New brakes for my CX bike.

I have a 2011 Kona Jake the Snake and the standard brakes are complete pish (Kore Race). I have changed the pads and that was a marginal improvement.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/jake-the-snake-2011-cyclo-cross-bike-ec026522

I'd like to order some new brakes, does anyone have any recommendations? I'm not very familiar with this type of brake so don't want to order something that is incompatible. I have a Chain Reaction voucher so if they have something that would be even better.

Thanks!

What's your budget?

If you can afford them, then the Avid Ultimate Shorty's are the best cantilever brakes bar none. Loads of modulation and serious stopping power. They are a bit of a faff to get set up though, but once you've mastered how to are easy to get right.

If you are mainly riding on the road then a pair of v-brakes would offer a bit more stopping power than cantilevers, and are much easier to get set up properly.

Can also recommend trp revox, they are brilliant, v similar to shortys apparently.

I have a set of Tektro CR720s and I think they're dead nice, they get good reviews and are only £12.50 a pair (a pair like a pair of trousers) on ribble! http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/brakes-brakes-cyclocross-tektro-cr720-cyclo-cross-cantilevers-pair/tektbrar500

I too am a fan of the Tektro cantilevers. Simple and they work.

I've had a pair of the Avid Ultimates and found them a bit too fiddly to setup (they need loads of different sized allen keys, spanners, etc). Good once they're working but 5 times the price of the Tektros.

I've used the Tektro CR72os on a fully loaded touring bike and the only thing letting them down were the original pads, imo.