I am thinking about buying the Dawes Discovery Twin tandem that I have seen on your site. I see it comes with disc ready wheels, would you suggest adding a third brake? What are the advantages of having more than just two brakes, and how much extra would an additional brake cost? Great site by the way!
The main task of a third brake is to remove heat build up from the rims on long and/or steep decents. Many tandemers who have done long decents on rim brake have overheated them which can lead to blow outs - certainly not something you want. If you are touring or carrying a load it is definately worth while looking at a third brake. These can be either operated from the stoker, or front the front rider - depending upon the users preference.
The cost of adding a third brake, and in this case there is no need to change wheels or hubs would be in the region of £100 to £110.
We have a third brake on our Landescape but we only use it as a parking brake. If we ever manage to go anywhere with serious hills then I’m sure it will be useful as a drag.
Hi number 14, a parking brake? we have just covered 236 miles without the need of a parking brake.
We travelled from Plymouth to Ilfracombe and back. the only brakes we needed were our Maguras. Parking brakes were steps, bits of brick,sticks anything that would stop Stokes tandem rolling back.
I think this is a luxury you could do without. Without the extra wieght you would be flying up all those hills around where you live and we also had a Edinburgh trailer on the back, just to spice things up.
Did you get the tandem from us in Ilkley? If so we will have set up your disc as a main brake and then the rear V becomes a spare brake, to be used as a parking brake or in the event of failure of one of the others, or if its really hilly and you are loaded up.
Our Landescape came from JD with a ‘parking brake’ It’s most useful not only to assist with parking but also in my case to stop the damn thing rolling away when I’m hanging it by the bars in the garage - sorry I meant cycle lounge - the car can’t get a look in
Very new to tandeming, I bought a second-hand orbit yesterday. It appears to have three brakes, well three levers anyway! I shall have to have a closer look at what is actually happening.
Could someone explain what you mean by “parking brake”
A parking brake is just that, for parking, just like a handbrake on a car. For use when the bike is stationary, usually when parked up, to stop any chance of it rolling away. Useful when parking in hilly places, or campsites with no suitable tree or fence nearby. Not really used whilst riding, except maybe to help keep control if stopped on a hill without having to tire your hands on the brakes levers. They also double as an emergency brake if one of the other two main brakes fail.
We have discs front and rear with a rear v brake operated by a friction lever on the bar-end. The v brake acts as a parking brake and hardly ever gets used.
Hi number 14, a parking brake? we have just covered 236 miles without the need of a parking brake.
and we also had a Edinburgh trailer on the back, just to spice things up. 
