Why are my cantilever brakes so ineffective?

I picked up a Pompino recently and it has a Tektro CR520 on the front. The braking power is awful and I can pretty much ride the bike with the front brake on. I've tried messing with the pad position and increasing the spring tension and it's still pretty bad. I'm a roadie so am not very competent with cantis - anyone got any ideas? I've attached a few photos of the brake normally and when engaged:

What levers are you using?

In my experience the amount of flex in the whole system (levers and cables) is a huge factor for canti's. Compressionless cables might improve things a lot. Also, cheap plastic levers must go.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/tiagra-grade-r463-2013-road-flat-bar-v-brakes-ec041351

brake pads look cheap as shit, put some swisstops on

also, fork mounted cable hanger

Lowering the yoke whilst shortening the straddle cable will increase the mechanical advantage IIRC.

• good cables, pads, leavers that pull the right amount of cable etc.
  

Loads of info from Uncle Sheldon: bit more to it than what you're used to...

If these are your first set of canti, then maybe it's a question of getting used to them... they are notoriously bad and only fitted on CX bikes because they don't get clogged with mud like other systems... brakes in CX are not that important, hence cantis are preferred.

That is not to say they cannot be improved

My advise is give up and go for v brakes, TRP CX9 Cantilever Brakes second hand for £40-50.

ta

pace

I have cantis on my touring bike that work really well. They're the kneesaver type, Avid Shorty 6.

I use ok pads, but can't afford swiss stop. I do build them with extremely short straddle wires.

Lowering the yoke whilst shortening the straddle cable will increase the mechanical advantage IIRC.

This, it should be your first port of call.

Lowering the cable is what I would do to. It will lead to a more spongey lever though. On one of my MTB's with canti's I have the hanger just above the tyre, braking is pretty good on that.

Good levers are essential. If using flat bar levers then something like good old Shimano XT2 levers or Dia compe SS7, Suntour XC Pro are all good clasic levers.

Interruptor/Cross-top levers usually feel better than the main Drop levers within the brake system too.
I put them on the Mrs' Space Horse, along with new KoolStop Salmon pads, upgraded yokes, a fork-mounted hanger, a Surly rear hanger and new cables, which, by the time I'd bought it all, cost almost as much as a really good set of TRP Mini-Vs.