go linear pull?
https://www.paulcomp.com/shop/components/motolite/
- I would swap 27in & 700c wheels on an old touring Cannondale. I was never sure if the poor brake performance was due to the wheel size changing - or my inability to correctly adjust canti-brakes. I'm about 95% sure it was my skill level.
i just love me them linear pull brakes - it's like canti-brakes for dummies....
ciao.
I changed our the cantilevers on my Surly Crosscheck for some Tektro mini v-brakes. These shorter v-brakes where originally used on BMX bikes but a lot of cross riders started using them as you get more power than many cantilevers. I found them to be a big improvement over the Shimano cantis on my bike. They work with road brake levers, and although they may not be as nice as the Paul Components they are way less money, like under $20 a set.