* bump *
The virtues of three separate braking systems was explained to us by the good folk at Longstaffs, who have tales of failed brakes on descents that have ended up in deaths
.
They in no way pressured us to have more - and we took delivery of the new bike with customary front/back brake only combo (Cantis at the front, Disc at the back), these both controlled by me at the front.
The bike has mounts at the back for a twin set of V/Canti brakes. When the bike goes in for its 2000km service later in December, we'll get them to populate these and connect them up to Rx-5.0s on the stoker bars. This will give us back-up braking should something fail.
The understanding in a tandem team is that the stoker won't deploy the brakes uncommanded. I think this might be a source of angst for my stoker as there has been a couple of occasions when I've braked later than she was comfortable with; and the temptation must be there to step in and "help".
I
do like the idea of a third braking system though. The thought of a runaway tandem on a steep twisty/turny descent just doesn't bear thinking about. It doesn't have to be dramatic - a snapped cable is enough to lose you all rear braking - and I don't think I could arresto-momentum with just the front cantis.