyre, or other), keep the deep carbon rim in the rear. Get an aluminum rim up front with a nice rim brake and some Swiss Stop Blue pads.

It would be a cheap experiment really. In fact I could lend you my Deep-V / White Industries / CX-Ray front wheel to try out.
uspspro is offline  
Reply