Hocam

I do everything to my bikes and still suck at adjusting cantilevers. In 2007 I bought a cross check frame set and built it up for touring and commuting, went with V-brakes (full size brakes and v-brake specific road levers). After seeing the light, I replaced the cantilevers on my old mountain bike with v-brakes and the stopping power was night to day.

Cantilevers just really hard to get just right. Even when they're just right they still won't stop as well. V-brakes are so simple and straightforward in comparison. There's no straddle cable which is impossible to replace and strips easier, no little shoe that you need both a socket and another wrench to tighten properly, you just need one 5mm allen key to do everything.