Get one of these HED Belgium "Plus" up front: https://www.wheelbuilder.com/hed-belg...ncher-rim.html

And see if you can get the wider ENVE rim for that back... with 28mm tires that would be sweet!

PS - I build all my own wheels now... lots of fun!

I guess we're off the front disc/fork rails now. I've been running 30mm deep X 19mm wide Deep-V rims on my 36H hubs. Probably going to go to 28mm deep X 24mm wide Kinlin XC279 rims, which are available in 36H, when I wear out my next Deep-V sometime this winter. The Kinlins should have just a little more exposed rim for cooling than my current rims. I think the area exposed for cooling is the critical thing for rim braking.

Regarding head tube, our 2013 Tetra was the first Calfee off the line to use the ENVE 2.0 tapered (1.125" (1 1/8") upper / 1.5" lower) fork. It has a straight 44mm head tube. The bulges you see on the lower portion are simply to provide for the shifter cable routing and a better cosmetic interface with the lower 1.5" headset piece. It is otherwise a straight 44mm head tube.

The Chris King InSet7 GripLock NoThreadSet Headset takes care of the taper conversion without any fuss or muss.

Info and photos posted here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...highlight=2013

Note, we have an optional 2cm head tube extension on this frame. Our current setup has my captain's stem installed with no spacers below the stem, right on the top of the headset for a perfect custom fit. After a season of racing singles, I was able to re-find my optimal lowest positioning and then removed the initial spacers we started out with on this 2013 tandem.

I am in the midst of some big upgrade changes (Di2, same-side belt drive, regular/single SL-K Light cranks, compact chainrings, etc) and will eventually post those photo updates to the forum.

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Regarding disc fork selection, checkout Mickey Lyon's photo album on Facebook:

Calfee Carbon Fiber Travel Tandem with Rohloff Speedhub and Gates
https://www.facebook.com/ChoprDoctr/...4163724&type=3

and here:
Photos from Mickey Lyon's post in Calfee Owners
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...e=1&permPage=1

They have ridden this setup on trails (as seen above), and many trips abroad. The disc fork appears to be a Wound-Up, with plenty of clearance for those big knobby tires he sometimes uses. It may not be the most svelte setup, but has proven to be very strong and durable. Since Calfee is not currently offering this fork on their list, it may be obsolete at this time.

That S&S tandem, with Rohloff, etc has a total weight near 40lbs, may be one of the heavier Calfee's out there.

Also this one built in a similar way:
https://picasaweb.google.com/1100502...43712381077426

Yeah, I'm going to have to start a thread about front descending/braking wheel. This thread topic is still needed, as the carbon disc fork issue isn't moot, for anyone building a new tandem would need to consider a front disc, and if so, which fork, and likewise which head tube.

For me the point is that part of the consideration of a disk for is considering if you actually need one. There are many people who do not ride in the mountains and/or the rain and the mountains that can get great tandem stopping power with rim brakes. They are a simple proven technology that saves what would normally be considered a lot of weight over disk brakes.

It is interesting and refreshing to see the subject of weight drop away on this thread. So I with a 36 pound tandem will say I would add disks if I need them but since I feel the rim brakes work fine for us and I will save the weight (and the zing zing) I hear at tandem rallies.