RG> I have cantilever brakes on my touring bike. I find though that they
RG> don't do a good job stopping when the bike is fully loaded. I tried
RG> changing the brake pads with no success. I wonder if it would be worth
RG> changing to a v-brake design?
I am often quite surprised by the stopping power of the v-brakes whenever I 
get on a one of my friends' bikes (they all have 'real' v-brakes). The large 
amount of cable that the v-brake levers pull, in concert with the v-brake's 
design create a LARGE amount of stopping force on the rims with very LITTLE 
input force to the levers.
If you are seriously considering the v-brake route, be sure to upgrade to 
either v-brake levers from shimano as part of a whole kit, or look around for 
some of the fancier 3-rd party levers.
FWIW... I have the Magura Tomac Hydralics on my bike and would highly 
recommend them to anyone looking for ZERO maintenance, awesome stopping 
power, and smooth-as-glass lever opration.
And when I say ZERO maintenance, I really mean it. I am the type of person 
who has to tinker with the bike, and make little adjustments here and there 
when needed. I have not touched the brakes since they were installed in March 
'97. These things havn't ever even made an audible squeak. (much to my 
surprise and liking.)
Some more regarding the brakes...We put several hundred miles on our bikes 
this summer (a lot of them down steep, lift-served ski mountains in Vermont 
and Maine), we are now still riding at night with NiteRider lights, in the 
dark and sometimes pouring rain (Most fun EVER), and I am still on the SAME 
SET OF BRAKE PADS... In contrast, my friends have all been through several of 
those thin little v-brake pads this season.
While the v-brakes are awesome, and I have no real complaints about them, I 
can never go back to brakes that require cables and maintenance and squeal at 
the slightest sign of moisture. 
Sorry for the tangent... but I am so happy with these things that I had to 
get it out :)
Cheers!
Bill Arlofski
waa@megahits.com
Brought to you by the letters O, and S and by the number 2
... The pattern of moonlight on the bedroom floor is a cold fire
--- Sheesh! 1.11+
---------------